Panama Hotel and Suites

Junk stored everywhere. Property is in ownership transition

Cute spot with character! Our room was clean and the location was great with lots of food spots within a short walk. Our bed was a little small and lumpy and a bit of the overall charm is lost with the entrance renovations underway, but otherwise no complaints. Easy to find street parking.

The lobby and restaurant were under construction. We stayed in the Venetian Room. It was smaller, darker and dated than it looked on their website photos. Needs some maintenance work or updating - chip paint, holes on the walls, some splashes of "something" on the walls, picture frames falling apart, our towels had holes, etc. Otherwise, good price, great location and walkable to downtown San Rafael.

I like staying hwre. Quiet, nice, clean. Just need to what you’re getting into, I.e. shared bathrooms which is not evident from the listings Cute place. Bakery right next door. Parking is difficult if you get there late.

This place has charm and is cute. If you know what you're getting, it's just fine. However, the listings are definitely misleading. It makes the rooms looks bigger and leads one to believe that rooms include a kitchenette area and bathroom, when those are shared areas and not in-room. I do not necessarily mind sharing a bathroom etc but I do want to be aware of that when booking. There is definitely no 24-hour desk, and having the breakfast room not open until 8 AM doesn't work for me as a business traveler. However, there is a great Bakery right next door that I would highly recommend. Please also be aware that there is no on-site or otherwise dedicated parking, and this is right at the edge of a neighborhood. So parking may be challenging depending on when you stay or arrive.

The whole property is under renovation and only shared bathroom rooms are available. It is old, tight steep stairs, small rooms. Its more like a child vacation home than a hotel.

Panama is a cute hotel and Anos, who checked us in was friendly. Our room was cute. The neighborhood is very quaint and it is walking distance to downtown. (.5 miles) However, during our visit, it was VERY basic. The hotel is under construction-- (big time!) and I was not informed of this on their website when I booked our stay. There was no coffee in the morning, no lobby, no place it sit downstairs. I would stay again in the future after the remodeling and construction.

Under construction. No one was there when I showed up, but I was two hours early for my reservation. There was no clear signage about where to enter, just a big sign that they changed owners. I honestly thought the place was closed but the nice lady next store told me they must be at lunch. My room (captains room) was near where workers were most of the night. I asked for an extra hour passed check out and they said no.

This is a magical place with a really good price. I enjoyed walking into downtown. It is quite, safe and comfortable. Be sure you know that many of the rooms offer shared bathroom and shared kitchen. Also, the stairs are steep and shallow, so it may not be the best choice if you have mobility issues.

Funky Boutique hotel, I have stayed at before and will again. Not a modern hotel by any stretch, but clean and not too far from downtown food, drink & shopping. Room was clean - the Fridge turned out to be a freezer, but other than that no problems. Restaurant was closed, staff was nice but it is not a 24 hour staffed reception. I liked it and will be back for sure

Junk stored everywhere. Property is in ownership transition

Cute spot with character! Our room was clean and the location was great with lots of food spots within a short walk. Our bed was a little small and lumpy and a bit of the overall charm is lost with the entrance renovations underway, but otherwise no complaints. Easy to find street parking.

The lobby and restaurant were under construction. We stayed in the Venetian Room. It was smaller, darker and dated than it looked on their website photos. Needs some maintenance work or updating - chip paint, holes on the walls, some splashes of "something" on the walls, picture frames falling apart, our towels had holes, etc. Otherwise, good price, great location and walkable to downtown San Rafael.

If you know what you're getting into (i.e. not front desk, shared bathrooms etc) it's a completely fine and cute place to stay in. It's right on the edge of a neighborhood, there's a good bakery immediately next door and it's quiet. I am not sure if and when anyone is ever on premises (outside of cleaning). I think I would be important that they note in their listings that due to their location, there is no designated parking and you have to find parking within the neighborhood. At some times of the week or day, that is a bit challenging. My one complaint is that there does not seem to be daily housekeeping/cleaning. Which is completely fine when it comes to my individual room but completely unacceptable for common areas such as shared bathrooms. One of the bathrooms had a broken toilet running almost for my entire 4-day stay. The other bathroom has a shower where temperature is very hard to regulate and it seems to get warmer water, one has to sacrifice pressure. The other shower didn't work at all and I was unable to figure out whether that was due to someone else taking showers at the same time and would have been fine at a different time, or if it was just broken. I don't mind shared spaces and again, I think this is a cute hotel, but if there are shared spaces like that, it needs to be maintained so it can work.

Charming old house, converted to a hotel. Safe location. Easy walk to numerous restaurants and other businesses. Clean. Proprietor is pleasant and polite. Nice bedroom. Shared bathrooms. (Difficult to get a comfortable setting on the shower.) Good overall.

It’s criminal to charge what they charge for the room and property. The sofa bed was worn out, leather frayed, surface lumpy. Definitely not quality futon as we thought it would be. The carpet is disgusting. The faucets of the sink and bathtub both leaked continuously. There is no shower head!!! Seriously this was subpar hotel experience and I will never stay again nor will I recommend it to anyone. We should have stayed at the neighboring AC hotel which is new and much nicer. Very disappointed and mad at wasting so much money on this stay. Also, there was no mention of the property grounds being under construction. It was a mess and very unsafe and unpleasant. The only good thing to report was the nice employee named Enos.

Our room was comfortable but the lobby and main areas were very cluttered and not in use which gave the place a strange vibe.

This is a unique place. I stayed for 6 days after having a minor medical procedure so i wanted a homey feel and an economical price. This gave me both. It is clean but it is unique. My room had a little patio with a fence and was private which was great given i was in my room a lot. Tv is small but adequate, 2 blocks from grocery and convenience store, in a clean quiet residential neighborhood. Highly recommend if you are OK with a bit out of the ordinary- to me very pleasant. Would stay again.

The Panama Hotel has a certain old-time charm and is a really great place to stay. The staff is friendly, helpful, and responsive. The room was comfortable and the Internet connection was good. The shared bathroom was fine except for when someone took a bath and left the tub dirty (it was cleaned up by staff the next morning). I will stay here again if needed and would recommend to friends and family as a charming and, at times, reasonably priced place to stay.

I was thrilled when I first saw the hotel's name, but my excitement quickly faded upon arrival. The hotel was in a deplorable state, dirty and unkempt. To make matters worse, I discovered bed bugs on my bed. When I reported this issue to the staff, they inquired if I had found the windows open. I stayed for two nights because I was aware that a refund would not be possible.

Ken’s Safari room was much more remodeled than shown in the picture! It was a very pleasant surprise. No complaints, perfect for two days with my husband and dog. Very easy self check in at 1am.

The property is super pretty! It's a bit older in its appearance and amenities but it kinda gives modern Victorian and I was for it! The heaters are not as strong as I would have loved for the weather and the locks aren't necessarily the most strong feeling on the room doors but I loved it regardless and will be going back! BE ADVISED THAT NOT ALL ROOMS HAVE ATTACHED BATHROOMS. BE SURE TO LOOK AT THE PICTURES AND CALL THE PROPERTY IF NEEDED!

Cute spot with character! Our room was clean and the location was great with lots of food spots within a short walk. Our bed was a little small and lumpy and a bit of the overall charm is lost with the entrance renovations underway, but otherwise no complaints. Easy to find street parking.

Charming old house, converted to a hotel. Safe location. Easy walk to numerous restaurants and other businesses. Clean. Proprietor is pleasant and polite. Nice bedroom. Shared bathrooms. (Difficult to get a comfortable setting on the shower.) Good overall.

It’s criminal to charge what they charge for the room and property. The sofa bed was worn out, leather frayed, surface lumpy. Definitely not quality futon as we thought it would be. The carpet is disgusting. The faucets of the sink and bathtub both leaked continuously. There is no shower head!!! Seriously this was subpar hotel experience and I will never stay again nor will I recommend it to anyone. We should have stayed at the neighboring AC hotel which is new and much nicer. Very disappointed and mad at wasting so much money on this stay. Also, there was no mention of the property grounds being under construction. It was a mess and very unsafe and unpleasant. The only good thing to report was the nice employee named Enos.

The whole property is under renovation and only shared bathroom rooms are available. It is old, tight steep stairs, small rooms. Its more like a child vacation home than a hotel.

The “24 hour front desk” is an outright lie. Arrived at 8pm and found a note taped to the front door with my full name on it and a phone number to call. My friend called and was able to get the key without verifying any information from myself, just the information in the note. The room was upstairs with no elevator and the bed wasn’t comfortable. The “32 inch smart tv” was neither 32 inch or smart. The friend was actually in a public area shared with everyone else staying there, as was the bathroom. Also found a spider in the room.

This is a unique place. I stayed for 6 days after having a minor medical procedure so i wanted a homey feel and an economical price. This gave me both. It is clean but it is unique. My room had a little patio with a fence and was private which was great given i was in my room a lot. Tv is small but adequate, 2 blocks from grocery and convenience store, in a clean quiet residential neighborhood. Highly recommend if you are OK with a bit out of the ordinary- to me very pleasant. Would stay again.

The Panama Hotel has a certain old-time charm and is a really great place to stay. The staff is friendly, helpful, and responsive. The room was comfortable and the Internet connection was good. The shared bathroom was fine except for when someone took a bath and left the tub dirty (it was cleaned up by staff the next morning). I will stay here again if needed and would recommend to friends and family as a charming and, at times, reasonably priced place to stay.

If you're looking for a unique boutique hotel in Marin, this is a wonderful place to stay! The rooms are very comfortable and the inn keeper, Enos, is a great and accommodating host! Be aware that some rooms have a shared bathroom, so check to make sure it says "private bathroom" if that's a requirement. Other than that, I highly recommend and will return again! Thanks!

Charming small hotel. Enos was kind and helpful at check-in. Fun rooms display lots of creativity. Although it is older, it was comfortable and up-to-date in what we needed. There is also a fun bakery/coffee shop--Armida's-- next door. Easy walk to downtown restaurants.

Got in late for check in and they had key in lock box for me.

Good value and close to restaurants. Enos, staff, was excellent.

The “24 hour front desk” is an outright lie. Arrived at 8pm and found a note taped to the front door with my full name on it and a phone number to call. My friend called and was able to get the key without verifying any information from myself, just the information in the note. The room was upstairs with no elevator and the bed wasn’t comfortable. The “32 inch smart tv” was neither 32 inch or smart. The friend was actually in a public area shared with everyone else staying there, as was the bathroom. Also found a spider in the room.

Under construction. No one was there when I showed up, but I was two hours early for my reservation. There was no clear signage about where to enter, just a big sign that they changed owners. I honestly thought the place was closed but the nice lady next store told me they must be at lunch. My room (captains room) was near where workers were most of the night. I asked for an extra hour passed check out and they said no.

Great staff and friendly people. Would recommend 👌

I got off work at the hospital and was told my key would be in a lock box(because there is no 24 hour front desk as advertised) and couldn’t find the lock box in the dark in the winter rain storm. When I rang the bell out of desperation and cold, the man who came to the front was rude and absolutely astounded that I couldn’t find the 4 lockboxes and accused me of being drunk and suggested I find a place elsewhere. When I said that was fine with me he changed his tune. I should have taken the opportunity to stay elsewhere because it was a nightmare. I got into a sparsely appointed room with no bathroom where the window was wide open and the room was freezing. I had to be up at 5 for my shift the next day so I laid down but the light from the hallway around the door was too bright. I left the next morning and got a different room and the hotel refuses to refund me for the other night. Horrible place, best to avoid. All the pictures on the site are from a previous owner: the rooms are not cute, the restaurant is not open, and there is no 24 hour front desk. To top it all off the staff is rude. Get a room elsewhere, you’ll thank me for it later

Funky Boutique hotel, I have stayed at before and will again. Not a modern hotel by any stretch, but clean and not too far from downtown food, drink & shopping. Room was clean - the Fridge turned out to be a freezer, but other than that no problems. Restaurant was closed, staff was nice but it is not a 24 hour staffed reception. I liked it and will be back for sure

Panama Hotel should not be operating. Much construction work to be done, bathrooms need to be operable and also let guest know they are shared! One set of stairs did not have a railing. I immediately left, had to book somewhere else and Panama has refused to refund. Hotels.com didn't back me either.

This hotel should have its license revoked. The room I booked apparently had a broken toilet, which I did not find out until I checked in, gave my cc and id, and was taken to a completely different room. The room I was taken to had a 6 inch at least dip in the mattress visible from the door. I asked to see an alternative room and that room had bleach stains all over the bedding. Not only this, but the hotel was under construction and I saw no other guests or staff except the person who checked me in. When I said that I did not feel comfortable staying there and requested a refund, they refused.

Charming small hotel. Enos was kind and helpful at check-in. Fun rooms display lots of creativity. Although it is older, it was comfortable and up-to-date in what we needed. There is also a fun bakery/coffee shop--Armida's-- next door. Easy walk to downtown restaurants.

Cute spot with character! Our room was clean and the location was great with lots of food spots within a short walk. Our bed was a little small and lumpy and a bit of the overall charm is lost with the entrance renovations underway, but otherwise no complaints. Easy to find street parking.

Charming old house, converted to a hotel. Safe location. Easy walk to numerous restaurants and other businesses. Clean. Proprietor is pleasant and polite. Nice bedroom. Shared bathrooms. (Difficult to get a comfortable setting on the shower.) Good overall.

This is my favorite hotel in San Rafael. I often travel with my medium sized dog and they are very welcoming and gave us a great room with a private fenced patio. The rooms have names and individual characteristic decorations. I always get a room with a private bathroom and it is well equipped with coffee maker, microwave and refrigerator with a small sink for washing up. I am looking forward to the day they open their restaurant again. It is easy walking distance to the local park and downtown San Rafael. The staff is very friendly and the room always clean.

Convenient for exploring San Rafael and Larkspur.

Great spot, unique property. Lovely location

This is a unique place. I stayed for 6 days after having a minor medical procedure so i wanted a homey feel and an economical price. This gave me both. It is clean but it is unique. My room had a little patio with a fence and was private which was great given i was in my room a lot. Tv is small but adequate, 2 blocks from grocery and convenience store, in a clean quiet residential neighborhood. Highly recommend if you are OK with a bit out of the ordinary- to me very pleasant. Would stay again.

Panama is a cute hotel and Anos, who checked us in was friendly. Our room was cute. The neighborhood is very quaint and it is walking distance to downtown. (.5 miles) However, during our visit, it was VERY basic. The hotel is under construction-- (big time!) and I was not informed of this on their website when I booked our stay. There was no coffee in the morning, no lobby, no place it sit downstairs. I would stay again in the future after the remodeling and construction.

Right few blocks from downtown. Great old cute place to stay.

This is a magical place with a really good price. I enjoyed walking into downtown. It is quite, safe and comfortable. Be sure you know that many of the rooms offer shared bathroom and shared kitchen. Also, the stairs are steep and shallow, so it may not be the best choice if you have mobility issues.

The property is super pretty! It's a bit older in its appearance and amenities but it kinda gives modern Victorian and I was for it! The heaters are not as strong as I would have loved for the weather and the locks aren't necessarily the most strong feeling on the room doors but I loved it regardless and will be going back! BE ADVISED THAT NOT ALL ROOMS HAVE ATTACHED BATHROOMS. BE SURE TO LOOK AT THE PICTURES AND CALL THE PROPERTY IF NEEDED!

The lobby and restaurant were under construction. We stayed in the Venetian Room. It was smaller, darker and dated than it looked on their website photos. Needs some maintenance work or updating - chip paint, holes on the walls, some splashes of "something" on the walls, picture frames falling apart, our towels had holes, etc. Otherwise, good price, great location and walkable to downtown San Rafael.

The hotel is very cute. We had a great stay. There’s a great bakery around the corner

This is my favorite hotel in San Rafael. I often travel with my medium sized dog and they are very welcoming and gave us a great room with a private fenced patio. The rooms have names and individual characteristic decorations. I always get a room with a private bathroom and it is well equipped with coffee maker, microwave and refrigerator with a small sink for washing up. I am looking forward to the day they open their restaurant again. It is easy walking distance to the local park and downtown San Rafael. The staff is very friendly and the room always clean.

Good spot. Disappointed restaurant wasn’t open. Look forward to going back when it is.

This place has charm and is cute. If you know what you're getting, it's just fine. However, the listings are definitely misleading. It makes the rooms looks bigger and leads one to believe that rooms include a kitchenette area and bathroom, when those are shared areas and not in-room. I do not necessarily mind sharing a bathroom etc but I do want to be aware of that when booking. There is definitely no 24-hour desk, and having the breakfast room not open until 8 AM doesn't work for me as a business traveler. However, there is a great Bakery right next door that I would highly recommend. Please also be aware that there is no on-site or otherwise dedicated parking, and this is right at the edge of a neighborhood. So parking may be challenging depending on when you stay or arrive.

Panama is a cute hotel and Anos, who checked us in was friendly. Our room was cute. The neighborhood is very quaint and it is walking distance to downtown. (.5 miles) However, during our visit, it was VERY basic. The hotel is under construction-- (big time!) and I was not informed of this on their website when I booked our stay. There was no coffee in the morning, no lobby, no place it sit downstairs. I would stay again in the future after the remodeling and construction.

We were not told that the restaurant was closed. For the price of the room, I would have expected more amenities; nicer towels, etc. The bed and pillows were fine, room was comfortable. Bathroom tile needed badly to be replaced. The location has convenient for us. Nice little bakery next door.

Funky Boutique hotel, I have stayed at before and will again. Not a modern hotel by any stretch, but clean and not too far from downtown food, drink & shopping. Room was clean - the Fridge turned out to be a freezer, but other than that no problems. Restaurant was closed, staff was nice but it is not a 24 hour staffed reception. I liked it and will be back for sure

Quiet and clean. Very serviceable for a restful night. I’m excited to stay again when the restaurant is open.