Sofitel Legend’s newest property, Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama Metropolis, manages to realize the triple crown of luxurious, historical past and magnificence.

Accor hosted TPG on the grand opening of the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo in March in Panama Metropolis. Whereas this isn’t a typical under-the-radar TPG evaluate of the resort, I made loads of observations throughout my three-night keep about what this implies for Sofitel’s broader initiative to revamp the model. I additionally noticed what this resort means for Panama — one in every of TPG’s greatest locations to journey in 2023.

Panamanians and Sofitel Legend’s guardian firm, Accor, each have one thing to be happy with with the brand new resort.

It’s each a logo of broader redevelopment underway throughout a lot of the historic Casco Viejo neighborhood in addition to a lift to the town’s hospitality scene. We’ve heard and noticed that many luxurious resorts within the metropolis are overdue for just a little beauty touch-up. The brand new Sofitel Legend will greater than fulfill cravings for upgraded ultraluxury within the metropolis (and, hopefully, stress the competitors to step up their sport).

Casco Viejo may not be your solely cease when craving just a little solar and enjoyable in Latin America, however the Sofitel Legend is actually value a multiday stopover.

What’s Sofitel Legend?

Sofitel is a well known hospitality model, however the Sofitel Legend offshoot may not be as acquainted to American vacationers. The model goals to infuse Sofitel’s French luxurious service into historic, centuries-old heritage buildings in places resembling Amsterdam, Vietnam, Colombia, Egypt, China and now Panama.

Initially inbuilt 1917 because the Membership Union, the property was as soon as the hub for the Panamanian elite. Queen Elizabeth II even visited in 1953 throughout an official state go to, and Albert Einstein was a visitor of Membership Union.

The membership misplaced its luster when members started shifting to the outskirts of the town, and it will definitely shuttered and sat empty for many years. The U.S. bombed it throughout a 1989 invasion whereas on the lookout for dictator Manuel Noriega. The shell of the constructing was later used as a backdrop in 2008’s “Quantum of Solace” James Bond movie. Builders introduced the construction again to life in recent times, leading to its luxurious resort reincarnation.

The ultimate outcome could be very a lot consistent with Sofitel Legend’s model customary of preserving historic properties and reworking them into trendy, luxurious resorts.

The combo of French luxurious and native historical past isn’t pressured, both. Settlers from world wide have come to Panama for hundreds of years, together with the Spanish within the sixteenth century and the French and American influences in the course of the development of the Panama Canal.

You’ll hear a “bonjour” right here and there from staffers (extra a nod to Sofitel’s affect than any French holdover from the canal), and the focus of the foyer is a tiled mural of the Panama Canal. Greeters in entrance of the colonial-style constructing don Panama hats and cream uniforms by native designer Federico Visuetti. There are additionally cozy spots tucked away, just like the library off the foyer that pays homage to numerous queens of Carnival.

Night leisure contains the candle ritual, a Sofitel Legend staple impressed by the customized of lighting the streets of Paris in the course of the reign of Louis XIV. Each Sofitel Legend resort infuses this historic French custom with native aptitude. Every evening the Casco Viejo resort options dancers in conventional Panamanian costumes, including a mixture of track and dance to the lighting.

The rooms

One should bear in mind Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo was a hollowed-out shell of a constructing when the redevelopment started. So, whereas it’d really feel just like the mosaic flooring and breezy terraces have been right here for many years, that is all newly constructed and solely months into its lifespan.

My Oceanfront Magnifique visitor room included a king mattress, a sitting space and a balcony good for eating exterior and having fun with views of Panama Bay. The spacious room included an entry hall with a complete row of built-in closets and a storage space for my baggage (one thing I want extra resorts would do as a substitute of the collapsible baggage racks).

Reverse the closets was a big rest room with a stand-alone, claw-footed soaking tub, double vainness and walk-in bathe. The bronze and porcelain {hardware} all through gave the room a extra mature really feel although it was just a few weeks outdated. I’m not an enormous fan of the open-concept loos taking up the posh resort house lately, so I used to be completely happy to see the Sofitel Legend’s spacious rest room didn’t embrace a hen’s-eye view into the bed room and past.

The expansive bed room and sitting space included a big workstation and four-poster mattress (every in darkish wooden that popped in opposition to the cream partitions). A sitting space included a velvety light-blue sofa and low desk good for having fun with espresso, studying or catching up on emails away from the workstation.

A big chest reverse the sofa housed the minibar and complimentary boxed waters, tea and low to be used within the in-room French press. The minibar included native and worldwide manufacturers for snacks and drinks.

Contemplating how a lot of a goblin I might be within the morning till I’ve my first cup of espresso, I used to be initially just a little uneasy in regards to the thought of a lot effort going into making my much-needed java.

It ended up being a enjoyable addition to the morning routine, contemplating the resort supplied exact measurements and directions on how you can get the temperature and timing good. It packed extra of a punch than my ordinary resort Nespresso, so I used to be energized for a full day of actions after only one cup. I realized extra about Panama’s high-end espresso tradition throughout my keep and even purchased a bag of Panamanian Geisha espresso to take dwelling.

My favourite a part of the room was the balcony exterior, because it included a shocking view of the Panama Metropolis skyline and was a superb spot to drink espresso and eat breakfast within the morning whereas watching the dawn. Whereas it was heat throughout my keep, it wasn’t overly humid, so I typically stored the French doorways open to let within the sea breeze. (Maintaining the doorways open for longer than a minute shut the air-con off mechanically.)

The room was luxurious, however it was additionally cozy and comfy. You may management all of the lights from a change panel over the nightstand on both facet of the mattress, and it was simple to sleep in, because of blackout shades over the home windows. Housekeeping got here by twice a day, and the night turndown service included drawing the blackout shades and tidying up.

The combo of Panamanian hospitality and French luxurious made for a soothing stick with extremely attentive service that wasn’t stuffy.

Vacation spot eating

Since a lot of my go to was tied to the grand opening, I can largely solely communicate to some preliminary observations of the Sofitel Legend’s bars and eating places which might be presently open.

For starters, when you get an Oceanfront Magnifique room, it’s going to be laborious to move up room service every morning. Breakfast swiftly arrived inside 20 to 45 minutes after I ordered it. Eating on my balcony was a good way to overlook about the way it was nonetheless 35 levels again in Boston whereas soaking within the solar. I sampled avocado toast full of a pile of smoked salmon one morning and indulged in granola, boiled eggs, bacon and an infinite fruit platter the following.

Nonetheless, I nonetheless advocate testing Caleta, the resort’s Mediterranean restaurant that’s open for all three meals of the day (and likewise supplies in-room eating). The French brasserie aesthetic of Caleta’s eating room is a transparent nod to the French luxurious on the core of Sofitel. There are additionally different good touches, such because the bakery cart a waiter rolls by at breakfast to serve numerous treats like croissants and ache au chocolat.

Meals had been included in my comped keep, however I did have a look at the menu and seen costs appeared fairly customary so far as resort restaurant pricing goes. The massive parts actually stood out and will make it appear to be you get extra worth on your buck, although. The avocado toast was $18, however the pile of smoked salmon it got here with was monumental.

Moreover, I went with the $25 “wholesome” choice one morning. It included cereal and berries with milk, a miniloaf of carrot and ginger bread, Greek yogurt, a fruit plate, contemporary juice and a selection of any sizzling beverage (I went with an espresso). Costs had been lower than you’d discover at a metropolis resort within the U.S. Whereas they had been a number of {dollars} greater than breakfast down the road on the Hyatt-affiliated Resort La Compania (extra on that in coming days), parts had been considerably bigger.

Government chef Lorenzo Di Gravio oversees Caleta. The restaurant incorporates a seafood-forward menu of entrees like grilled octopus, scallops and grouper, in addition to different choices like veal chops and rib-eye.

Whereas I didn’t have these dishes as stand-alone choices, the resort handled us to a multicourse dinner hosted by Di Gravio; the chef confirmed off his skills by means of programs of marinated yellowtail with caviar, steak tartare, sea bass and quick ribs. There was no weak hyperlink right here, and it is clear Panama Metropolis has a brand new hub for energy eating with Di Gravio on the helm.

The dishes are scrumptious, and the restaurant ambiance is simply nearly as good. It is simple to think about vacationers wanting to take a seat in Caleta’s lovely eating room for hours whereas sipping a glass of Champagne.

Mayda, the resort’s essential bar off the foyer, affords views of the courtyard exterior. That is the principle social space of the resort in the meanwhile, and it was the hub of exercise at some stage in my keep. Right here you may order a mixture of small bites like oysters on the half shell or sandwiches along with cocktails. The vibe is extra laid again than at Caleta.

One degree beneath the courtyard is the resort’s pool and bar. This brilliant house contains a mixture of desk and counter service with contemporary juices, smoothies, ceviche and cocktails.

Vera Cafe, a espresso store off the foyer, can also be open for pastries, grab-and-go sandwiches and drinks from early morning till early night.

Ammi, a rooftop bar, isn’t formally open for enterprise but. Nonetheless, the Sofitel Legend group gave me a sneak preview with handed appetizers like ceviche and grilled fish, together with Paloma cocktails and Champagne. The indoor-outdoor format of the house, coupled with cozy tables alongside the terrace, reveals the resort is clearly aiming to be the brand new nightlife hotspot of Casco Viejo.

Whereas pictures wasn’t allowed, a members-only speakeasy underneath development reveals the Sofitel Legend additionally needs to courtroom an area viewers — and maintain them coming again.

You’ll be able to’t assist however really feel like all the additional effort to make these distinct on-site eating and ingesting spots is a transparent try and return this stretch of Casco Viejo to its high-society previous.

A date with historical past

Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo is inside Panama Metropolis’s historic Casco Viejo neighborhood — additionally a UNESCO World Heritage Web site — and is a part of a broader redevelopment push underway within the surrounding blocks. The juxtaposition of Casco Viejo with Panama Metropolis’s lengthy expanse of hovering towers feels a bit just like the French Quarter-meets-Dubai.

There’s a lot to just do throughout the Sofitel Legend’s surrounding neighborhood. Whereas the Panama Canal is a 25-minute drive from the resort, Casco Viejo has loads of websites tied to the nation’s iconic piece of infrastructure.

The Plaza de Francia, a number of blocks south of the resort, pays homage to France’s preliminary try at constructing the Panama Canal earlier than the People took over. The Arco Chato, a few blocks to the west, contains an arch stated to be a promoting level to the People to proceed with constructing the canal by means of Panama. (The truth that the arch, first constructed within the 1600s, was nonetheless standing was presupposed to be a testomony to the secure climate of Panama relative to competing Nicaragua.)

Whereas a scarcity of upkeep led to the arch collapsing in 2003, it has since been restored — and the story continues to be a very good one for the various People strolling by means of Casco Viejo.

Vacationers may even discover loads of high-end espresso retailers, boutique shops and, sure, retailers to choose up a Panama hat.

Reserving suggestions

Whereas my keep was comped, charges are routinely round $415 an evening for this particular room class in early April. Entry-level visitor rooms (nonetheless with waterfront views however not a balcony) begin at $314.

Anybody contemplating a keep ought to look into Accor’s ALL Plus Voyageur subscription plan (extra particulars right here from TPG, and you may join by way of Accor right here). It will get you 20% off one of the best charge of choose Accor manufacturers, together with Sofitel and Sofitel Legend. Plus, you’ll be capable to get a reduction at 17 different Accor manufacturers for future journey.

Whereas the Sofitel Legend is a tranquil property, it’s nonetheless in the course of one in every of Latin America’s busiest cities. The Sofitel Legend group acknowledges that its metropolis location will not fulfill vacationers’ needs to get pleasure from seashores.

So, the group is already organizing tag-on journeys the place friends can spend two or three nights in Casco Viejo earlier than flying off to one of many standard Panamanian island locations, just like the Bocas del Toro Islands or San Blas Islands.

What it means for Sofitel

Accor simply went by means of a serious company restructuring. Sofitel, Sofitel Legend and the MGallery and Emblems collections are actually underneath the purview of Maud Bailly, previously the corporate’s CEO of Southern Europe.

One of many greatest hurdles for Sofitel in the meanwhile may be the truth that it’s a reasonably well-known model within the U.S. however solely has a number of resorts in Chicago, Philadelphia, New York Metropolis, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. They’re completely positive resorts, however development comes from shock-and-awe experiences that herald friends and woo potential house owners to ink a deal.

“The notice of Sofitel is tremendous highly effective within the U.S., however we will do significantly better,” Bailly beforehand instructed TPG.

Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo is a superb starting for Bailly to take the model to a brand new future. We’ll have extra particulars quickly, however it’s clear she plans to revamp the model and elevate the shopper expertise on the broader Sofitel model.

Sofitel Legend’s heritage property pointers imply vacationers shouldn’t count on a wave of those resort sorts flooding the market anytime quickly — there are solely so many centuries-old buildings that match the invoice, in any case.

Nonetheless, it’s clear this resort is the higher expertise in Panama Metropolis in comparison with extra long-in-the-tooth opponents just like the InterContinental Miramar Panama and the Waldorf Astoria Panama. That presents a serious alternative to win over extra vacationers within the area and tempt them to ebook different Sofitel properties when and if it begins to broaden.