I had high expectations for my stay at Bristol Panama, but unfortunately the experience fell short—primarily due to service.To start with the positives, the rooms themselves were very nice—clean, comfortable, and well-appointed. The hotel has a solid physical product, and from that standpoint, it feels like a 5-star property. Breakfast was okay—nothing bad, but nothing particularly memorable either.Where things really broke down was in the service, especially leading up to the stay. I was planning a special weekend and reached out in advance for some assistance. Since there is no U.S. phone number, I tried contacting the hotel via WhatsApp but never received a response. I then emailed—initially I did get a reply, but when I followed up with a more detailed message explaining my situation and asking a few questions, I never heard back. I sent another follow-up specifically calling out the lack of response… and still nothing.For a hotel that positions itself as 5-star, this level of communication is disappointing. When guests take the time to plan something special and reach out proactively, responsiveness should be a given.Overall, while the rooms are strong, the service—particularly communication—did not meet expectations, and that ultimately defined the experience for me.
User:Navigator04377616914
Trip type: Business
Excellent Stay and Outstanding Service
22 Mar 2026
My stay at Bristol Hotel Panama was very comfortable and enjoyable. The hotel was clean, well maintained, and in a convenient location. The staff were courteous, professional, and helpful throughout my stay, which made the experience even better. I appreciated the smooth check-in process and the overall quality of service. I would be happy to stay here again and would recommend the hotel to others.
User:Catherine M
Trip type: Couples
Beautiful , well appointed hotel .
15 Mar 2026
The Bristol Panama is a luxurious hotel with all the amenities . The staff is very welcoming and cheerful, the bar and restaurant are both very high quality . The food in the restaurant is superior to other hotel dining I have experienced . High quality ingredients expertly prepared . The service everywhere I have been in Panama is on the slow side but I remind myself that not everyone is a hyper East coaster . A large , well appointed room with an especially comfortable bed and lovely sheets . The bathroom is spacious and very clean . The lap pool area is very small with only 2 chaises and no shade therefore we did not use it at all. The car service offered is excellent and UBER is very convenient, secure and timely. All in all it deserves a 5 star rating .
User:Tara S
Trip type: Couples
Fraudulent hotel
15 Mar 2026
The Bristol Hotel in Panama acted dishonestly and failed to take responsibility for a serious safety issue. My husband slipped on the extremely slippery bathroom floors and suffered an eye injury that required emergency hospital visits and surgery. We informed the hotel immediately. A front‑desk employee, Katharina, promised that management would review the case and reimburse the medical expenses, but they refused to let us speak with the manager and never followed through. After we paid the bill, all communication stopped. The hotel’s conduct was misleading and felt fraudulent. We don't recommend the Bristol to any traveler!
Carmen Jaimes Rengifo, General Manager at Bristol Panama, A Registry Collection Hotel, responded to this review
Dear Mrs. J4967ZJtaras,Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are truly sorry to learn about your experience and, most importantly, about your husband’s injury. We sincerely hope he is recovering well.At Bristol, the safety and well-being of our guests are of the utmost importance. We take situations of this nature very seriously, and please be assured that your comments and the circumstances described are currently under careful review.We regret to hear that your experience with our communication did not meet your expectations, as it is always our intention to provide clear, attentive, and supportive service at all times.As we have already been in direct communication with you regarding this matter, we believe it is most appropriate to continue addressing it through the same channel to ensure a thorough and personalized follow-up. Please rest assured that your case remains under active review by our team.Thank you again for bringing this to our attention.Warm regards,Carmen JaimesDIRECTOR OF ROOMS & SPA
User:Skinnyguide
Trip type: Couples
Just okay. More like a 3 or 4-star business hotel. Inexperienced staff.
03 Mar 2026
We were disappointed in our choice for Panama City, and wish we'd chosen a more unique hotel with a bit more class, character, and personality. The Bristol, though it deems itself a "boutique" feels a bit more corporate, sterile. The lobby and the rooms all appear somewhat modern, but really - they could use a refresh, especially the carpet and the bathrooms. Shower weak too. The neighborhood has no charm, but it's "fine." The bar area is small and not as elegant or vibey as some of the hotel counterparts in the city. The staff is eager to please though unsophisticated -- clearly, not well recruited or trained - every basic question or suggestion I asked for was met with an awkward stare, followed by frantic internet research. There was no concierge, just an amateurish front desk staff who seemed far from relaxed and rarely smiled. I was also surprised and disappointed there was no fresh coffee available (free, or even for purchase) before 7am, and even after 7 was just espresso-based coffees for order in the restaurant -- like, a whole to-do. I'm surprised an international hotel doesn't have any brewed (OR pour-over or OR french press) coffee option, as we found in every other Central American hotel where we stayed. And when I asked about the coffee? Again, the staff seemed entirely perplexed. This is not a five-star hotel as I've seen listed. This hotel is fine if you're just in Panama City for a night or two on business. Next time we will stay in Casco Viejo.
Panama City, Panama City
About Bristol Panama
User Rating & Reviews
26 Mar 2026
22 Mar 2026
15 Mar 2026
0204 505 9777