Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District offers a warm welcome with free breakfast and international cuisine at EL PATIO DEL BALMORAL restaurant. Explore designer stores on site, grab a coffee at one of the 2 coffee shops/cafes, or unwind with WiFi in your room. Previous guests rave about the dining options and helpful staff.
Central Ave, between 7th and 9th St, San José, San Jose, 3344-1000
What's nearby
Morazan Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
National Theater of Costa Rica - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
National Museum of Costa Rica - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
National Park - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
Mercado Central - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
Getting around
San José (SYQ-Tobías Bolaños Intl.) - 23 min drive
Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) - 32 min drive
San Jose Procuradiria Museum Station - 7 min walk
San Jose Atlantic Station - 10 min walk
San Jose Fercori Station - 11 min walk
Airport shuttle (surcharge)
Area shuttle (surcharge)
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
You'll be in a fantastic location at Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District, just a 5-minute walk from Pre-Colombian Gold Museum and Plaza de la Cultura. Guests can visit the 24-hour fitness center for a workout or grab a bite to eat at EL PATIO DEL BALMORAL, which serves international cuisine and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This Art Deco hotel is also within just a 10-minute walk of Morazan Park and National Theater of Costa Rica. Fellow travelers love the helpful staff and restaurant.
At a glance
DONE
Hotel size
119 rooms
Arranged over 7 floors
DONE
Arriving/Leaving
Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Express check-out available
Early check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out time is noon
Late check-out subject to availability
DONE
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
DONE
Required at check-in
Credit card required for incidental charges
Government-issued photo ID may be required
Minimum check-in age is 18
Minimum Spring Break check-in age is 18
DONE
Children
Children (7 years old and younger) stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding
No cribs (infant beds)
DONE
Pets
Pets allowed*
Service animals welcome
Specific rooms only, restrictions apply*
Pets must be supervised
WIFI
Internet
Free WiFi in public areas
Free WiFi in rooms
LOCAL_PARKING
Parking
Free secured, covered onsite valet parking
Limited valet parking on site
DONE
Transfers
Airport shuttle on request (available 24 hours)*
DONE
Offsite
Area shuttle*
DONE
Other information
Smoke-free property
Property amenities
Food and drink
Free local cuisine breakfast each morning 6:00 AM–11:00 AM
2 coffee shops
Restaurant
Room service (limited hours)
Traveling with children
Children stay free (see details)
Children's menu
What to do
Shopping
Ecotours nearby
Golf lessons nearby
Rafting nearby
Working away
24-hour business center
7 meeting rooms
Computer station
Conference center (5909 square feet of space)
Services
24-hour front desk
Concierge services
Tour/ticket assistance
Laundry facilities
Luggage storage
Wedding services
Multilingual staff
Porter/bellhop
Romance packages
Facilities
1 building/tower
Built in 1955
24-hour fitness center
Designer stores on site
Locally sourced food is prioritized
Vegetarian dining options
Double-glazed windows
Banquet hall
Reception hall
Art Deco architecture
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible
Elevator
Wheelchair-accessible path to elevator
Accessible airport shuttle
Handrails in stairways
Wheelchairs available on site
Closed captioned TV
Well-lit path to entrance
Stair-free path to entrance
Room amenities
Be entertained
Flat-screen television
Home comfort
Air conditioning
Iron/ironing board (on request)
Sleep well
Soundproofed rooms
Bed sheets provided
Freshen up
Hair dryer
Towels
Stay connected
Desk
Free WiFi
Phone
More
Daily housekeeping
In-room safe
Energy-saving switches
Uses some LED lighting
Special features
Dining
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.
Fees & policies
Optional extras
Airport shuttle service is offered for an extra charge of USD 40 per vehicle (one-way, maximum occupancy 6)
Area shuttle service is offered for an extra charge
Early check-in can be arranged for an extra charge (subject to availability)
Late check-out can be arranged for an extra charge (subject to availability)
Children & extra beds
Airport shuttle service for children costs USD 15 (one-way)
Pets
Service animals exempt from fees
Pet deposit: USD 100 per stay
Pets are allowed for an extra charge of USD 15 per pet, per night
Policies
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.
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.
Guests can rest easy knowing there's a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a security system on site.
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards and cash.
Credit cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, JCB International
Cashless transactions are available.
Also known as
Balmoral Hotel
Balmoral Hotel San Jose
Balmoral San Jose
Hotel Balmoral
Frequently asked questions
Does Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
Are pets allowed at Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District?
Yes, pets are welcome. There's a charge of USD 15 per pet, per night, and there's also a deposit of USD 100 per stay. Service animals are exempt from fees. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
Is parking offered on site at Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District?
Yes, there's free valet parking. Parking spots may be limited.
Is airport shuttle service offered by Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District?
Yes, an airport shuttle is available. The charge is USD 40 per vehicle one-way.
What are the check-in and check-out times at Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District?
Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime. There's a charge for early check-in (subject to availability). Check-out time is noon. Late check-out is available for a charge (subject to availability). Express check-out is available.
Is there an onsite casino at Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District?
No, this hotel doesn't have a casino, but Casino Fiesta (1-min walk) and Casino Fiesta Heredia (14-min drive) are both nearby.
What is there to do at Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District and nearby?
Have fun with nearby activities such as rafting and practice your swing at the nearby golf course. Additional recreation nearby includes casino gaming and ecotours. Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District also has a 24-hour fitness center.
Are there restaurants at or near Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District?
Yes, EL PATIO DEL BALMORAL offers international cuisine.
What's the area around Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District like?
Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District is in Carmen, a short 7-minute walk from San Jose Procuradiria Museum Station and 2 minutes' walk from Morazan Park. Travelers say the area is walkable and good for shopping.
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Reviews
Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District Reviews
8.0
Very Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
8.6
Cleanliness
8.2
Location
8.4
Staff & service
8.0
Property conditions & facilities
Guest review summary
What guests liked
Breakfast was consistently described as good, delicious, and excellent by multiple guests. (38 reviews)
Parking was convenient and valet parking felt safe with helpful attendants. (5 reviews)
From real guest reviews summarized by AI.
Popular mentions
Service staff
Room
Location
Restaurant
Breakfast
Bed
Food
Museums
Cities
Shopping center
Reviews
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Apr 1, 2026
Great location, staff were very helpful even packed us a quick breakfast for our early airport departure.
Katie
Katie, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Mar 25, 2026
Very helpful and friendly staff
ELMER
ELMER, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Feb 5, 2026
Good location, clean hotel, pleasant staff. It was a decent stay for the money.
Sharon
Sharon, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Feb 25, 2026
Nice and clean staff amazing
Melvin
Melvin, 4-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Mar 1, 2026
The staff were outstanding. The hotel is one of the best you will get I. The area that it’s located in and priced reasonably. It’s seem very secure and is in wonderful proximity to main attractions of San Jose.
Enrick
Enrick, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Mar 19, 2026
It was a one night stay.
The room was clean. The staff was accommodating
Agnes
Agnes, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Jan 24, 2026
Clean rooms and free breakfast. Really nice staff.
Robert
Robert, 5-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Mar 1, 2026
The location is great, staff were nice, room clean, bathroom is a little small. Overall, pretty good.
SUSAN
SUSAN, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 13, 2026
Among the best locations in downtown; rooms are very quiet, staff members are extremely friendly, especially Alejandra in the front desk.
Jose
Jose, 6-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Dec 14, 2025
Great value and location
William
William, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Mar 27, 2026
The hotel staff were very friendly and helpful. We were especially helped at the front desk by the kindness of a young woman and a young man (with a name that I think was an Italian version of Pedro) who helped us Sunday morning, March 8th, with many tips and instructions on getting a bus out to San Rafael de Escazu. Very impressive. The waiters and waitresses in the restaurant were also very friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend this place for anyone wanting a comfortable, safe, stay in San Jose.
Everett
Everett, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 28, 2026
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.
Rachel
Rachel, 2-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Feb 25, 2026
The rooms were clean, the staff was very nice. Put it away I didn't.
Ron
Ron, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 10, 2026
Great staff. Great location. Restaurant was good
Ana
Ana, 3-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 5, 2026
The room size was great, the staff was super friendly and helpful as well! I also really liked their gallo pinto for breakfast!
Thi
Thi, 2-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Mar 11, 2026
It’s a little hard to find the hotel. The front entrance is on a walking street. The parking entrance is on a one way street (Calle 7). The area seems a little more sketchy than you expect, but it’s safe, and the staff are very helpful.
Ray
Ray, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Dec 14, 2025
Staff were amazing! Free breakfast was good!
Cristina
Cristina, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 13, 2026
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.
Jose
Jose, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Nov 15, 2025
Our suite was perfect. And the hotel was just 2 blocks away from the Historical District. The staff were very helpful, and breakfast was delicious.
mary
mary, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 5, 2026
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.
Kevin
Kevin, 1-night trip
Verified
6/10 Good
Jan 1, 2026
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.
Seyedehmediseh
Seyedehmediseh, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 14, 2025
Great service clean good restaurant great location friendly helpful staff
broderick kieth
broderick kieth, 4-night trip
Verified
6/10 Good
Jan 11, 2026
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.
Achintya
Achintya, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Jan 1, 2026
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.