5 Best Hotels in Casco Viejo, Panama City

The six bright, spacious suites in this refurbished, early-20th-century apartment building are as charming as they are comfortable, which together with the friendly staff and an excellent restaurant make this a premier Casco Viejo lodging option. Every room has polished hardwood floors, elegant furniture, a colorful tile shower, separate bedroom, and a living room with a kitchenette and hideaway bed. The big windows, glass doors, and balconies afford views of a small plaza, dilapidated buildings, or the tropical foliage of the restaurant's garden patio. Third-floor rooms have the best views and are quietest, but entail climbing stairs in the heat. The rooftop terrace has an amazing view of the bay and city skyline. Free breakfast can be taken in the café, or garden patio, and the ground-floor restaurant and bar is worth visiting even if you're not a hotel guest. In 2014, three standard-size hotel rooms were added, to provide accommodation options with more economical pricing.

These charming apartments in a refurbished, historic building lack hotel services, but offer some of the quietest accommodations in Casco Viejo, and are a great option for independent travelers. The American manager provides travel advice, and they offer airport pick-ups and the use of a local cell phone, but after 8 pm, you're on your own. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, and stores within walking distance, and the tastefully decorated apartments will make you feel at home. They range from a studio to a three-bedroom "penthouse," and some have a pull-out couch in the living room. They all have high ceilings, colorful tile or hardwood floors, exposed calicato walls, kitchens, Wi-Fi, iPod docks, and plasma TVs. The best are the two- and three-bedroom apartments on the third floor, which have priceless views of Casco Viejo and the sea.

This American-run hotel is in a refurbished, 18th-century building behind the cathedral. The second floor lounge has ornate, high ceilings and balconies, but the guest rooms lack the building's historical charm. There is a kitchen available for guest use. The second floor has dorm rooms that are popular with backpackers, and the third floor has inexpensive private ensuite rooms. However, the best rooms are on the fourth floor, since they are brighter and have great views of the skyline and sea; the rooms also share a tiny patio with arguably the best view in Casco Viejo. Unfortunately these rooms are blasted by the rooftop bar next door on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, making it almost impossible to sleep before 3 am.

Eco-conscious luxury meets a hip, creative attitude at this 13-room hotel. Opened in early 2012, it's currently one of only a few upscale places to stay in Casco Viejo. At the centerpiece of the boutique property is a two-story living wall that occupies the light-flooded atrium; its myriad plant species are nourished by recycled rainwater. Other behind-the-scenes eco-touches include recycled-newspaper insulation and reclaimed furnishings that are on display in the hotel's lounge and sleek (and raucous) rooftop bar. The bars, gourmet restaurant, and other common areas have one-of-a-kind art pieces, as do guest rooms, which have been individually decorated by local artists. Modern amenities include free Wi-Fi, plasma TVs, and rain showers in each room. Suites have balconies so you can soak up the lively atmosphere and Panamanian sunshine.