Porto, Portugal's second-largest city, captivates visitors with its rich history and vibrant culture. It is located alongside the gorgeous Douro River. One of its main attractions is its impressive collection of hotels, which provide a mix of elegance and comfort.
From modest boutique rooms in the heart of the historic area to large hotels with breathtaking river views, Porto's lodging options suit to every taste.
In this article, we'll take a deeper look at some of the city's most notable hotels, providing insight into what makes Porto's hotel scene really outstanding.
The Best Hotels in Porto
Torel 1884
Breakfast here 1. is more than simply breakfast; it demonstrates how outstanding Portuguese design is right now. Elegantly tapered knives and forks, jade-green pottery containing quince jelly, and a chalky-white espresso cup with abstract patterns—all handcrafted by family-run ateliers.
The rest of the hotel shares a similar outlook. Sculptor João Pedro Rodrigues created the plant-lined entrance with clay faces depicting gods and men, alluding to Portugal's Age of Discovery.
Three stories of high-windowed bedrooms pay impressionistic homage to that era, riffing on Africa, the Americas, and Asia with tactile compositions of raffia, cane, silk, lush greens, and Atlantic blues, as well as tiger print. Jorge Curval's richly textured paintings abound, including a black-and-white image of a gentleman with a moustache and a bicorne hat and a thick-daubed woman smoking a paintbrush. Climb to the top bannister and look down at the patterned tiles.
It's like viewing a Portuguese Downton Abbey. When it comes to the country's post-millennium boom, Lisbon receives the majority of column inches, but Porto is just as thrilling, and it serves as an apt poster child for the city's resurgence.
The Yeatman
The Yeatman's main feature is certainly the decanter-shaped pool and terrace, which offer a view of Porto's serpentine alleys from the other side of the river.
The hotel has six stories, but it is not a domineering tower block; each story is arranged along the banks of the Douro, providing guests with a view regardless of whatever room they stay in.
Those who visit Porto with a purpose to sample as many wines as possible will adore this hotel, which is largely focused on the local tipple; photos of vineyards line the walls, while there’s a cellar open to tour between 4pm and 6pm. While you're there, make sure to visit the Michelin-starred restaurant to sample authentic Portuguese cuisine.
Solar de Vila Meã
Solar de Vila Meã has relocated to a late 19th-century villa in Minha's vineyards, about 30 minutes from Porto. Joana Aranha transformed the Manor House and a major structure into a hotel that showcases the best of Portuguese craft traditions, including wicker items, embroidered textiles and clay pottery.
Such terracotta—formed into pots and strung like pearls from rope, or hung like dripping wall sconces—provides a backdrop for the Barro Restaurant, whose Spanish-inflected menu draws inspiration from both haute cuisine and seasonal bounty.
The buffet tables are covered in Todobarro terracotta tiles, while the tables are Joana Aranha Signature designs with iron feet and chestnut tops dressed up with Pierre Frey fabric.
The 29 suites are divided across the two original structures. There are 22 rooms in the Modern Building, including six duplexes, each with its own colour scheme and fleet of antiques that complement material palettes of sumptuous velvets and linens. But the Manor House is the ultimate destination: just past an extravagant Honesty Bar and lounge, seven suites provide their own form of intoxication with one-of-a-kind panoramic murals depicting vistas inspired by the area's rolling, romantic landscapes.
For a taste of the genuine thing, guests can unwind in the spa's outdoor pool and lounge, massage and skincare treatment rooms, and indoor pool and jacuzzi before returning to the restaurant for another glass or two of local specialties.
Casa da Companhia, Vignette Collection
This hotel is located in the heart of Rua das Flores, one of Porto's most prominent pedestrianised retail avenues, and entering it seems like you've walked straight into the city's historic history.
Built in the 16th century as a family mansion by Brás Brandão, a merchant aristocrat, it later became the headquarters of the Port firm Real Companhia Velha.
To honour the building's heritage, staff hold a bi-weekly practice of 'fire opening' a bottle of Port for guests to learn more about the building's history and the city's port culture. The hotel's design is a wonderful blend of modern and traditional elements; gold-panelled windows and mirrors can be found in all of the rooms, along with attractive minimalist furnishings and spacious marble baths.
Cathedral or garden rooms give the best views, depending on whether you prefer peace and quiet or a panoramic perspective of the city. Stop by the spa for some peace and quiet, relax by the outdoor swimming pool with views of the cathedral, and make time to visit the hotel's restaurant, which features terracotta walls, backlit wine shelves, and fresh, local food.
Torel Avantgarde
Torel Avantgarde is a 49-room boutique hotel with a prime position near São Bento rail station, LuÃs Bridge, and other local attractions so if location is you priority this might be the perfect hotel for you. It also offers a stunning view of the Douro River in Porto.
Even during a busy 72-hour city vacation, the hotel's outdoor pool provides an unbroken view, creating a sense of peace.
Portugal's hotels are known for going above and above and this one is no exception, with each room named after and themed around arts, literature, science, music, architecture, and design. If possible, reserve a room with a view; no concrete tower blocks in sight, just the flowing Douro, Porto's picturesque riverbanks, and a glimpse of the hotel's lovely outdoor pool.
Pestana Porto - A Brasileira
Excellent location in the heart of the city, away from the congested tourist hotspots. The hotel is a five-minute walk from the tile-clad São Bento Railway station and the main square.
The hotel is divided into six levels, with clean-lined and modern decor by Brazilian designer Jaime Morais that honour the spices that the Portuguese brought back during their Golden Age of Discovery.
From cinnamon to chocolate, tea to cocoa, and anise to pepper, each floor offers a sensory experience, from fragrant corridors to artwork on the wall behind the headboards. The foyer and restaurant downstairs include turn-of-the-century décor that combines marble and mirrors with gilding and mosaics.
The 90 rooms are small but cosy, with a decent desk, wonderful bedding, and trendy white shower rooms featuring Portuguese Castelbel goods. Every floor has a machine that grinds fresh coffee. Some of the rooms have modest balconies, and the majority overlook the city. Enjoy delicious food prepared by renowned chef Rui Martins, who nails the perfect tone. The menu emphasises shared meals, and the beautiful ceramics adds to the enjoyment of the meal.
Vila Foz Hotel & Spa
The affluent suburb of Foz is located at the mouth of the Douro River, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean, about 20 minutes from Porto's city core. Its sandy beaches are interspersed with rocky outcrops and numerous great seafood eateries.
Vila Foz is a 19th-century villa that retains many of its original characteristics, from Portuguese floor tiles and parquetry to beautiful, gilded stucco ceilings in pistachio greens and delicate pinks in the restaurant and bar.
The new design, by Madeiran designer Nini Andrade de Silva, incorporates onyx as a theme, covering the baths and inspiring the wallpapers in the bedrooms. In the modern extension, set back alongside the lawn, onyx rampages, like the waves of the sea opposite, encircle the swimming pool, and are mirrored in the undulating hallways, jungle green flowing carpets, and bedroom accents.
The first five-star hotel in Foz increases the standard in terms of service and amenities. A classic Rolls-Royce is stationed at the entrance to take guests to and from the airport.A well-equipped spa features three treatment rooms, an indoor swimming pool, a Turkish bath, a sauna, and a gym.
Exmo Hotel
Porto's picturesque townhouses line the river, adding distinctive Portuguese colours to the landscape. Among these is the Exmo hotel, a standout building with a bright ochre facade and 16 rooms spread across four storeys; while the building itself is traditional, the interior is anything from.
Rooms have unique design elements, such as brilliantly coloured velvet sofas reclining against old stone walls and large walk-in showers. Local artists' artworks and sculptures can be found throughout the hotel, and the bar pays homage to the building's warehouse heritage, with metal beams and an industrial air that would fit in well in downtown New York.
Maison Albar Le Monumental Palace
Michelangelo Soá, an Italian architect, created the original building in 1923, complete with a Gothic façade. Local design pair Artur Miranda and Jacques Bec from Oitoemponto Decoration created the interiors, skillfully weaving 21st-century luxury around numerous genuine restored Art Deco components.
The hotel exudes 1920s and 1930s splendour with a palette of turquoise and muted gold, handmade wallpapers, antique black and white images, and the sleek trimmings and typography that define Art Deco.
There is a Nuxe spa, which features an exceptionally modern, heated indoor swimming pool, sauna, and Turkish bath. Two treatment rooms offer treatments under the French brand Nuxe. The 76 rooms and suites are distinguished by upbeat colours and carpets, bespoke furniture and furnishings, and a substantial size, with some featuring balconies with views of the City skyline.
All include Nespresso machines, USB charging ports by the bed, and a desk. Bathrooms are coated in marble, some pale green and some grey, with tubs and showers and sleek Art Deco embellishments.
InterContinental Porto
Conspicuously located at the end of Porto's main road, Avenida dos Aliados, and therefore in the heart of the city. The São Bento train station is about 100 yards away, and the landmark Clérigos Tower is a three-minute walk from the hotel. The hotel's neoclassical style is stunning.
Swarovski chandeliers illuminate the bright, marbled lobby; velvet sofas provide comfy seating places; and a little high street runs along the building's interior, adding a touch of luxury. Old photographs of Porto cover the walls of common areas and rooms, while a rotating show of contemporary artwork decorates the bar and eating area.
Like the rest of the hotel, the big rooms are tastefully presented with simple yet exquisite décor, such as heavy tasselled drapes, chandelier lamps, and enormous embroidered rugs, and the overall guest experience is carefully thought out. For example, TVs display a personalised welcome greeting, wardrobes have automated lights and padded hangers, bathrooms have a professional hairdryer and amenities package, and the turn-down service includes the weather report for the following day.
All bathrooms contain a bathtub (most have a separate shower), and the mattresses are twin or king-sized with a choice of eight pillows. A pleasantly fragranced wellness centre offers a variety of massages (the candle wax massage is particularly recommended), as well as facial treatments and waxing services. The complex also has a decently sized 24-hour gym and sauna.
Vinha Boutique Hotel
The hotel, which overlooks the Douro on Porto's Left Bank, is remote enough from city life while still being only a 15-minute drive from both Campanha and Sao Bento rail stations. Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport is 14 km (9 miles) away.
A trail runs past the motel, and a river beach is a five-minute walk away. This resurrected manor house, with an attached new wing, feels more like a sumptuous country retreat than an urban hotel and appears to have dropped right out of a design magazine.
It combines historic and contemporary elements, with hints of Mid-Century Modern and a touch of East Asian. Dark glossy wood, monochromatic prints, smooth black glass, and retro-style furniture are combined with antiques, antiquities, and chinoiseries collected throughout the owners' travels. According to the hotel, this is a "journey for the senses".
In the Vinha restaurant, Dutch design house Moooi´s Extinct Animals wallcovering graces the ceiling and enormous Chinese urns provide an eye-catching centrepiece. The basement Reserva bar exudes a sumptuous speakeasy vibe, with jewel-colored décor, velvet chairs and candlelight tables. The nine acres of beautiful gardens and floor-to-ceiling windows provide stunning views of the river.
The hotel's name and nature reflect its boutique status, with only 38 rooms. Half of the rooms are done in a classic style, with elegant and comfortable interiors, while the other half are influenced by international fashion labels like Christian Lacroix, Missoni, Ralph Lauren, Kenzo, and Hermès. These feature actual fabrics, wallpaper, and textiles from the maisons and have a fun romanticism about them.
Conclusion
Porto is full of vibrant colors, friendly people and amazing food so now that you have explored the most beautiful hotels in the city it is time for you to book a trip. A weekend is enough to get to know the city but if you are a wine lover and also want to explore Doure we advise you to stay for a week.