Cocoon Hotel

On the surface, Cocoon Hotel fits the image of a contemporary, mid-range property with its polished wooden floors, colorful furniture, and flourishes of bamboo. There are a lot of little issues, however, that make this hotel feel a bit second rate. The surrounding neighborhood is the biggest issue -- its scruffy vibe has a way of seeping inside the hotel. The building’s exterior is well-maintained, but it still has a somewhat older look. In the guest rooms, unappealing views and noise distract from the decor, which is actually quite nice.

Guests are mainly couples and solo travelers. As with most hotels in San Jose, the bulk of Cocoon Hotel’s guests stay for one night en-route to/from the airport. The modest restaurant is the only common area; although it can get fairly busy in the evening, it’s not the type of venue that draws locals or tourists staying elsewhere. Despite its drawbacks, Cocoon Hotel is among the cheaper hotels in the city and its clean rooms offer good value for guests who manage their expectations accordingly. 

Cocoon Hotel is set on a seedy street in downtown San Jose. Although the area immediately around the hotel is unappealing, it’s just a block or two away from better-looking neighborhoods with diverse shopping and dining options. Almost all of the city’s top sites can be reached on foot, with attractions like Teatro Nacional Costa Rica, the Precolumbian Gold Museum, and Mercado Central all around a 10-minute walk away. The hotel is also less than a 10-minute walk from the city’s main bus station, the Coca Cola Bus Terminal. San Jose’s airport is a 50-minute drive away. 

Guest rooms at Cocoon Hotel have heavy splashes of lime green in tufted headboards or chairs livening up the beige and white backdrop. But overall rooms are basic with plain tiled floors and generic photo canvases depicting butterflies and bamboo. All rooms have flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi (although the signal can be spotty). White armoires offer hangers, shelving, and personal safes. Many windows face dark alleys, and the city view rooms overlooking the rundown street in front of the hotel aren’t much more scenic. Standard Rooms are fan cooled, while Superior Rooms have AC. Still, some of the AC units don’t function well and struggle to adequately cool rooms. 

The same color scheme continues in the basic bathrooms, which have showers, tiny countertops and plastic mirrors. Towels and off-brand bars of soap and bottles of shampoo are provided. The rooms are not well soundproofed, with many guests reporting noise seeping in from the hallways, downstairs bar, and street.  

Cocoon Hotel has a small restaurant and bar area decorated with silver chandeliers and steely blue chairs. A few metal high-tops line the bamboo-accented bar. A free traditional breakfast of rice and beans, scrambled eggs, and fried plantains is served here in the morning. The restaurant also offers a light, international menu for lunch and dinner as well as drinks. The bar pumps energetic music in the evening, sometimes drawing a lively crowd. 

Although the hotel advertises room service, there are no menus in rooms, so most guests just opt to walk down to the restaurant. A second restaurant on the fourth floor was under construction during our visit. 

There’s a cramped, shabby-looking parking lot kitty corner to the hotel. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout, although the connection can be spotty. Airport transfers can be arranged for a surcharge.