Hotel Casa Magnolia Inn Panama

Too many police men who use the common areas to relax while on duty at all times of the day. It makes the kitchen and lounge area not a place to hang out. I am not picky as someone who mostly stays in hostels everywhere. It is clean and in a good location but not somewhere to stay more than one night in because of the police and army presence if you are the type like me who seek a good traveler-friendly ambiance when traveling

The vibes are off. I’ve been staying in Magnolia since I lived in Panama before 2020 & used to love staying here and meeting people from all over the world. However it seems it is under management and its more strict & doesn’t have the hostel vibes like other hostels. There is constant police presence in the common areas on their phones, ‘for our safety’ it doesn’t feel comfortable & doesn’t allow people to interact cause we’re walking on eggshells. They are very strict and asked us to identify ourselves multiple times during our stay. The aircon is controlled by management as if we are not responsible adults. The common areas is not for lounging around & getting to know people, the decor is sterile. Definitely do not recommend for the usual hostel goer.

Not your average hostel. Great location, and friendly, helpful staff. The place was very clean (staff seems to be cleaning all day). I stayed in a single private room with bathroom one night and a dorm bed another night. The beds were comfortable, clean- no moldy smells. The common area had comfy couches, some outdoor balconies. The kitchen is large, with full size oven and refrigerator. Fresh coffee all day. Not a party hostel, caters to folks looking for a quieter experience. The building is old and historic- well preserved and beautiful. I also stayed at a hostel in downtown and it was a stark contrast to this superior one. I’d say this is a 5 star hostel accommodation as far as hostel standards go. No breakfast.

At first I was sceptical about the concept of a hostel in a hotel. But it's more like that there are some rooms with dorms. We stayed in the 15 bed dorm. It's a big room with single beds. Every bed is equipped with a fan which is necessary because there is no AC in the dorm (but everywhere else in the building?). Also the power plug situation can be tricky and is not optimal. Additionally, there are many windows and therefore a lot of light in there. Due to this it gets very hot in there during day. The common area was surprisingly social because the kitchen is directly connected to it. From around 12 pm on there is also AC. Everything was very clean and the staff was friendly. The offer a free walking tour everyday which I can highly recommend! It's not the typical backpacker's stay and it's lacking a "soul" or a "backpacker vibe" but it's still a solid stay.

Stayed at Magnolia Inn in Panama and honestly, our private room was disappointing. The furniture felt worn out, and the shower was a real hassle. It seems like the shared rooms are in better shape, though—the common area is actually nice, with a kitchen and clean spaces. The staff was friendly and helpful, which we appreciated. The location, however, didn’t feel ideal; the area felt a bit sketchy at night. If you’re just looking for a budget spot with shared spaces, it might work, but I wouldn’t recommend it for a comfortable private stay.

This hotel was in a great spot in the old part of Panama City. Easy to get around. The rooms were good (at least the private rooms we were in). Our room had a seperate private bathroom across the hall, but not sure if others are like that too. There was airconditioning in ours which was great. Things that they don't provide is laundry and breakfast (although the provide a kitchen and fridge to store stuff you buy). Recommend to do the free walking tour...it is fantastic. A must do.

I really don't understand why this place gets so many good reviews - my best guess is that it trades entirely on it's location and then puts zero effort into anything else.|Yes, it's a nice old building and yes, it has some pretty views but beyond that it's a very mediocre hostel.|The accomodation is basic; very flimsy, wobbly bunks, tiny shower rooms, and no attempt at breakfast.|Our room had a huge window with no curtain meaning it was impossible to sleep past 6am. There's no control for the air-con in the rooms (staff come around and turn it on or off as they see fit).|To be fair, most of the junior staff (cleaners etc.) were friendly and nice, but the reception staff/management ranged from curt to rude. Certainly nothing that I would call welcoming.|One particularly pompous individual seemed to spend his time wandering the communal areas telling guests not to recline on the sofas like naughty children - I'm not joking.|If you're really, really into panamanian architecture (and I mean really) you might want to consider staying here, otherwise give it a wide bearth.

Stayed in a private room. I appreciated the white noise machine, good shower, and well designed kitchen. Staff are super chill. Not really a backpacker party spot which was fine for me!