Fodor's Expert Review Hotel El Panamá

Known simply as "El Panamá," the city's first luxury hotel (designed by famed U.S. architect Edward Durell Stone) is vast, with spacious rooms and a big pool surrounded by gardens, but the service isn't always what it should be. It covers a small hill behind Vía España, and the rambling lobby is relatively chic, with its white marble floors and black leather couches. Behind it lies an attractive, large pool surrounded by a wide deck, palm trees, gardens, and an open-air restaurant, which serves as an oasis in the busy shopping district. Standard rooms in a nine-story building are big enough to play handball in—if it weren't for the queen beds and other furniture—and their picture windows provide views of the banking district. "Cabañas" in two-story buildings along the pool area are just steps away from the water, making them popular with families. The open-air, poolside grill is a pleasant spot for dinner, but there are plenty of other dining, nightlife, and shopping options nearby.