Hotel do Norte

The Hotel do Norte is one of the oldest hotels in the area, but the rooms and public spaces have been regularly refurbished, making things light, modern, and bright. It’s a small, charming hotel with a friendly, welcoming, and homey feel. Given its small stature and limited features, though, it's mostly used as a home base for exploring the city. The lobby is compact, with a window overlooking the busy street outside. It has a marble floor and some tourist information leaflets displayed at the side. The hallways have some cozy seating areas with velvet tub chairs and coffee tables, but the main spot for anyone looking to hang out is the mezzanine bar. The hotel tends to attract younger visitors who want to be in the city center but are on a tight budget. It doesn’t generally draw many families, but cribs are available for those traveling with little ones. 

Set in the picturesque old town of Porto, the property is surrounded by many shops and restaurants. These range from international chains such as McDonald's, Zara, Benetton, and Foot Locker through to traditional Portuguese restaurants, coffee shops, and charming boutiques. It’s a 20-minute walk to Ribeira, the historic area on the banks of the Douro River, where there are numerous tapas bars and restaurants serving local dishes. The stunning Porto Cathedral is a 15-minute walk away from the hotel, while Sao Bento Station is only a 10-minute trip on foot. Getting around on public transport is easy too, as the property sits directly next to Bolhao Metro station -- it's five minutes by metro to the iconic Casa da Musica. Porto International Airport is a 20-minute drive from the hotel. 

There are 36 guest rooms at the Hotel do Norte, and decor is fresh, simple, and modern. Guests can expect to see wooden flooring, neutral walls, dark wood-veneer furniture, and bright bedspreads in shades of orange. Larger rooms have details like all-over cityscape-print wallpaper and bold plaid bedspreads. Most rooms have large windows which let in lots of natural light. Many have great city views, and some have a private balcony with a fantastic outlook to the 19th century Capela das Almas building.

While rooms are basic, they have decent amenities including flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, mini-fridges, and phones. Many of them are on the small side though and have little floor space, except for the Big Rooms that we saw. All rooms have an en-suite bathroom, many of which have a striking lime green and white color scheme. Bathrooms either have a shower/tub combo or just a shower cubicle, and there's little counter space surrounding the marble sinks. Unfortunately, we saw lots of dirty grout in some of the bathrooms when we visited, and a deep cleaning may be in order. A hairdryer is not provided, but can be borrowed on request. 

It's worth noting that the building does not have double-glazed windows and is in a busy part of the city, so some street noise can be heard. The walls between the guest rooms are fairly thin too, making it less-than-ideal for light sleepers. 

As a budget hotel in the city center, it's not surprising that features here are limited. There’s no restaurant at the hotel, so breakfast is not available on-site, although there are many cafes to choose from in the local area. There is a small bar, though, located on a mezzanine level above the hotel's lobby. There are comfy tub chairs and a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. A range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are available, and there is also a pay phone in the bar plus a vending machine which stocks snacks and soft drinks. A smart meeting room is available that has polished wooden floors and large, bright windows overlooking the street outside. The front desk is staffed 24 hours a day, cars and bikes can be rented, and city tours can be arranged. Laundry service and airport transfers can also be requested for an additional fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.