Review: Waldorf Astoria Panama City, Panama (Junior Suite)

The Waldorf Astoria Panama is honestly a gem in Panama City. All around it was one of the best experiences we have had at a hotel anywhere. The service was top notch and everything was seamless from check-in to check out.

We were upgraded to a Junior Suite and arrived to our room with a bottle of complimentary champagne on ice, and a plate with beautiful macaroons and gold dusted chocolate truffles. The concierge was able to secure us a great dinner reservation last minute and the breakfast buffet was outstanding.

Location & Where to Stay in Panama City

The Panama City Waldorf is located in the Downtown area at 47th St. & Uruguay St. Panama City, Panama. The Downtown area is approximately a 20-25 min drive from the airport and $15 USD Uber ride. There are many other mid-range and luxury hotels in this area, but not as many restaurants and nightlife spots.

Casco Viejo, known as the historic Old Town has a tremendous amount of culture and historic sites to visit. Additionally there are endless amounts of restaurants, cafes, rum tasting rooms, and shops to enjoy in the evening. It was a fun area to spend the evening exploring. The prices for accommodation are slightly higher than in the Downtown area for what you end up getting however.

The Panama Canal is actually a set of multiple locks through the country. The closest and most famous is the Miraflores locks, which is approximately a 20 minute drive from town. We were fortunate enough to watch the process of a ship going through the locks. It’s a pretty unique experience and something we highly recommend when in Panama City.

How We Booked the Waldorf Astoria in Panama City, Panama

Cash rates run ~$180 USD/night, however I was able to use a special rate code for ~$130 USD/night. Talk about a steal for a Waldorf! Otherwise the point cost is 40K Hilton points/night.

Yes we actually pay for rooms sometimes when it makes sense ????

Check In at the Waldorf Panama

While the outside of the building is understated, the entrance and lobby is stunning with extravagant fixtures and luxury décor.

We were greeted by very friendly staff members that acknowledged our Diamond status and upgraded us to a Junior Suite. After we were checked in, we discussed evening plans with the concierge service. They were able to give us a few dining recommendations and secure us a last minute reservation at one of the new hottest restaurants in town.

Junior Suite at the Panama City Waldorf Astoria

Our room was on the 17th floor and was a great size compared to the standard rooms. The one king bed was situated in the center of the room.

On one side of the bed was a panel that controlled the lights for the entire room and bathroom

Past the bed was a table and sort of desk/work area. Even though we were only staying one night, the staff arranged a special champagne and dessert platter for us.

And yes macaroons and gold dusted chocolate truffles were just as delicious as they look.

On the TV was a welcome message. Some people don’t particularly care for this, but we still think ti’s a nice touch.

There was a small stand across from the bed with (expensive) snacks, a Nespresso machine and a mini fridge.

The bathroom was another highlight of the Junior Suite. The whites, offwhites and light browns bended perfectly to create a luxurious ambiance.

There was a tub in the middle of the room which was a nice touch, but it felt awkwardly exposed being right in the center

The shower was perfect with a rainfall showerhead and extra spray hose if needed

The amenities were Salvador Ferragamo of course. I know it’s good for the environment, but it will be a sad day when the Waldorf stops having single use Ferragamo toiletries.

Breakfast at the Panama Waldorf Astoria

As diamond members we had complimentary breakfast at the hotel restaurant. The service was very friendly and we tried our best to speak Spanish with them. With our Spanish we were able to order water, coffee and eggs! Luckily it was a buffet so we could just walk up and get the rest of our meal.

There were several dozen food items to choose from, both hot and cold. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves, but some of the highlights were the made to order omelet station, fresh pastries, perfectly ripe fresh fruit and the real honeycomb. We mentioned before, but this was one of the best included buffet breakfasts we have had on our travels so far.

Waldorf Astoria Panama Pool & Gym

The pool features an open air deck with half being covered by the building and half uncovered. There are decent views of the surrounding buildings, but as many of the buildings in downtown Panama are very tall, you couldn’t see more than a few blocks. The property also offers full pool side service for food and drinks.

The gym was nice for a hotel gym with multiple cardio machines and dumbbells going up to 50 lbs, although we didn’t get a chance to utilize it.

Pool open 630am-10pm
Gym open 24 hours a day

Overall Impression

Panama was much more fun than we expected for a 23 hour layover, and the Waldorf Astoria was a big part of that. This hotel was one of the nicer hotels we have stayed at and unbeatable at its price point. The service was excellent, our room upgrade was phenomenal. The added champagne with macaroons and gold dusted chocolate truffles was a nice touch for a one night stay. Even though this hotel is located in Panama, the luxury service and attention to detail is exactly what one would expect from a Waldorf Astoria hotel.