Discover Panama City’s Luxurious Island-Resort Hotel in UNESCO Old Town

Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo opened last month, making it the world’s sixth over-the-top Sofitel Legend.

It’s not often that a UNESCO-listed district can claim a new addition. The historic quarter of Panama City, Casco Viejo (also known as Casco Antiguo), and its brick-lined streets haven’t changed much since the 17th century.

Centuries-old churches and the presidential palace brush up against colonial-style, pastel buildings with wrought-iron balconies reminiscent of Old San Juan in Puerto Rico and New Orleans. However, one of the most iconic buildings in Casco Viejo is the former Union Club, built in 1917. It sat empty for more than 30 years—its abandoned shell was used as a backdrop in films like the 2008 James Bond movie “Quantum of Solace.” Now, it has transformed into the area’s newest hotel: the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo.

With only the original French colonial façade still standing—Panamanian politician Manuel Noriega supposedly once hid out here, and the building was bombed in 1989 during the American invasion—local architect Manuel Choy looked to old photos for design inspiration. This imagery served as a guide during the five-year restoration project that transformed Panama’s former social club into the 159-room Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo, which debuted last month.

Strategically positioned between the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal and “new Panama,” the financial district dominated by skyscrapers, the hotel sits on the edge of Casco Viejo, away from the foot traffic of cruise ship tourists. “We are a hidden oasis,” general manager David Kianni remarks. “When you are looking at the building from outside, it looks small, like there’s no life behind it.”

From the exterior, it is indeed tough to gauge the size of the hotel. As I was whisked through the same regal, art nouveau–columned entrance that the likes of Albert Einstein and Queen Elizabeth II once passed through, I had my first taste of Panamanian culture as doormen donned Panama hats and women outfitted in cream-colored, embroidered dresses greeted me. Panamanian designer Federico Visuetti designed the uniform around “anecdotes from yesterday’s Panama, recreating the elegance of the ’40s, ’50s, and part of the ’60s, fusing it with Parisian-chic and providing the local touch with embroidered details that pay homage to la pollera, one of the most beautiful and expensive traditional dresses of the world,” he explains.

The Panamanian history lesson continues in the lobby, where the patterned cement floor and wall tile, handmade in Nicaragua, mirrors a process invented in the 1860s that was popular during Casco’s French canal era, a time when many of its buildings were constructed. The Panama Canal serves as the central theme in the décor, featuring nautical motifs and historic, black-and-white photographs lining the walls, alongside a striking tile mural of the canal.

The majority of Panama’s orchids are exported; however, a variety of species—over a thousand—are showcased in bouquets topping tables and embedded in the central plaza courtyard gardens. Incidentally, those gardens are where I spotted singer Gloria Estefan having lunch on my arrival day.

“Architects worked diligently to preserve as much of the history and patrimony of the building as possible, which holds significance for both Panama and its people,” Kianni elaborates. “We aimed for a historic, colonial feel, but even though the rooms embody colonial elements, they are also very French and stylish—they’re still contemporary.”

Mirroring how Panama City preserves its cultural heritage through Casco Viejo while modernizing the newer areas, Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo seamlessly integrates elements of Panama’s rich history through features like elegant standing tubs with bronze and porcelain handles and an evening sunset ceremony showcasing elaborate costumes and dancing. Rooms are equipped with Diptyque toiletries, and for those staying in one of the 35 suites, my majordomo (a perk of suite stays) brought a selection of scented artisanal soaps and prepared a lavender bud-sprinkled bubble bath that I found hard to leave in the evenings.

The pool—the largest in Casco—enhances the resort experience, featuring loungers in the water and an elegant indoor bar serving fresh juices, smoothies, cocktails, and Panama’s namesake beer directly to your sunbed. While lounging poolside, I felt transported to one of Panama’s beautiful private island resorts, all while being just steps away from excellent dining options like Fonda Lo Que Hay, the vibrant fish market Mercado de Mariscos, and the family-run coffee shop Sisi.

Italian chef Lorenzo Di Gravio leads the five restaurants and bars within the hotel. He emphasizes sourcing ingredients locally, utilizing produce from a farm in the province of Chiriquí; meat from the Volcán Barú area; and fish such as red snapper and grouper from a local company with boats operating in both the Atlantic and Pacific. Additionally, homemade corn buns and chicken tamales (served at breakfast) are crafted by a small artisan producer in La Chorrera, an hour’s drive from the capital.

The signature restaurant, Caleta, draws inspiration from a Mediterranean brasserie, although the chef ensures the ingredients reflect those found right here in Panama. (Di Gravio serves dishes such as suckling pig with taro root puree and escarole, alongside seafood salad with mandarin and lemon aioli.)

French-style Vera Café brews specialty coffee sourced from a small, fifth-generation producer, Santos Café, located in the Panamanian highlands. Furthermore, vitrines display freshly baked croissants as delicate as those found in Paris—I can judge since I’ve had my fair share over the past decade living in France. Meanwhile, the soon-to-debut speakeasy, Ammi, is destined to be one of Casco’s hottest rooftop craft cocktail bars, complete with skyline views of the modern city.

Panama serves as a hub, with its canal connecting all corners of the globe. The country sits at the crossroads of North and South America, with the isthmus dividing the Atlantic from the Pacific Ocean. Nevertheless, it’s recognized less as a tourist destination and more as a cruise ship stop. “We acknowledge that the country is a gem, offering so much,” Kianni states. “Now, with a luxury hotel like us promoting the destination, we’re showcasing just how rich Panama is culturally.”