I spent my first night in Panama at a hotel in the heart of the historic district. The stay made me fall in love with the country in less than 24 hours.
I spent my first night in Panama at the five-star Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo hotel.
The property had luxury amenities and was located in the heart of Panama City's historic district.
Good food, stunning architecture, and unbelievable views helped me fall in love with Panama.
A bellhop opened the door to the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo, and I was transported out of Panama City's humidity and into a chilly hotel lobby brimming with excitement.
Enormous vases of hydrangeas filled the center of the room, and a mosaic map of Panama City stretched across one wall. People bustled in and out of the lobby, heading out for tours of the Panama Canal or to the infinity pool a floor below.
When visiting Panama City, it's a mistake not to explore Casco Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Panama City's historic district.
And if you stay anywhere in the neighborhood, Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo is the place to go.
Moments after landing in Panama, I was off to my hotel for the evening: the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo.
Before arriving in Panama, the Sofitel Legend's concierge desk reached out to help coordinate any details for my Panama City stay. I booked a driver to pick me up from the airport through email for $50.
My driver, Alberto, was waiting for me at the airport, and before I knew it, I was in the back of a car heading to Casco Viejo.
After a 30-minute drive, I arrived at the white-washed building at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
Alberto navigated Casco Viejo's narrow streets and dropped me off outside the historic building.
The building plays an important role in Panama City's history. It has welcomed guests like Albert Einstein and Queen Elizabeth II.
Later, during my stay, I joined a tour where a hotel representative shared the property's history. Originally, the building served as Panama City's Club Unión in the early 1900s, a social club for wealthy and influential people created in 1908. The club hosted well-known people like Albert Einstein, Helen Keller, and Queen Elizabeth II.
In 1967, the club relocated to another area of Panama City, and the building sat empty for years.
Then, the French hospitality group Accor took over the property and opened the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo in 2023.
The property is now one of six Sofitel Legend properties, which are hotels located in historic buildings.
Bellhops grabbed my bags, opened the hotel doors, and ushered me into a lobby.
Across the hotel, you'll find French and Panamanian influences. The hotel lobby is nautical-themed, wrought-iron balconies line the exterior of the building, and glass chandeliers glimmer in the afternoon sunlight.
Inside the air-conditioned lobby, I checked into my room. I spent one night in a luxury queen room that cost $339.
The hotel has 159 rooms and suites, each with a view of the lush courtyard, Pacific Ocean, or Casco Viejo neighborhood.
About a month before my stay, I reserved my queen room with a historic view and a living room. The room cost $339, which included a 20% spring discount.
With my key in hand, a bellhop guided me to my room.
I walked across the mahogany herringbone floors and noticed luxury details scattered throughout the room.
A fluffy robe was hanging in the bathroom, the room's four-poster bed felt fit for a queen, and a minibar with essentials, including coffee and water, was waiting for me.
Inside the bedroom area, a queen-sized bed called my name.
With crisp sheets and perfectly placed pillows, it was hard to resist an afternoon nap.
Attached to my room was a living area.
In a separate room was a velvet couch, chair, and bistro table with views of the neighborhood.
Outside my hotel window, I had views of both the ocean and Casco Viejo.
From my bed, I could glimpse the Pacific Ocean just feet away. From the living room, views of the historic Casco Viejo filled the window.
The highlight of the room was easily the bathroom.
Brass accents, marble countertops, a rainfall showerhead, and luxury soaps made the bathroom my favorite part of the spacious room.
At 5:30 p.m., I headed back to the lobby, where guests can join a tour of the property each evening.
One of Sofitel's concierge representatives hosts a short property tour every evening. For 30 minutes, we discussed the historic photographs that line the hotel's walls.
Here, I learned about the history of the Panama Canal, and how its creation welcomed a new era of wealth to Panama. That wealth led to social clubs like the Club Unión, home to the Sofitel today.
The tour ends with a dance performance and candle ritual.
After the tour, I was greeted by two dancers in traditional Panamanian attire. As they danced across the hotel lobby and bar, one carried a candle to symbolize Panamanian and French cultures uniting.
I continued wandering around the property, which has five restaurants and bars, a spa, a pool, and a fitness center.
The hotel is filled with luxury amenities and eateries. A rooftop bar is ideal for watching the sunset, and guests can visit the hotel speakeasy hidden behind a library shelf.
I had enough time to squeeze in a quick dip in the hotel pool.
I knew my stay at the hotel wouldn't be complete without a swim in its infinity pool.
Located a floor below the lobby, the pool has views out onto the Pacific Ocean. Recliners line three of the four edges of the pool.
And, of course, I had enough time to explore the pool bar.
One of the most colorful parts of the hotel was attached to the pool. Bright-green tiles lined the bar, where staff served smoothies, juices, beers, and tropical cocktails.
Finally, I watched the sunset from the hotel's lush courtyard.
After drying off from the pool, I headed to the hotel's courtyard to soak in the last few moments of sunlight on my first day in Panama.
By the time I woke up the next morning, I was already missing the courtyard. I grabbed a cup of coffee and spent the morning outside.
Instead of spending the morning in my queen bed or sipping coffee from the living room, I headed downstairs to the courtyard to soak in more ocean views.
And while Sofitel is a highlight of the neighborhood, Casco Viejo is home to much more.
The hotel is situated at the water's edge of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which dates back to 1673.
Right outside the hotel is the bougainvillea-canopied Paseo de las Bovedas. Street vendors line the shaded walkway, where tourists can purchase local art, and Panama's indigenous Kuna members sell textiles. Visitors are greeted with stunning ocean views at the end of the paved path.
I wandered around the area's half-dozen historic squares.
A short walk away are about a half-dozen historic plazas and squares.
I tasted Panamanian foods for lunch at Fonda Lo Que Hay.
Beyond history, Casco Viejo is home to some of Panama City's most beloved restaurants.
A handful of people urged me to stop at Fonda Lo Que Hay, a modern take on a Fonda, which is a Panamanian roadside eatery. Here, traditional meals and ingredients are served in an upscale setting.
I dined on ceviche and a yuca tostada — some of the best food I had during my nine-day visit to the country.
And I got lost in the historic streets.
Besides eating, aimlessly walking around the neighborhood was a highlight of my Casco Viejo trip. The brick-lined streets, colorful buildings, and flower boxes teeming with plants transported me back in time.
One evening wasn't enough, but Sofitel was the ideal launching point for a week in Panama.
Panama City is home to a wide range of neighborhoods. One place might feel like visiting Dubai, while another feels like living in a country club.
But Casco Viejo was one of my favorite neighborhoods to explore.
I was treated to luxury, dove into the city's history, and fell in love with the beauty of Casco Viejo — which was the ideal foundation to continue exploring all that Panama had to offer.
By the time my bags were packed and I was off to my next destination in the city, I was convinced that Panama was a destination I would love.
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