InterContinental Porto – Palacio das Cardosas

Opened in 2011, the InterContinental is one of the most elegant historical hotels near Porto's iconic old town. Housed in an 18th-century palace, a stay here is kicked off when guests are greeted with a free cup of coffee or glass of port wine, and checked in at sit-down reception desks. Intricate marble in-lay floors, crystal chandeliers, decorative crown molding, and a center table with fresh flowers all come together to create a refined atmosphere in the lobby. Despite the palatial setting, there are just 105 rooms here, meaning that the hotel retains a bit of intimacy, without feeling small or crowded. That feat is helped in part by the number of places throughout the hotel for guests to gather or entertain themselves. These include the hotel's Astoria Restaurant, a bright space with white walls, parquet floors, and red chandeliers, as well as an outdoor terrace that's open in warmer weather. There's also a bar that's awash in Old World elegance, with a grand piano, dark woods, and violet upholstered chairs and sofas. Given the hotel's prime location near Porto's sights -- and its undeniable romance -- most guests here are well-heeled couples. That being said, the InterContinental brand name does enough to lure plenty of business travelers and families as well. 

Smack in the middle of the gorgeous historical center of Porto, there's a lot to like about this hotel's location. The hotel sits on Liberdade Square, a Belle Epoque remnant that's lined with ornate buildings, and is essentially right next to the city's main train station, Sao Bento. The immediate area surrounding the hotel is vibrant and full of restaurants, cafes, and bakeries. The nearby Avenida dos Aliados has a number of ornate neoclassical buildings, the Rua do Almada has boutique shops, and the Rua de Galleria de Paris and Rua Candid dos Reis offer nightlife. Most of the main sights in old-town Porto are just down the hill. Clerigos Tower is a two-minute walk, while Bolsa Palace and the Monument Church of St. Francis are a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Porto Cathedral is perched on a rock formation overlooking the city, a 10-minute walk from the hotel, and Bolhao Market is a little less than 10 minutes away on foot. The oldest part of the city, the UNESCO World Heritage-protected Ribeira Square is a 15-minute walk from the hotel. The square is situated next to the River Douro and Dom Luis I Bridge. There is a metro station at Sao Bento Station as well, and it's about a 30-minute metro ride from the hotel to get to the Rem Koolhaas-designed Casa da Musica. The hotel is a 20-minute drive from Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport.

The rooms, suites, and duplexes at InterContinental Porto Palacio das Cardosas are done in an elegant mix of classic and contemporary styles. Rooms have high ceilings with crown molding, plus handsome parquet floors and furniture that has antique lines with just a touch of shimmer -- take the slate blue velvet upholstery on the armchairs or the silver desks, for example. Wainscoting adds a refined finish on the walls -- as do the black-and-white photos of Porto -- while crisp white bedding is off-set by tinted mirror-tile accent walls and chocolate brown textiles.

Rooms range from 258 to 646 square feet (24 to 60 square meters), so even the smallest rooms are larger than most found throughout Porto. Most are generally quiet, but some lower-level rooms may pick up occasional street noise. High-comfort amenities include turndown service, bathrobes, and slippers. Rooms also feature safes, minibars, kettles for instant coffee and tea (some rooms also have espresso machines), free Wi-Fi, and large flat-screen TVs with a good range of international and satellite channels. Bathrooms in most rooms -- which include the Executive Room and the Deluxe Twin Room that we visited -- are clad in dark and light marble, and come with bidets, make-up mirrors, and premium bath products. Some have separate tubs and rain showers. 

One of the more interesting design features, especially for a historic, city-center hotel like this one, are the bi-level rooms, which include Duplex Suites and the Presidential Suite. These are essentially like renting a pied a terre (without the kitchen), with proper elegant living rooms furnished with plush velvet furniture and eye-catching light fixtures downstairs, and bedrooms in the upstairs area. The small balconies overlooking Liberdade Square are a nice-to-have addition in some of these units, and suites have sofa beds. These rooms also have nicer bathrooms, done in stunning white Italian marble, some with rainfall showerheads.

Given its relatively compact size and its location in the center of Porto's historic area, there are some surprising extras at this hotel. The InterContinental serves an ample breakfast buffet with cooked-to-order eggs, sausages, smoked salmon, cold cuts, cheeses, breads, pastries, cereal, fruit, coffee, tea, and juice -- but it's not included in standard room rates. The restaurant serves classic Portuguese cuisine with contemporary flair, and features daily lunch specials and a warm-weather terrace with cocktails and tapas. Room service is available. The cocktail lounge serves an afternoon tea, port wines, and cocktails in an intimate space with an English library feel. 

The small fitness center is open 24 hours a day and features several treadmills, recumbent bikes, and stair-steppers, but the weight-training options are limited to an all-in-one weight machine and a simple set of free weights. The spa is also small, and a bit underwhelming for most guests, though it does have a sauna and offers a wide array of treatments (for a fee), including massages, scrubs, facials, reflexology, manicures, and pedicures. The hotel has a luxury jewelry and watch shop, meeting rooms, a 24-hour business center, and baggage assistance. There is also a dedicated concierge. Parking is available for a fee and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Up to one pet (dogs only), 22 pounds and under, is allowed for a nightly fee.