Best Western Plus Panama Zen Hotel

Good quality, lovely spacious rooms. We were given a room with a balcony on the 5th floor but all the balconies were under repair so were unusable, which was a shame as we were looking forward to sitting out in the evening sunshine. We were given a corner room on the 10th floor which had amazing views with floor to ceiling windows. The gym is on the 14th floor, not very large but well-equipped with the standard equipment and in good condition. Towels and water provided. Great views to distract you from any pain! The rooftop pool is on the 15th floor, a lovely place to relax after exploring the city. The staff at the front desk are very professional. The buffet breakfast is fine, nothing special. The eggs are in a hot plate, i.e. not freshly cooked. The coffee was sometimes a bit stewed, and occasionally the staff took away a platter to refill it and it seemed to be an age before they returned it. There are a few shops round the corner, including a couple of small supermarkets. There are also a couple of bars and restaurants - El Trapiche is a minute's walk away, great food. less

We spent r last night of our vacation at this hotel. It was the perfect place to relax and get a good nights sleep before a long trip home. The rooms are spacious and clean and the pool/bar area perfect for relaxing with a book or internet. The staff was very kind and attentive. In the past we have always stayed in Casco Viejo but chose this hotel for our last night based on another travelers recommendation. It offered us another view of the city and the lodging for price was far superior. I would highly recommend this hotel, especially if it is for a night or two at the beginning or end of your trip to Panama. The Uber the next day to the airport was only $12. less

We checked in at Best Western Panama Zen Hotel in late January, early Feb for 5 days after 10 days trip in Bocas del Toro. They gave us a corner room on the 9th floor. It has an amazing view and it is nice and clean. The door, for some reason doesnt seem to close properly. Looks like it was broken and was fixed, but wasnt fixed the right way. The walls are not sound-proofed at all. You can hear the other guests (in the corridor, or even in their room) talking. We can even hear others as we walk pass through their door. The breakfast buffet is really bad. For the price, i think it was too much and the quality isn't that good. We experienced stomach issues on the first few days and it always happen after breakfast. We didnt complain because we thought it was just our sensitive stomach reacting to some food. They have a huge plate of "ham and sausage" but there was no huge selection. The taste wasn't pleasant. We didn't like the taste of it so we didnt even bother trying again. Some food are actually in a food warmer but in all honesty, they were not warm at all. We even had breakfast as early as 6am hoping it wont be like that, but we were disappointed. As far as I know, they have to keep the food at a certain level of temperature to avoid it from being spoiled. They also have ran out of some items a few times. Once we had breakfast around 9:20, they have ran out of pancakes and hard-boiled eggs, and nobody was refilling it. We thought that they would have but it seems likes they didnt make more because it was almost 10AM. They also served fajitas for two consecutive days- which made us think it was from the day before. Though we know that their breakfast isnt worth it, we still try to give their room service a try. When we called, I asked for Penne Arrabiata (she even asked me if I want Penne or Spaghetti, and I said Penne) and cheesecake with Raspberry. Then they said raspberry isnt available but they have lemon cheesecake (its not in their menu) so we just ordered what they have. When the food arrived, we got a Spaghetti with sauce (already mixed), and a cheesecake with a slice of lemon on the side. We didnt give it another try. We thought it was enough. The hotel is nice and new. We just wish they will improve their kitchen. They dont taste bad at all! Their staff, especially the front desk and housekeeping is nice and friendly. They are actually quick in resolving issues and that's one thing that we liked about Best Western Zen Panorama. We once experienced our keys not working both on the elevator and room. They immediately resolved it. They explained that there was something wrong with their system thats why it happend. It happened to couple other guests on that same time of the day. We didn't blame them, it is definitely not their fault but I am glad that they have taken proper procedure in order to fix the problem right away. The view on the rooftop and bar is breathtaking! Anyone can relax and swim there all day. less

Traveling on air miles, we were returning home to Calgary from the Dominican Republic via Panama City so we decided to stay over for a couple of days in a destination that we likely would not have traveled to independently. We chose this hotel because we are frequent Best Western customers, we liked the price offered and because it seemed to be in a central, convenient location. We were glad we did! The room was compact but certainly more than spacious enough for two. All the usual amenities were offered typical for a Best Western. The staff greeted us warmly in all our encounters and were happily smiling which is always nice these days. We liked its location near Via Argentina despite that street being dug up as part of a beautification project. There are many dining options in the vicinity and we particularly enjoyed the British style pub, La Rana Dorada, a couple of blocks away. Even to walk downtown isn't that far, a little over 1 kilometer and considering the traffic in this metropolis, probably a better option than taxi during the workday. The Metro station isn't that far away either for travels further afield. Others have noted that the breakfast offered isn't particularly good value. We tend to agree. We partook one day rather late during the time period it is open and we found the pickings slim and "warm" options that weren't. Perhaps things are better when the restaurant opens first thing in the morning but if breakfast is important to you and it's after 9:00, I'd consider other options. The small pool on the roof is a nice touch. There's not a lot of room up there so if it's busy, you might not have a lounge chair to relax in. There is a small bar there as well with limited beverage options. It's not a place that I would hang out at but it does serve its purpose to service those availing themselves at the pool or for a quick drink upon arrival or before retiring. The views of the city are outstanding especially at night. You almost have 360 degree sight lines! Everything considered, I think you get great bang for your buck at this hotel and recommend it wholeheartedly. less

The rooms are very nice, they have a very relaxing environment, the reception staff is friendly and nice the air conditioning works more than good. The only little point, the breakfast is not that great everyday as the fruit taste like old or raw sometimes. I will definitely go back there in the future less