Plaza Paitilla Inn

In a neighborhood full of boxy skyscrapers, the Plaza Paitilla’s cylindrical, flower-petal shaped structure stands out. Originally built by the Holiday Inn chain in 1975, the hotel was one of the area’s first and tallest buildings and now stands dwarfed by the neighboring high rises. With its marble lobby, mirrored walls, and studded leather couches, much of the hotel’s decor in common areas feels dated, yet it’s easy to overlook after getting a glimpse of some of the ocean and city views available from various spots throughout the hotel, including many guest rooms. The hotel’s public spaces are airy and the terrace -- also with ocean views -- is a perfect place to lounge after a day exploring. The bar is relaxed and has 12-flat screen TVs for anyone needing to keep up on sports. Hotel guests run the gamut, but couples and families on vacation make up a bulk of those staying here; the hotel sees a good deal of business travelers as well.

Set on the tip of the Punta Paitilla peninsula -- an upscale waterfront neighborhood -- the hotel is an easy walk from plenty of restaurants, bars, and stores. The area is also home to many of the city's upmarket hotels. Across from the hotel is the Plaza de la Democracia, with lawns, gardens, fountains, centered around a towering rocket-inspired statue. The Multicentro Mall -- with shops, bars, restaurants, multiplex movie theater, and casino -- is a five-minute walk or a 10-minute taxi ride from the hotel. For a quick fix, a chain pizza restaurant is a four-minute walk from the hotel. Taxis are readily available from the lobby and public buses stop one block from the hotel. The nearest metro station, Estacion Santo Tomas, is an eight-minute taxi or a long, yet pleasant, half-hour walk along the city's boardwalk. While not located in the hotel, many cars rentals office are nearby, the closest being a seven-minute taxi ride away. Many of Panama City’s top sights are an easy cab ride from the hotel: the Old City, with its narrow cobblestoned streets and colonial mansions is a five-minute drive from the hotel; Parque Natural Metropolitano -- a lush rainforest with more than 200 species of animals including monkeys, deer, and sloths -- is an 11-minute drive; and the Panama Canal -- one of the engineering wonders and transit hubs of the world -- takes 45 minutes to reach. The hotel is a 30-minute cab ride from Panama’s Tocumen International Airport and a 20-minute trip from Panama City’s domestic hub, Albrook International Airport.

The hotel’s 272 bright and airy guest rooms are decorated in a reserved contemporary Caribbean decor that's generically modern with a dash of up-market sophistication. Colors throughout are muted, with tan walls, gray patterned carpets, and dark wood-veneer furniture that complements with the cayenne-colored bed runner and wooden hourglass lamps. The mostly-bare walls are empty except for a watercolor painting of Panama City’s old town or grim '90s Abstract Expressionist paintings -- a dated holdover.The hotel’s rooms come in an array of categories, from Standard Rooms with double or king beds to Junior Suites, and all have floor-to-ceiling windows. In addition to being exclusively on the hotel’s 19th floor -- its highest -- Junior Suites also have a sitting area fashioned with paprika-colored loveseats, patterned chairs, and glass-topped coffee tables. For ocean and skyline views, be sure to request rooms on the hotel’s west side.Flat-screen TVs are standard and all rooms have air-conditioning, irons and ironing boards, coffeemakers, safes, and reasonably priced minibars. Wi-Fi is free as well. Marble-walled bathrooms are small, but functional, with generous wrap-around granite vanities and hair dryers located separate from the toilet and bathtub/shower combo. Amenities include soap, shampoo, conditioner, and shower caps. 

The hotel’s best feature is its oceanfront location, and many of the hotel's features are set up with this in mind. The palm-fringed outdoor pool and children’s pool with rattan chaise lounge chairs, covered terrace, bar, and gym all overlook the glistening sea. There's also a large gym that overlooks the pool and ocean. It includes modern treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary bikes, dumbbells, and even a massage chair (though we wish the massage chair faced the outside rather than the gym’s mirrored interior wall). Other wellness options include the hotel's beauty salon.The hotel restaurant, Los Corales feels like it was lifted from the Panamanian countryside and set in the city, with its exposed wood beams, latticed windows, and framed photos of trotting horses. Its breakfast buffet -- included in room rates -- offers a wide selection of hot and cold items like cereals, fresh fruit, eggs, juices, and an omelette station. Food generally gets mixed reviews; dinner and happy hour specials are available as well. The hotel’s Business Bar is a contemporary space with colorfully tiled walls, 12 flat-screen TVs, and sleek gray padded seats. A pool table and black grand piano are available for guests to play.The hotel offers tour booking, complimentary valet parking services with a secure lot. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and though there is a business center, the hotel charges a fee for its use.