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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

Breakfast, lunch, dinner served; international cuisine
Exterior
Deluxe Plus
Lobby
Breakfast, lunch, dinner served; international cuisine

Reviews

8.0 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendly
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
The current price is NZ$211
includes taxes & fees
31 Mar - 1 Apr

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.)
    ‪26 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

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

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

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

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

View all photos for Presidential Suite

Presidential Suite

Presidential Suite

  • 80 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

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

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

View all photos for Suite Gales

Suite Gales

Suite Gales

  • City view
  • 49 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Suite 514

Suite 514

Suite 514

  • City view
  • 40 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for Suite Belford

Suite Belford

Suite Belford

  • City view
  • 74 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 King Beds

About the area

San José

Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District puts you in the heart of San José, within steps of Pre-Colombian Gold Museum and Plaza de la Cultura. Highlights at this Art Deco hotel include 2 coffee shops/cafes, a restaurant and free breakfast (local cuisine). .The restaurant, EL PATIO DEL BALMORAL, serves international cuisine and is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. At the hotel's own lounge bar, you can stop for a drink. 5909 square feet (549 square metres) of event facilities include 7 meeting rooms and a conference centre, and other business amenities include a 24-hour business centre. Added amenities include free Wi-Fi in public areas, a 24-hour gym and laundry facilities. Each morning free breakfast is served. There's also free valet parking, along with the convenience of an airport shuttle. .Places within a short walk of this 3.5-property class Carmen hotel include Morazan Park and National Theater of Costa Rica.

What's nearby

  • Morazan Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Plaza de la Cultura - 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
  • Mercado Central - 10 min walk - 0.9 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Q'Empanadas - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Spoon - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪El Patio del Balmoral Restaurant - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪RostiPollos - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Azotea Calle 7 - ‬1 min walk

About this property

Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District

There's a restaurant on site, along with 2 coffee shops/cafes. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. Free breakfast is available daily. A computer station is on site and WiFi is free in public spaces.

Business amenities include a 24-hour business centre and 7 meeting rooms. Event space at this hotel measures 5909 square feet (549 square metres) and includes a conference centre. A 24-hour fitness centre, a vending machine, and multilingual staff are also featured at the business-friendly Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District. An airport shuttle (available 24 hours) and an area shuttle are available for a fee. Limited free parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

This 3.5-star San José hotel is smoke free.

  • 1 building
  • 119 guestrooms or units
  • 7 levels
  • 2 coffee shops
  • 5909 sq ft of conference space
  • 549 sq. m of conference space
  • Built in 1955
  • Local cuisine
  • Breakfast available (free)
  • Business centre (24 hours)
  • Conference centre
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Express check-out
  • Staff members are multilingual
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Concierge
  • Wedding services available
  • On-site shopping
  • Bellhop
  • Lift
  • No smoking on site
  • Bar or lounge
  • Dining venue
Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District offers 119 air-conditioned accommodations with a safe and a hairdryer. Flat-screen televisions are featured in guestrooms.

Guests can surf the web using complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and telephones. Housekeeping is offered on a daily basis and an iron/ironing board can be requested.

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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 bar/lounge
  • 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: USD 15 per pet, per night, plus a deposit of USD 100 per stay
  • Pets cannot be left unattended
  • Certain rooms only, restrictions apply
  • You can request a pet-friendly room by reaching out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation
    • Service animals are exempt from fees.

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Kids stay free! Children 7 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cots (infant beds) are not available.

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • 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)

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

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 and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A credit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession. This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children. If you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room. Minimum Spring Break check-in age is 18 years old. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, JCB International, debit cards and cash. For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and a security system in all accommodation. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.

We should mention

  • Children aged 7 years old and younger stay free in the same room as the parent or guardian when using existing bedding.
  • Registered guests are the only ones allowed to be in guestrooms.
  • Pets are welcome in certain rooms only; other restrictions apply (please see the Fees section for related charges). To make arrangements for your pet, contact the property directly at the number on your booking confirmation.

Property is also known as

Balmoral Hotel
Balmoral Hotel San Jose
Balmoral San Jose
Hotel Balmoral

Frequently asked questions

What is the cancellation policy at Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District?

Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District offers free cancellation on select room rates. Check out the cancellation policy for more info.

How much does it cost to stay at Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District?

As of 30 Mar 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District on 31 Mar 2026 start from NZ$211, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is parking available at Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District?

Yep, Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District has free valet parking. Onsite parking is limited.

Is Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District family-friendly?

You bet! With amenities such as children's meals and laundry facilities, it's no surprise that Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District is a hit with families.

Does Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District serve breakfast?

You bet, our visitors are hooked on the free local cuisine breakfast here! Offered daily between 6:00 AM and 11:00 AM, this is the perfect spot to fuel up for a big day full of adventure.

Is there a free airport shuttle available at Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District?

No, but there's an airport shuttle that runs 24 hours a day on request for a fee.

Is there a bar or restaurant at Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District?

Yep, they've got a lounge bar and an onsite restaurant that serves international cuisine. Pre dinner cocktails anyone?

What time are check-in & check-out at Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM. Check-out time is noon.

Balmoral Hotel San José CR, Historic District Reviews

Reviews

8.0

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 432 out of 1007 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 293 out of 1007 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 159 out of 1007 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 62 out of 1007 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 61 out of 1007 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Staff & service

7.6/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

4/10 Poor

Brenda

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
We chose the Balmoral due to its proximity to the museums and the availability of a 2-bedroom suite. We should have read the reviews more closely as some of the problems we encountered were mentioned in the reviews. We took our chances with the 7.4 rating hotel based on having a 2-bedroom suite in the area, but now we regret that decision. The price of the room led us to believe that it would be of higher quality. No hair dryer or coffee maker in the room (although they were in the listing). Hot water for showers is only available after running the water for a very long time. Undependable wifi. Annoying flute playing by a street vendor all day long; neighborhood full of casinos. Mediocre service for breakfast. Housekeeping accessed the room despite the fact that we had not hung up the service room sign on the door; they took away two hanging used towels and only left one new towel. Plus a strange early checkin policy and charges. All around just seemed like a badly managed hotel.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Victor

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
One of the best hotels in the downtown area. Close to everything. Parking is very limited
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

8/10 Good

William

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great value and location
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cristina

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff were amazing! Free breakfast was good!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

2/10 Terrible

María Diana

Travelled with group
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
All of the above
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

2/10 Terrible

Mario

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Vendieron habitaciones sin tener inventario. No nos habilitaron ninguna habitación. Exijo mi reembolso.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

6/10 Okay

Darnell

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
No towels or wash cloth in the room, bed was very low near the ground. Fly or mosquito ate up my leg, had to use key card to turn a/c on, not something I am use to doing. My alarm in the room went off and took maintenance over 10 minutes to get to my room, did not know there would be a 50$ charge to have guests visit with me. Overpriced for what you really got in the hotel in my opinion.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Patrick H

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Perfectly located to all daily activities.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

ROSEMARY

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Thoroughly enjoyed staff in hotel and restaurant. Courteous,helpful, cant say enough about them. Hotel restored beautifully and walking distance to Theatre,museums, shopping, etc.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tyson

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The overall property is very clean and the location is convenient for shopping and getting a quick bite to eat. The staff was very friendly and quick to offer assistance if they think you are looking a little lost. My one complaint is the free breakfast is very limited in what you can eat. But then again it is free and you have the option to pay for a regular meal
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

mary

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

8/10 Good

Eran

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Amenities
Gym had almost zero functionality. None of the equipment I wanted to use were working! Both available treadmills were broken. Overall, I couldn't use the gym. That was one of the main reasons I booked that hotel, apart from location, so that was very disappointing. Other than that the service was great and breakfasts were nice. Great customer service.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2025

8/10 Good

Angel

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

Jose

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Horrible lugar antiguo esta en una zona peligrosa mucho drogaditos
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

David, Atlanta

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Bed bugs - about 15 bites on both legs while sleeping; still itching the following day. Other than that, while central location was ideal for quick sightseeing of most important sites, but hotel location across from casino, homeless beggars, and drug addicts along the pedestrian mall outside the hotel raised safety concerns
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Moises R

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Evey
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

joshua

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff was nice but no hot water and they changed the rooms on me.machines in weight room now working well.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

ANDREA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
They should have more staff at the time of check in/out so you don’t have to wait 20 minutes. Each room should have a small fridge.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Eddie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Excellent location

The location is great. Staff is wonderful. Rooms were comfortable and I will definitely be staying again.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Business traveller, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Helpful professional staff. Clean and well appointed room. Reasonable pet fee.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

guy

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Nice !

Right in the center of the city. Very helpful staff specially with the very convenient parking. The rooms are ok, clean and quiet. Bathroom could be renovated. The city itself was a bit strange, a lot of police, we only came for 1 night before a morning flight and decided to stay at the hotel after dark. Breakfast was also nice. The guy at the parking was exceptionally helpful and nice
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Zoe

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

2/10 Terrible

Michael

Travelled with family
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The hotel was clean. Thats where the positive ends. Lukewarm shower water and broken A/C unit paired with very hard mattresses on mis-matched furniture gave the place a college dorm feel for the price of a good hotel.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Leonarda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Arrived 2 hours early. My room was ready. Welcoming staff. Clean. Well located.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

broderick kieth

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great service clean good restaurant great location friendly helpful staff
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025