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La Isabela is unique in the city, combining the spaciousness of a large apartment with the full services of a luxury boutique hotel. Our suites are 2 bedroom/2 bath (1200 sq ft.) & 1 bedroom/1bath (1000 sq ft.). Services include everything from a driver to massage. La Isabela is a restored 19th C. building located in the heart of Casco Viejo (the old historic city).
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La Isabella Suites was a perfect stay in Panama City. When a girl's group of 4 dropped to 2, we decided to stay for slightly more than the same price as a regular hotel and I am so glad we did. Nice, well-appointed rooms, modern bathrooms, modern conveniences yet classically decorated to retain the charm of this period property. La Isabella is in a prime location, close to EVERYTHING. SUPER spacious suite, very comfortable and well appointed, spotless, well stocked kitchen (although not needed with so many great cafes/restaurants within a 5 minute walk), and Enrique and Andres always available to answer questions, make recommendations and arrange anything you need (like a great massage – my friend said the best she’s had in years). And wow, the inner courtyard was just heavenly, perfect for relaxing and super quiet and comfortable. Plus the balcony over the street was great for people watching, esp at night to watch the evening partiers, musicians, etc and then retire to the quiet inside. The suite was so quiet inside and we did not hear any outside noise. We hated leaving this sanctuary perfectly situated in Casco Viejo and highly recommend a stay if you’re headed to Panama City. La Isabella’s high ratings and reviews are well deserved!
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Unico for breakfast, Mahalo for lunch, Tantalo for dinner. All within 5 min walk. Or ask...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We spent a couple of nights in Panama City prior to embarking on a cruise. We wanted to stay in Casa Viejo (aka Casa Antiguo) to experience the charm of the old city. Picked La Isabela Suites due to their excellent reviews. We were glad we did as the location was exactly what we were looking for, the suite was gorgeous, and the service second to none.
Even though we booked (direct via their website) about a month ahead of time, there was only one room left — a deluxe executive suite in the Annex. That was not surprising since this is a tiny operation. I believe there are only six suites in the main building and two in the Annex.
Communications beforehand were excellent. Andres, the General Manager, coordinated everything with us via email. This included our private airport pickup (with fair warning about potential airport terminal confusion due to the opening of Terminal 2), a fruit and wine basket we wanted (only $35), and private transportation to the cruise terminal in Colon. He also sent us a list of restaurant recommendations and assisted us in making reservations.
The main building and Annex are about a 10 minute walk from one another. Andres had our driver Gabriel (who is excellent) drop us off directly at the Annex and he met us there for check-in and briefed us on all we needed to know. He carried our luggage up to the room and mapped out local breakfast restaurants and pastry shops for us. As a former apartments, the two-story suites in the Annex are huge. There is a full kitchen (stocked with complimentary bottled water, milk, and coffee — both Nespresso capsules and regular ground coffee), half-bath, living room, and dining area on the first floor. A private patio with French doors and stained glass accents opens up to Plaza Bolivar and the lovely San Jose's Church on the other side of the Plaza. A large bedroom with sitting area, desk, and full bath are upstairs with an equally impressive view of the Plaza. Granite and marble are used throughout the suite. The WiFi signal is very strong. i got ~12 Mbps download, and 4.5 upload.
Andres had warned us ahead of time that there could be music in the Plaza at night (local restaurant has seating and entertainment on the Plaza) and offered us a full refund if we wanted to move someplace else to avoid the noise. We didn’t mind and in fact enjoyed the singer and relaxing guitar music our first night, a Thursday. The second night’s music (Friday) was totally different — provided by a DJ. Wasn’t really our taste, but we were okay and had actually brought ear plugs in case needed, based on Andres’ warning. Apparently, most, if not all, the plazas in the old city have music at night.
Our only concern about the unit was that there was no bannister along the stairway inside the apartment. Again, Andres told us he would give us a full refund if we wanted to move elsewhere to avoid the stairs. I felt we could manage so he brought our suitcases upstairs for us. The stairs were a bit scary for my wife, so I escorted her up and down.
Andres and his coworkers provide amazing service. There is no lobby like in a large hotel, so they come to you whenever you need anything. You can call them using the phones in the suite, or contact them via WhatsApp or email (or cell phone if you have local service). We had booked an independent tour of the Canal Locks and the City. Andres spoke to the tour operator ahead of time to make sure his guide would know where to meet us at the Annex. Andres also sent his coworker there at pickup time to make sure everything went smoothly. When we wanted to change the reservation time of one of our dinners, I simply asked his coworker and confirmed with Andres by WhatsApp that they were able to make the change.
If you are looking for a nice alternative to a large corporate hotel, La Isabela is a great choice!
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were very impressed with our stay at La Isabella in P.C. The hotel manager was very helpful and responsive to multiple emails before our stay and once we arrived the hotel lived up to its lofty TA 5 star rating. Nice location with lots of restaurants nearby. Very elegant room that leaves you with a true Panama vibe vice the cookie-cutter chains. Also, we stayed in the annex a few blocks from the main hotel and had no issue getting back and forth or with the noise in the square outside on a Saturday night.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amazing Gem! We loved La Isabela. I don’t know why it’s called a three star hotel unless they’re comparing it to those monstrosities over in the main part of Panama City. It is in old town right in Casa Viejo, in the midst of so many restaurants and some wonderful museums and a walk along the water with Artisans. It is a spotless, beautiful old house. It only has four rooms, no elevator so prepared to walk two long flights to the first floor(ours). The next two rooms are above us. The concierge Enriques carried my bags, and my husband carried his. So I was pretty happy. He gave us a map and marked so many things of interest. First thing he wrote down was the nearby supermarket! Andres was friendly and helpful the next day. These suites have a full kitchen and do not serve breakfast in the hotel. We were able to pick up some small familiar items to make our own breakfast, however, there are multiple coffee shops nearby with all kinds of breakfast items. The one near us didn’t open till 9 AM so that didn’t work. the suite itself was spotless with upgraded amenities. Two types of coffee, pots, milk, water, coffee, and tea were all provided. We didn’t realize we were getting two bedrooms. We used one to lay out our luggage and barely unpacked for two nights. We each had our own bathroom! The mattresses and the sheets were exquisite. I plan to find out the brand and look for them at home. A large comfortable sectional sofa with a big TV, including Netflix already signed in. The tiny front balcony has a table and chairs and overlooks Calle 9, one of the main thoroughfares coming into old town. It was entertaining to watch with the narrow streets and the cars and buses coming through. Some loud music started fairly early, and went on through the night; however, the bedrooms are in the back of the property with very thick walls and we didn’t hear any of it. I can’t speak highly enough about this hotel. Enjoy!-must see-Panama Canal museum. In my opinion, they could charge more than they do. Be prepared for two hours. It is amazing.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Email the hotel directly with any questions. They are prompt and friendly in their answers.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were four people in a two bedroom apartment. Each spacious bedroom had a good sized ensuite bathroom with shower. The kitchen was small but fully equipped with the essentials including dishes & cutlery. It should be noted that there is no dining room but rather 4 bar stools which was fine for us. The living room was very spacious with a sofa and chairs. There was a cute little balcony overlooking the street and apartment building across the street. Even though the apartment was on the second floor, we had a charming courtyard where we could sit. Please note that the courtyard is shared with at least two other apartments but we were lucky enough to have it to ourselves. The staff were fantastic! There is a small reception desk and you have to press a button to open the door to the building. If you need anything, the person at reception will do his/her utmost to take care of it - extra blanket or pillow or other things of that nature . For transportation, they suggested Uber which worked well for us. For longer trips, we used MyDayTrip which was fantastic, with Martin as our driver. For food, there is a market , a wine store and loads of restaurants in the vicinity. Definitely have pasta or pizza at The wonderful Calicanto. Also, the Charcuterie resto practically next door is very good.
Cleaning was excellent and we requested it several times. She provided toilet paper and soap. The staff were always eager to help with luggage or shopping bags etc as there ´s no elevator.
The location in Casa Viejo is perfect for sightseeing etc. We had a wonderful 12 day stay and would highly recommend.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My wife and I booked an extra night stay in Casco Viejo at La Isabella Suites. We stayed at their location just a few blocks away from the main hotel location. This room was amazing! a spacious room with a kitchenette, a full bedroom with on-suite and an incredible balcony over looking a popular town square with restaurants and cafe's. There is a very secure entrance only available to the few guests staying at this location. If that wasn't enough to peek your interest, let me tell you about the staff. The gentlemen that helped us were incredible. The top notch professionalism, courtesy and welcoming nature was on full display. Their communication was timely and always pleasant. I can't say enough good things about our stay with La Isabella Suites. Please consider staying here if you are spending time in Casco Viejo. You will thank yourself!
Robert (Michigan USA) Feb 25
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Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Unparalleled service and prime location in the heart of Casco Viejo. I had the beautiful loft suite with huge balcony. Loved the classic architecture. I was there for 4 nights and made full use of the well equipped kitchen for preparing breakfast (which was not included). I also did a couple of tours and can recommend the private Panama City tour which was fabulous.
Yes, there is loud music (I would have preferred more local sounds), and there are some small nitpicks (no hot water in the kitchen, some signs of wear and tear), but the location, view, and service from Andres and his team really put this one over the top; they may even have the Ritz beat on service! I would definitely stay again without reservation and have already recommended it to others.
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Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The staff at La Isabella was fantastic. From giving advice about how to go about getting our COVID test prior to returning to the states to finding reservations at excellent restaurants on Christmas eve, the staff was thorough and anticipated our every need. They were able to suggest and arrange tours and transports. Check in and check out was very personal and well done.
Our room was at their other location on Plaza Bolivar. It was incredibly spacious and had a balcony which overlooked the square, perfect for spending the evening listening to live music. The room was clean and in excellent condition. My husband even commented that we must have been some of the first to stay there for that reason. The bedroom upstairs had an air conditioner, which provided enough white noise that any music on the plaza did not interfere with sleep. The bed was incredibly comfortable, not too soft and not too hard. The pillows were also wonderfully not too thick or thin.
The only negative was the low water pressure and somewhat slow drain in the shower; otherwise, it was the perfect stay!
We actually stayed at the American Trade Hotel prior to this stay, and we much preferred La Isabella due to the church next to the American Trade Hotel. The bells were very loud. While they stopped at 10 PM, they started early in the morning (sometime before 7 AM) and rang every 15 minutes.
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Date of stay: December 2021
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed here for 3 nights and loved it. The customer service here is top notch, literally the best of anywhere we have ever stayed! We stayed in a suite which was a 5 minute walk from the main building- no problem at all for us. We loved the location. It was in a cool square with a nice restaurant next door that had a great menu and fantastic drinks! For dinner after a long day, we enjoyed getting takeout from another great place, also in the square, and eating on our balcony enjoying a bottle of wine, a great view of the square and listening to the music playing. The suite itself was really nice - clean, spacious and comfortable. It had everything we needed. As nice as the suite was, what really makes this place so special is the staff here. Rodrigo, Andres, and Jose went above and beyond! We had a few obstacles with our itinerary and they were so helpful with them all and just such nice, accommodating people. I still can’t get over how great they were. They stored our luggage for us when we went to San Blas for a few days and when we realized we had left a passport behind Rodrigo went through our suitcase and found it for us (upon my request of course). We loved our Panama vacation. We will be back and we will stay at La Isabela Suites again while in Panama City. Highly recommend!
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wonderful personal service! I left an essential item behind and Andes made all the arrangements to get it back safely to me in the US. I am truly grateful. There was a cancellation at the other sister hotel 5 minutes away. They graciously gave me a room in the main building, which was an upgrade to 2 bedrooms, at no additional charge. The maid service was stellar, after all, she found my expensive item and turned it in. Again, very thankful!
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Enjoy Mahalo Restaurant just around the corner for extreme 5 star food. The chocolate mousse was...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Ms. Nancy,
At La Isabela Suites we currently do not offer breakfast, but all of our suites have a fully equipped kitchen at your disposal and there is a small grocery store just 3 minutes away walking from our main building. Another option is to try some of the great restaurants and coffee shops that offer breakfast at Casco Antiguo located between 5 to 10 minutes walking distance from La Isabela Suites.
We will gladly give you recommendations and point in the map the options available based on your preferences at your check in.
Con nuestros mejores saludos,
Andres
Dear Ms. Nancy,
Thank you for your interest in La Isabela Suites. It will be my pleasure to answer your question.
The Panama Canal has 2 principal visitors centers at two of its locks. One is the Miraflores locks located just 15 to 20 minutes aprox (depends on traffic) away in car from La Isabela Suites, this is the most visited visitors center for its proximity to Panama City, located on the pacific side of Panama, and the great museum with amazing facts that it offers. The second one is the Aguas Claras locks located at the Caribbean side of Panama, this is 1.5 to 2 hours away in car aprox(depends on traffic) from La Isabela Suites, this is the recently opened visitors center, here you may see the new wider locks the Government recently inaugurated, an amazing engineering work.
If you have a reservation with us and need transportation to any of the two visitors center please let me know, it will be my pleasure to arrange the service for you.
Con nuestros mejores saludos,
Andres
Dear Robin,
We completely understand your concern. Our main objective is that our guest have the best experience during their visit to Panama and Casco Antiguo is one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in Central America.
To recommend a suite I would need to know your plans during the trip, because each type of suite has benefits that fit the preferences of our guest. The one bedroom suite is a great option, because of the comfort, price and view of the beautiful plaza(Bolivar square), but if you plans to go to sleep early in the night, this would not be the best option because at the plaza there are frequently musicians that play until 11-11:30pm for the clients of the restaurants that surround the plaza, and the music can be heard in the suite(this is a feature that most of our guest love because it creates a unique ambiance very authentic of Casco Antiguo). Therefore, I would recommend the two-bedroom suites at our main building because she will be able to sleep comfortably early at night.
However, if you plan to go out at night, plan to sleep late and appreciate a great view in the morning with a fresh cup of coffee, I would recommend the one bedroom suite at our sister building. Because in front of the two bedroom suites, there are buildings that are being renovated right now and the construction noise could be heard during the day in the living room and kitchen of the suites of the main building from 7:30am to 5pm.
If the dates you want to come to Casco Antiguo is from January 11th to January 14th, we only have available our one bedroom suites at the moment. These suites are located at our sister building called Hotel Colombia 5 minutes walking distance from the main building. Is important to point out, that in all of our suites there are tablets that our guests can use to communicate with reception 24/7 for any request or doubt they might have.
Con nuestros mejores saludos,
Andres
Dear Robin,
Thank you for your interest in La Isabela Suites. I will gladly answer your doubt.
We have a wooden crib that is available for our guest at no extra cost. We only kindly ask to be informed as soon as possible so that we ensure its availability.
If you have any other doubt or query, please do not hesitate in letting me know.
Con nuestros mejores saludos,
Andres
Hi Ms. Thank you for your inquiry and for thinking of La Isabela for your next stay. Yes, we try to make sure to have everything you may need in your travels. You can kindly request it from our Concierge, and it will be taken to your Suite upon arrival. Should you need anything else, we'll be more than glad to provide that for you if it is within our means.
There are more places to choose from in the Panama City area.
PRICE RANGE
$283 - $375 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
PanamaPanama ProvincePanama City
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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