Hostel Mamallena

The place has a lovely feel and the rooms are lovely too :) It's a little out of the way, but getting an inexpensive Uber from the centre was easy. Lovely stay.

This has been my go-to place on and off for years. It draws an interesting mix of backpackers and travelers, including boaters and people who live elsewhere in the country and come into the city. The prices are reasonable, and the hostel is conveniently close to the Santos Tomas metro stop and the coast. Some people may have concerns about the neighborhood, but I found it fine and safe to walk around. A well-placed hostel.

The kitchen looked good, and the staff were friendly. They also handled some laundry for us without any trouble. We enjoyed our stay, though we were mostly passing through Panama City on our way to other things, so we weren’t looking for a social hostel or planning to spend much time there. There was a small mix-up over our need for an air-conditioned room, but they sorted it out. It did what we expected.

We only stayed one night during a layover, and the friendly staff made a good impression. There were plenty of places to hang out and a nice kitchen, plus some very friendly dogs. The hostel felt warm throughout, though the rooms had air conditioning and were mostly comfortable. I did get a little hot on the top bunk at bedtime. The rooms were surprisingly spacious.