Hotel Manrey, Panama City Review

In search of trendy and hip lodging, I booked a three-night stay at the newly constructed boutique hotel, Hotel Manrey. Hotel Manrey is located on Calle Uruguay in Bella Vista, a central street that comes alive at night as supported by Panama City’s young jet-setting crowd. With many top restaurants and nightlife both within the hotel and steps from the lobby, it seemed like the appropriate fit to launch my travels.

Upon arrival, I was warmly greeted with a welcome beverage of my choice. After my 6-hour direct flight from Los Angeles (via Copa Air) I took refuge in and enjoyed the ultra-modern lobby laden with low-slung tables, comfortable day beds, and grossly oversized art-books from Taschen.

THE ROOM

My post lobby experience led me to room 203. Greeted with a welcome kit consisting of a variety of fruit and a note from the management.  The room was spacious, sleek and aesthetically pleasing, done in a black, white, and grey color scheme.  There were   two oversized windows  located near the top of the wall that allowed for little light to enter.  As a result, the room felt dark and cave-like at times. This was almost certainly attributed to the placement of the windows and a room on the hotel’s south side would certainly afford a better view of the city and much more natural light.

The bathroom, oversized, with personal care accessories furnished by Bulgari and a high-pressure rain shower, proved to be a nice luxury after a long day amidst Panama City’s hot and humid weather and further fostered an enjoyable stay.

ROAD WARRIOR SUPPORT

While the Hotel Manrey may not to cater directly to the business traveler, it does provide useful amenities such as free wi-fi that spans the entire property, brand-new computers accessible in common areas on every floor, and a very well stocked lobby bar/lounge (think Dom Perignon and Louis XIII) perfect for celebrating after you close that big deal.

DINING

Ending a tiring day of travel or a rough night out on the town in a new city can be a challenging experience if a hotel is not properly appointed. Hotel Manrey’s rooftop lounge and bar is a perfect place to start. Unwind and reflect on your day’s frivolities by the pool with a hand-crafted Caipirinha, which, I must add, are dangerously strong, so do tread lightly.  The roof top lounge has an amazing panoramic view of the city, the Pacific Ocean to the West, and the hills to the East; it is easy to see why Panama City is growing in popularity.  Retire to your room and enjoy the amenities consisting of free Wi-Fi, Hermes publications, a generously stocked mini-bar laden with imported Voss water, and bed and linens that rival those of even the most luxurious home.

BOTTOM LINE

Hotel Manrey is a great choice for the savvy traveler heading to Panama City for work, play, or a maybe a little of both.  With accommodations that cater to comfort and productivity but are also paralleled by an “in-house” nightlife scene, Hotel Manrey may just be the answer to the traveling hip urbanite who enjoys hard work and a little fun.

Hotel Manrey
Calle Uruguay
Ciudad de Panamá
Panamá
+507 203-0000
www.manreypanama.com

–Ryan Yacura is a Contributing Editor at Executive Road Warrior.