Hilton Garden Inn Panama

Opened in 2012, the 16-floor Hilton Garden Inn Panama has a modern exterior in shades of tan, brown, and white. Once inside, the hotel has a bit more personality, with nature-inspired elements such as a yellow-lit plant feature behind the reception desk and snake plants lining the lobby lounge area. The entryway also has a wooden ceiling with hanging white lanterns surrounded by dangling greenery. To the left is the lounge filled with several tan couches and chairs, while the right side houses the all-day Garden Grill restaurant. There's not much in the way of public space here, though the small 16th-floor terrace has a hot tub and excellent city views. The hotel's location and reasonable rates draw plenty of business travelers, as well as couples and families. 

The Hilton Garden Inn Panama has an excellent location in the El Cangrejo neighborhood -- the main tourist area of Panama City, just north of the financial center. The hotel is within a 10-minute walk of many restaurants, bars, and shops. Multiple casinos are also within a 10- to 15-minute walk. The historic Casco Viejo neighborhood is about a 20-minute drive away. The Tocumen International Airport is a 20-minute drive from the hotel. The hotel offers free garage parking.

Like the rest of the interiors, the 170 rooms and suites have a contemporary design with elements influenced by nature. They feature wooden furniture, green accent walls, orange armchairs, white bedding, and brown-patterned carpeting. Framed prints of close-up plant photographs add a little personality to the rooms. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, Cuisinart coffeemakers, minibars, safes, and ironing facilities. Bathrooms, which are tight on space, have walk-in glass showers and Neutrogena toiletries. Suites have separate living areas and spacious bathrooms. Rooms either overlook the city skyline or face the wall of a neighboring building. Note that some guests have reported inconsistent hot water.

The casual Garden Grill restaurant is open for all three meals, offering local and Western-style cuisine. The modern space serves both a buffet and American-style breakfast, which is included in some room rates. Room service is available until late. 

Though there's no swimming pool, a small terrace on the 16th floor has an L-shaped hot tub, wicker furniture, and excellent views of the city skyline. There's a bright fitness center with a handful of modern cardio and strength-training machines, as well as free weights. The hotel also has two meeting rooms and a business center with a few computers. Additionally, a washer and dryer is available for guests to use (though no detergent is provided) and an on-site store sells drinks, snacks, and toiletry items.