It’s so much fun staying in this UNESCO heritage area, its refurbished old town with some old structures still intact. This hotel is apparently the first one in the city and is lovely. Room was a bit small but adequate, and luxurious. They have live music even for breakfast! There are dozens of eateries and souvenir shops within a few blocks! Had a lovely stay.

The wifi in this hotel basically doesnt work. The elevator was broken. I made 3 local calls to other hotels, and they charged me $35 USD for them. This is a 3 star hotel at best, small rooms. Thats being generous. In addition I found a price online for $200 which they said theyd honor and next day they were trying to go out of their way to charge me $350.

Central Hotel Panamá Casco Viejo is truly one of Panama’s landmark hotels — it was originally built in 1874, making it the first hotel in Panama and nearly 150 years old. The building is stunning and steeped in history, located right on Plaza de la Independencia in the heart of Casco Viejo, Panama City’s UNESCO World Heritage historic district. We arrived in the evening and immediately fell in love with the old-town atmosphere around the hotel — cobblestone streets, live music, and a genuine sense of place. Inside, the ambiance reflects both its heritage and thoughtful renovations, with rich architectural details and character. The rooms were spacious, well equipped, and comfortable, with everything you need for a relaxing stay. Breakfast was a rich buffet with plenty of options, easily one of the best breakfasts we had on our trip. There’s live music around the entrance and in the restaurant areas, which adds beautifully to the charm and feels very authentic to the setting. Everything about this hotel — the historic building, the location in Casco Viejo, the atmosphere, and the quality of the experience — felt like a true five-star stay and a perfect introduction to Panama.

We were very pleased with our stay at the Central hotel. The service from the front desk, concierge, musicians, restaurant staff was excellent. The breakfast options were plentiful and the food very good. The restaurant food was also excellent. The room (junior suite) bed was very comfortable and clean. My only complaint, which is common amongst most hotels, is the wifi can be slow which is annoying. The shower was also small since it was a later addition but overall the bathroom was large and nice. Water pressure was excellent and the hot water was steady without any fluctuation.

Very Expensive. Do not get a balcony room that faces the plaza if you want to sleep. Noise 24/7. Evening reaturant and bartenders WONDERFUL. BUT, the day staff need to speak better English and be more attentive. I waited 15 minutes for a glass of water, only 1 other table !!. I moved towards the front lobby and asked to get a drink.. 30 minutes later, NOTHING. Like I said, staff not attentive. My advice - DO BETTER.