Pestana Vintage Porto, Porto

Pros

• You'll be staying in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with hotel rooms spread across a series of interconnected 16th-18th-century buildings.
• The hotel is situated on historic Ribeira Square, making it a convenient base for exploring the city center.
• Larger and upper-story rooms feature spectacular views of the Douro River, and some include balconies.
• On-site dining options include a steakhouse-style restaurant and a popular bistro-bar with a riverfront terrace.

Cons

• Accessing the hotel by car can be challenging due to its location on the pedestrian-only waterfront, and there's no parking available on-site.
• While the vibrant location is perfect for those who enjoy being in the center of activity, it can be noisy due to nearby restaurants and bars.
• The hotel's location on the riverfront means it's an uphill walk to most other Porto neighborhoods.

Authenticity

Owned by the Portuguese Pestana hotel group, the Pestana Vintage Porto occupies a series of painstakingly renovated 18th-century buildings with UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Inside,  you'll find touches of the building's original architectural features shining through decidedly modern decor, with light woodwork, colorful murals, and lots of Portuguese cork accents. The hotel's sense of place extends to the artwork; walls are lined with black and white photos of Porto through the ages, and room wallpapers bear playful maps of the Douro River. 

Location

The hotel is situated right on Ribeira Square at the river's edge, occupying one of the city's most atmospheric and historic settings. If you can tear yourself away from the riverfront, landmarks like the Torre dos Clérigos, the Sé Cathedral, and the São Bento station are all less than 10 minutes away on foot. River cruises depart regularly from your doorstep, and you can hop on the scenic Tram Linha 1 or the 500 bus to wind along the river toward the sandy beaches of Foz. The hotel's location on the pedestrian riverfront means taxis will need to drop you off at a nearby location, and there's no parking on-site. 

Rooms & Bathrooms

The 100+ rooms range from compact doubles to luxurious suites, but the rooms with river views are the real standouts. Choose a Plaza Room to gaze at the iconic Dom Luís I bridge, or opt for the Vintage River View Balcony options for multiple French windows that look out across the Douro toward the opposite bank's wine cellars. All rooms are furnished in warm tones that echo Ribeira's color-washed facades, and blend original stone details with mid-century furniture and cheerful wallpapers. The marble-clad bathrooms are spacious and modern, some with deep soaking tubs and river views. 

Amenities

The hotel's UNESCO-listed setting means you won't find mod-cons like a pool or modern gym here, but there's a petite fitness room and a small spa that offers wellness treatments like massages. Breakfast is included in the room rate and served buffet-style overlooking the river, and other dining options include the hotel's RIB BEEF & WINE, a steakhouse-style joint that specializes in high-quality meat and seafood dishes served alongside an extensive wine list. A cool cocktail bar spills out onto a riverfront terrace and is the perfect spot to watch the sunset with one of the city's signature white port and tonics. 

Family-Friendliness

Pestana Vintage Porto welcomes families, and larger suites can sleep two adults and two children comfortably. Cribs/cots are available at an added fee, and children over the age of 13 are charged as adults. While there are no real kid-focused amenities on-site, the central Ribeira location makes it easy to explore the city on foot with little ones in tow, and the hotel can help set up bike rentals and river cruises just steps from the hotel.