February 5, 2007
Looking for a hotel with character in Porto
The Sunday Times opens its travel clinic on a daily basis to answer your holiday queries. Today: hotels for a short break in Portugal
We are four ladies looking for a hotel with character in Porto. We want to take a short break in May and would like something reasonably priced and fairly central. Janice Duncan, by email
Sunday Times travel expert, Richard Green, responds: Porto is famously hilly and higgledy-piggledy, but the centre is at least compact, and taxis are cheap if you need one. While some of the city’s hotels are somewhat predictable, here are three characterful crackers that are right in the heart of the city.
Let’s start with the wonderfully photogenic Hotel Pestana (PraÁa da Ribeira, 00 351 22 340 2300, http://www.pestana.com). It’s a boutique style four-star down by the River Douro in the bustling Ribeira district. It occupies 11 tall merchant houses, which means that rooms here can very oddly shaped – half have great river views, so ask when you book. The location is unbeatable for river cruises, port lodge visits, and sampling the many riverside fish restaurants. B&B singles are from £89 (doubles from £100).
Up in the higher part of town is the swish Grande Hotel Porto (Rua de Santa Catarina 197, 00 351 22 207 6690, http://www.grandehotelporto.com). This was the first hotel in the city, built to impress in 1880, and still doing so now, with a very theatrical columned entrance hall, grand high-ceilinged dining hall, and bags of character. The 99 rooms don’t quite live up to the public spaces – how could they – but all are modern and neatly furnished. In May B&B singles are £74, doubles £81.
Then there is the Grande Hotel de Paris (Rua da Fabrica 27/29, 00 351 22 207 3140, http://www.ghparis.pt). It may have only 2-stars, but it more than makes up for this through its quirkiness, value for money, and friendly staff. It’s a multi-domed building built in 1888, and although a little frayed at the edges, it has a delightfully antique-strewn lobby and charming breakfast area. The rooms are pleasant, plus there’s a lounge, games-room and garden. In May, B&B singles are £30, doubles £36.