Panama City, the capital and the largest city in the country of Panama, is becoming a major tourism destination for many travel enthusiasts because of the wide array of experiences it provides. It is a modern and sophisticated metropolis, with the second most extensive travel coverage in Central America after Costa Rica. The city renders beautiful experiences involving rainforests, mountains, and native cultures, along with vibrant urban life and enormously inspiring history. This article is aimed at providing valuable insight into the various important places of the city and their respective characteristics to help travelers plan their trip to the city in a better way and ensure that they have a memorable experience. We will also discuss the city’s shopping opportunities.
Looking for a place to stay is a major concern of any traveler as the location of the stay has a direct impact on daily trips. Travelers usually like to select a location that ticks the most boxes.
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The city of Panama has various locations to choose from, each possessing immense capacity to render an exuberant experience for visitors. Other essential facets to consider are eating, shopping, and nightlife. Read through and get to know the best places to stay, best restaurants and eateries on offer, and the best locations in the city for spending your nights.
Best Places to Stay
The city of Panama offers a lot to choose from as far as accommodations are concerned.
American Trade Hotel
This luxurious hotel is one of the most elegant spaces in Panama. The hotel has a contemporary look from the outside, but is equipped with all the modern amenities inside. It is a symbol of the culture of the town and is also known for serving the best brunch in the city. Check availability on Hotels.com
Hotel Casa Panama
This charming boutique hotel is a mix of modern design and timeless culture. It renders all the luxurious facilities, including bars, restaurants, nightclubs, swimming pools, and free Wi-Fi, etc. Check availability on Hotels.com.
Magnolia Inn
The Magnolia Inn is both a boutique hotel and a hostel. It is one of the better budget choices in town and it is the preferred choice of most of travelers because of its ambiance and original character. The inn provides a nostalgic charm with luxurious social areas for guests. Check availability on Hotels.com.
Hyatt Place
This hotel in El Cangrejo is one of the best mid-range hotels one can get in the area and is located virtually in the middle of the city. Amenities include an outdoor pool and a breakfast buffet. The rooms provide jaw-dropping views into the financial district. Check availability on Hotels.com.
Global Hotel
It is a contemporary style four-star hotel with large, comfortable rooms. This hotel also provides an outdoor pool and a tremendous view of the city. Check availability on Hotels.com.
W Panama
It is a five-star hotel in El Cangrejo from one of the world’s top luxury hotel chains with all of the amenities for a royal stay. Book one of their spacious king-sized bedrooms and make the best of your stay in your private balcony. Check availability on Hotels.com.
El Machico Hostel
This Marbella hotel is one of the popular budget locations in the city of Panama. It consists of an outdoor pool and private rooms. Check availability on http://www.elmachicohostel.com/.
Hard Rock Hotel Panama Megapolis
It is a high rise, four-point-five-star hotel. The main attractions are its luxurious amenities, including a sauna, spa, rooftop lounge, and an outdoor pool, along with ten restaurants and bars. Check availability on Hotels.com.
Hotel Secrotel Panama Princess
Another popular choice in Marbella for budget-conscious travelers, offering simple, comfortable rooms with an outdoor pool, sauna, and spa.
Casco Viejo - Restaurants and Places to Eat
Where to eat is another area of concern for travelers. Apart from the American Trade Hotel, which arguably provides the best brunch in the city, the following are other options a traveler can look out for.
The area of Casco Viejo offers the following restaurants:
Casa Casco
Casa Casco gives you enough choices as it has three restaurants on offer, along with a nightclub, bar, and a gorgeous rooftop, making it a favorite of the travelers.
Casa Jaguar
Casa Jaguar serves both authentic and modern food in its restaurant and has a bar and an upscale nightclub. It is unique in its way as it contains an art gallery with a strict dress code.
Tantalo
This artistic boutique hotel boasts of a popular restaurant on the main floor. Its rooftop bar is known for offering delicious cocktails.
Tio Navaja
Tio Navaja is a place couples should not miss. It has a small, beautiful restaurant, rendering beautifully presented dishes and a bar upstairs to spend a lovely romantic night enjoying a delicious cocktail and dancing.
Obarrio and El Cangrejo - Restaurants and Places to Eat
The districts of Obarrio and El Cangrejo too boast of a number of hotels and restaurants, rendering both contemporary and modern cuisine from all over the world. Some of these that are definitely worth a visit include: El Trapiche, Green Tea House, Mordida del Burro, La Negre Tomasa, and many more.
Along with these, Marbella is home to many renowned restaurants, offering both local and international cuisine to cater to the needs of international travelers. Luna is a large, pleasant dining room, offering dominantly Italian and Japanese fusion foods, giving an international vibe with its ambiance and furniture. Another popular one is a Japanese restaurant, Restaurante Hikaru, which offers dishes with an authentic Japanese flavor. Apart from these, fast food restaurants like Bario Pizza and Smashburger ensure Marbella never falls short of terrific food options.
Shopping in Panama City
Shopping hubs in the city include both low-key market spots and big shopping centers. Find food, toys, and a bustling atmosphere at Plaza Cinco de Mayo, located along a cheap shopping extravaganza, Avenida Central. The main tourist attractions are the big shopping malls, the Albrook Mall, located at the city terminal, having a chain of cheap shops and a massive food court; the Multiplaza Mall features exclusive designer shops like Chanel and Louis Vuitton. It also houses a large cinema hall. The El Machetazo on Central Avenue renders a real ‘Panamanian’ shopping experience by offering a wide range of products from sports equipment to fruits and vegetables. Travelers can easily find U.S. and UK based branded luxury goods at discounted prices in the Panama markets.
Nightlife in Panama City
Casco Viejo has arguably the best nightlife in the city. The streets here are full of energy and a walk in the night is enough to make you feel the vibe. The area provides a plethora of choices. Travelers can spend their nights dancing in nightclubs, enjoying a romantic night with their special one, cheering beers in a restaurant bar with friends, or even rubbing elbows with the rich at an art gallery. Mostly all the hotels and restaurants in the area have bars and nightclubs. Simply go out and enjoy!
El Cangrejo is dotted with a plethora of theatres, nightclubs, and casinos to take care of any nightlife needs in Panama. One can check out The Biergarten with its lush garden and big screen showing the sporting action of the day or El Apartamento-Sotano, a soothing space of art, culture, and music, ranging from jazz to hip hop.
In addition to this, the town of Marbella is another renowned nightlife spot in the city. It houses numerous restaurant-bar-nightclub fusions like Alta Bar and Brew Stop, which help keep the nights thriving.
Conclusion
Panama City has evolved a lot and it is one of the major tourist attractions in the world today. The hotels, restaurants, and markets in the city show off the local culture and history, providing a memorable experience for travelers. So, refer to the article above, visit Panama, and relish the natural and historical beauty of the city!
If you’re ready to book a flight, check the current prices on Orbitz.com or see if they have better offers on CheapTickets.com.
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