Panama City Panama City & Canal Zone Travel Guide: Best Hotels, Restaurants & Experiences

The 1917 Club Unión de Panama, once frequented by Albert Einstein and Queen Elizabeth, now houses 159 rooms behind its Spanish Colonial facade in UNESCO-listed Casco Viejo. Casco Viejo's largest infinity pool overlooks the Pacific, while rooftop bar Ammi pairs champagne with sunset views and live Latin rhythms. Caleta restaurant merges Parisian brasserie aesthetics with Chiriqui produce and Volcán Barú beef, and the Kos Paris spa features local coffee-infused exfoliations.

Bristol Panama's twin towers rise above the banking district, their interiors lined with local paintings that lend a gallery atmosphere to the corridors. On the 25th floor, the spa commands the city's only panoramic views stretching from the Pacific to Metropolitan Park, its couples suite featuring a theatrical five-headed shower. Downstairs, Salsipuedes draws on six culinary traditions—the 48-hour Angus short rib and Nikkei-style ceviches deserve particular attention.

Rising thirty-six stories above Panama City's business district, Latin America's first Waldorf Astoria makes an impression with its modern lobby dressed in neutral tones and bold gold accents. The seventh-floor spa offers heated massage tables and a signature Panamanian chocolate body wrap, while the blue-lit terrace pool frames sunset views over the skyline. Four restaurants include the atmospheric Peacock Alley Bar and Matiz for breakfast.