Eurostars Das Artes Hotel

While charming historic hotels are the name of the game throughout much of Porto, this Eurostars outpost offers a sharp, modern take on classic style. One part of the hotel is housed in a historic old school house, while the other is a modern building with a sky-blue tiled facade that was built in the former school playground. The property is design-conscious and appeals to art lovers as they regularly change the artwork on display in the public areas of the hotel. The lobby has an elegant white marble floor, and a reception desk that's made of a piece of white marble flanked by wooden sides. There is an eclectic mix of modern artwork throughout the lobby and the rest of the hotel, making for public areas that are a bit more interesting than most. A seating area with an ochre feature wall has some modern armchairs and a couch, a glass coffee table, and more artwork for guests to admire. Although the property is mainly geared toward tourists, it also has some good facilities for business guests and attracts plenty of people on mid-week corporate visits.

Eurostars das Artes is located on a quiet, narrow street in center of Porto, just a 10-minute walk from the edge of the UNESCO-designated core of the city, which is home to Ribeira Plaza. It is also within the most artistic part of the city, a short walk to many art galleries and vintage shops. Ideally placed for tourists wanting to see the city on foot, the hotel is a five-minute walk from most of the top attractions in town, including the Jardins do Palacio de Cristal, Paris Galleries Street, and the Museu Nacional De Soares Dos Reis. The famous hilltop Porto Cathedral with its fortress-like interior, and the Ponte Dom Luis Bridge are both a seven-minute drive away. Carolina Michaelis Metro station is a 13-minute walk from the hotel, and Porto Airport is around a 25-minute drive.

The 89 guest rooms at the Eurostars Das Artes hotel are available in a variety of categories, but all are spacious and sharp. Decor is contemporary and stylish, with a handsome mix of dark and light neutral tones. Guests can expect to see warm wood laminate flooring, plain white walls and bedding, and minimalistic dark wood furniture. The headboards lend rooms a particularly classic touch, with gold in-lay trim. Bright orange chairs add a welcome pop of color, as do photos of Porto hanging on the wall, but the lack of art is noticeable in a hotel that takes such pains to exhibit it in public areas. The Family Rooms sleep up to four people, while the suites have a spacious sitting area. All rooms include free Wi-Fi, minibars, desks, safes, air-conditioning, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Bathrooms have elegant white marble walls and floors that really up the class factor here. They include shower/tub combo and contemporary fixtures, but just a bit of space around the sink for storage.

The hotel has a dining room where a daily breakfast buffet is available, but no other meals. It offers a good range of cereal, cheese, meats, fruit, cakes, and pastries plus a nice array of hot options as well. The breakfast is not included in the room rate though, and many guests prefer to eat at one of the nearby cafes or pastry shops. The dining room has modern decor which matches the rest of the property. There are contemporary brown chairs and tables, and a white marble floor. A cozy bar with modern black leather bar stools and an outdoor decked terrace is another welcome addition. It has country-style hardwood patio furniture and parasols for warmer weather. Business guests can use either of the hotel’s two meeting rooms, the largest of which can seat up to 100 people, and there is also a small business center. Parking is available on-site, but there is a daily fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.