An Essential Guide To Panama City's Casco Antiguo, A Burgeoning Hotspot Worth The Trip

Forbes

3 days ago

A quiet corner of Panama City's Casco Antiguo. Copa Airlines
As sailors come over the crest to pass through the Panama Canal towards Panama City, they're often surprised to see a skyline packed with skyscrapers, the effect of decades of the country's stability and strategic location making it the region's busiest business capital.
Panama City has thrived as a destination for passing through rather than sticking around, with tourism taking a comfortable back seat in the country's GDP. However, discerning visitors have long known that the seeds of opportunity for transforming this city into a destination all its own have always been there.
Nowhere is that more true than in the Casco Antiguo, the city's historic center dating back to the 1600s, where cathedral bells rings, historic churches reign and centuries-old mansions are finally being reclaimed from the passage of time. While the neighborhood languished for years and many parts lay forgotten, visitors recently started to realize there's something worth seeing here. As new hotels, restaurants, cafes and bar spring up upon hitoric foundations, the neighborhood's renaissance is igniting Panama City's tourism like never before.
Now, it's easier to visit than ever to visit Panama City thanks to Copa Airlines Stopover Program, which allows travels to spend up to seven extra days in Panama when flying the airline, at no additional airline fee.
Looking to beat the crowds and experience Panama City's Casco Antiguo before becomes the new talk of travel? Read on for a guide to the best of Panama City's most enigmatic neighborhood.
The courtyard at Hotel La Compañía in Panama City's Casco Antiguo. Hotel La Compañía
Hotel La Compañía marries centuries of history in the heart of the historic center with thoughtful luxuries that makes it part iconic place to stay, part destination all to its own. The hotel's 88 rooms are spread across three wings that each have their roots in different centuries of the history, from 17th-century Spanish colonial section and fine French architecture to Beaux-Arts American inspiration from the 1900s. Multiple dining venues, divine city views and friendly service are next level. Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo
Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo got its start in an early 20th-century Club Union building designed by James C. Wright shortly after the opening of the Panama Canal, giving it an instant air of grandeur when it reopened in 2023 as one of the neighborhood's most historic properties. Now, its luxe waterfront rooms make it a coveted Casco Antiguo spot complete with spa, event spaces and fine dining. Amarla Boutique Hotel
The age-old mansions of Casco Antiguo are slowly being saved, many transformed into boutique hotels that offer a personalized take on the centuries-old character of neighborhood. Amarla Boutique Hotel is the top choice among them, with handpicked decor in each of its eight rooms, a gorgeous rooftop space, and one of the best restaurants in the entire city.
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Panama City. Ancon Expeditions What To Do Take a Walking Tour
To take a Casco Antiguo walking tour with Ancon Expeditions it to fall in love with tours all over again, even if you haven't always been their biggest fan. Packed with history and peppered with funny anecdotes, these tours dive into the intricately-layered history of the city, and can be tailored to include a foodie focus, a coffee or chocolate tasting experience and plenty more along the way. Sip the World's Best Coffee
As a travel writer and coffee addict currently based in Medellin, Colombia I have a pride towards Colombian coffee, but I have to hand it to Panama's prized geisha coffee when it comes to flavor, feel and tasting experience. Geisha tasting opportunities are a dime a dozen in Casco Antiguo, but the best place to try it is with Geisha Experiences, who have a staff of passionate, prepared guides who really know what they're talking about Visit Museo Casa Coronel
A brand new museum located on the edge of the Casco Antiguo, Museo Casa Coronel del Cacao y del Chocolate makes an art of out of Panama's burgeoning chocolate industry, bringing visitors along for the ride—and the taste test. Set in a recently restored historic mansion, a visit is the perfect combination of chocolate tasting experience and historic architectural tour.
The bar at Villa Ana. Villa Ana Where To Eat Villa Ana 1928
It's all about fine dining, white tablecloth service and delicious handmade fare at Villa Ana 1928, once the home of one of Panama City's most famous society ladies and now a multi-level restaurant and bar space complete with cigar bar and rooftop. Make sure to time your visit for a night of live music to be immediately transports you back to one of Panama City's most regal eras. Fonda Lo Que Hay
It seemed every local I spoke with in Panama City was set on sending me to Fonda Lo Que Hay during my stay in Casco Antiguo. Named one of the best restaurants in Latin America after its debut, this casual spot with a cool bar and plenty of family-style seating ushers guests into the most authentic yet elevated Panamanian dining destinations in the neighborhood. Affordable prices and rave reviews means you might have to wait for a table. Kaandela
Panamanian cuisine is going through something of a renaissance, led in no small part by passionate chefs like Jose Aparicio at Kaandela. An up and coming local chef calls his creations a mix of "Panama's culinary traditions reinterpreted with a modern edge," offers a good mix of surf and turf options with plenty of Caribbean flavor and flare.
Exilio, located inside Hotel La Compañía in Panama City's Casco Antiguo. Hotel La Compañía Where To Drink Exilio Bar
Nestled off the courtyard in the French wing of Hotel La Compañía, Exilio Bar oozes a grandeur and stately luxury that draws Panama City's elite into Casco Antiguo for drinks to close the day. It preserves the history of its locale without being ostentatious, and is perfectly balanced by taking a second round of drinks at the hotel's rooftop bar at sunset. Pedro Mandinga Rum Bar
Pedro Mandinga is first and foremost a rum distillery and brand with a variety of thoughtfully crafted liquors, so you know its Pedro Mandinga Rum Bar in Casco Antiguo has to be good. You really can't go wrong with anything on their full menu of food (though the patacones and torrejitas are divine), but guests can't leave without a tasting of their unique rums distilled with ingredients like geisha coffee, cacao and coconut. Tántalo
Casco Antiguo is all about the rooftops, and there's none better than Tántalo if you're looking to get down. Tántalo tends to have a mix of visitors and locals alike here to gawk at the incredible view of both old town streets and modern city skyscrapers.There's a fun drink menu and full menu of food served until the evening, though the party goes on into the wee hours.
Monsters, located on the famous Calle de los Sombreros. Monsters Where To Shop Monsters
An impossibly cool design store located on Casco Antiguo's Calle de los Sombreros, Monsters is packed with colorfully designed, Panama inspired t-shirts, jewelry, stickers, home decor pieces and so much more, making it the perfect stop for a one of a kind souvenir. Here you'll want to linger: the shop shares space with a matcha cafe and tea house to fuel the rest of your Casco Antiguo adventures. Etnik
A curated collection of lightweight, resort ware style-clothes, bags and accessories will draw you into Etnik, but just wait until you see the jewelry. Locally designed fine jewelry takes inspiration from pre-Columbian indigenous discoveries and long-loved textile designs for handcrafted pieces that make a statement. Victor's Panama Hats
Panama hats actually originated in Ecuador, but they got their name when President Theodore Roosevelt wore one when he visited Panama City during the construction of the Panama Canal. Now, you'll find them for sale everywhere, but Victor's Panama Hats does a great job offering a wide range or hand-produced hats you'll love, and will happy walk clients through their creation process from start to finish.