If you’ve been there and done Lisbon, but can’t get enough of Portuguese culture, custard tarts and wine, head to the country’s second coolest city and check into some heavenly Porto hotels.

BEST HOTELS IN PORTO

The Ribeira district – and its narrow cobblestoned streets, medieval old town and colourful merchants’ houses – has been deemed worthy of UNESCO protection. Tree-lined boulevards follow the banks of the river, and the city has expanded out to coastal suburbs such as Foz do Douro on the edge of the Atlantic.

Anyone here mostly for the port should head straight to Vila Nova de Gaia, where the national drink has been made for hundreds of years – helpfully, the riverside wineries have their names lit up on their rooftops after dark.

At the Yeatman, Bacchus would be proud – not only is wine poured freely in the two-Michelin-starred restaurant, but grapes are used in genius spa treatments, such as crushed-cabernet scrubs.

Stationery and typeface fanatics (we know you’re out there) will find a spiritual home at Porto AS 1829, a hotel housed in one of Europe’s oldest stationery shops; and at temple-to-typography Casa do Conto & Tipografia.

Read on for the ultimate edit of our favourite Porto hotels for 2023.

Two of the finest things in life come together at the Yeatman – wine and spas – in turn forming one of the finest hotels in Porto. On a hill amid the port lodges, the hotel has spectacular views of the UNESCO-protected city and the Douro River.

Along with seven acres of land (cramped urban casa, this is not), there are indoor and outdoor infinity pools, a restaurant with two Michelin stars and a spa where you can admire the city from the comfort of a barrel bath or book in for a crushed-cabernet scrub. Every bedroom overlooks the city, and each has a balcony or terrace to soak it all up from.

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Originally a mansion built in 1861, Torel Palace Porto is a well-preserved example of the era’s architecture, with its impressive skylight still intact, along with a high-gloss, gilt-edged lobby. The peaceful outdoor pool is the perfect place to retreat to after days out exploring the city, not least for its list of cooling cocktails.

The hotel celebrates all five senses at Blind, its gastronomy temple named after the work of one of the country’s Nobel Prize winners. More Portuguese poets and writers are lauded in portraiture form throughout the interiors. Other noteworthy artistic additions include bathrooms hidden inside mirrored cubes in the centre of some of the bedrooms.

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It may not be modestly named, but this neoclassical palace really is quite monumental: it has high ceilings, gleaming white marble and an art deco staircase for a start. The 1923 building, on the equally stately Avenida dos Aliados, is close to the Clérigos tower, the Dom Luis 1 bridge and Bolhao market. Le Monumental Palace also within walking distance of the Ribeira district and the historic houses along the river banks.

There are three restaurants, all overseen by a decorated French chef – naturally, a fine-dining establishment makes an appearance, but there’s also a buzzy brasserie and a decadent cocktail lair.

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In Porto’s Santo Ildefonso district, this homely hotel is less than a mile away from the wineries of Gaia, including Ferreira Cellars, in an old convent and one of the city’s finest. The six-bedroom Casa do Cativo lets its visitors feel like locals, with a pool in the garden, a shared lounge and elegant bedrooms, some of which have terraces that showcase the surrounding terracotta rooftops.

It’s close to the neighbourhood’s namesake church and the Batalha Square, named after a battle but far more civilised these days, thanks to its cafés and monuments.

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On the edge of the Atlantic in the coastal quarter of Foz do Douro, this 19th-century villa has a handful of rooms in the main house, with a newer annexe added so that everyone else can join the fun. Along with several more bedrooms, Vila Foz has a wing with an indoor swimming pool, a spa and a more relaxed restaurant.

Here, you can enjoy the best of both – the rest of the city is within easy reach, but you’ll also have the breezy backdrop of where the Douro meets the Atlantic (‘foz’ means ‘mouth’) and the charming streets of this historic residential area on your doorstep.

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Ideally located for visiting all of Porto’s main sights, Cocorico adds a little Francophile flair to this 10-room townhouse. At the brasserie, French classics are washed down with delicious Douro reds, and the bedrooms are named after romantic French and Portuguese unions over the centuries.

Original features include huge windows, wrought-iron railings, local tiles, antique dressing tables and lofty, corniced ceilings, with modern arrivals such as billowy curtains, colour-block painted walls, gingham-edged beds and freestanding bath tubs. Trainspotters who just love beaux-arts stations will enjoy the São Bento interchange, one of the most beautiful rail hubs in the world.

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Between Avenida dos Aliados and Ribeira, this boutique hotel takes you all the way back to 1829, when the paper warehouse on this site first opened (hence the typewriters and assorted writerly accoutrements). It later expanded to specialise in typography, bookbinding and carpentry, and is one of the oldest stationery shops in Europe, run by the same family for five generations.

Guests at Porto AS 1829 can enjoy the historic old town of Porto – attractions of note nearby include the Mercado Ferreira Borges and the Palácio da Bolsa. Classic Portuguese cuisine awaits at the restaurant, or settle onto the terrace and work your way through the list of port.

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In the heart of Porto’s theatreland (hence the name), PortoBay Teatro limits the jazz hands to the odd spotlight and swish of a heavy curtain.

The star of the show is undoubtedly Il Basilico, which serves comforting (and carb-loading) pizzas, risottos and pastas, and has a glass ceiling for maximum natural light. Passersby can’t resist the smells coming out of the pizza oven and, luckily for them, there’s direct access from the street. More Italian imports come in the form of the house limoncello served at the bar, which opens onto the street for an indoor-terrace feeling that also attracts the locals.

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Sister to Porto’s Torel Palace, and another equally refined retreat in Lisbon, Torel 1884 is yet another palatial dwelling, now transformed into 12 suites on a modern street in the city’s downtown area. The late-19th-century building pays tribute to great Portuguese explorers in the form of exotic decor in the rooms, but at Bartolomeu Bistro it’s the motherland that’s celebrated (especially its wine).

Along with reviving a historic artistic practice and ensuring it appeared in every room, the team ensured art is at the forefront of the hotel again by commissioning an artist to create the entrance. And it’s home to the cosiest landing ever, which doubles up as a library (with conveniently placed sofas).

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Each edition of this dreamy duo – two properties 350 metres away from each other – from the same studio is equally artistic. Fans of fonts will love either of the 19th-century buildings, which celebrate the written word by emblazoning walls with various typefaces (reproducing passages by various authors, along with some more straightforward slogans), and design fans will enjoy the use of concrete, antiques and tan leather chairs.

Casa do Conto & Tipografia is in arty Cedofeita, but the city centre is 15 minutes away on foot, with a hammock-lined pool and peaceful courtyard petitioning you to return swiftly.

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The palace in question at this Porto hotel is the 18th-century Palácio das Cardosas – and it’s as grand as ever today, with lovingly restored interiors, gleaming floors and elaborate chandeliers. The hotel is in the city’s historic centre, close to the Avenida dos Aliados and overlooking Liberdade Square.

Nearby attractions include the ornate São Bento station, the 75-metre-high Clérigos Tower and the Lello bookshop, and you’ll be perfectly placed for setting off on a boat trip along the Douro or a tour of the famous port cellars. Don’t miss the hotel brunches at weekends – or a cocktail in the elegant lounge, with its bookshelves, parquet floors and magenta chairs.

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This atmospheric 16th-century house has been transformed into a boutique hotel by a mother-and-son duo. M Maison Particuliere Porto's central setting on a picturesque Porto street means you’ll be close to all of the sights, and there are lots of restaurants and cafés right outside your front door.

The characterful house has a sundeck, library and bar, and rooms are full of original features, including carved wooden ceilings, tiled panels and antiques. Some have Louis XVI-style furniture and lithographs by Picasso. The service is as personalised as you’d expect – you’ll be treated more like friends staying at a private home than anonymous guests.

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NH Collection Porto Batalha is another historic Porto hotel, set within an 18th-century palace. It was built by one of the city’s richest men, with the intention of making his home grander than everyone else’s, and was once the site of extravagant balls and the plotting of political coups. Today, it’s a far tamer affair, but with the striking red exterior still intact.

For the best views of Porto, request a room on the fourth floor with a terrace. The city’s main commercial street, Rua de Santa Catarina, is a short stroll away and it’s also close to the cultural hub of Rua de Miguel Bombarda.

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Fans of coffee will enjoy a stay at Pestana Porto in downtown, the site of the A Brasileira café that was famous for dispensing the best coffee in a cup in the early 20th century – and still a purveyor of great caffeine 115 years later. The building’s original architecture has been preserved, including the wrought-iron railings on the unusually shaped exterior and the gilded walls of the café.

And it’s not all about coffee beans – other exotic ingredients shipped back to Portugal centuries ago are celebrated too, including cinnamon, anise and chocolate. You'll be within strolling distance of the Avenida dos Aliados and a 12-minute walk away from the Ribeira district.

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High society may have moved out from this 18th-century building – in one of Porto’s liveliest downtown locales – but the grand staircase, frescoes and chapel are still there. At Oca Flores' spa, the city’s beloved beverage is put to good use in wine-therapy treatments, and more restorative ambience awaits in the garden on the fourth floor, where you can survey the city.

Lots of bars, restaurants and shops are lined up outside (staff will gladly guide you to their favourites), and it’s within 10 minutes on foot of the riverside. You’ll also be able to stroll to São Bento station and the Clérigos Tower.

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Set in a former art college and just as creative today, The Editory Artist Hotel is still all about education – it’s run, under the guidance of their teachers of course, by students enrolled at a local hospitality school. There are 17 spacious rooms, each with contemporary decor and colourful soft furnishings.

At the restaurant, the food is as artistic as the surroundings and almost too pretty to eat; and the stylish bar is a cosy spot for delicious cocktails (and some more artwork admiration). It’s on a sleepy street, but close to the bustle of the main shopping drag, Rua de Santa Caterina.

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