The Best Hotels to Book in and Around San José, Costa Rica

Just around the corner from the National Theatre, Hotel Grano de Oro is set inside a restored Victorian mansion. There’s a range of rooms and suites here including the lavish Vista de Oro Suite, with its wood-paneled walls, stained-glass lighting and sunken bath. After a day of sightseeing in the city, guests can unwind on the hotel’s jacuzzi terrace before sitting down to a meal in the fine-dining restaurant with its 2,000-bottle wine cellar.

The word alta means high in Spanish, and this hotel is set on a hilltop on the western edge of San José overlooking Costa Rica’s Central Valley. You can take in the view from the balconies of some of the rooms. The interior design of the hotel is inspired by the country’s coffee culture. There are photographs of cafetales (coffee farms) on the walls, and the furniture is made from upcycled farm equipment – like the armchairs fashioned from horse saddles.

The founding family of Hotel Presidente, near the National Theatre, decided on its name when Kennedys visited Costa Rica in the 1960s. The hotel’s decor has as much personality as the man it was named after: industrial features like girder beams share the space with antiques like vintage sewing machines. Be sure to spend some time on the rooftop cocktail terrace – try the citrus cocktails, they’re made with the hotel’s home-grown limes.

This finca-style hotel crowns a hilltop in the Escazu suburb of San José, 3.5mi (5km) from the center. The grounds are a great place to unwind after a busy day of exploring the capital. There’s a roomy pool that looks out over the Central Valley and a flower garden that’s been designed to attract bees and hummingbirds. There’s no restaurant on site, but the hotel does offer a Costa Rican breakfast with eggs and gallo pinto (a rice and bean dish).

Across the road from the National Theatre, this grand hotel is set above an arcaded street of shops. The building dates back to the 1930s, but the interiors are contemporary. The location of the hotel puts all of San José’s top sights, bars and restaurants at your fingertips. However, it will tempt you to stay in with its intimate piano bar and a rooftop restaurant where the wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows serve up unforgettable views of the city.

This wood-paneled, chalet-style hotel is just 10 minutes from the airport. The grounds are one of the major draws here: they’re filled with fountain-dotted gardens and are home to a spacious swimming pool. The restaurant, with its vaulted wooden ceiling, is another big plus. The menu here revolves around meat, with the exception of a few vegetarian pasta dishes. If you’re here with a group, go for one of the huge steak and seafood platters.

Set on a hilltop half an hour’s drive west of the city center, Out of Bounds looks out over the skyline of San José and the mountains of the Central Valley beyond. Book a mountain view room and take in the view from a rocking chair on your wooden balcony. There’s no restaurant here, but guests are welcomed with a cup of hot Costa Rican coffee, and breakfast is provided in the mornings.

Greenery pools around Xandari Resort and Spa, an hour’s drive north from central San José. The hotel is set on a 40-acre (16ha) forest reserve with its own waterfalls, birdwatching spots and nature trails. The spa in the hotel’s name features five palm-roofed palapas with private hot tubs. Don’t miss a dip in the sunset pool; this infinity pool looks out over the Central Valley and – as the name suggests – it’s the perfect place to watch the sunset.

This modern, business-style hotel is just across the road from La Sabana Metropolitan Park, aka Central Park, in downtown San José. It has everything you need for a good night’s sleep, including calming white-and-wood rooms and shower products titled “stress relief” with eucalyptus and spearmint scents. The cost of a room usually includes a buffet breakfast of continental options and Costa Rican dishes like gallo pinto.