Costa Rica, a natural paradise in Central America, is no doubt an all year around top destination for nature, culture and food lovers. We discovered a friendly, safe and stunning country with incredible natural beauty. Its capital San José makes for a good stopover and base, as from here you can visit the Pacific and Caribbean coasts as well as the national parks north and south. It is also a good place to discover this beautiful land, people and heritage.
The Location and Check-in Experience
Hotel Presidente in San José is an ideal place to stay as it is situated right in the heart of downtown, and after staying for a few weeks in beach, mountain and jungle resorts throughout the country, we wanted something a bit more contemporary and urban. Hotel Presidente is conveniently located steps away from the Gold and Jade Museums, the Teatro Nacional, the Central Market, the San Jose Museum of Art, the Cathedral, and the Children’s Discovery Museum as well as many restaurants, shops and cafes.
We arrived to the hotel by taxi but they kindly offered us parking in case we were driving. As soon as we entered the hotel, we fell in love with the urban and industrial yet warming decor. It definitely gives this colourful upscale property an arty, quirky and creative edge. The check in was swift and straightforward, and the staff friendly and welcoming. We inquired a bit about the property and the helpful staff mentioned the hotel was named after President John F Kennedy visit to Costa Rica. Before getting to my room, I helped myself to a freshly brewed coffee which is available all day long at the reception area.
The Room at Hotel Presidente
Our spotless room had a king size bed with luxurious cotton sheets and an ultra comfy mattress where I could finally sleep soundly after a few weeks of volcano trekking and exploring national parks. A wonderful plate with a selection of tropical fruits was waiting for me in the bedroom which made perfect sense being in a country where the variety of fruits is mind blowing and their tastes are sublime.
There was complimentary WiFi which has a personalised password with your surname, and a plasma television with all the international channels. The room had views to the city and beyond to the neighbouring hills, and like all the rooms in the hotel it had silent air conditioning. Hotel Presidente celebrates eco-friendly tourism practices and it is a certified ecologically sustainable hotel so all the toiletries available were 100% natural and organic.
Breakfast at Hotel Presidente
Breakfast at Hotel Presidente is the perfect start for the day with a very delicious offer. It is mainly Costa Rican in style, flavour and product but they also provide a wide selection of international options. The local product is so good that not much needs to be done for fruits and vegetables to taste prime. There was ripe and wonderfully sweet pineapple, mango, guava and papaya. These fruits will open your appetite for more meaty dishes available such as the omni present gallo pinto, the typical central American breakfast with rice, beans, plantain and meat, eggs and vegetables which you can accompany with freshly made juice or brewed coffee.
There is also a chef on site preparing eggs and all sorts of omelettes on the spot. You certainly can fill up for the day no matter what you are up to. After breakfast, we made use of the hotel ‘secret’ exit which leads directly to the main pedestrian street in San José, Calle Central. This exit is open during daytime only.
Dining at Hotel Presidente
Hotel Presidente is also home to a fantastic rooftop bar and restaurant with a great atmosphere and stunning views of the surrounding mountains and downtown San Jose. It is called Azotea Calle 7 and it has an indoor and outdoor seating area decorated in a garden setting filled with palm trees, plants and flowers . Azotea Calle 7 serves upscale bar food as well as excellent cocktails and mock-tails – José, the barman, is an award winning cocktail maker and this is one of the best places, if not the best, for cocktails in the Costa Rican capital.
The ingredients for both food and drinks are all local, fresh, and prepared to the best standards. Azotea Calle 7 was the perfect place to enjoy some peace and quiet from the busy streets of San José, and the first restaurant where I enjoyed a magnificent ceviche with fresh seafood from both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts while surrounded by colourful bougainvillea plants, orange and lime trees.
We truly enjoyed our stay at this iconic gem in the heart of San José. Hotel Presidente is the perfect option for travellers looking for a great location and a home away from home. Both hospitality and customer service made my stay flawless, comfortable and very pleasant.
Book a stay at Hotel Presidente San Jose
Amancay Tapia is a freelance journalist and filmmaker. She writes regularly for The Independent, Metro Online or the HuffPost, as well as running her own lifestyle website The Lady of The World.
