What a nice surprise: I was not happy when our OAT tour switched our first night stay to this hotel at the last minute. I read the reviews and even e-mailed the company. However, my husband and I found this to be a great "find." Our room was large with a sitting area that had sofa and chairs, which looked new; linens and towels were crisp (I travel with my own pillow, and didn't use it there); and it was very, very clean. Staff was efficient, very friendly and helpful (lots of smiles and fluent English)l; Internet was free; we loved the old world charm of the place, and it was not shabby. There must have been a renovation since some of the other reviews. We stayed in a different room on a different floor on the last night of our tour twelve days later (3rd and 4th floors); same decor. Unless there are some rooms that have not been renovated, I don't know what the complaints are about. Also, lobby was charming, clean, very nicely decorated. We had only breakfast in the restaurant, but loved sitting on the porch high about the street, watching the city life go by. Perhaps some would not like this, but it was great to sip coffee and people watch the ways of folks in a foreign land. The walk to town was not bad; although I would not do it after dark, but I would not walk after dark in any foreign city. Also, we found a museum foundation (free entry) one block up the street with some very interesting art from the Americas.

We stayed for 3 nights and found this to be fantastic value and ambience in the retaurant.
The staff could not do enough for us and most were fluent in English. It was walking distance to downtown but away from the overpacked night time crowds in the city center.
The restaurant has an outdoor patio which gives a European feel of dining. A local musician came in every night to add to the Costa Rican experience.
We moved to this hotel from another one and what an improvement.

This is in No way a quality place to stay. It is located Over the hill from town in a darkly lit area. This hotel is in an area that you do not walk anywhere. Aside from that, The hotel only has finger food room service until10:00 and if you want something to eat you need to take a cab up town. No Pool. No soda machines or snack machines. There is a service bar in your room that is so expensive it is ridiculas. The rooms are average and the maid won't give you coffee without a tip. I tipped her 3 to 4 dollars and I still couldn't get coffee. Call the desk? You might as well talk to the wall. The included breakfast was cold and the people in the hotel are rude if you don't give them money. I was with my girl friend one morning and after getting something from the buffet I was heckeled by two servers as to why no tip. They did nothing to serve me, but they wanted to intimidate other guest into giving them money. The tip in included in the cost of ALL services in Costa Rica. The taxis from the hotel are double the price of regular taxis. I wouldn't stay at this hotel again if it was for free.

Not sure why our travel agent recommended this place. It is in sad need of an Extreme Makeover... peeling wallpaper, water stains, etc. And the clientele was a bit questionable at the late hour we checked in. Included breakfast was average. Overall service was slow and somewhat incompetent.