Panama City
Hotels and Resorts
Great hotels, resorts and accommodation to fit every taste and budget. The expected American Hotel Chains, like the Sheraton and Marriott are here. There is even a Wyndham Grand Casino Hotel from the Las Vegas chain but there are some spectacular and unique hotels, with names not familiar to every North American, although well known in Latin America or Europe, like the Melia Hotels.
There are Apart/Hotels, which, as the name implies, are hotels which double as small apartments. Great for those wanting to spend some time while determining where they want to live or while finishing their own homes or apartments. There are wonderful Boutique Hotels offering the very finest of everything, and there are hotels of a more modest nature where clean, comfortable and safe are the key words used. And there are some wonderful Bed & Breakfasts with more of those showing up all the time.
Four Star and Five Star Hotels
The Grand old Marriott in the Banking district, has been here for a long time but it is still as elegant as ever. Pool, exercise room, Buffet for the Business Class Traveler, a fantastic restaurant, Great piano bar and all the amenities you expect from a Marriott plus an excellent Casino. There is a Radisson Hotel called the Decapolis near Balboa Avenue and the Sea Wall on Panama City’s waterfront. It too has all the amenities plus one of the finest fusion restaurants in the city. There is the Sheraton Hotel and Convention Center across from the Atlapa Convention Center and close to the sea with ocean views from many rooms. Plush surroundings and everything you could possibly need to make your business meetings a success. There is also a Sheraton Four Points Hotel in the heart of Panama City.
Want to experience authentic Panama? Gamboa Rainforest Resort and Spa, is luxurious, close to the city and very close to the Panama Canal. Yet it feels like you are far away from everything, in the midst of the rain forest. Be sure to take their monkey boat tour. They have special golf packages with The Summit Golf Club which is also in the rain forest, but above it, where you can play golf and look down on the rain forest,
El Panama, one of the grand old hotels of Panama, is located on Via Espana, in the heart of Panama City, in a district known as El Cangrejo where many visitors come to first experience Panama, or where they move once they decide to stay. Just up the street is the Wyndham Grand Casino Hotel, known as El Veneto and behind is the Crowne Plaza Hotel. There are three casinos within the same block so if you are feeling lucky this is the spot to go. Need a meeting room, you can definitely find it here.
Need more space but still want to keep it luxurious, Fusion Lofts is one of the truly unique hotels in Panama’s banking district as it is a first class hotel, in fact probably a Boutique Hotel it is so luxurious, and an Apart/hotel all in one. If you are planning on staying for a week or two, and want to be pampered, this is the place to go. Created by a retired Business Executive for the busy Business Executive
We would be remiss not to tell you about the Intercontinental Miramar Hotel located right on the Sea Wall, and boasting unparalleled views of Panama Bay. One of the truly Panamanian Hotels this is the ultimate in luxury.
Boutique Hotels
Bristol Hotels on the edge of the banking district is one of those hotels that knows your needs and provides everything you require, from the Valet parking to the concierge shopping and everything in between. Fusion Lofts is in the same area and as we pointed out above this special place really does have it all. Deville Hotels is also conveniently located in the heart of the banking district just across from Tower Bank and off the corner of Calle 50. Attentive Staff and one of the finest French restaurants in the city, named “Ten”. It deserves a 10.
Finally in the heart of Casco Viejo, the historic district of Panama, near the President’s Palace, a restored mansion, Canal House. It is often booked by entire families who come to enjoy being together. However you can book a room and experience the attentive care even if you are traveling alone.
Apart/Hotels
Torres de Alba across the street from El Veneto is a well loved short stay apartment hotel where you even get your own dishwasher and which offers breakfast as part of your room rate. Directly across the street is Las Vegas Suites, far less grand, but extremely convenient for those wanting to find their way around Panama City or waiting for their apartment or new home to be completed. The food in this area of Panama City is superb with The Wine Bar, El Pomodoro, 1985 or Suizo offering something for every taste and budget. Walk around El Cangrejo, and you will find many of these lovely apart/hotels. Need the extra luxury, nearby is Fusion Lofts which caters to the busy business exectuvie here for some time.
Perfectly Priced Hotels
Bahia Suites, Hotel California, Country Inn and Suites El Dorado, Riande Granada. the Milan, La Cresta Hotel, and others too numerous to mention. You do not need to pay more than $100 a night for comfort and cleanliness. Some of these hotels offer more amenities than others but if your mission is to explore Panama City they are all good choices.
B & B’s
Always popular, Bed and Breakfast’s offer you the chance to get to talk to people who know their way around in a setting designed to make you feel at home. There is the Balboa Bed and Breakfast, located in the district of Balboa which is the old Canal Zone and is a wonderful spot to get away from the hustle and bustle of Panama City. La Estanca is another B & B located in the rain forest. What a treat to wake up to nature rather than honking horns which are all too common in Panama City. La Cresta B& B is in the ehrt of the city but is a special little spot out of the hubbub and it is pet friendly.
No matter what your choice of hotel, you need to know that in high season, mid December to mid April, Panama City Hotels have virtually 100% occupancy, so don’t arrive in the city without a reservation somewhere. If your location is important to you, book well in advance.
Restaurants
What type of food do you fancy? Panama City has it all. Want Macdonalds, want to eat in one of the premier restaurants of the world? Want a cool street vendor for some fresh fruit or the best pizza you have ever eaten. Restaurants with a view of the ocean or just good food with good company. Panama City truly offers it all.
Let’s start with Italian cuisine since almost every city in the western world has had Italians come and bring their fine food with them.
Italian restaurants
Pomodoro and the Wine Bar, for delicious, affordable pizza, great pasta, live entertainment and good wine, this restaurant pair, they work together, in El Cangrejo is found by just about every visitor and known by all the expats and locals alike. At the foot of Las Vegas Suites on one of the busiest intersections of el Cangrejo.
Rino’s Restaurant on Federico Boyd at Calle 49, this is not only a beautiful setting but beautiful food with ample parking. Their extensive menu is well loved by many, and although it might look expensive, it is not. Try one of their many seafood pastas or… come for a buffet so you can try several of their delicious choices.
Albert’os at the end of the Amador Causeway on Flamenco Island is owned by Rino’s brother, Alberto, and this restaurant family has been providing great food to Panama for years. If you love looking at yachts and eating fine food than Alberto’s is the place for you. The food delicious the scenery, amazing!
Tre Scalini in a grand old house on Calle 52 just west of the Executive Hotel or on Boulevard el Dorado this is the place for delicious pasta and a wonderful gathering of friends.
Carlitas Pizza and Argentinian empanadas. Argentinian empanadas are large empanadas with lots of filling. Located in Bella Vista and Obarrio.
Athens Pizza Pizza, Greek salad and some really unique choices make the three Athens Pizza spots very popular, one on Calle Uruaguay at Calle 50 behind the gas station, another in Obarrio and the third in El Dorado
Seafood
The Fish Market Restaurant This restaurant located in the fish market onte the Bay of Panama is totally authentic but sometimes the smell of fish can be overpowering. However the fish is absolutely fresh, the recipes they use are unique and delicious and the price is right. You may find it hard to get a table, the locals know about this gem.
La Casa de Mariscos
On the other end of the price range, located now in the Banking area, having moved from its former home on Balboa Avenue to make way for new construction, this classic restaurant is a Panama stand-by. This is one of the restaurants where those Panamanians who can afford to eat here go to be seen and to check out everyone else. However the food is excellent and not so expensive that you cannot come to eat here and enjoy the seafood delights. Share one of their sampler platters. Amazing!
Peperoncini di Mare This relatively new restaurant is eclectic in decoration with wonderful, unrealistic but very cute fish pictures on the walls and delicious dishes for your palate. I have had everything on the menu and loved every bite.
Siete Mares or The Seven Seas Restaurant is one of those restaurants that all Panama knows about and waits for special occasions to go there. Located in El Cangrejo this is a classic, well known and well loved restaurant where the food is always good.
El Barko Again out on Amador Causeway, on Flamenco Island sits this wonderful seafood restaurant, with gorgeous views of the ocean from their deck and some of the most unique seafood dishes you can imagine. Corvina ( a delicious white fish) wrapped around a lightly breaded giant prawn with avocado stuffing and all cooked to perfection is one of my all time favorites.
Enjoy and Share...
