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Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District

3.5 star property

Photo gallery for Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District

Flat-screen TV
Exterior
Breakfast, lunch, dinner served; international cuisine
Deluxe Plus
Presidential Suite

Reviews

8.0 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendly
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Restaurant
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View map
Central Ave, between 7th and 9th St, San José, San Jose, 3344-1000
  • Place, Morazan Park
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, National Theater of Costa Rica
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, National Museum of Costa Rica
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Airport, San José (SJO-Juan Santamaría Intl.)
    ‪29 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Deluxe

Deluxe

Deluxe

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(16 reviews)
  • City view
  • 38 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds OR 1 King Bed
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Standard Room (Plus)

Standard Room (Plus)

Standard Room (Plus)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(37 reviews)
  • 25 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Superior Plus

Superior Plus

Superior Plus

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(6 reviews)
  • 32 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds OR 1 Queen Bed
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Deluxe Plus

Deluxe Plus

Deluxe Plus

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(5 reviews)
  • City view
  • 38 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds OR 1 King Bed
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Junior Suite

In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, soundproofing

Junior Suite

  • City view
  • 38 sq m
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Presidential Suite

Presidential Suite

Presidential Suite

  • 80 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Family Suite

Family Suite | Living room

Family Suite

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(3 reviews)
  • City view
  • 90 sq m
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 Queen Bed and 2 Double Beds
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Superior

Superior

Superior

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(24 reviews)
  • 32 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Suite Gales

Suite Gales

Suite Gales

  • City view
  • 49 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Suite 514

Suite 514

Suite 514

  • City view
  • 40 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Suite Belford

Suite Belford

Suite Belford

  • City view
  • 74 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 King Beds
  • Free Wi-Fi

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About the area

San José

With a stay at Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District, you'll be centrally located in San José, steps from Pre-Colombian Gold Museum and Plaza de la Cultura. .This hotel is 0.3 mi (0.5 km) from Jade Museum and 0.3 mi (0.5 km) from National Museum of Costa Rica.

What's nearby

  • Morazan Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • National Theater of Costa Rica - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Central Park - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • National Museum of Costa Rica - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Mercado Central - 10 min walk - 0.9 km

Getting around

  • San Jose Procuradiria Museum Station - 7 min walk
  • Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) - 32 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Spoon - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Q'Empanadas - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪El Patio del Balmoral Restaurant - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Rosti - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬2 min walk

About this property

Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District

Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District offers 119 air-conditioned accommodations with safes and hair dryers. Flat-screen televisions are featured in guestrooms.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones. Housekeeping is offered daily and irons/ironing boards can be requested.

Recreational amenities at the hotel include a 24-hour fitness center.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

Make yourself at home in one of the 119 air-conditioned rooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Conveniences include phones, as well as safes and desks.
Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as a 24-hour fitness center, or other amenities including complimentary wireless internet access and concierge services. This Art Deco hotel also features shopping on site, wedding services, and a banquet hall. Getting to nearby attractions is a breeze with the area shuttle (surcharge).
Stop by EL PATIO DEL BALMORAL for lunch, dinner, or brunch, where this restaurant specializes in international cuisine. Dining is also available at the 2 coffee shops/cafes, and room service (during limited hours) is provided. A complimentary local cuisine breakfast is served daily from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
Featured amenities include a 24-hour business center, express check-out, and a 24-hour front desk. Planning an event in San José? This hotel has 5909 square feet (549 square meters) of space consisting of a conference center and 7 meeting rooms. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available 24 hours), and free valet parking is available onsite.
A complimentary local cuisine breakfast is served each morning between 6:00 AM and 11:00 AM.
EL PATIO DEL BALMORAL - This restaurant specializes in international cuisine and serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. A children's menu is available.
Room service (during limited hours) is available.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • 24-hour return airport shuttle at scheduled times and on request for a surcharge
  • Area shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free secured, covered valet parking on site
  • Limited on-site valet parking

Food and drink

  • Free local cuisine breakfast available daily 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM
  • 2 coffee shops/cafes
  • A restaurant

Restaurants on site

  • EL PATIO DEL BALMORAL

Things to do

  • 24-hour gym
  • Designer stores
  • Shopping

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities
  • Soundproofed rooms

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff
  • Porter/bellhop
  • Proposal/romance packages
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Wedding services

Business services

  • 24-hour business centre
  • 7 meeting rooms
  • Computer station
  • Conference centre (5,909 square foot of space)

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Accessible airport shuttle
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Lift
  • Stair-free path to entrance
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible path to lift
  • Wheelchairs on site

More

  • 1 building
  • 7 floors
  • Art Deco architecture
  • At least 80% of food locally-sourced
  • Banquet hall
  • Built in 1955
  • Double-glazed windows
  • Reception hall
  • Smoke-free property
  • Vegetarian dining options

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV

Food and drink

  • Limited room service

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Energy-saving switches in guestrooms
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Laptop workspace
  • LED lighting
  • Phone
  • Safe
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in is available for a fee
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before noon
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 72 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 15 per pet, per night, plus a deposit of USD 100 per stay
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Pets cannot be left unattended
Specific rooms only, restrictions apply; pet-friendly rooms can be requested by contacting the property at the number on the booking confirmation

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Children up to the age of 7 years can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 40 per vehicle (one-way, maximum occupancy 6)
  • Airport shuttle fee per child: USD 15 (one-way)
  • Pet deposit: USD 100 per stay
  • Pet fee: USD 15 per pet, per night
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Early check-in is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Minimum Spring Break check-in age is 18 years old
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a security system
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms

Property is also known as

Balmoral Hotel
Balmoral Hotel San Jose
Balmoral San Jose
Hotel Balmoral

Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District Reviews

Reviews

8.0

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 437 out of 1005 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 289 out of 1005 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 156 out of 1005 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 62 out of 1005 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 61 out of 1005 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Staff & service

7.8/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Sharon

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Good location, clean hotel, pleasant staff. It was a decent stay for the money.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Kenneth

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

Anthony

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Only issue was no facecloths available
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Rachel

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was clean & comfortable. The Cafe had great food. Roberto, our waiter, was very nice & friendly. Hotel was in a perfect location for exploring parks & museums. We had a great time there.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

8/10 Good

Mary

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was nice. There was a good shower/bathtub. The free breakfast was great but it is a sit down breakfast in the restaurant, not a buffet. The location was perfect in the historic center. My only complaint is that they advertise a shuttle and there isn’t one. After multiple requests, they said I could share details of arrival and flight but no one showed up. The taxi coordinator at the airport said there wasn’t one. Other hotel guests had the same experience-no response. The airport in Alajuela is a half hour drive to the hotel in downtown San Jose. The taxi drivers overcharge and use a meter. They are also aggressive. Any ride share is only available off sight and might not be safe. I didn’t find any good options for airport transport other than renting a car.
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2026

8/10 Good

Matthew, Social Circle

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026

6/10 Okay

Lilian

The room was ok. But the keep a deposit $200for 24hours
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

8/10 Good

Stephen

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

8/10 Good

Debra

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

8/10 Good

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean rooms and free breakfast. Really nice staff.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2026

4/10 Poor

carla

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The front desk staff was very helpful and nice so that’s the only reason I’m giving this place 2 stars. The standard room i was in, non smoking, smelled of stale cigarette smoke. The hotel is a “non smoking” hotel so unclear why it smelled. The room has an enclosed patio, with a window to the outside. I couldn’t close the window due to EXCESSIVE dirt and debris in the window tracks. Looks like it’s been that way for years. There’s also a large planter box attached to the outside of the building in front of that window, so it was impossible to see out. Because I didn’t want to sleep with the window open, I had to keep the patio enclosure closed my entire stay. Wi-Fi is non existent although they advertise it. Could not get a signal at all. Pics of the room, on line, are not what you’re getting, they are very dated and old. My bathroom sink drain had some sort of gross gunk in it. Looked as though it hadn’t been cleaned. I also had a problem with my bill. Appeared to be over charged on my card. I wasn’t allowed to speak to the manager directly. The front desk staff relayed messages to me as to the problem. That piece eventually cleared up on it’s own but left me feeling very stressed about the double charges while I was there. This place is not worth the money you pay. Find a different hotel!
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Leonie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Everything was great
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Jose Roberto

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

kevin, Salem

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Best hotel in historic district, great location good parking , a little hard to find, but great stay
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Jose, North bethesda

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The location is unbeatable; you can walk everywhere. Alejandra, the receptionist, was very helpful, friendly, and had a very nice demeanor. We will definitely come back.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Jose, North bethesda

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Among the best locations in downtown; rooms are very quiet, staff members are extremely friendly, especially Alejandra in the front desk.
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Katryn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Helpful staff and very clean room
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

6/10 Okay

Achintya

Travelled with family
Location was great - right in center of San Jose city. Free valet was great. Room in decent condition but beds were very uncomfortable. Bathroom shower kept spilling water outside. A fridge and locker would have been much appreciated. Free breakfast was meh and service was slow.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

2/10 Terrible

tommy

I TRIED TO CANCELL OR MOVE THE DATES FOR 2 WEEKS BUT EXPEDIA WOULD NEVER LET ME CANCELL. I HAD A STROKE AND WANTED TO BE A MONTH LATER BUT EXPEDIA DOES NOT CARE
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Ana, Toronto

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great staff. Great location. Restaurant was good
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Thi

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room size was great, the staff was super friendly and helpful as well! I also really liked their gallo pinto for breakfast!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Kevin

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great staff, helpful and attentive. Friendly. Room was great. Wonderful views, Cool atmosphere. Food delicious in the restaurant. Jorge was extremely helpful and kind. Would highly recommend. Petra at the front desk could not have been more helpful.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Yazmin

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

8/10 Good

Jeremy

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
It was a great location for the last leg of our trip because we were doing a walking tour nearby, however, it was not the most comfortable and one of the two fridges in the room was not working, smelled, and a little dirty. The beds were hard as a rock, clean, but very firm. The lobby and restaurant photos certainly set you up to believe it is luxury in the midst of a very popular and populated area, but I felt the rooms need more comfort and cleanliness to add to the comfort level for the area, especially when paying for a suite.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

6/10 Okay

Seyedehmediseh

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Overall good experience. We had an early check-in and although the room was ready we had to pay some fees. Other than that it was a great downtown location and close to everything.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025