10 Best Hotels in Panama City, Panama: Panama City Hotels Guide [2024]
Years ago, Panama City, Panama almost exclusively welcomed business travelers or intrepid explorers on a layover and headed to Panama’s rich tropical jungles and pristine island getaways. Those days are long gone, as impressive new luxury hotels like Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo and the stunning Hotel La Compañía remake the city into a travel destination all its own.
Whether you’re visiting Panama City for a few hours or even a few weeks, these are the best Panama City, Panama hotels to choose from. From historic boutique hotels in Panama City’s Casco Viejo to brand-new glass towers with ocean views, a stay at one of these Panama City hotels is guaranteed to make for a memorable trip.
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Best Hotels in Panama City, Panama
Cosmopolitan Panama City has a range of hotels to choose from, including lodge-like getaways shaded by palms just a few minutes outside of the city center and soaring, glittering skyscrapers home to business traveler-friendly hotels. Among the most newsworthy are the brand-new hotels in the heart of Panama City’s exciting Casco Viejo historic center.
Looking for some question recommendations for the best hotels in Panama City? These are our top picks:
- Best Luxury Hotel in Panama City: Hotel La Compañía
- Best Resort-Like Hotel in Panama City: The Westin Playa Bonita Panama
- Best Hotel in Panama City for Business Travel: W Panama
- Best Budget-Friendly Hotel in Panama City: Selina Casco Viejo
Despite all the buzz around the new Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo, we just love Hotel La Compañía as the best luxury hotel in the city. After a years-long faithful restoration of structures that date back centuries and include Spanish, French, and American design, Hotel La Compañía effortlessly combines the historic beauty of the neighborhood with timeless luxury.
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Panama City, Panama Hotels
1. Hotel La Compañía
Best Luxury Hotel in Panama City
A former Jesuit convert meticulously restored and given new life, Hotel La Compañía is the perfect blend of modern luxury and historic charm, perfectly suited for a memorable stay in the heart of Panama City’s beautiful Casco Viejo neighborhood. Opened in 2022, it instantly became the best hotel in Panama City.
It’s easy to see why Hotel La Compañía has quickly become one of the most sought-after hotels in the city. Between its spa, multiple restaurants, and a rooftop bar and lounge with an infinity pool and stunning city views, you’ll barely need to leave the hotel for a memorable stay. Plus, with the exquisite service and attention to detail you would expect from a boutique hotel, the guest experience here is second to none.
Reviews and Bookings: Hotel La Compañía
2. The Westin Playa Bonita Panama
Best Resort-Like Hotel in Panama City
Located just a short drive outside of Panama City proper, The Westin Playa Bonita Panama is a perfect choice for travelers looking to enjoy proximity to Panama City while escaping the hustle and bustle of the city.
This oceanfront resort offers three pools, six restaurants and bars, and a lush yet intimate spa that makes it a bonafide wellness getaway. While the beachfront isn’t as beautiful and pristine as the sands you’ll find in the San Blas Islands or Bocas del Toro, it makes The Westin Playa Bonita a perfect choice for a quick, comfortable, and convenient beach vacation near the city.
Reviews and Bookings: The Westin Playa Bonita Panama
3. W Panama
Best Hotel in Panama City for Business Travel
Offering stunning skyline views, a luxurious spa, and incredible dining options, W Panama is a luxury boutique hotel that easily tops the list of the best places to stay in Panama City. You’ll love relaxing at the hotel’s pool deck, enjoying drinks and live music at La Cajita bar, and sampling Spanish cuisine at Moró Restaurant.
Located in the fashionable Marbella neighborhood, W Panama is a great choice for all travelers, no matter what brings you to the city. It is close to some of the city’s best shopping, most celebrated restaurants, and all the best things to do in Panama City, while only 15 minutes from the heart of the Casco Viejo. It’s the best of both modern and historic Panama City at your doorstep.
Reviews and Bookings: W Panama
4. Selina Casco Viejo
Best Budget-Friendly Hotel in Panama City
Nestled in the heart of the Casco Viejo – Panama City’s beautiful historic center – Selina Casco Viejo is our favorite budget hotel and hostel in Panama City, Panama. You’ll be surprised by the number of amenities it offers for budget travelers and backpackers in Panama alike.
The pool and rooftop bar, offering great views over the city and frequently featuring live music, themed gatherings, and other engaging events, make it a popular gathering place for guests and locals alike. Keep in mind that it can get a bit loud at times, which is something to consider if you’re a light sleeper.
Reviews and Bookings: Selina Casco Viejo
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5. Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama City
The recent debut of the impressive Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama City in the heart of Panama City’s most beautiful and historic neighborhood has brought even more shine to the city’s rapidly growing profile with travelers. Formerly an early 20th-century social club that welcomed even the likes of Queen Elizabeth II, this meticulously restored building again welcomes the most well-heeled travelers to the city.
The hotel offers 159 decadently decorated and beautifully designed rooms that marry modern and historic elegance. Downstairs, Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo‘s Mayda Lobby Bar and Plaza regularly welcomes the best and brightest of Panama City, while the signature Caleta restaurant boasts a menu and ambiance that instantly helped it shoot to the top of the list of the best restaurants in Panama City. All the more reason to call it your home away from home in Panama.
Reviews and Bookings: Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama City
6. The Westin Panama
Located in the ritzy, residential Costa del Este neighborhood, The Westin Panama is a great choice for travelers looking for a retreat within the city. Offering a small but lovely pool deck, an excellent fitness center, and impressive ocean-view balconies, The Westin has plenty for both leisure and business travelers looking to make the most of their time in the city.
While the neighborhood around the hotel is a beautiful one and offers close proximity to the Panama Viejo ruins of the Spanish colonial period (a top attraction in Panama City!), the hotel is relatively removed from the rest of the city. Expect a 30+ minute drive from the Casco Viejo and other popular spots.
Reviews and Bookings: The Westin Panama
7. Monkey Lodge Panama
Looking for a stay inspired by the tropics? Consider a stay at Monkey Lodge Panama, one of the most unique accommodations you’ll find just outside of Panama City. And yes, you can count on meeting some monkeys during your stay!
Just a 20-minute drive from downtown, Monkey Lodge Panama feels a world away. This unique bed and breakfast is also a wildlife refuge, surrounded by the stunning Soberania National Park. Monkey Lodge Panama offers four beautiful bungalows, a pool, delicious food, and unique opportunities for cultural excursions or guided tours of the national park.
Reviews and Bookings: Monkey Lodge Panama
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8. Las Clementinas
Mixing fun and funky design with the historic charm you’d expect from a boutique hotel in Casco Viejo, Las Clementinas offers a unique experience for guests looking to get in touch with the history and culture of Panama City. The hotel has beautiful apartment-style rooms with full kitchens and living rooms, perfect for longer trips or traveling families, as well as more traditional studio-style rooms. Expect handpicked, unique decor and beautiful touches in every room.
With its beautiful on-site restaurant, Mahalo Cocina y Jardin, offering delicious food and gorgeous decor, plus a lovely patio space, you’ll want to plan a visit to Las Clementinas even if you’re staying across town.
Reviews and Bookings: Las Clementinas
9. JW Marriott Panama
Located on Punta Pacifica near Panama City’s modern, lively financial district, the waterfront JW Marriott Panama is an excellent choice for business and leisure travelers alike. Home to the gourmet restaurant MASI serving up delicious Panamian cuisine with a twist, this hotel offers travelers the best of the city at their fingertips.
The JW Marriott doesn’t just offer incredible skyline views – it’s one of the most memorable parts of the Panama City skyline itself. The tallest building in all of Central America and among the most striking Panama City Panama hotels, the JW Marriott Panama is shaped like an elegant open sail. You have to see it to believe it!
Reviews and Bookings: JW Marriott Panama
10. Bristol Panama
For a luxe stay in the heart of modern Panama City, Bristol Panama is a perfect option. Close to the city’s financial center and all the lovely shops, cafes, and restaurants of Marbella, this hotel has plenty to offer guests in terms of both amenities and proximity to the best of the city.
For a modern hotel near the financial center, Bristol Panama feels cozy and comfortable, featuring beautiful art and textiles designed by Panamanian and Latin American artists. It also features a variety of apartment-style rooms as well as traditional hotel rooms, making it a great choice for travelers with families or long-term travelers.
Reviews and Bookings: Bristol Panama
Carley Rojas Avila is a bilingual New York-based travel writer, editor, content marketer, and the founder of the digital travel publications Explorers Away and Home to Havana. Carley is an expert on all things Latin America, the Caribbean, and Cuba, having lived and worked in four different countries in the region. Her writing has appeared on the Associated Press wires and in Travel + Leisure, Yahoo, MSN, Euronews, The Weather Channel, and more. When she's not writing about her travels, find her front row at a Bad Bunny concert, befriending street cats, and taste-testing every pizza in Havana.