Barrio Amon

Barrio Amón is one of San Jose city's most historic neighborhoods, home to colonial buildings, incredible homes, and architecture not common in a country prone to small trembles and big earthquakes. Because of its beautiful architecture, as well as central location and modern charm, Barrio Amón is one of the most popular and loved neighborhoods in San Jose.

If you want to stay in a safe, central, historic neighborhood, Barrio Amón will be your San Jose home. With many hotels ranging from budget to upscale, the neighborhood's extremely central location has combined perfectly with the needs to Costa Ricans and area tourists to become one of the city's premier areas for sleeping and playing. Many of Bario Amón's hotels have preserved their original architecture, and instead of round arches, pastel colors, and cool tiled floors, these homes and hotels will offer wooden floors, winding staircases, and a colonial charm that is not often duplicated.

To support the area's bustling hotel business, several of the city's best restaurants are located here, offering everything from traditional Costa Rican food to upscale, international gastronomic adventures. Set in old mansions and offering an inside look into old San Jose, these restaurants offer far more that good food, though the ethnic fare comes so highly recommended that the ideal location is just a bonus.

Branching out into Barrio Amón, you'll find a truly eclectic, artsy neighborhood that is heavy on charm and personality. Small art galleries dot the streets, and if you look around, you'll likely find several flyers for art shows that showcase almost every kind of art, mainly from Costa Rican and Latin American artists.

Snuggled into the heart of Barrio Amón lies the Simon Boliva Zoological Park, which has greatly improved its reputation in recent years. Well-groomed paths wind through the zoo, introducing you to many of Costa Rica's native species, including poison dart frogs, white-faced capuchin monkeys, sloths, leopards, and more. Quiet trails lead you around, and though you're right in downtown, the towering trees and nearby rushing river drown out the sounds of the city, allowing you to feel like you've escaped into a garden paradise.

Outside of the park, you'll find that you're just a hop, skip, and a jump from some premier San Jose Hotspots, including the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, Jade Museum, and National Museum, which also offers a small, but beautiful butterfly garden. Take a walk to the Escuela Metálica, a downtown school made entirely of metal -- a cacophony of sound during a winter rain shower -- and several downtown parks, some of which are in the barrio itself.

Barrio Amón is one of San Jose's most historic neighborhoods, promising incredible architecture, colonial charm, and a location to everything that is impossible to beat. For a passing hotel stay or a downtown home, Barrio Amón welcomes you to enjoy a San Jose history that is rarely seen and not often experienced.