Hotel Balmoral
A downtown city hotel on Avenida Central, one block from the Gold Museum and the National Theatre
Hotel Balmoral, on Avenida Central in downtown San José
Hotel Balmoral is a city hotel in the Historic District of San José, on Avenida Central between calles 7 and 9. There is no pool and no garden. What it gives you is the old centre on foot: the Gold Museum and the National Theatre are 1 block away. We book it for the first or last night of a trip, or for travellers who want an afternoon of museums before they head out to the volcanoes and beaches.
Why we choose it
- The museums at the door. The hotel is on the Paseo de los Museos. The Jade Museum and Democracy Square are 2 blocks away, the National Museum 3, and the Central Market 8, so an afternoon in the city needs no car.
- Quieter rooms to ask for. The street outside is busy by day. Deluxe rooms and the Junior Suite have thermo-acoustic glass, and the Gales and Belford suites have soundproof windows, so tell us if you sleep lightly.
- Room for families. The Family Suite has two bedrooms with a living room between them and two bathrooms, which is hard to find downtown.
Rooms and views
The Standard Plus rooms are compact, with one double bed and furniture handcrafted by local artisans. The Superior and Superior Plus rooms face inward, and the remodelled Superior Plus adds a refrigerator and microwave.
The Deluxe Plus rooms are newly remodelled as small apartments with Italian porcelain floors. Above them are the suites: the Gales Suite with a balcony and a king bed, the Belford Suite with a balcony, a dining set and two king beds, and the Presidential Suite. Some Standard Plus rooms are adapted under Costa Rica's Law 7600 for guests with reduced mobility.
On the property
El Patio del Balmoral looks out over Avenida Central and serves Costa Rican and international dishes from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Café del Patio has coffee, cakes and bread, Pizzería El Patio makes its pizza from scratch every day, and El Bar del Patio shows sports on big screens. There is a wine shop, a souvenir shop called Mercado 83 and a beauty salon.
The gym is open 24 hours, small, with an elliptical, two treadmills and two bikes. There is a 24/7 ambulance service, and pets are welcome.
Location and getting there
From here, the hotel lists Poás Volcano at 50 km and La Paz Waterfall at 52 km for day trips. We meet you at the airport with a private transfer and plan the rest of the trip around this first night. Read more about San José.
Hotels we book in San Jose
From our own hotel records: stars, themes and amenities. Nothing here is a price.
| Hotel Balmoral | Hotel Presidente | Hotel Don Carlos | Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Curio Collection by Hilton | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stars | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Boutique | Not listed | Not listed | Yes | Not listed |
| Private jacuzzi in room | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Yes |
| Team favourite | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Yes |
| Check availability | See hotel | See hotel | See hotel |
Where it is
Your Costa Rican driver waits at arrivals and stops whenever you like on the way: fruit stands, a sloth in a tree, a bathroom.
If this hotel is full, we would look at
Your Costa Rica, starting in San Jose
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. A Specialist who lives here checks this hotel and builds the rest around it.