Hotel San Felipe - Panama City Review
Source: My Travel Agent David
Overview
A tour of the Hotel San Felipe, a five-star luxury boutique hotel located in Casco Viejo, Panama City's UNESCO World Heritage-designated historic district.
The Hotel
- Two-part property: main hotel building plus a second building across the street
- Interior courtyard on-site
- Steakhouse restaurant (first floor of the across-the-street building)
- Rooftop bar on the third floor with 360-degree panoramic views of Panama City — visible from here: ships queuing to enter the Panama Canal
The Room
- Bright, open feel upon entry — French doors bring in a lot of natural light (note: not ideal for guests who prefer more privacy)
- King bed flanked by two nightstands, each with two 110V outlets
- Couch, mini fridge, work desk, coffee machine
- No cable TV — Netflix instead
- In-room safe and additional storage
- Full-size closet with ironing board and iron
Bathroom
- Very large — reviewer notes it appears the hotel originally had four smaller rooms per side that were combined into two larger ones, explaining the generous bathroom size
- Open-air feel, ample counter space
- Bathrobes provided
- Long mirror enhances the open feel
- Walk-in shower
Neighborhood — Casco Viejo
- Rey grocery store — short walk from the hotel
- Café Coca-Cola — a short walk further down the street; 175 years old at time of filming, the oldest continuously operating café in Panama. Notable history: they were the first to bring Coca-Cola to Panama and remain the only business in the world permitted to use "Coca-Cola" in a business name
- Basílica Merced — one block from the hotel
- Casa de la Municipalidad (municipal building) — directly across from the Basílica; originally built by the Spanish as a government building, now used for events and weddings
- Free ~10-minute tour available covering the architecture
- Includes a secret tunnel connecting to the Basílica, historically linked to Manuel Noriega's attempted escape from American forces in December 1989/January 1990, when roughly 26,000 U.S. troops occupied the area searching for him
- Basílica Cathedral Santa María de Antigua — visible from the rooftop, with a plaza in front offering good photo opportunities
Distances
- Downtown Panama City: ~2.5 miles / ~58-minute walk from the hotel
- Hard Rock Café: ~58-minute walk
Orientation (From the Rooftop)
David gives a visual orientation from the rooftop bar pointing out: the main hotel, the Basílica Merced, the Casa de la Municipalidad, downtown in the distance, and the Basílica Cathedral Santa María de Antigua.