Las Clementinas Hotel

Rooms and decor

Picture a pastel Caribbean building nearly a hundred years old standing on a small stone lane in the heart of Casco Viejo, Panama City's UNESCO World Heritage old town. That is Casa Clementina, a 1930s building restored with respect for its history into Las Clementinas Hotel, a tiny boutique of just 6 suites. Open a room door and the first thing you notice is the ceiling, around 12 feet high, a signature of the era, over freshly polished antique floral tile, wooden shutters that open to the Caribbean sea breeze, and colonial wooden furniture placed with rhythm. The room runs long like a private apartment more than a hotel room, with a kitchenette, a fridge, a dining table, and a clearly separate sitting area, so several nights here never feel cramped. The wooden balconies wrapping the inside, tropical-house style, are the part many reviews say they love most: morning coffee with the birds in the central garden, every day. Beds are soft, the linens good. Anyone who prefers a house with soul over identical big-chain rooms will be very happy.

Food and amenities

If this hotel has a heart outside the rooms, it is Mahalo Cocina y Jardín, the restaurant in the back garden, listed in the Michelin Guide Panama. The kitchen uses local, seasonal ingredients to tell a story of contemporary Panamanian food, from coastal tuna to herbs from the garden to Panamanian chocolate in the desserts, with tables set under big trees lit warm and orange at night. Many reviews call it the most memorable meal of their Panama trip. Up top is a small rooftop looking out over the terracotta tile roofs of the old town toward old churches and the new-city skyline in the distance, a private spot for a glass of wine at sunset without the crowds of the famous rooftops nearby. Reviewers also agree on the commitment to sustainability: Las Clementinas is B Corp certified, which means real standards for the environment and the local community, from hiring people in the quarter to sourcing ingredients to the respectful restoration of the building. Staff earn unanimous praise too, remembering guests' names, helping book tours, and pointing out hidden spots in the area.

Location and getting there

Location is another strong card here. Las Clementinas sits in the heart of Casco Viejo, the old town that UNESCO lists as World Heritage. Step out the door and you are on Spanish-colonial cobbled lanes among pastel buildings, smart cafes, and old churches you can wander all day. Plaza Bolívar, the largest square in the old town, is a 3-minute walk; Plaza de la Independencia with the Panama cathedral is 5 minutes; and the bayfront Cinta Costera, with its standout view of the new-city skyline, is just 7 minutes. In the evening this quarter fills with well-known rooftop bars, the city's famous ceviche spots, and free live music in the squares. From Tocumen International Airport (PTY) it is a 35-45 minute drive depending on traffic, while the Panama Canal (Miraflores Locks) is about a 20-25 minute taxi or Uber ride. In short, if you came to soak up the old town and get around on foot without leaning on a car, this location is a perfect ten.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. First, there are only 6 rooms, which makes booking very hard in high season (December to April), especially over long holidays and the honeymoon period; plan at least 2-3 months ahead to be sure of your dates. Second, there is no pool, spa, or fitness center on site, because this is a small boutique in a restored historic building. If you want to spend the day by the water, this is not the answer, and a big chain or beach resort would suit you better. Third, noise: Casco Viejo is a popular tourist quarter that gets lively on Friday and Saturday nights, with rooftop bars and music around. Street-facing rooms may catch passing tourists or faint music, so light sleepers should ask for a room facing the back garden, which is quieter and trades traffic for birdsong. Finally, safety: Casco Viejo itself is very safe in the main areas, with tourist police on patrol, but do not walk alone down quiet lanes late at night, and do not cross into the adjacent El Chorrillo neighborhood.

Our take

From reading the real reviews and comparing it with other boutiques in Casco Viejo, Las Clementinas Hotel is the one that best balances the feel of a private apartment-style home in a historic 1930s building in the heart of a World Heritage old town, a Michelin Guide restaurant in the back garden, and a B Corp commitment to sustainability, all in the $185 to $330 a night range. If the trip in your head is opening a high-ceilinged room in the morning, walking the old stone lanes, sipping coffee in a historic square, coming back for dinner under the big garden trees, and finishing with wine on a rooftop over the old town, this is the most fitting answer. But if you want a pool, spa, or gym on site, this is not the right choice. Overall we give it 9.3/10, best for honeymooning couples, travelers who love a boutique with soul, and anyone who values history, privacy, and good food over full resort facilities.