We arrived in San Jose at 10pm and went directly to a "hotel" ringed in barbed wire that our cab driver warned us against. One look and we left for his recommended hotel a few blocks away - it was equally shady.
So after a quick Rough Guide check and phone call, I told him to take us to the Grano de Oro. The difference in price was $105 vs. $80 night. The difference in accomodation was enormous. The outside is spectacular, the restaurant is one of the most beautiful and romantic I have ever been to and the staff is friendly and helpful. The charming rooms are not airconditioned but the evenings were always a perfect temperature making a/c unnecessary (and I sweat ALOT in Costa Rica). We stayed here on three different occasions and used this as our base camp as we went to different parts of the country over 12 days.

Note: The outdoor hot tub deck is cute but not a reason stay here. If you are not going the hostel route, I would doubt there is a better hotel in or around San Jose (unless you prefer a more antiseptic travel experience - i.e. The Marriott). Even if you don't stay here, the restaurant is worth the taxi ride over.

This Golden Grain needs some polishing!!! Our stay was a complete and utter disappointment and an anticlimactic end to our visit to this beautiful country and stays at other really exceptional locations. After reading myriad reviews on trip advisor we were ready to swept a way by GDO’s charm and the welcoming and accommodating staff but unfortunately that just wasn’t the case. Our room was small by any standard and it was very humid and stuffy even with the ceiling fan at full tilt. We thought that we would just try and “make do” as it was only for one night but the room was so uncomfortable I started to feel sick. So, I went to talk to the staff at the front staff about it and inquired if we could borrow another fan and/or switch to a room with at least more of a cross breeze to which I was simply told it wouldn’t be possible, we even offered to pay the difference for any kind of upgrade there appeared to be a number of bigger, breezier, vacant room. The response to my complaint was, “you are the first person to mention any problem” to which I responded, “does that somehow invalidate my complaint?!” After that I was simply ignored and dismissed, it was if I had somehow turned invisible, neat trick—huh?!

I guess you could describe the hotel as charming but I wouldn’t exactly characterize it as unique. Many of the rugs in the hall looked as if they needed replacing, the ever-mentioned sun deck and hot tub area looked like it needed a good scrub, I could go on but… you get the idea. Perhaps some of the charm others reviews described was tarnished for us by the inhospitable disdain we experienced during our stay, I know I won’t ever be returning or recommending this location to friends!!!

When I stayed at Grano de Oro I really felt like I was staying in the best hotel in San Jose. It is beautiful inside and out and has a wonderful feeling from the moment you walk in.

The location is very central and within walking distance to everything if you're daring enough to walk the streets of San Jose. We walked to the National Theater and the market where the locals shop. The hotel is also within walking distance to fast food like Quiznos, KFC, and Subway. There is also a little convenience store down the street to buy snacks.

We dined at the restaurant one night as a special meal. It was our one fancy dinner, and it was amazing. The food was spectacular and the service matched. The restaurant was better than any of the fancy restaurants I've dined at in La Jolla, Ca.

I would definitely recommend Grano de Oro to anyone staying in San Jose. It is really a beautiful hotel!

Housed in a former family home, this elegant boutique hotel is a welcome refuge in the heart of this (somewhat unattractive) city.

It takes more than a high thread-count on your sheets to make a great hotel. And this one delivers with outstanding service. They were pleased to oblige on all our requests.

I would pass on meals at the restaurant though. There are much better options in town.