Selina Rooftop crowns the Selina hostel in Casco Viejo, and it has grown into one of the easier rooftop hangs in the old quarter. The terrace pairs a small pool with greenery and a clear line over the historic rooflines to the skyline.
The vibe is tropical and relaxed rather than formal. The Rooftop Guide describes it as colourful and chic, and the open door policy means anyone can come up, not only hostel guests.
Who would love it: travellers and locals after a casual sundowner with a young, social crowd. Who would skip it: anyone after a quiet, polished cocktail room, because the energy here is festive and the format is easygoing.
The deck mixes the pool, plants, and open seating, with views across Casco Viejo and the city skyline beyond. The layout reads as a hostel rooftop in the best sense, built for lingering through the afternoon into the night.
The bar keeps it simple with craft beer, cocktails, and bar bites. The drinks are made for the setting rather than for a tasting menu, which suits the pool and the sunset.
Order a cold craft beer or an easy cocktail and settle in for the view, then add bar bites if the afternoon runs long. Prices sit in the friendly midrange, with most drinks below what the polished hotel rooftops charge nearby.
Timing rewards the late afternoon. The terrace is calm and sun lit early, then fills for sunset and the weekly events as the evening goes on.
The programming adds to the draw. The rooftop hosts regular acoustic concerts and live DJ nights, so a weekend visit often lands on music alongside the view.
Regulars and travellers on Tripadvisor return for the relaxed crowd and the skyline outlook, while the common note is that it leans toward a backpacker party scene on busy nights. Anyone after a refined evening should treat it as a sundowner rather than a late stop.
It suits a casual sunset, a solo traveller looking to meet people, or a group warming up before a bigger night. It is less suited to a formal date or a craft cocktail purist.
The Casco Viejo setting keeps it walkable to the cocktail rooms and rum bars of the old quarter, so it works as a loose first stop on a longer route. The pool and the open policy set it apart from the more buttoned up rooftops nearby.
The pool and the open door policy are what set Selina apart from the polished hotel rooftops nearby. Anyone can ride up for a craft beer and the skyline, which keeps the crowd looser and more social than a reservation only terrace.
The crowd skews toward the hostel's young, international guests, with locals folding in for the events. That mix makes it an easy place to meet people, though it also pushes the energy toward a party scene on busy nights.
For a first visit, treat it as a sundowner rather than a destination, arriving in the late afternoon for the sun and the calm before the weekend DJ sets take over. The friendly prices make it a sensible first round before the pricier rooms, and the open policy means there is no need to book or stay at the hostel to ride up and claim a seat by the pool.
For more in the district, see our guide to the best bars in Panama City and the wider list of best rooftop bars. Nearby picks include Tantalo Roofbar in Panama City and Relic Bar in Panama City.
Sources: The Rooftop Guide · Panama Casco Viejo · Tripadvisor reviews. Editorially curated by Marcus Webb.
