Axel's take on Costa del Este: #6 of 6 in Panama City, 3.7/10
Good for nearby offices and quieter routines; less convincing for a first visit. Costa del Este offers residential calm and local-office convenience, but road-dependent sightseeing, limited hotel choice and poor value put it last overall.
Costa del Este is a planned residential and business district where the attraction is an orderly daily routine, not historic sightseeing. Town Center, restaurants and waterfront walking give you reasons to stay local. It works particularly well when your meetings are here: a recent resident described walking to work while also emphasizing the neighborhood's quieter weekends.
For a sightseeing holiday, that calm comes with repeated road journeys. Walkable pockets do not eliminate the longer distances between destinations, and residents specifically flag afternoon traffic. Stay here for nearby work, family routines or a longer visit with transport arranged. Skip it if you expect to move freely between Casco, Amador and central neighborhoods every day.
- Best for: families, business trips and conventions, a quiet stay, shopping
- Skip it if: This is a short sightseeing-first visit; You want to avoid road transfers
- Getting around: Buses use Avenida Centenario, but no Metro station serves the neighborhood; walking works best around your immediate destinations. Use a car from PTY via Corredor Sur, and taxis from PAC or BLB; allow for commuter traffic.
- After dark: Residents describe quieter weekends; evening activity clusters around restaurants rather than a continuous nightlife street.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $284 a night
Where to stay in Panama City: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in Costa del Este
- Avenida de la Rotonda. Start here for nearby offices and restaurant choices; it suits a workday routine more than sightseeing. Hotels here: The Westin Panama.
- Paseo del Mar. Favor the waterfront path for morning runs, dog-watching and children on bikes; mangroves interrupt open-water views.
How to choose
- Choose The Westin Panama if your plans center on Costa del Este and you want generous rooms, helpful staff and a rooftop pool.
The best hotels in Costa del Este, ranked by Axel's take
Each hotel scored for what it is by Axel's own review; the rate is one stay Axel priced this week, beside the public rate for the same dates.
- The Westin Panama 8.7/10, upscale 4-star business hotel in Costa del Este. A strong Costa del Este base, with standout staff and generous rooms. Why it's here: generous rooms and notably helpful staff for Costa del Este business stays. Accept: historic-center sightseeing needs rides; parking costs extra. $198 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate