Central Hotel Panama Casco Viejo
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Fast facts
Check in from: | 15:00 |
|---|---|
Check out before: | 12:00 |
Breakfast | Breakfast available |
Pets | Pets not allowed |
Children | Children are welcome at this hotel |
Amenities
Wi-Fi
Parking
Air conditioning
Airport shuttle
Pool
Fitness centre
More about Central Hotel Panama Casco Viejo
Central Hotel Panama Casco Viejo
Offering an outdoor pool and spa centre, Central Hotel Panama is set in the historic centre of Panama City, 200 metres from Presidential Palace. The hotel has a sauna and fitness centre, and guests can enjoy a meal at the restaurant.
Reviews from 
Solo traveller
Comment: 9 Aug 2026
Perfect Location & Very Helpful Staff
Room was comfortable and spacious. Bistró Central and Central Palm Gardens restaurants were both outstanding, as was the extensive buffet breakfast. Staff was extremely helpful with any issues. Would absolutely stay again.
Couple
UK
Comment: 15 Aug 2026
5* hotel 1* customer service
We stayed at The Central Hotel twice within the space of one week. Our first stay was just for one night, and we had a genuinely lovely welcome from Barbara, who was incredibly friendly and helpful. We enjoyed the hotel so much that we decided to return four days later for a longer stay after our short break in Bocas del Toro.
Unfortunately, our second stay was a completely different experience.
When we arrived for our second stay at around 1:30pm from the airport, we were aware that check-in was from 3pm onwards, so we completely understood that our room would not yet be ready. We simply wanted to leave our luggage. However, even at this point the welcome was dismissive and unfriendly.
When we returned after 3pm to check in, the attitude remained the same. We were given no information about breakfast times, where breakfast was served, or any of the other basic information you would normally expect when checking into a hotel. This was particularly disappointing given that our first experience at the hotel had been so positive.
On our first departure, we had also found some of the staff to be rather unfriendly and surly. We initially put this down to perhaps having had a long night shift. However, when we returned four days later, it became clear that this was unfortunately more widespread and the norm. Almost every member of staff we encountered during our second stay was unfriendly and showed very little warmth or customer service.
Had we known what the second stay would be like, we would have chosen another hotel in Panama City.
The room was also disappointing. We were given a room with a very small window low down on the ground, which made the room feel quite claustrophobic. When we asked whether we could change rooms, we were told that they knew it wasn’t a particularly good room and that we should come back the following day if we wanted to change. The air conditioning was also old and very noisy.
Breakfast itself was fine, with a nice selection of fruit and an omelette station. However, the service was again disappointing. Staff appeared to be wearing earpieces and waiting for instruction rather than walking around looking to see who needed coffee. At times it felt the staff were laughing and sharing private jokes about guests.
It is such a shame because our first stay had left us with a completely different impression of the hotel, and we were genuinely happy to return. Unfortunately, the second stay highlighted a consistent lack of warmth, communication and basic customer service.
The hotel has the facilities and location to provide a very good experience, but the staff need to be much more welcoming and attentive. Clear information at check-in, a friendly greeting, and a more proactive approach to guest service would make a huge difference.
Overall, although this may be a five-star hotel in terms of its official rating, our experience was one-star customer service. If we return to Panama City, we would unfortunately choose another hotel.
Unfortunately, our second stay was a completely different experience.
When we arrived for our second stay at around 1:30pm from the airport, we were aware that check-in was from 3pm onwards, so we completely understood that our room would not yet be ready. We simply wanted to leave our luggage. However, even at this point the welcome was dismissive and unfriendly.
When we returned after 3pm to check in, the attitude remained the same. We were given no information about breakfast times, where breakfast was served, or any of the other basic information you would normally expect when checking into a hotel. This was particularly disappointing given that our first experience at the hotel had been so positive.
On our first departure, we had also found some of the staff to be rather unfriendly and surly. We initially put this down to perhaps having had a long night shift. However, when we returned four days later, it became clear that this was unfortunately more widespread and the norm. Almost every member of staff we encountered during our second stay was unfriendly and showed very little warmth or customer service.
Had we known what the second stay would be like, we would have chosen another hotel in Panama City.
The room was also disappointing. We were given a room with a very small window low down on the ground, which made the room feel quite claustrophobic. When we asked whether we could change rooms, we were told that they knew it wasn’t a particularly good room and that we should come back the following day if we wanted to change. The air conditioning was also old and very noisy.
Breakfast itself was fine, with a nice selection of fruit and an omelette station. However, the service was again disappointing. Staff appeared to be wearing earpieces and waiting for instruction rather than walking around looking to see who needed coffee. At times it felt the staff were laughing and sharing private jokes about guests.
It is such a shame because our first stay had left us with a completely different impression of the hotel, and we were genuinely happy to return. Unfortunately, the second stay highlighted a consistent lack of warmth, communication and basic customer service.
The hotel has the facilities and location to provide a very good experience, but the staff need to be much more welcoming and attentive. Clear information at check-in, a friendly greeting, and a more proactive approach to guest service would make a huge difference.
Overall, although this may be a five-star hotel in terms of its official rating, our experience was one-star customer service. If we return to Panama City, we would unfortunately choose another hotel.
Solo traveller
IT
Comment: 15 Aug 2026
Admiring that grand double staircase
I don’t remember how many times I’ve been there when it was a shabby hotel then derelicted and that staircase remained there, majestic now has a full life, vibrant with people among staff and tourists mingling around once again as it was back in late XIX century and beginning XX century. This is a hotel with historical guests and events, like the first flag of the nation being exhibited first time from one of those balconies and among the guests who stayed there were the 26th President of the US (T. Roosevelt), Ferdinand de Lesseps and other intellectuals.
No, sadly I did not stay there but ate at one of their restaurants, the Central Palm Garden which is located precisely in the atrium facing those stairs. Ordered a Cobb Salad (17,00) which was very large, with a bit of everything, liked most of it with the exception of the bacon pieces… the service wasn’t bad, was friendly but slow paced when they came to take the order until when they brought the food, took more time than expected for a salad (sat there for over 30 minutes). The ambiance is good with live music playing guitar classics, loved it!
No, sadly I did not stay there but ate at one of their restaurants, the Central Palm Garden which is located precisely in the atrium facing those stairs. Ordered a Cobb Salad (17,00) which was very large, with a bit of everything, liked most of it with the exception of the bacon pieces… the service wasn’t bad, was friendly but slow paced when they came to take the order until when they brought the food, took more time than expected for a salad (sat there for over 30 minutes). The ambiance is good with live music playing guitar classics, loved it!
Family traveller
FR
Comment: 12 Aug 2026
Avoid
I'm writing this review while we're still at the hotel. I don't need more time to know what I think.
We booked the Presidential Suite and honestly this is by far the worst hotel we've ever stayed in, both for the service and for everything else.
The entrance of the hotel is beautiful, I'll give them that. It's the only good thing I can say.
The rooms are old, but okay, you can call that the charm of the place, I can live with it. What I can't live with is the rest. We arrived and the kids' bed wasn't ready, the baby cot wasn't even set up. We called room service, nobody answered. I had to go down myself to ask for it. It was 9.30 PM.
But the worst part is the curtains. They're not real blackout curtains, so the room stays bright. And on top of that there's a ton of noise from the square all night long, impossible to sleep, not one hour. When we explained all this to the hotel, no consideration at all, and no way to end our stay earlier either.
So yes, really, avoid this hotel.
We booked the Presidential Suite and honestly this is by far the worst hotel we've ever stayed in, both for the service and for everything else.
The entrance of the hotel is beautiful, I'll give them that. It's the only good thing I can say.
The rooms are old, but okay, you can call that the charm of the place, I can live with it. What I can't live with is the rest. We arrived and the kids' bed wasn't ready, the baby cot wasn't even set up. We called room service, nobody answered. I had to go down myself to ask for it. It was 9.30 PM.
But the worst part is the curtains. They're not real blackout curtains, so the room stays bright. And on top of that there's a ton of noise from the square all night long, impossible to sleep, not one hour. When we explained all this to the hotel, no consideration at all, and no way to end our stay earlier either.
So yes, really, avoid this hotel.
Couple
Comment: 6 Aug 2026
Amazing classical themed hotel in the middle of Casco Antiguo
The hotel premises were amazing, the staff attention to everything related to my time there at the hotel was superb, considering every detail to our anniversary celebrations for both the room preparation and the dinner afterwards in one of the restaurants, BTW, all three of them available in the hotel, amazing, the rooftop one had a view of the cathedral and the skyline and the bistro one, food was just great, if you need a place to stay and enjoy Casco Antiguo, this is the one to pick up.
Excellent location
Plaza de la Independencia, C. 5a Este, Panama City, 0, Panama|4.95 km from city centre
Check in and check out
Check in from:
15:00
Check out before:
12:00
Good to know
Children are welcome at this hotel
All ages
521,863 ₫ (USD20) per person per night
2 years old and under
Free
Pets not allowed
Breakfast available
Breakfast price
652,328 ₫ (≈USD 25)/person
Breakfast times
06:00 - 10:00 from Monday to Sunday
Please inform Central Hotel Panama Casco Viejo in advance of your expected arrival time. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly with the contact details provided in your confirmation. Guests are required to show a photo identification and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply. In response to Coronavirus (COVID-19), additional safety and sanitation measures are in effect at this property. Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19), this property is taking steps to help protect the safety of guests and staff. Certain services and amenities may be reduced or unavailable as a result. Underage guests - up to 18 years old - traveling with their parents, can proceed with the registration process at the hotel, by presenting ID, passport or civil registration document at the hotel front desk. If the children are not travelling with their parents, they are required to show a copy of their birth certificate document, and a copy of their parents' citizenship card. In case that the guests do not present any of the required documentation, the hotel has the right to allow them or not to entry the property. Please note that for the room "Double Room with Panama Canal Tour" - the tour is not available on Mondays.
This hotel accepts the following payment methods:
Cash
Central Hotel Panama Casco Viejo: FAQs
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