The recent opening of Amarla Casco Viejo in Panama’s historic Casco Viejo quarter is shaking things up for a city that, until now, was better known for being a nautical short-cut.
Today, Latin America’s youngest nation is growing into an appealing destination for weekenders with this adult-only boutique bolthole leading the way.
Robin Faulkner has turned Panama City’s staid hospitality sector up on its head
Not only is it a striking departure from the staid, traditional hotels that dominate the local hospitality scene, the property is connecting with a growing group of adventurers who are all searching for travel with purpose and inspiration.
Eschewing the area’s colonial Spanish and French flourishes, British founder Robin Faulkner has furnished each of the eight rooms in a spare but modern palette.
Every room at Amarla might be designed differently, but there’s one thread that ties everything together in a beautiful, artisan-crafted bow.
For honeymooners or guests travelling for a special occasion, the Superior Duplex Suite is the ideal accommodation. The hotel’s largest residence is split over two levels, with twin balconies and a special remote-controlled skylight in the vaulted ceiling so travellers can watch the twinkling stars from bed.
Love of local artistry is woven through every individually styled space
The hotel’s love of local artistry is woven through every individually styled space, like the hand-decorated coffee cups painted by a Panamanian tribe, and the hand-spun textiles draped over your bed.
And much like the multicultural Panama City, elements from far-flung corners have found their place beside the locally sourced treasures, including bathroom brassware from Morocco, Indonesian silk in the British-made kimonos, and Portuguese linens.
The best views in the house are from the Rooftop, accessed via a staircase emblazoned with artwork and lush greenery and offering a swimming pool, mojitos alongside a startling 360-degree panorama of the city’s bristling modern skyline and Casco Viejo’s UNESCO World Heritage trove of cathedrals, churches and 18th-century architecture.
