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Panama Hotel

2.0 star property

Photo gallery for Panama Hotel

Exterior
Room (Roy Roger's)
Cabin (Captain's Cabin) | Living area
Room (Lady Bracknell's) | Terrace/patio
Bungalow (Mimi's Bungalow) | Living area

Reviews

7.2 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendly
  • Housekeeping
  • Air conditioning
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant

Explore the area

View map
4 BAYVIEW STREET, San Rafael, CA, 94901
  • Mission San Rafael Arcangel
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Dominican University of California
    ‪20 min walk‬
  • Marin County Civic Center
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • San Francisco, CA (SFO-San Francisco Intl.)
    ‪48 min drive‬

Room options

Room (Grant's Tome)

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Room (Garden Room)

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room (Jennifer's)

Room (Jennifer's)

Room (Jennifer's)

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Honeymoon Room (Honeymoon)

Honeymoon Room (Honeymoon)

Honeymoon Room (Honeymoon)

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room (Lady Bracknell's)

Room (Lady Bracknell's)

Room (Lady Bracknell's)

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room (Ken's Safari)

Room (Ken's Safari)

Room (Ken's Safari)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room (Maria's Pueblo)

Room (Maria's Pueblo)

Room (Maria's Pueblo)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(2 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Bungalow (Mimi's Bungalow)

Bungalow (Mimi's Bungalow)

Bungalow (Mimi's Bungalow)

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Futon

View all photos for Cabin (Captain's Cabin)

Cabin (Captain's Cabin)

Cabin (Captain's Cabin)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Room (Bordello)

Room (Bordello)

Room (Bordello)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room (Rosie's)

Room (Rosie's)

Room (Rosie's)

  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Futon

View all photos for Room (Roy Roger's)

Room (Roy Roger's)

Room (Roy Roger's)

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Room (Venetian)

Room (Venetian)

Room (Venetian)

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room (Dale Evans)

Room (Dale Evans)

Room (Dale Evans)

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

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About the area

San Rafael

With a stay at Panama Hotel in San Rafael (Gerstle Park), you'll be within a 10-minute drive of San Francisco Bay and San Rafael Pacifics Albert Park. .This hotel is 13 mi (21 km) from Presidio of San Francisco and 13.8 mi (22.1 km) from Golden Gate Bridge.

What's nearby

  • Mission San Rafael Arcangel - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Falkirk Cultural Center - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Dominican University of California - 20 min walk - 1.7 km
  • Marin County Civic Center - 5 min drive - 4.7 km
  • Marin County Civic Center Farmers' Market - 5 min drive - 4.7 km

Getting around

  • Richmond Transit Center - 19 min drive
  • San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) - 51 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Muffin Mania Cafe - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Depot Garden Cafe - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Red Rooster Brick Oven - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Java Detour - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Flatiron - ‬5 min walk

About this property

Panama Hotel

Hotel in San Rafael with a restaurant
Panama Hotel offers 13 air-conditioned accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. These individually decorated and furnished accommodations include desks. 32-inch Smart televisions come with cable channels.

Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations with rainfall showerheads. This San Rafael hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access, with a speed of 50+ Mbps. Change of towels and change of bedsheets can be requested. Housekeeping is provided daily.

Make yourself at home in one of the 13 individually decorated guestrooms, featuring microwaves and Smart televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms feature shower/tub combinations with rainfall showerheads and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers, and housekeeping is provided daily.
Take in the views from a garden and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless internet access.
Enjoy a satisfying meal at Panama serving guests of Panama Hotel.
The front desk is staffed during limited hours.
Panama - Onsite restaurant.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 50+ Mbps
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • No on-site parking available

Food and drink

  • A restaurant
  • Coffee and tea in common areas

Restaurants on site

  • Panama

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • Mini-fridge
  • Soundproofed rooms

Conveniences

  • Limited-hour front desk

Guest services

  • Change of bedsheets (on request)
  • Change of towels on request
  • Housekeeping (daily)

Outdoors

  • Garden

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only

More

  • Built in 1910

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Shampoo
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 32-inch smart TV with cable channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave
  • Mini-fridge

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Heating
  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Soundproofed rooms
  • Window screens

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in fee: USD 25.00
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before noon
Late check-out subject to availability
Late check-out fee: USD 25.00

Special check-in instructions

An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking
The front desk is open daily from 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 15.00 per pet, per stay
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Pet fee: USD 15.00 per pet, per stay
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Early check-in fee: USD 25.00 (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out fee: USD 25.00 (subject to availability)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a security system, a first aid kit, and outdoor lighting
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

Property is also known as

Panama Hotel Hotel
Panama Hotel SAN RAFAEL
Panama Hotel Hotel SAN RAFAEL

Reviews

Panama Hotel Reviews

7.2

Good

7.8/10

Cleanliness

7.6/10

Staff & service

6.4/10

Amenities

6.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

6.8/10

Eco-friendliness
Rating 10 - Excellent. 48 out of 104 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 16 out of 104 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 10 out of 104 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 8 out of 104 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 22 out of 104 reviews

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Craig

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

2/10 Terrible

Joyce

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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.
no railings, stains
shower didn't work. Shared bath, other option was clawfoot tub other end of the hall.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Angel

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great stay cozy cabins.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rick

Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Riley

Liked: Cleanliness
Loved my stay here. It’s giving hostel, very true to what would would find in Panama and we were so here for it!!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Hannah

Travelled with pets, Travelled with partner
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.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Jennifer's Room Misrepresented - No Bathroom

The listing of this hotel significantly misrepresents the actual accommodations. Jennifer's Room is listed with the following amenities: shower/tub combo, toilet, air conditioning, and photos of the room show a large space with a dining area. In reality, the dining area is completely detached from the room, located across the hallway, and is a common space for all guests; the room itself is juuust large enough to fit a double bed and nothing more. The room had absolutely no air conditioning or vents; the only air conditioning was in the hallway, and the room itself only had a ceiling fan and a baseboard heater. The stated bathroom amenities were actually two shared bathrooms in the hallway, one of which was out of order when I arrived. The listing did not show any photos of the bathroom which should have raised alarm bells but because it was listed in the amenities I did not think anything of it. The listing should EXPLICITLY state that it is a shared bathroom, but it does not, which is intentionally misleading. I contacted hotels.com immediately upon arriving at the hotel to cancel my stay at 10pm when I checked in, and I did not stay at the property at all. Despite hotels.com escalating my cancellation request, the hotel has refused to provide a refund, even though their listing is demonstrably inaccurate and misleading. I will be reporting fraud to my credit card company.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

2/10 Terrible

Jessica

Travelled with pets
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Avram

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Annie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

A nice neighborhood place in San Rafael

I like this family-style hotel, but the mattress was not great ... the bed kind of felt like my bed BEFORE I replaced the 20-year-old mattress. I still slept okay, though.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ava

Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Genevieve

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lisa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great value and understated elegance

This is a lovely hotel with many economic room choices and a fantastic aesthetic. Comfortable and elegant.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

2/10 Terrible

FIRMANTE

Business traveller
Disliked: Amenities
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.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Nellie

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Raymond

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The hotel was unique, very aesthetically, pleasing, Victorian style hotel, and like an island type resort setting feeling. Different but very comfortable and easy and lowkey.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cristal

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Quaint! Felt right at home! Will always come “home” for a visit.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Sweet Suite

Loved it.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Giancarlo, San Rafael

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Right few blocks from downtown. Great old cute place to stay.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Barry

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Serine

Amazing!!!
Blue moon over Queen size bed
Treats bought for a pick-nick at Stenson Beach
Bubble bath in the old fashion tub
Exterior
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, room comfort

Spend a little more, or wait until the work's done

The hotel was quaintly old-fashioned but not ready for guests. The room I booked had no functioning heater so I had to take another room; there was no private bath, and the bath I had near my room had no hot water in the shower; after I washed my head in the cold water, I wiped up the water and the towel came up almost black - the floor obviously had not been mopped in a long time; the telephone in my room did not work, despite numbers being posted on the wall for the office and outgoing calls.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Ayliah

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Charles, Tiburon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Got in late for check in and they had key in lock box for me.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Daniel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024