Vincci Porto

Fans of Art Deco architecture are in luck: Curved features and industrial windows add vanguard appeal to the exterior of this iconic building, a historic structure that once housed the Porto Fish Market and now serves as a home to the sharp Vincci Porto hotel. Inside, soaring windows paired with skylights on an arched ceiling shed lots of light on the vast lobby where fish were brought to auction during the building’s market years. Today, tall, leafy trees potted indoors highlight the impressively open space, and fresh furnishings give the seating area a modern, apartment-like vibe where guests can take in river views. The glass of sparkling wine that comes at check-in helps set the upmarket tone of a stay here as well. Other common spaces also have a chic-yet-comfy feel, like the bar lofted just above the lobby with its bold carpeting and curved, blue booth and the restaurant with its funky chairs and slouchy throw pillows. It's a sleek and sexy hotel through and through, with plenty of appeal for couples looking to put a romantic edge on their Porto trip. Given its proximity to the city's business zone, plenty of guests on work trips pass through as well.

Vincci Porto outside of Porto's historic core, across the street from the Duoro River -- it's a scenic setting with lovely river views. There are a few small cafes lining the cobblestone streets around the hotel, and the promenade along the river is just across the road -- a nice spot for morning jogs -- but otherwise reaching anything of note requires a walk or a car. There's no metro station within walking distance, and the UNESCO World Heritage-protected Ribeira Square can be reached within a 25-minute walk (for the ambitious). Alternatively, this area will take just five minutes to reach by taxi. Attractions like Clerigos Tower, Infante D. Henrique Square, Bolsa Palace, and Monument Church of St. Francis are all within a five- to 10-minute walk of Ribeira. For soccer fanatics, it’s a 12-minute drive to the Estadio do Dragao, the second-largest soccer stadium in Portugal. Expect a 20-minute drive to the airport, and the hotel has parking for a fee. 

In a city where design-hotel competition can be stiff, the Vincci Porto does well for itself. Continuing the vintage-contemporary look from the hotel's common areas, room decor is a blend of sleek details with trendy and throwback accents. Parquet wood floors and wine cellar-inspired features -- like teal blue and sage green walls with rivets and wood paneled closets -- give them a sharp look that's complemented by soft plush furniture in red and tan tones. Bold abstract art kicks things up a notch, and walnut wood paneling adds a bit of retro flair. Suites with separate living rooms are available and have even more style than entry-level rooms. We loved the mid-century-inspired furniture in and linear-patterned beige carpet in the unit we saw, and the blurred-photography hanging on the wall in the bedroom was a particularly eye-catching addition.

All rooms here are spacious by European standards, and entry level rooms offer 26 square meters of space (280 square feet); of course Suites are larger, measuring around 53 square meters (570 square feet). Beds earn good reviews from guests, and all rooms have flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, pod coffeemakers (with limited free pods), electric kettles, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Suites have terraces with river views. Bathrooms are likewise trendy, with white metro tiling or wood paneling plus sleek, elongated wall-mounted sinks and walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads. Some suites have marble bathrooms with separate tubs. 

While this hotel's style puts it in the upper-middle-range category, its lack of major features keeps it from being the upscale hotel that it wants to be. There is no fitness room or spa here, which is a bit surprising given its location a bit outside the oldest part of the city. Still, what is on offer is done well. For a fee, Vincci Porto offers a breakfast buffet that earns good reviews and includes meats, cheeses, eggs, breads, cereal, and sweets. There’s also a well-liked restaurant serving Portuguese cuisine in a modern space, and the hotel has a lofted bar where guests an order food and drinks and take in views of the spacious lobby. Two meeting rooms are available for business travelers, and limited parking is available for a fee with a reservation. Wi-Fi is free throughout.