The 7 best romantic hotels in Porto

If you want swank and style on your trip to Porto, you can’t go wrong with the InterContinental. The former monastery and palace is conveniently positioned at the end of Porto’s main square, Praça da Liberdade. Step out the door and you’ll see Porto’s iconic Clérigos Tower on your left, then nip around the corner to your right and run straight into the equally iconic São Bento Train Station. As well as having a top location, the hotel has five-star class with an opulent foyer adorned with marble and Swarovski chandeliers. There’s also a swish shopping arcade inside, should you care to casually pick up a new Rolex. The elegance continues in the rooms upstairs, where you’ll find heavy curtains, studded ottomans and silky bedspreads. Take a relaxing bath in the marble bathroom before choosing from eight types of pillows at bedtime, and be sure to book a massage or facial in the hotel spa. 

If you’re a wine aficionado with five-star tastes, The Yeatman has got your name on it. The hotel is set on the hillside of Vila Nova de Gaia, directly across the Douro from Porto, meaning that the views from all 83 rooms, plus the pools, bars and restaurants are spectacular. The Yeatman serves as an ambassador for Portuguese wines and works in partnership with 78 producers. 

Open since September 9, 2017, the five-star Torel Avantgarde went all out when it came to decorating. Everything you see there is Portuguese - from the sofas to the chandeliers, through to the furs and artwork on display - and it can all be purchased online. Of the 47 rooms, 20 are suites and 21 have a view on the Douro river. With two treatment rooms and a Turkish bath, the real moss covering the walls of the entrance isn’t the only thing that stands out at the Spa Balsamea.

If you fancy feeling like a prince or princess on your trip to Porto, book yourself into an eighteenth-century palace. The Palácio do Freixo’s baroque architecture is stunning (not to mention super-Insta-worthy) and it overlooks the Douro with stellar river views. Inside, sky-high frescoed ceilings and gilt detailing steal the show, while the Nasoni Bar and Palatium Restaurant offer regional drink and food. Front-facing rooms have views over the river, as do the hotel’s outdoor terrace, infinity pool and jetty, which is lined with sun loungers. There’s a spa, a heated indoor pool, a steam room, gym and sauna. Unless you’re up for a 45-minute walk along the river to the historical centre you’ll need to catch the hotel’s free shuttle bus, which departs every 30 minutes.

This five-room guesthouse is located in a typical Portuguese townhouse, but has been renovated with a modern spin. The traditional pattern of Portuguese chequered floors, for instance, found its way onto the ceilings, and a freestanding bathtub in two of the rooms creates a retro cool look. Designer light fittings and contemporary mirrors add nice finishing touches.

The quirkiest space on offer is the cute as a cubby house attic room. Here a low bed sits beneath a cool A-frame ceiling fashioned with white wooden beams and there’s a sneaky reading nook with a recliner that catches the morning sun.

If the idea of breakfast in bed appeals, you can have your morning munchies delivered to your room in a neat picnic basket. Furthermore, in-room Nespresso machines mean a caffeine fix is never far away and small kitchenettes allow you to whip up simple home-prepped meals. A good alternative to cooking on your holiday however is to stroll 300 metres to Rua de Santa Catarina, Porto’s main commercial street, to grab a bite and tipple. Most of the main sites are within walking distance (which you’ll find marked on the handy city guide presented at check in), but the Bolhão metro is at nearby disposal should your legs cry for respite.

Weary feet can then be propped up on the balcony railings if you choose a room with a garden view, or you can chill in the small lounge area tucked under the stairs (in which case a glass of wine is mandatory – because, you know, Portugal). Conveniently, you can buy said wine from reception.

This hotel is located in one of Europe’s oldest printing and stationary shops, Araujo & Sobrinho (hence the A.S.), which opened in 1829 (hence the 1829) and the store still operates in the hotel foyer as a fifth-generation business.

To honour the building’s history, a print shop theme has been used throughout the hotel, with points of interest including old typewriters, store photos and wooden printer cabinets. Red carpet running down the wooden staircases adds an elegant touch and some rooms exude romance with retro freestanding bathtubs (so we recommend bringing your lover not your business partner). The interior fit-out also draws in elements of traditional Portuguese design, such as chequered tiles and wooden floorboards. The 41 rooms have slightly different styles and sizes but are comfortable and spacious.

The hotel is located in one of the most vibrant areas of Porto at the end of Rua das Flores, where restaurants and cafés abound. The hotel’s own restaurant Galeria do Largo is found on the ground floor and includes a pleasant footpath terrace from where you can suss out the passing crowds. The food is traditional and tasty and you can try Porto’s famous tripe stew (Tripas à Moda do Porto) if you’re feeling adventurous.

Despite being an old building, double-glazed windows and block out shutters were added during the renovation process to mute the light and noise of the busy street below.

The décor of Torrel 1884 is themed around Portuguese voyage and discovery, so its rooms and suites have references to the period through materials, colours and pieces of art. It also features a lovely wine bar, Bartolomeu, which is worth a visit by itself.