To sum it up a great value but not of 5 star quality as they're rated. Some noteworthy things: - All the staff was friendly and very helpful - Their buffet breakfast was surprisingly pretty good - They don't have price gouging like other hotels. Ate at the restaurant and ordered at the bar and deli. Prices are pretty comparable to other places in the area - The lobby is really nice as you walk in Not so great things: - As other people have pointed out some floors/rooms smell. I'm pretty sure this is from the dampness coming from ac condensation. I'm almost certain there is mildew/mold in the ceiling as our hallway smelled like water damage. Not every floor has this though as we noticed when going down the elevator and stopping at other floors - Room quality is subpar. Our room had a couple of issues. Broken sink and the mini fridge was spilling water. - When there are a lot of people you can be stuck waiting for elevators. - Room was dirty when we got it - Housekeeping randomly walked into our room at 10pm and startled us Overall I think this provides great value for the '5 star' amenities they provide if you can put up with the issues or get lucky and get a decent room. Personally I wouldn't come back. There were too many issues in our room that made this an unpleasant experience.

I am a huge fan!!! I felt so boojie and rich for such a great price, especially for Panama. Everyone was so amazing and on point. Then I had the breakfast!!! Best breakfast I have ever had! Not only did it taste so good, there was a huge variety to choose from. The pool was chill and fun. The hotel was super central and close to everything. Did I mention how amazing the breakfast was?!?

This is a great hotel. The lobby is nicely decorated and welcoming. The rooms are clean and our room had a great view of the city. The pool area is nice, although service is slow. It is a great value-select room with breakfast, we'll worth it. I came here from a different place and so glad I did.

The reception check-in staff was very pleasant and attentive. The cafe staff was friendly as well. Our room #1515 was clean and cozy, room service was awesome! The breakfast inclusive at the hotel is very wide in variety and the hotel location is central to a lot of businesses. Will stay again my next visit to Panama!!!

The hotel is beautiful, but there was a smell all along the hallway on my level and even in the bedroom. It was a musty smell, I don't know if it was the same on the other levels. The restaurant and mini mart were excellent. The mini mart opens 24/7 and will even cook food at any time of the night. Great location too.

The Riu Plaza in Panama is well located for business travel. We checked in directly, there was no problem and we were able to move into our rooms quickly. The rooms are very clean and the minibar prepares a wide range. Also, the rooms are cleaned daily. The food is excellent, the breakfast offers a wide selection and always convinces. In the entrance area there is a bar where you can enjoy a drink or something to eat, both inside and outside. The location is very central and you can reach the sea very quickly on foot. The shopping centers are also very close, with a cab these are also easy to reach. I will gladly come again to the Riu Plaza.

This hotel has quite a spread for breakfast. You just won't be hungry. The staff is really attentive and friendly. The rooms are large and comfortable. It's a great location as you can walk to the metro station. I would definitely return here if I visit Panama again.

We were very pleasantly surprised by how nice our room was. It was really nicely decorated. We were on the 21st floor. The view was to die for! The hotel itself is a bit older but beautifully decorated. I think no expense or attention to detail was spared. I think this hotel offers great value!! The couple of calls we made to room service were very prompt and polite. One really great bonus was that breakfast was included. The selection of what you could have for breakfast was endless. Literally, something for every taste!!

First the GREAT: front desk, transport, pool and gift shop staff were superb! Just absolutely amazingly helpful and nice people. They went above and beyond fir everything. Now the BAD: 1st impressions are everything and the restaurant and bar staff left a lot to be desired. Got there in the evening and first went to the restaurant. We were totally ignored at the door just to be told we'd have to go to the bar for a quick bite. Got to the bar and things got worse. Waiter sat us and forgot about us while we watched the entire bar staff fraternize. We had to remind them we were waiting and ask for them to put in our order. Then, we had to waive them down for the bill. It was no bueno for restaurant and bar staff but had great experience with other staff. Also, the internet connection is quite poor.

The hotel overall is very nice & clean, has an amazing lobby as well. Food tastes great, staff is very helpful, kind and friendly. Rooms are well put together and clean, would most definitely recommend. I will be returning💯

Good room, spacious. Not very modern but decent. Breakfast great. Unbelievable loud AC. Without AC it is too hot to sleep. Very loud because of a party 6 floors below us. Called the receptionist. Did not offer another room. In fact did not do anything.. for a 5star hotel in my opinion very bad.. Late checkout possible. 11 dollars per hour..

I must say that this is one of the best RIU I've stayed at. The service was excellent, the worker were very polite and friendly, the place was clean and had amenities along with bathrooms necessities for your stay, the Cafe is open 24hrs. The location is great! In the middle of everything. I would definitely stay at this location again.

I really appreciate the staff. They were extra nice. The bar staff was the even better. I was greeted by Kathy Munguia that worked at the bar area. Our food and drinks were served in awesome timing... She gave us amazing service!!! My brother's were shocked at her service as they are from the local area.

This place is the best $100 in town. Free parking, awesome pool and breakfast buffet better than any Vegas casino. Staff is super friendly and I can’t wait to get back.

Magnificent breakfast buffet catering to 33 floors of guests - so choices of every kind in the breakfact!. The rooms are 4 star quality, clean, very good appintments, but not quite 5 star north American standard. The breakfast and service 5 star. Huge lobby, several restaurants to choose from, it is a world class hotel by any measure. Price, with advance booking was about same as other far lesser competitors. Highly recommend this hotel!

I had a wonderful experience at the RIU. It is centrally located to walkable places in the area. I took a 15-minute walk to the mall. There's a Starbucks on the corner. Uber rides were really easy from the hotel. The hotel offered free buffet breakfast loaded with many options for the pickiest eater. The rooms were spacious and clean. Fresh towels are given daily. The RIU does have a lounge bar, pool bar, restaurant, gym, and a store located on site. They offer daily food and drinks specials as well. Room service was fast and cheap. I ordered a delicious club sandwich 1 day. I have fish in the restaurant located on the property. The property was clean at all times. The elevator system was fast. I never had to wait more than 1 minute. My room was on the 22 floor.

Nice place to relax and be treated with respect, but not being able to go up to my room with my underaged brother to get a couple things or to just relax for a couple minutes is ridiculous. My brother was dropped off to spend the morning with me and hotel staff saying i cannot have visitors in my room expecting me to just stay in the lobby not being able to get my personal belongings to carry on about my day. It makes no sense that an underaged kid have to be registered or pay extra just to be in the room for 5 minutes.

The lobby of the Riu is fantastic… and that’s about it. We were first given a room on the 18th floor, coming out the elevator, we noticed the heavy wet towel smell and when we got to the room, the humidity was through the roof along with a black moldy AC. We requested to have a room change which was granted on the 10th floor. The 10th floor smelled like old socks/wet towels in the elevator area for the whole stay. The room on the 10th floor had no foul smell nor mold but the bathroom sinks were not draining properly for the whole stay. They provide very limited towels unless you ask everyday for more. The breakfast has a wide variety of options but lots of the warm food options were not warm anymore 30min after the start of breakfast time. I wouldn’t stay at again if visiting the city.

Great, affordable hotel in the heart of Panama City. The location is perfect, the staff are welcoming and helpful and the breakfast was great. I would recommend and happily stay here again.

This is my second time staying at this hotel. The first time was fairly good and was a solo trip. However, on the 2nd trip I brought my entire family and four friends a total of 10 persons. On several occasions, there was a foul odor in the room. Had to ask house keeping at least 3 times a day to spray the room. I am thinking the carpets were not dried properly. The smell was moldy. We experienced what we will call racism. Why? One night we purchased some drinks and decided to play cards in the lobby.. we asked for some plastic cups with ice and was told we couldn't get that because we didn't purchase the drinks inside. We were guests there for over week. There was a group of guests across from us who ALSO didn't buy drinks in the hotel and they were privileged to cups of ice. We eventually got the ice because we were adamant that it was unfair and I am sure they saw how awful it was. The following night we decided to stay in and AGAIN was denied the same . The reason we got was that we can't chill in the lobby. We must either go outside or in our room. We PAID to stay at this hotel, we were Guests. On ANOTHER occasion, we were at the pool. We were told , there was to be no jumping. My son is 4 and is small in body. The other children were PRIVILEGED to jump as they pleased and we saw absolutely no one constantly going over to them. We will definitely not be returning, the treatment was really ridiculous.

Excellent Buffet breakfast. The servers were friendly and very pleasant. However, unheard air conditioner issues. Not ADA compliant in the pool area. In case you have mobility issues, you must bring your own wheel chair.

The hotel is nice and clean- They do promote free upgrades- online but they do not give it to you. The staff is saying different things about the offers online- So it is not real it is just to get you to book their hotel. For me this is just a bad way to work- The rest was fine

The customer service from the staff is awesome, especially the ladies at breakfast, they are awesome. The breakfast menu is very wide and has many options to choose from. The rooms are just like the photos. I enjoyed my stay.

This year we took a family trip back to our home country of Panama. We decided to stay at the RIU as it is a great central location. The hotel has a mildew smell in all the hallways and in the rooms. They also had a puddle in the hallway on the 18th floor. My son fell twice, and when I informed the front desk all they did was put out a CATION WET sign. We were also disappointed to learn that we could not have our family (Panamanian Natives) come into the rooms and visit with us. We were told they had to stay in the lobby or there would be an $88 charge per guest. While sitting in the lobby, we were meant to feel extremely uncomfortable. There was a security guard constantly lurking around us and watching our every move. Will not be going back to this hotel as this hotel is not welcoming to the natives and is definitely not a family friendly hotel.

We stayed at RIU Plaza Panama for 6 days and 5 nights and it was just lovely😍☺ The rooms are extremely well kept and the ambiance is homely and gorgeous as indicated by the photos.. As soon as we arrived in the lobby, we were greeted and the Representative was extremely helpful, though not fluent in English she tried to assist as best as she could. For me...hablo pocito Español y comprendo unas frases tambien😊 Our flight had delayed and immigration was bursting at the seams with very few Officers working so we were quite happy to be attended to so timely. Let's talk about breakfast....WIDE variety of meals, juices and offerings; eggs sausages, rice, pancakes, omlettes etc. Hot beverage was hot chocolate or coffee and it was delectable! I had to ask the servers David and Joseph for the hot chocolate to be mas caliente as it was lukewarm initially. They both unreluctantly sought and brought chocolate muy caliente which I thoroughly enjoyed. Meals could use a bit more salt however servers will provide upon request.The hotel is impeccable, centrally located with courteous staff and the only complaint was a musty odor in the corridor enroute to our room on the 17th floor. Otherwise our stay was excellent! Definitely recommend

Didn’t like the smell in the hall way on floor 10. The pool was good fun nice playlist. Ghislane and lekdar were so kind during our stay. Very sweet and remembered us made us feel so at home in the country. Will return very soon.

I like this place generally, have stayed a few times. Pool/bar is nice, breakfast buffet is nice. Hotel bar is reasonably priced. Late check out available for additional fee $10-22 for 1-2 hours.

I was really excited to stay here for my birthday after reading all the reviews and I must say I was disappointed with my room and the lack of acknowledgement of my birthday. This is the only resort I have ever stayed at that did NOTHING for me for my birthday. Not a welcome card, free drink, room upgrades nothing. When I got off the elevator there is this old mildew wet carpet smell and it was the same smell in the room. The floor in my room was chipped definitely could use some updating. I sprayed lysol every time I walked in the room to get rid of the smell. Even the sheets had a weird smell. The anesthetics of the hotel lobby, pool and restaurant are amazing. The breakfast buffet was really good, they have a ton of options. The staff was very friendly. If there was some updates to the room and getting rid of that smell it would be great. I wen to the coffee shop and was looking at the pastries and there were bugs flying around so I did not get anything from there. The location is amazing, you can walk around safely at night and there is a lot of places to eat and getting an uber or taxi to take you places is really cheap.

Amazing breakfast. Great staff, good location. We felt comfortable and safe throughout our stay. The gym was a nice bonus.

Beautiful hotel, in the heart of the financial district. Service was excellent, had a surprise for my family and the bar staff went above and beyond helping my wife and I setup. The breakfast buffet was absolutely wonderful. There are many local and foreign business around the hotel.

I loved it here we felt like family. Glory had amazing great customer and directed us to some site seeing. She was very helpful prompt her to manager!!!We visited august 3-8 for my birthday vacation. the hotel send me free fruit to my room for my birthday THANK YOU. Elias Was a very good employee also he was a lot of patience.

I’ve been traveling to this location for many years but not since the pandemic this time it was terrible they were overly regulating everybody. They charge me an extra $80 per day for a friend to stay with me even though I booked for two people. They charged for towels by the pool. You couldn’t take the pool towels to the room. The front desk staff was very rude. I would never go back there again.

From when I walked in the Juan help us with our bags very nice guy and very knowledgeable. The front desk was awesome. I booked the senior suite and it was so worth it. The room was very spacious with a hot tub. The view was ok nothing spectacular. The bed was the best sleep I have had in my life, I did now want to wake up lol. That’s why I never made it to breakfast everyone keeps raving about lol location was great very close to everything

Great option in Panama City, breakfast is amazing, friendly staff, location is good. The standard rooms are just that, standard. I couldn't appreciate the view from my room because the windows/glass weren't clear enough, the hotel building is very high so the view is actually very nice.

Excellent, excellent!! Breakfast everyday is just fantastic!! Car service to/from locations are reasonable and reliable. Will stay here again and recommend to others.💖

Beautiful Hotel, Nice Friendly Staff, Nice Spacious Comfortable Room, Loved Their Breakfast, Great Security felt very safe. Will Definitely go Back. I give the Hotel Five Stars out of Five Stars.

Edit: Our second visit to Riu Plaza within a week. After only 4 days I was asked for the same things at check-in and had to show my passport again. Doesn't have to be in a 5 star hotel but ok. After dinner by the pool I couldn't add the bill to my room because I didn't have any credit!! Very embarrassing and uncomfortable! At the reception they once again forgot to ask for my credit card when checking in. The same thing happened on the first visit. Mr. Oswell (FO Supervisor) then said with a smug look on his face that I needed to go to the room and get a credit card! Incredible! As a hotel guest, with a car in valet parking and a hotel bill paid by credit card 4 days ago. And all for a Mickey Mouse amount of a modest dinner for two. Luckily I still had some change in my pocket and was able to deposit USD 150 to have another drink at the hotel bar. For a 5 star hotel this is just a disgrace and cannot be compared to our experience at Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort. My wife originally wanted to try the Hilton in Panama City for our last night in town, but I again recommended the Riu Plaza. A mistake, as it now turns out. I would also like to positively highlight the entire staff at the pool bar, the hotel bar, valet parking, house keeping and at breakfast. Here I would like to highlight Erick. He has the overview and management skills to lead his team. I have been working in the 5 star plus resort sector for 25+ years The original review: The Riu Plaza in Panama City is one of the best hotels in the city. In international comparison I would classify it as a 4+ star hotel but compared to other hotels in the city you can give it 5 stars. The staff is very friendly, attentive and helpful. The rooms are appropriate for the price-performance ratio. The breakfast buffet is very extensive and highly praised. The selection is indeed extensive and the taste is quite OK

I was very impressed with this RIU, very centrally located in Panama City with major shopping and activities in close proximity to Casco Viego. Very attentive staff members who despite not fluent in English try their best to assist you. The rooms are nice and clean and housekeeping was very good. Though not an all inclusive there are food options there and great dining options are closeby over all a very great place and I would return there if I ever go back to Panama 🇵🇦

For starters the room was welcoming ,clean, spacious every single staff greeted my daughter & I with a smile they're extremely friendly great buffet breakfast the waiters are awesome especially David & Carlos

I was one of the first guests to stay here a decade ago and I recently returned to this hotel which reopened after a long and painful shutdown. The service was good, and the breakfast is truly wonderful. The rooms look a bit dated, and the plumbing reveals some issues. All in all, great location and the lobby is one of the most inviting spaces I can recall for a hotel in a long time.

Very luxurious hotel old fashion style in the business part of Panamá City. Only half an hour away from the airport and fifteen minutes to the harbor, it is located at a perfect spot. The rooms have a dated look and feel, but are in fact more modern you would think. The bathroom is very comfortable, the bed sleeps amazingly and the floor to ceiling window gives you a fantastic view.

Broad offering of new- and old-world wines, and related products; liquor, beer, snacks. Their deli offers good selection of bread and fixings. High quality snacks and junk food nibbles. Bubbly water. No iced coffee. Helpful staff. They accept credit cards. Open late.

Rooms are a little bit older. However they are quite large with enough space to put your luggage. view is nice, but I guess there are better views from other Hotels. The pool area and the breakfast are very good. Staff is friendly and helpful.

We moved here from another hotel and it was so much better. The pool area is nice and has great service. The breakfast was phenomenal and also may be worth staying there just for that. If you like green decor you will love the rooms ! Front desk very polite and helpful. I would stay again for sure.

Lovely lobby and easy checkin. Pool area is spacious with full bar and menu. However, service can tend to be slow. Hotel really could use a concierge. The front desk folks try their best but it needs someone who knows the city well and can get reservations for any need.

Was a really good experience. Rooms were always clean friendly staff in a clean and comfy environment, not to mention how perfect the location is, its very easy to get around and all the good spots are close by. The view was amazing and everything is at your fingertips. 1 thing to note is that do not keep your room key cards close to credit cards or mobile devices.

This hotel is located in the ideal location within the city. Very easy to get to via Uber to the airport and close by shops. Loved the city views. There is a 24 hr snack shop located on the main floor. The pastries are yummy and HUGE - very filling. The breakfast buffet is really good with a wide variety of choices. The only issue I had was the toilet tissue dispenser in the bathroom. It sits right on the shoulder when you use the lavatory.

Hands down to this Hotel. Service, Room, Food, Location all five starts. We felt completely safe and had a great time staying here. The breakfast buffet is included, and it's delicious! The views from the room are priceless!

This was an exceptional hotel stay for me and my sisters!! It was beautiful, affordable and the amenities are amazing! The hospitality was wonderful, and the staff was friendly and accommodating. They even reached out to a nearby restaurant and reserved a table for a meal and entertainment. (That part was GREAT!) They have tours at the hotel, it's worth the cost to pay and explore the great city of Panama! We are planning a return trip... can't wait!!

Wow! This place is very beautiful, the service is amazing, I want to take the mattress and pillows home with me! Also majority of the tours will pick you up at this hotel it’s so convenient. I will definitely stay here again. Omg and the breakfast is amazing! Lots of options to choose from

Had a wonderful stay. The breakfast was amazing. The waitstaff assisted me and my infant. In addition, house keeping promptly brought up a crib for me. This was a peaceful retreat after dealing with traveling for 24 hrs due to flight delays.

Room was clean and spacious ! Had 2 washroom in my suite. So upgrade worth it . Had a nice view . There restaurant in area KFC / burger king . Walking distance . There is a grill spot in corner across street ! Good panama food. Pharmacy next to dollar store by Starbucks on the corner

It is hard to get any better than this hotel. The location is excellent. It is at the best part of Panama City. The service is very good with rooms always well cleaned. Excellent breakfast. However, the TV could connect to streaming services and I thought the bathroom could be a little prettier and safer. You need to almost climb the bathtub. Beds are very large and comfortable.

You can never go wrong by staying at the Riu. If you are on a business trip and need a place to stay Riu is right in the heart of the city. Breakfast is always nice with numerous choices. Not all inclusive , just breakfast included only.

Room was super clean and Coffee and water are replenished every day. Room has instructions for item to be used. Room is very spacious. View is amazing!! Breakfast is hot and delicious and full of healthy and fresh choices. Wifi is very strong, so you get a really good connection. Staff is pleasant. Riu plaza Panama hotel is definitely bang for your buck.

Excellent hotel lobby bar. The place is beautiful. Service was good and the people were friendly. I wasn't checked in during my visit but I plan to book accommodations the next time in Panama City.

I stayed at Hotel Riu Plaza Panama for one night and had an incredible experience. We stayed in a very luxurious room on the 25th floor with a stunning view of the city. The room was fantastic, very spacious and comfortable. The breakfast buffet was out of this world, with an incredible variety of options to choose from. I highly recommend having breakfast here to start your day off right. Overall, Hotel Riu Plaza Panama is a great choice for anyone visiting the city.

We had a little hiccup when we tried to register because we had made our reservation online, and we weren't in the system yet. But after we were in the system, everything went smoothly. The room was beautiful! Beautifully decorated and spacious. We had a king-size bed that was very comfortable. The hotel has a free breakfast. Wow! It was a breakfast buffet! Breads, pastries, salads, fruits, soups, eggs every way you could think of. Different kinds of meats to choose from. Coffee, hot chocolate to all different kinds of juices. We were so happy! Great way to start your day. We had a nice time.

Riu Plaza Panama located in probably the best area of ​​Panama City was an excellent choice. Everything was 5 out of 5 starting with the reception staff (especially Mrs. Aura) and the cleanliness of the rooms and ending with the fabulous breakfast. Amazing management! Even though the hotel is a large one and it was full on the weekend, it didn't feel crowded at all.

Had an excellent stay here! Room was very clean and had a cool view of the city. The complimentary breakfast was the best I've ever had, offered anything you could think of! I will absolutely book here again.

The hotel is very hip and popular with lots of crowds and people constantly passing through. It was a little overcrowded for me. Despite the crowds, the location is great as it's in the heart of Panama City and makes it easy to get around from the hotel. The food is delicious and there are plenty of options. The hotel staff also provides very courteous and friendly service. I will stay here again.

The hotel is past its prime. We had to wait forever for someone to serve us at the pool. Only when we became active were we finally able to order margaritas. The margarita came in a plastic cup and tasted like juice with ice cubes. Unfortunately not a good experience.

Great service, clean and beautiful rooms, and a magnificent lobby. The breakfast buffet was amazing each day, and the pool looked nice, though we did not visit the pool during our stay. The location is also close to highways and the subway.

Modern hotel. Nice pool and a very delicious breakfast. Room are clean and service good.

Very nice hotel with an amazing breakfast buffet. The food service was amazing, especially Mr.David. David made sure that we always had everything we needed and wanted every morning at breakfast. He was truly a shining star of their staff.

Facilities clean and spacious staff are very respectful and ready to serve. Only negative hotel located on a one-way street and no backup power source. If the power goes, you're taking the stairs.