Amarla Boutique Hotel Casco Viejo

Eight rooms in a restored colonial house, with a rooftop jacuzzi

About Amarla Boutique Hotel Casco Viejo

Amarla Boutique Hotel Casco Viejo is a small hotel in a restored colonial house in Casco Viejo, Panama City. It has eight rooms and suites, a rooftop jacuzzi and Kaandela, a restaurant built around open-fire cooking. Cathedral Square is a five minute walk. Tocumen airport (PTY) is 30 to 45 minutes away by road, depending on traffic.

Amarla is a restored colonial house in Casco Viejo, the old quarter Panamanians call San Felipe. It has eight rooms and suites, furnished with pieces by local craftspeople, original photography and antiques. The current building grew from a wooden house put up in 1921 to lodge the staff of Casa Góngora, which still stands next door as a cultural center. Cathedral Square is a five minute walk, and the house itself stays calm despite the central address.

The six classic rooms measure 14 to 17 square meters, so they are compact and best for people who spend their days out in the old town. The two suites are duplexes on two levels: the Classic Duplex Suite (24 square meters, queen bed, small balcony) on the first floor, and the Superior Suite (29 square meters, king bed, large balcony facing the Casco Viejo skyline) on the second. Every room has air conditioning, a minibar, a safe, an aromatherapy system and free Wi-Fi, which also reaches the rooftop.

Up top there is a jacuzzi with views over Casco Viejo and Panama Bay. In the house, Kaandela is the restaurant, built on open-fire cooking alongside raw and cold dishes, with a bar where a mixologist and a sommelier pair drinks to the food. The Biomuseo is a 10 minute drive away, and the Panama Canal a 20 minute drive.

At a glance

Size: 8 rooms and suites
Check-in: From 3:00 PM until 10:00 PM
Check-out: Between 7:00 AM and 12:00 PM
Airport (PTY): 30 to 45 minutes by road, depending on traffic

Perfect for

Couples and honeymoons
History and architecture
Food lovers

Hotel Facts

Type

Colonial boutique hotel

Facilities

Restaurant
Bar / Lounge
Airport Transfer
Internet access / Wi Fi

Room Types

Superior Suite

Two-level duplex on the second floor, with a king bed and the largest balcony.

29 m² · Casco Viejo skyline from a large balcony

Classic Duplex Suite

Two-level duplex on the first floor with a queen bed and a spiral staircase.

24 m² · Casco Viejo from a small balcony

Classic Room 2

One of the two largest classic rooms, with a king bed.

17 m²

Dining

Kaandela: Open-fire, raw and cold cooking, with drink pairings from a mixologist and sommelier.
Kaandela Bar: Bar run alongside the restaurant, with drinks designed to pair with the dishes.

Spa and wellness

Rooftop jacuzzi: Hot tub on the roof, facing Casco Viejo and Panama Bay.
Massage Package: Listed among the hotel's bookable in-house experiences.

On the property

Rooftop terrace: Jacuzzi with views over Casco Viejo and Panama Bay.
Casa Entera: The whole hotel can be taken over: 16 overnight guests in the 8 rooms, 30 guests at an event.
In-house experiences: Coffee, Panama rum, romantic, Gamboa adventure, massage and fine dining experiences.
Private events and micro weddings: Rooftop receptions and seated dinners in the tropical patio.

Good to know

The six classic rooms measure 14 to 17 square meters and the two duplex suites 24 and 29, so the house suits travelers who plan to be out in the old town.
The airport is 30 to 45 minutes away depending on traffic, and the hotel can arrange private transportation.
Both suites are duplexes spread over two floors, so expect an internal staircase.

Questions travellers ask

How far is Amarla from Tocumen airport?

Plan on 30 to 45 minutes by road, more at rush hour. The hotel can book a private driver for you.

How many rooms does Amarla have, and how big are they?

Eight: six classic rooms of 14 to 17 square meters, the Classic Duplex Suite at 24 and the Superior Suite at 29.

Is there a restaurant in the hotel?

Yes. Kaandela, with its own bar, cooks over open fire and serves raw and cold dishes too.

What can I reach on foot from the hotel?

Cathedral Square is a five minute walk, and the Canal Museum and Presidential Palace are close by in the old quarter.