900mts West from Cafe Milagro, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica | (618) 248-8274
Beautiful rooftop terrace with dual views of Manuel Antonio Beach and the Harbor
Landscaped outdoor pool with a swim-up bar and waterfall
Pleasant rooms with furnished balconies and gorgeous ocean views
Unique Bat Cave bar, set inside a natural cave
Terrace restaurant for lunch and dinner outdoors
Kids under age 12 are discouraged (a con for some)
Free breakfast, Wi-Fi, and parking
Two outdoor whirlpool tubs
12-minute walk to Biesanz Beach
Small spa on-site
Two-and-a-half miles to Manuel Antonio National Park
No kids under 12 (pro for some, though exceptions are sometimes made)
Hillside location makes for difficult walking on the street and to the beach
Rooms are a little on the plain side
La Mansion Inn is an upper-middle-range boutique hotel that's a hit with honeymooners and offers decor and features not usually found in Manuel Antonio. The owner was a friend of famous undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau and the underwater theme is evident in the lobby aquariums. Rooms are spacious and pleasant, with ample natural light and flat-screen TVs. The dimly lit and ambient Bat Cave bar is built into a natural cave. Outside, the Terrace Restaurant and pool offers panoramic, uninterrupted views of both Manuel Antonio Beach and the harbor. Kids under the age of 12 are discouraged from staying. Families should check out Hotel San Bada, which has a waterslide and faster access to Manuel Antonio National Park.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Romantic, with some of the best views in Manuel Antonio
Thanks to its policy of discouraging visitors under the age of 12, La Mansion Inn is quiet, serene, and sophisticated. The lobby is a bit quirky, with large aquariums and signed photos of past celebrity visitors like Charlie Sheen and Jay Leno, along with information about the area's local history hanging on the walls. Breakfast is served in a tent-like space, set with tables topped with orange fabric and tropical plants. A much more attractive dining option is Terrace Restaurant, next to the pool on a gorgeous terrace with views of not only Manuel Antonio, but the harbor.
Location
On a hillside, near Biesanz Beach
La Mansion Inn doesn't have the best location for those who want to walk to Manuel Antonio Park and Beach, as it would take the better part of an hour, up and down several hills, to get there. Those with a car can get to the sand and park entrance in under 10 minutes. Biesanz Beach, a sandy cove with small, swimmable waves, is about a seven-minute walk down a paved hill, to the unmarked beach entrance. From there, it's about a five-minute trek down a rutted, natural path. The hotel's nearest neighbors are Issimo Suites Boutique Hotel and Spa, and Makanda by the Sea. There are two free parking lots at La Mansion Inn.
Rooms
Ocean views and simple decor
Rooms and suites at La Mansion Inn are spotlessly clean and spacious, and each has a fantastic view of Manuel Antonio Park and Beach from a private, furnished balcony or terrace. However, the decor is a bit bland and doesn't quite match. Brown leather sofas look out of place with white tile floors and beige area rugs. Technology includes flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. Air-conditioning is standard. Bathrooms have coffeemakers, showers with dark glass doors, and large counters. A basket of toiletries and bottles of water are provided. An upgrade to the Cousteau Suite buys a dining room, stainless steel kitchen appliances, full living room, and a bathroom with a jetted tub. Oddly, many of the rooms have cupboards that hide Murphy beds, though kids under the age of 12 typically aren't allowed.
Features
Free breakfast buffet, pool with a swim-up bar, Bat Cave Bar, and Terrace Restaurant
Features at La Mansion Inn cater to grown-up tastes. The highlight of this property is the two-tiered terrace with uninterrupted, panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Terrace Restaurant has tables and poolside dining here, and there's a swim-up bar and waterfall in the swimming pool, along with two whirlpools. On our visit, a flock of pelicans flew overhead. Breakfast buffet is included in the room rate, though it's served in a tent near the parking lot and not by the pool. Indoors, there's a quirky and cozy cave turned Bat Cave bar. Its open on rainy days, and in the evenings. Nail services and massages can be scheduled in a small on-site spa. Wi-Fi is free and there's a computer for guests' use in the lobby. Staff can arrange luxury yacht charters.
