Curated Destination: COSTA RICA

San Jose has long been starved for a true luxury hotel, but the 39-room Hotel Grano de Oro , located 10 minutes by car from Bebedero, comes the closest—that is, until the Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Curio Collection by Hilton   which opens in May, with 79 modern rooms overlooking the National Theater. The Grano de Oro, a Victorian mansion originally built in 1915, was upgraded in 1990 but still retains the original tropical Victorian architecture and décor (antiques, handmade tiling, and hardwood floors can be found in its 21 accommodations). The room to book is the stately Vista de Oro Suite, which features a private entrance, separate living room, and valley views.  One of our favorite sites to visit is:

The Museum of Art and Contemporary Design, located in a former distillery just off Parque Nacional, feels like a loft gallery in Brooklyn, but its exhibits rival that of any international museum. Along with its permanent collection of some 900 artworks, the four exhibition rooms show a rotating array of Central American-themed presentations.