This is one of my special places in San Jose. Up until today when I drive by, I feel like getting my hand out of the car and waving to its majestic front and my memories in it.
You see… there was a time when I didn’t live in Costa Rica… And whenever we came to visit, this was my favorite place to stay. We used to come, first as a newlyweds and always felt like in a deja vu of the honey moon… Such a romantic site cannot be easily forgotten… And then we came when the kids were small, and always felt at home. The staff is so welcoming and the rooms are so beautiful!
The area where it is located is not downtown San Jose, but if you like to walk it is really walking distance or a $5 cab ride… or even, if adventurous, you can easily take a public bus and be at the National Theater in five minutes (Wouldn’t recommend that at rush hour in San José -After 4 p.m.-).
The rooms are big enough, the bathrooms comfortable and the hotel grounds really beautiful. As a Jane Austen fan I can picture the original owners of this gorgeous mansion walking by its aisles and living life in the slow pace of the costarrican coffee plantation style.
About the restaurant: The restaurant is cozy and nice, the food is superb, the atmosphere is stylish, service is excellent and the staff super attentive, although it is a bit pricey. It is a good idea to reserve since, pretty often, locals come to enjoy dinner at the hotel. If, by any chance you don’t want to eat at the hotel, there are restaurants downtown San Jose, or even in the other direction towards La Sabana (Ask in reception, they are amazing at giving recommendations). (Highly recommend Soda Tapia which is as local as can be and serves a lot of food for lower prices!)
To summarize… The hotels grounds are beautiful and perfectly clean, the setting is amazing and the rooms are comfortable with a ceiling fan, WiFi, TV screen, AC and great space.
I could go on forever… but I guess you should try it yourself… Hotel Grano de Oro is, itself, a great experience to live.
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PROS
- Location: Not too close, not too far. There are restaurants, taxis and public buses (To go to downtown San Jose) if needed.
- Rooms are comfortable and cozy
- Restaurant is really good.
- Grounds are beautiful.
- Staff super friendly and personalized service
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CONS
- Location: Noisy and not as safe at night.
- Rooms don’t have A/C
- It is a city hotel, no gardens around.
- Walls are not sound proof.
- Restaurant a bit pricey
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