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San Jose Balmoral Hotel

Balmoral Hotel

Central Avenue between 7th & 9th Street, San Jose, Costa Rica | (618) 248-8274

Upper-middle-range | Kid-Friendly | Business | Historic
1/67
Checking prices...

Overview

Pros
  • In downtown San Jose, within walking distance of major sights

  • Sleek rooms with minibars, and flat-screen TVs; most have coffeemakers

  • Many rooms have private balconies; suites have separate living areas

  • Restaurant includes a café, pizzeria, bar, and wine shop

  • Bar regularly hosts live music performances

  • On-site shopping center with discounts for guests

  • Small fitness center with cardio and weight-training machines

  • Seven meeting rooms with audiovisual equipment and computer access

  • Buffet breakfast included in room rate

  • Free indoor parking, and airport transfers for a fee

  • Free Wi-Fi throughout

Cons
  • Some rooms have alley views

  • No swimming pool or spa services

  • Standard Rooms lack coffeemakers

Bottom Line

Balmoral Hotel is an upper-middle-range property situated in downtown San Jose. Its location on busy Avenida Centrale makes it convenient to shopping, nightlife, and sightseeing -- all the main attractions are within easy walking distance. The hotel’s 113 guest rooms are cheerful and tidy, with wood or ceramic floors, colorful accent walls, and nature-themed art over the beds. Some have enclosed balconies and suites have separate living areas. The hotel has a small fitness center, and its restaurant, with its creative twist on authentic Costa Rican dishes, draws guests and local residents alike. Its upper-level bar offers live music several nights a week. Travelers who don't want to stay smack in the city center might prefer Parque del Lago Boutique Hotel. 

Map

Central Avenue between 7th & 9th Street, San Jose, Costa Rica
Amenities
  • Air Conditioner
  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio
  • Beauty / Hair Salon
  • Business Center
  • Cabanas
  • Cable
  • Concierge
  • Cribs
  • Dry Cleaning
  • Fitness Center
  • Free Breakfast
  • Internet
  • Jacuzzi
  • Kids Allowed
  • Laundry
  • Meeting / Conference Rooms
  • Mini Bar (with liquor)
  • Poolside Drink Service
  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite
  • Room Service
  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space
  • Swim-Up Bar
  • Airport Transportation

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.

Full Review

Scene

Smart downtown hotel with a tropical garden restaurant and live music

Set on the busy corner of Avenida Centrale and Calle 7, the Balmoral Hotel’s orange-and-white exterior has a well-maintained, consciously retro look. Opened in the late 1950s, the eco-friendly Balmoral strikes a nice balance between contemporary and nostalgic. The original flooring and furniture are still here, adding character to its more modern decor. There are two entrances. The one off Avenida Centrale leads to the restaurant and mini shopping mall, with a flight of stairs continuing to the lobby. The second entrance, known as the Motor Lobby, requires guests to pass through the hotel’s cramped parking garage, and is a little awkward.With its business and meeting facilities, the Balmoral attracts many business travelers from around the world. Most leisure travelers are in-and-out guests, spending a single night in the city en route to or from the airport -- but staff still encourages guests to get out and explore as much as possible, even on short visits. 

Location

In the heart of downtown San Jose, on busy Avenida Centrale

One of the hotel’s two entrances faces Avenida Centrale, a buzzing pedestrian-only street lined with shops, restaurants, and bars. Dining options range from local fare to chains like Starbucks and McDonald's. There are bus stops within walking distance, but the city’s perpetually grid-locked streets mean it’s generally faster to walk -- almost all the major attractions, such as the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, Teatro Nacional Costa Rica, and Mercado Central, are within a 10-minute walk of the hotel. The city’s main Coca Cola Bus Terminal is about a 15-minute walk. Juan Santamaria Airport is about an hour's drive.

Rooms

Modern rooms with flat-screen TVs and minibars; enclosed balconies and separate living spaces in some

Balmoral Hotel's 113 rooms have varying color schemes. Some pair red bed runners and skirts with steel-blue accent walls, while others might feature a palette of gold and green. Most have bold pieces of artwork over the beds -- usually a blown-up photo of flowers or leaves. Floors are wood or ceramic, and -- as a throwback touch -- most rooms have kept their original 1950s wooden luggage racks.All rooms have flat-screen TVs, safes, free Wi-Fi, and minibars stocked with soda, liquor, and snacks. All except Standard and Standard Plus Rooms have coffeemakers. Deluxe Rooms and Junior Suites feature enclosed balconies with views of the bustling street below. Family Suites include separate living areas and microwaves, as does the Presidential Suite. The small, white-tile bathrooms have shower/tub combos, and most have granite countertops. Biodegradable bath products and wall-mounted hairdryers are provided. Deluxe Rooms have separate bathtubs.

Features

Cool concept restaurant, attractive meeting rooms, and a shopping center

Balmoral Hotel’s restaurant, El Patio del Balmoral, is essentially a restaurant, a bar, a cafe, pizzeria, and wine shop in one, with different counters offering the various fare. It has lofty ceilings, exposed wood beams, and iron detailing. The space is open-air, but it feels enclosed except in the seats near the windows at the entrance. Lush plant-life lines the balcony between the upper and lower levels. The lower level includes the main restaurant, which serves a mix of creatively prepared local and international dishes. The bar, which offers free live music several nights a week, is on the upper level -- it has a flat-screen TV, making it a popular spot for watching sports. A free buffet breakfast is included in the room rate.The hotel has seven meeting rooms, which can accommodate up to 200 guests. The rooms are distinctive -- some have their original wooden flooring and offer scenic views over the city. There’s a small shopping center of independently owned stores on the ground floor -- including a drugstore, candy shop, and hair salon -- where guests receive discounts.The hotel also has a small fitness center with about a half-dozen cardio and weight machines. Large windows offer nice views of the city. Free indoor parking is available, and Wi-Fi is free throughout. The hotel will arrange airport transfers.