"Casco Viejo is the historic and walkable heart of Panama City ’s nightlife scene for visitors and tourists alike, so for those in-the-know it may come as no surprise that Sofitel’s sixth Legend property in the world came to town in early 2022. The brand has garnered a loyal following by preserving famed addresses and transforming them into luxe cultural getaways true to the history of a place. This one, a former social club, fuses the country’s Spanish- and French-colonial pasts (France tried and failed to build the Panama Canal here before its U.S. completion) to a truly show-stopping and high-design renovation that stays true to the building’s original French-colonial architecture. Rooms range from 375-square-foot superior level options to spacious suites with large sitting balconies—and 87 percent of rooms have an ocean view. All floors except the bottom level have balconies, which make for in-room breakfasts with an incredible view of the cityscape and adjacent historic district. Rooms from $369. —Shannon McMahon" - CNT Editors
