I have such ambivalent feelings about Plaza Armenia... When the fountain is working, I love it…read more During the day, it's generally pretty nice. Any other time, it's pretty scary.
It's super well located. It's only a few blocks away from some bus stops and it requires quite a walk from the closest metro or train station, but the charm of this park is that it's surrounded by trendy restaurants of all kinds. And the area keeps growing, new businesses keep popping up, so this park is both an oasis of greenery and a meeting point.
There's a tiny dog park inside, plenty of benches, a playground and a lovely fountain that works sometimes. When it does, it's simple but adorable (looks even better at night, with colored lights). Ah! There's a carousel as well. The thing is that, because it's surrounded by tourist traps and trendy restaurants, it can also attract a lot of dangerous elements.
At night, I would recommend not circling the block by yourself, especially if it's a weekday. Costa Rica and Armenia street are pretty safe, but Malabia and specially Nicaragua, which is pretty dim, are not. Better safe than sorry! Just wait until morning.
Having said that, I quite like it. I think it's improved over the years and it can still get even better. There's a fair/market thing during the weekends, which can be charming for those who like that kind of thing. Those who don't are gonna get irritated at the slow foot traffic and the push and shove of other pedestrians.
It's really nice, and I like going there just to sit and look at the fountain while I'm waiting for a friend, even at night. I know it's a bit risky, but such is life.