The five-star Porto Palácio is a schmick hotel with elegant rooms, marble bathrooms and a splendid spa. It’s geared towards business travellers, but if you’re a fan of getting your zen on in a mood-lit underground pool with steam, spray and bubble jets galore, you might just fancy this hotel too.
The 251-room establishment is located in Porto’s corporate district of Boavista, meaning it’s a little removed from the city centre for sightseeing (it’s around three kilometres from the main square), but the Casa da Música concert hall and metro stop are around a ten minute walk away. Nearby you’ll also find the indoor food market Mercado Bom Sucesso.
The location towards Porto’s seaside means the Palácio has some pleasant ocean views, and the hotel’s swish rooftop lounge mimics the feel of the Park Hyatt Tokyo’s New York Bar (ok, so at 19 stories, maybe it’s not quite as tall, but it’s a good effort for Porto). Nip up here for a nightcap and recline in your velvet armchair with a martini while you watch the lights twinkle on the Atlantic coast. You can then witness the same view in daylight at the hotel’s Sunday brunch buffet.
Come dinnertime you can choose from the hotel’s onsite restaurant Nautilus, the traditional Portuguese diner Portobeer or the Góshò Japanese restaurant, which are all located within the hotel block. Otherwise, amble your way down the busy Avenida da Boavista or head to the nearby suburb of Foz for a range of other dining options.