Central Valley and San Jose, Costa Rica
Grano de Oro
In this grand and decadent building, a former family home dating from Costa Rica’s Golden Age, you will be surrounded by details of Victorian elegance whilst enjoying modern comforts.
In this grand and decadent building, a former family home dating from Costa Rica’s Golden Age, you will be surrounded by details of Victorian elegance whilst enjoying modern comforts.
In this grand and decadent building, a former family home dating from Costa Rica’s Golden Age, you will be surrounded by details of Victorian elegance whilst enjoying modern comforts.
In this grand and decadent building, a former family home dating from Costa Rica’s Golden Age, you will be surrounded by details of Victorian elegance whilst enjoying modern comforts.
Location
Located in the relative peace of the western districts of Sani José, Grano de Oro is a 15 minute taxi ride from the centre of the city. Apart from being away from the worst of the urban bustle, you will benefit from a shorter airport transfer.
Accommodation
As might be expected of a historic residence, each room in Grano de Oro is individual in size, shape and character. All guest rooms feature hardwood floors, antique furniture, and quality textiles, along with all the expected modern conveniences. Some rooms have private hot tubs, many have city views or they may look into the interior courtyards and fountains. The renowned Vista de Oro suite is reached by a private staircase and has unrivalled views over the entire valley. Its huge rooms feature rich wood panelling, handmade tiles, antique furniture, and a huge king-size bed.
Grano de Oro’s restaurant is the hotel’s crowning glory. Locals have been coming here for decades, and tourists come to San José just to eat here. It serves French and Mediterranean cuisine with tropical influences, served in an air of genteel glamour.Eat inside the period dining room, or outside in the inner courtyard. Grano de Oro is famous for its decadent desserts, which expertly combine coffee and chocolate flavours. Enjoy selecting the perfect wine to complement your food from the lovingly stocked cellar.
The hotel also features an intimate rooftop jacuzzi terrace. Relax here with a glass of wine and take in the amazing views over San José and the surrounding area.
The hotel also features an intimate rooftop jacuzzi terrace. Relax here with a glass of wine and take in the amazing views over San José and the surrounding area.
Experiences
- Explore vibrant San José. We recommend that you sample the wonderful variety of coffee, and also visit the Mercado
- Central (a 15 minute walk from the hotel) for an authentic local experience. Coffee lovers may wish to take a longer educational tour arranged through the hotel.
- Visit the private rainforest reserve of La Virgen del Socorro on a day tour that will also take you to a local cacao plantation.
- If you have a head for heights, perhaps consider Canopy San Luis, with its 12 zip lines, 18 platforms and Tarzan-swing trails. You will be up close and personal with the heights of the rainforest and you will deserve your dinner.
- The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, located underground in the Plaza de la Cultura, is great place to see historic native art. The plaza is also the location of the famous national theatre.
- The La Paz waterfall gardens are a delightful place to spend the day. There are spectacular waterfalls, a hummingbird garden, a snake house and the country’s largest butterfly observatory.
Positive Impact
We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributesWe prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes
Community
In 2002, Eldon and Lori Cooke, Grano De Oro’s owners were awakened to the country-wide, ongoing epidemic of young adolescent women who are sexually abused and often forced into prostitution. The Cookes soon established the non-profit organisation ‘Asociacion Reaccion en Cadena por Nuestra Ninez’ to address the existing and growing needs of this issue. Through this association, Casa Luz (“House of Light”) provides a safe environment, and the necessary monetary, emotional, and psychological support victims need in order to help stop the pervasive cycle of abuse.
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