Hotel da Musica

Built in 2013, this contemporary property has a musical theme running through the entire building that's tastefully deployed amid some sleek contemporary design. On entering the bright lobby, guests are greeted by themed touches including ceiling lights designed around the treble clef symbol, guest information displayed on music stands, and violins exhibited on shelves behind the reception desk. The huge curved ceiling has large windows on one side, flooding the space with natural light, while the wall on the other side has blond wooden slats that curve right up to the top of the ceiling. It's a sharp and sleek look that fits right in in the trendy boutique-hotel scene in Porto. The property attracts a range of guests -- there are often many couples here on a city break, but also a large number of business guests as the property is close to the head offices of some large corporations. The hotel makes a stylish home base for exploring the city, provided guests don't mind a bit of a commute to Porto's more historic neighborhoods.

Set within the urban market of Mercado do Bom Sucesso, the property is in the commercial area of the city’s Boavista district. It’s just a three-minute walk from the pretty gardens of Jardim da Boavista, with the large war memorial in the center, and a five-minute walk from Casa da Musica concert hall. The popular Museu Romantico da Quinta da Macieirinha, set within the Crystal Palace Gardens, is a 15-minute walk. The immediate area has a range of shops and restaurants -- from traditional Portuguese cuisine to fast food chains within a few minutes' walk. The most historic areas of the city, and the reason many tourists flock to Porto, are a bit farther. Perched on a rock formation overlooking the city, Porto Cathedral is around a 15-minute drive from the hotel, as is the oldest part of the city, the UNESCO World Heritage-protected Ribeira Square. It's a seven-minute walk to the nearest Metro station, Casa da Musica (and a 20-minute metro ride to the historic neighborhoods), and Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport is just a 15-minute drive from the hotel.

The light guest rooms at the Hotel da Musica are modern and have a plain white color scheme with just a pop of color -- red -- in the soft furnishings. Furniture and flooring is in a blond wood finish, and each room has a musical score by a famous composer on the wall above the bed. The bedside lamps also feature the treble clef symbol. Despite the theme, the decor is tasteful and restrained, and rooms are all blessedly bright. The hotel offers Standard Rooms and Suites, with twin or double beds. All rooms have air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, small desks, minibars, and safes. The bathrooms are likewise contemporary, and include walk-in showers with a rainfall showerheads. It’s worth noting that the bathrooms are only separated from the bedroom by a curtain, which doesn’t allow much privacy. Some previous guests have also found the very shallow sinks to be impractical. Noise from the attached food hall can also be an issue in some rooms.

While the Hotel da Musica has the look and feel of a higher-category property, the lack of many on-site features keeps it from reaching the status of an upscale hotel. What is on offer generally gets solid marks, though, and the attached market expands dining options even further. A breakfast buffet is served daily at the hotel, and there is an excellent restaurant on-site that’s open for lunch and dinner. The Bom Sucesso Gourmet Restaurant has an unusual concept whereby guests pick organic products from the market and then have them cooked by the restaurant’s chef. There is also a bright and modern lobby bar for drinks, which has musical instruments such as a grand piano and a cello dotted around. For business guests, there’s a function room which can host up to 158 people. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.