Hotel Aranjuez

San José


This Barrio Aranjuez hotel consists of five nicely maintained vintage homes, strung together with a labyrinth of gardens and connecting walkways. The 35 spotless rooms come in various configurations, all with a lockbox and cable TV. The hotel’s best attribute is the lush garden patio, where a legendary breakfast is served every morning (open to nonguests by reservation).

Though the architecture can be a bit creaky and the walls thin, the service is efficient and the hotel is a solid family-friendly option. Rooms in the newer apartment-building annex half a block away lack the charm and sense of community of the main hotel, but annex guests still have access to the bounteous breakfast and pleasant common areas across the street.

The swanky 11-47 restaurant opened in 2018 and is open daily (6pm to 9:30pm; mains US$10 to US$20). Like the hotel itself, the restaurant's menu is a fusion of various entities.