Panama Hotels|Panama, Panama

Bristol Panama

Name: Bristol Panama
Telephone: 507-264-0000

Chic comforts in Panama’s Financial District

VERIFIED LUXURY

Learn How We Inspect

Bristol Panama sets you at ease with a quiet ambiance, solid service and classic, sophisticated guest rooms.

But what makes the hotel stand out is that it also gives you a taste of local flavor. Attentively infused into each aspect of its aesthetic is a hint of Panamanian culture, from the spa to the dining to the décor. The Bristol evokes a chic gallery-like feeling through the elegant local paintings that adorn the walls around every corner. And a great restaurant spotlights authentic, delicious Panamanian cuisine.

Its stylish doors have been welcoming well-heeled guests and business travelers since its opening in 1997, and it's easy to see why. Being set in the heart of Panama City’s banking district makes the hotel convenient for those in town for work, while everyone can appreciate the property’s knockout views from almost everywhere within its two towers.

Our Inspector's Highlights

Don’t leave without a visit to The Spa at Bristol, the highest point in the hotel on the 25th floor with views of the Pacific Ocean or Panama’s Metropolitan Park. The crown jewels of this sumptuous spot are undoubtedly the Vichy shower rain massage and the five-headed shower in the couples suite.
The hotel gym is well-equipped and spacious and even offers an outdoor relaxation area by the pool. There are also yoga classes available, which are coordinated in the mornings or afternoons, depending on the number of sign-ups.
We like the property’s elegant yet unassuming atmosphere and personalized service.
Though the luxury hotel is situated in the bustling banking district, you won’t hear a peep from your quarters. The double-glazed windows shield you from even the most boisterous of outside sounds.
Get a taste of local fare at the hotel’s wonderful Salsipuedes restaurant. The seafood guacho (a Panamanian classic) of langoustine, scallops, Arborio rice and lobster is one of the finest offerings on the menu.

Things to Know

As you walk into The Bristol, you’ll notice two reception areas: the one on the left is for the residences, and the one on right is for hotel guests.
The lobby bar gets busy in the evenings when suits and ties flock here to celebrate the end of the business day.
The outdoor swimming pool is not the Panama City hotel’s best feature, though it does offer a tantalizing close-up of Balboa Avenue and the surrounding area.
The Bristol’s double-sided bathrobes are covetable and can be purchased directly through housekeeping.

The Rooms

This luxury hotel offers 125 guest rooms with stunning city views or partial ocean vistas in two towers: the Classic and Executive.
All accommodations are equipped with Etro bath products, indulgent mini-bars stocked with Abuelo Panamanian rum, heavenly mattresses and Egyptian cotton sheets.
Nice extras include 24-hour room service, bath salts and bubbles on request and Hershey’s chocolates after turn down.
If you can, opt for one of the Tower Executive Rooms on the 12th floor. They offer ample space and the possibility of watching TV from the comfort of your bathtub.

The Restaurant

Head for an exquisite dining experience at The Bristol’s signature Salsipuedes restaurant with Panamanian chef Bolivar Franco at the helm. Franco studied stateside and has been lured back to tantalize palates here with his neo-Panamanian cuisine.
The restaurant re-creates the colonial feeling of Panama City’s old town, Casco Viejo, through vintage photography and art. Salsipuedes (Spanish for “get out if you can”) was a famed Casco Viejo street, known as a hub for merchants, mayhem and everything in-between.
Salsipuedes’ décor embraces the local culture. Hanging over you as you dine is an array of Panama hats suspended artfully from the ceiling.
The menu incorporates local ingredients and derives inspiration from the land. The Panamanian sancocho soup is a crowd favorite, and the martinis invite debate on which is the best (the Buko Lychee Martini comes out on top).
The Bristol’s restaurant will oblige you if you find yourself in an adventurous mood — it is one of the only places in Panama City that offers crocodile on the menu.

Amenities