Casa do Conto is one of the trendiest-looking guesthouses in Porto. Its sleek industrial design, however, was born under unfortunate circumstances after the original, more traditional looking hotel burned down barely a week before it was due to open. Not one to be deterred, the architect owner wasted no time reconstructing the house with a contemporary edge and wrote off the incineration as one of the hotel’s many stories, which is fitting given Casa do Conto means ‘House of Tales’ in Portuguese.
Room layout is slightly different across the three floors. For instance, two rooms have balconies and two have small kitchenettes (with complimentary tea and Nespresso coffee). A key feature in the six rooms is the high ceilings impressed with poetry, and this creative element works well with modern lighting and understated artwork to create a striking, minimalist look. The rooms also offer electric blinds, an iPod dock, a robe and slippers.
The bathrooms are modern and have brushed concrete finishes and solar-heated water. Oh, and speaking of modern, the hotel also has an elevator (with a cool glass ceiling) so you don’t need to lug your suitcase up the stairs.
Every morning guests can enjoy a buffet continental breakfast with eggs made to order in the downstairs dining room or garden. While no other meals are provided onsite, the kitchen is available to guests on request.
If you want to be in the midst of the city action you might find Casa do Conto a little far away given it’s outside Porto’s historic centre, but the Casa da Música metro station is less than a five-minute walk away and there are plenty of cafés and shops nearby.