by In Porto they work, in Prague they pray, in Coimbra they study and in Lisbon they play, as the old saying goes. But these days it seems that the inhabitants of Porto, commonly known as ‘tripe eaters’ (because of a moment in the 15th century when the people gave their supplies of meat to feed their army, leaving only tripe for themselves) as hard as they work. . And Porto is now a playground.
Really good restaurants have sprung up all over the city and historic houses are being opened as sleek boutique hotels, beautifying the city’s granite landscape as they do. A handful of new museums are keeping visitors for another day or two, allowing them to really get under the skin of this city that gave the country its name from its Roman days as Portus Cale. Read on to find the best boutique hotels in Porto for your stay.
How we review
Each hotel on this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, and is usually hosted on a free basis. They stay for at least one night, test at least one meal and try other experiences the hotel may have.
The Torel Palace towers over the 1861-built Palacete Campos Navarro, which is considered one of the best examples of Porto’s period of romantic architecture. This heritage boutique-turned-hotel is in the heart of the city, close to Batalha Square, São João National Theater and Santo Ildefonso Church. The striking eight-panelled skylight is the focal point of the merchant-built heritage building. Ceilings are then covered in rich stucco and other period details such as the central staircase remain. The small hotel’s 24 rooms are accompanied by a restaurant, swimming pool and fitness room.
• The best things to do in Porto
Hotel Porto AS 1829 sees one of the oldest stationery shops in Europe reimagined as a boutique hotel. The modern yet cozy hideaway reflects its roots with artefacts from the stationery shop that opened in 1829. Typewriters, antique cabinets and photographs of the old warehouse are featured throughout the red carpet corridors and light wooden floors and sage colored paneling distinguish the lobby. The hotel’s 41 rooms are decorated in gray and olive slates with vintage details including rotary dial telephones. The warm, inviting restaurant, Galeria do Largo, is perfect for people watching with its floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor terrace.
• An insider’s guide to Porto
Porto’s long-established connection with wine provides the main inspiration for this boutique hotel high on the southern slope of the Douro River. A tap-shaped pool and 25,000-bottle cellar are central to this transcendent theme, and the spa also offers treatments using grapes. Six Storeys is set across a seven acre hillside site with 70 rooms and 12 suites, an orangery, a gastronomic restaurant, bar and bistro as well as the spa. Public spaces fill the upper floors and spill out onto terraces with panoramic views of the cities and rivers. From here it is a 15 minute walk down to the riverside.
• The best restaurants in Porto
Centrally located Torel 1884 manages to retain the glamor of the 19th century palace it calls home. Expect high ceilings, large windows and heritage details such as the original staircase and crown skylight. Decorated in natural colors such as olive green, deep blue, terracotta and sand, the common areas and spacious rooms pair these decorative heritage details with contemporary elements. In addition to its 12 rooms and suites, the intimate hotel has a 32-seat restaurant and wine bar where everything revolves around wine, a guest lounge and library as well as an honesty bar.
The five-star InterContinental Porto hotel occupies a converted monastery-cum-palace in the heart of the historic center of this city. The hotel has a neo-classical design with chandeliers lighting the marble foyer with velvet seating and a high-end shopping arcade. Old Porto photography decorates the walls and contemporary artwork hangs in the restaurant and bar. The guest rooms, designed to reflect the authenticity of Porto, are both spacious and elegant. Shared guest facilities here include a fine dining restaurant and sophisticated bar to leisure facilities including a wellness center with treatment rooms, gym and sauna.
• The best spa hotels in Porto
Vila Foz Converts a 19th century villa facing the ocean in the upmarket area of Foz. This fine heritage site, which retains many of its original features, is set alongside a modern extension offering a more contemporary aesthetic. Views take in the ocean and surrounding gardens. While the original villa has just seven rooms and a gastronomic restaurant, the extension has a further 61 rooms, as well as a spa, indoor pool and restaurant. Bicycles are available for guests to use and there is a daily shuttle into the city centre. A vintage Rolls-Royce transports guests to and from the airport.
• The best nightlife in Porto
This characteristic boutique building is located above the famous Café A Brasileira in the city center dating back to 1903. The hotel spans six floors and has an interior designed by Brazilian designer Jaime Morais to reflect the spices brought back by the Portuguese to celebrate the Golden Age of Discovery. Each floor provides sensory immersion in line with this theme. Downstairs, the lobby and restaurant feature turn-of-the-century decor including marble, gilding and mosaics. The hotel has 90 rooms, some of which have balconies overlooking the city, and an interior courtyard to soak up the sun.
• The best hotels in Porto
Art Deco beauty is exemplified at Le Monumental Palace, located within a Gothic site built in 1923 on Avenida dos Aliados, within easy walking distance of the cathedral district. The interior, designed by a local design duo, combines the building’s Art Deco elements with 21st-century luxury photographs, black and white and a muted turquoise and gold palette. Bespoke furnishings decorate the hotel’s 76 rooms and suites and some of these rooms come with balconies. The hotel also has two gastronomic restaurants, a mezzanine and a spa with an indoor pool.
• The best budget hotels in Porto
This charming hotel in Porto’s Freixo suburb is an attraction that includes an 18th-century Baroque palace and adjacent flour mill. A frescoed lobby leads to the palace’s baroque-style restaurant and bar and a covered walkway then leads guests to the rooms and spa, which occupies the former mill. The site’s inviting facilities include an infinity pool, heated indoor pool, sauna and steam room, with a riverside promenade to complement the hotel’s location right on the banks of the Douro River. The hotel is two miles from the city center but a free shuttle transports guests each way every 30 minutes.
Vinha Boutique Hotel is a restored 16th century manor, located on the banks of the Douro River in a quiet part of Vila Nova de Gaia. You can walk to a nearby river beach in just five minutes. Within this re-imagined manor house and its adjoining new wing, common areas combine historical and contemporary echoes of Medieval Modernism and East Asian inspiration. Abundant in amenities, the hotel has two restaurants, two bars and Sisley Paris Spa with indoor pool and thermal facilities. International fashion houses draw inspiration for the hotel’s 38 rooms.
Donated by Yolanda Carslaw, Katie Monk, Trish Lorenz & Emily McAuliffe
