Balboa is quiet after dark — there's no real nightlife scene in the district itself. The action is on the Calzada de Amador, where several bars and outdoor venues run into the evening with views over the Canal's Pacific entrance. Sunset from the causeway, with ships silhouetted against the sky, draws a decent crowd most evenings.
For daytime coffee, the Balboa district has a few options around the administrative quarter, though most visitors end up at the causeway or head back to Panama City proper.