On a quiet street, just off Paseo Colon (a major thoroughfare connecting the center to the western part of the city), lies the Hotel Grano de Oro, a refurbished Victorian-era mansion. It is a surprising oasis in the concrete jungle of San Jose, Costa Rica, as it is one of the best hotels in the capital.

The rooms and suites at the Grano de Oro offer a mixture of bright and airy modern comforts with a tropical-Victorian style. Wrought-iron details, deep hardwoods, and rich fabrics adorn the rooms. All rooms come with A/C, cable TV, mini-fridge, safe, hairdryer, and coffeemaker.

While the Hotel Grano de Oro doesn’t have a swimming pool (not needed in the balmy San Jose climate), guests can enjoy two Jacuzzis on the rooftop garden terrace, a perfect way to end the day with a glass of wine after exploring the city. The hotel also partners with a massage service, Aromas Tropicales, and treatments can be arranged at reception.

The Hotel Grano de Oro restaurant is famous in San Jose for being one of the best in the city, if not in the entire country. It's not only hotel guests who eat here - it attracts foodies from all over San Jose. So make a reservation for dinner.

The menu offers a variety of Costa Rican fusion dishes with European influences from their French chef. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and special diets can be accommodated with notice. The wine cellar at the Grano de Oro is also known as one of the best in the country.

Guests staying at the Grano de Oro generally come because they want to experience some of the life and the culture of Costa Rica's capital city. Therefore, the hotel is ideally situated for guests who wish to take coffee tours, city tours of museums and galleries, or enjoy the National Theater or nightlife. Also, just a few blocks away, is Sabana Park, a huge patch of green considered the lung of the city and offers opportunities for running, cycling, and other exercises.