Review Author

Brandon Berkson

Founder & Editor-in-Chief

Panama City pairs rainforest landscapes and two coastlines with a modern airport, a skyline that recalls Miami, and the colorful UNESCO-listed streets of Casco Viejo.

Among the neighborhood’s most ambitious restorations is Hotel La Compañía, an award-winning hotel inside a former Jesuit convent.

The architecture is divided into three historic wings: Spanish Colonial from 1688, French Colonial from 1739, and American from 1904. The hotel’s 88 rooms face a courtyard where those eras meet.

Food and drink are unusually abundant. Five restaurants and two bars span French, Panamanian, Indian, Spanish, Asian, American, Italian, Peruvian, and Japanese influences.

The rooftop pool overlooks Panama City beside a terrace and Capella bar. In the spa, treatments such as the Cacao Experience use Panamanian cocoa, while the fifth-floor gym includes outdoor equipment.

The combination of centuries-old architecture, contemporary comfort, and Casco Viejo’s street life makes the hotel far more than a stopover.

Fast Facts

Location: Casco Viejo, Panama City, Panama.

Rating: Five-star

The Vibe: History in every direction, paired with polished modern comforts.

Our Favorite Thing: The rooftop pool and distinctive spa treatments.

Food + Drink: Five restaurants and two bars, including French Bistro 1739, El Santuario, American Bazaar, Luigi’s, and Hari’s.

Amenities: Wine cellar, rooftop pool, bars, restaurants, Wi-Fi, spa, gym, and courtyard.

Neighborhood Recs: Sisu Coffee Studio and Lo Que Hay.

Nearby: Presidential Palace, Panama Canal Museum, Plaza de la Independencia, and Bridge of the Americas.

Pricing: Rates historically started around $325 per night.

Rooms: 88.

Closest Airport: Tocumen International Airport.