The story
As we leave behind the sprawling greenery and the towering glass sails of the National Stadium at Parque La Sabana, the atmosphere begins to shift. You are entering Rohrmoser, one of San José’s most prestigious and polished neighborhoods. Take a deep breath and notice how the air feels just a little cooler under the canopy of the majestic trees that line these streets.
We are walking along the main boulevard, a stretch of road framed by towering palms and elegant residences that serves as the city’s unofficial diplomatic corridor. For decades, Rohrmoser has been the address of choice for foreign dignitaries and global representatives. As you look around, you’ll see the flags of various nations fluttering behind high gates.
This area is famously known as the Boulevard of Embassies. You’ll pass the Apostolic Nunciature—the Vatican’s embassy—and the residences of numerous ambassadors. One of the most significant landmarks tucked away in these leafy side streets is the home of Oscar Arias Sánchez, the former President of Costa Rica and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
His presence here underscores the district’s identity as a place where global history is quietly discussed over afternoon coffee. But Rohrmoser wasn’t always this refined. If we could peel back the pavement and look fifty or sixty years into the past, we would see sprawling coffee plantations and the dusty outskirts of a growing capital.
The neighborhood’s transformation began in earnest after the old international airport—which occupied the site of La Sabana Park—was relocated in the late 1950s. What was once the city’s front door for pilots and travelers became the testing ground for mid-century modern architecture and luxury urban planning. As you walk, notice the eclectic mix of styles.
You’ll see low-slung, California-inspired bungalows from the 1970s sitting comfortably next to sleek, ultra-modern high-rises that offer views of the Escazú mountains to the south. This is a neighborhood of pocket parks; every few blocks, you’ll find a hidden square of green where locals walk their dogs or sit on shaded benches to escape the midday sun. There is a distinct "Pura Vida" elegance here.
It’s a place where the hustle of downtown San José feels miles away, yet you are only minutes from the city center. Whether you are admiring the manicured gardens of the Nunciatura or stopping at a boutique café for a pour-over of high-altitude Tarrazú coffee, Rohrmoser invites you to slow your pace. Enjoy the rhythmic swaying of the palms and the quiet prestige of these streets as you continue your journey through the diplomatic heart of Costa Rica.