50th street global plaza tower, panama city, panama.

There are only six Sofitel Legend hotels in the world, and they all inhabit heritage buildings with rich backstories. Staff will walk you through the display when you arrive. Ship-lantern centerpieces speak to the city’s maritime roots, and a gallery of photos and a giant map trace the story of the Panama Canal, from the failed first effort by the French in the 1880s to the successful one by the United States completed in 1914 to the canal’s return to Panamanian sovereignty in 1999. In the lobby, evidence of Panamanian history abounds.

Look for French-inspired touches like the wrought-iron room balconies and the marble checkerboard floor in the ballroom. Originally opened as a social club in 1917 and then abandoned in 1989, the building was carefully re-created from its ruins to honor the city’s past while also incorporating a sophisticated modern interior design that’s ushering in a new generation of guests. In January 2023, the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo, Panama City debuted in a French-colonial style complex in Casco Viejo, the city’s cobblestoned, historic center that’s listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The hotel is emerging as an understatedly elegant grande dame that solidly hits its marks: The design is lovely, the staff is excellent, the food is delicious, and the behind-the-scenes mission is commendable.

Though it only opened in January 2023, the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo, Panama City arrived on the scene already loaded with history, thanks to its historic building and location, plus the high standards of the Sofitel Legend brand. 8a Este, Panama City, Panama | View on Google Maps The vibe: Understated elegance with a lot of history

50th street global plaza tower, panama city, panama.