At a crossroads for world commerce, and with the energy and exuberance inherent in any large city in Latin America, Panama City fairly bubbles with activity. The city seems to move at a frenetic pace, almost at odds with the languid procession of large vessels passing through the nearby waters at all hours on transits through the adjacent canal.
Waldorf Astoria Panama is just a block away from the excitement of the city’s main waterfront thoroughfare, but the row of high rise buildings that block much of its ocean view also insulate the hotel into a sanctuary of calm. Traffic noise isn’t overtly apparent to sunbathers at the rooftop pool, and the side street fronting the hotel’s entrance could easily be in a neighborhood miles from the city center, rather than directly in the very heart of it.
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Nowhere does the hotel feel crowded. A sentry tender in the lobby bar waits to pour craft cocktails at a see-and-be-seen bar with perspectives to both the lobby and the street. Guest corridors are intimate, as the small footprint of the tower limits guest rooms to but a handful on each floor. If seclusion and privacy are what’s required, this hotel lies in wait, willing to offer them in abundance.
The neighboring sister property, the Hilton, is much more high energy, which serves to underline the smaller Waldorf’s contrasts. There won’t be a wait at valet when dropping off the rental vehicle after a day of sightseeing, nor will there be a crowd waiting for an elevator. With just 118 rooms and 12 suites in the hotel portion of the tower (70 residences occupying the upper floors have a separate elevator) and intimately sized public spaces, it almost feels like a private retreat.
The location is also superb. It’s minutes away from the historic Casco Viejo area, where visitors can enjoy Old World flavor and chat up street vendors at the old fort ramparts or get a cup of locally-produced craft coffee to sip while poking about for film locations from the 2008 James Bond film Quantum of Solace, where the neighborhood stood in for both Haiti and Bolivia. The hotel can also arrange visits to the visitor’s center at the Miraflores Locks, where day-trippers can take a seat at the bar or on bleachers to watch ships make their transits of the historic locks of the canal, while larger vessels can be seen transiting the newer set of locks just a short distance away.
At the end of the day, when sunburned and weary-footed guests return to the hotel, the utter plushness of the accommodations is to be much appreciated. Comfy pillow top mattresses dressed with Egyptian cotton linens, oversized marble baths with rainforest showers and Ferragamo amenities and one-touch room lighting and environment controls await to melt away even the most frenzied sightseeing adventure.
Fans of the pool scene will enjoy the rooftop pool and hot tub, where there’s also a bar and light bites available throughout the afternoon and into the evening. There’s also plenty of lounge seating in both sun and shade just steps from the refreshing aquamarine plunge, which is long enough for lap swimmers. Several visits throughout the day and evening found it similarly devoid of crowds as the rest of the hotel.
In the mornings, the breakfast buffet in Brio Brasserie offered an immense selection of Pan-Latin specialties like pollo guisado (chicken stewed with peppers), alongside trusted standbys like waffles and bacon, in addition to a lavish assortment of pastries and fresh fruit, salad, cold cuts, cereals and eggs.
Service is welcoming and pleasant, with graciousness and enthusiasm making up for the lack of polish and consistency that is admittedly characteristic of the region.
The Takeaway
Quiet, comfortable, and secluded, the Waldorf Astoria Panama offers the amenities and services of a large luxury resort with the intimate feel of an exclusive residential retreat.
The Math
Low season rates start around $145 per night plus tax.
Instagrammable Moment
Plush beds and room furnishings, exquisite buffet displays, and the gorgeous pool all rated high engagement on my Instagram feed.
Loyalty
Hilton Honors
Good To Know
If driving, call the hotel for directions before setting out, as the narrow one-way side streets can make the hotel difficult to find, particularly in the dark.
North Americans will find tap water in Panama potable, so don’t worry about using bottled water for brushing teeth unless you’re particularly sensitive.
