Gallery Hostel

This restored 1906 town house opened in 2011 as the Gallery Hostel, and interiors have a stylish and energetic vibe, with an emphasis on art and design. The hostel hosts bimonthly exhibitions of local Portuguese artists, and art is displayed throughout the public spaces and rooms. Lined with the building's original blue-and-white azulejo tiles, a stairwell leads to a skylit bar with a colorful red rug, black vinyl pod chairs, and white sofas. Guests gather here and in the communal kitchen, which serves an ample free breakfast buffet and an inexpensive but high-quality dinner with Portuguese cuisine and wine. The glass-roofed winter garden and outdoor garden are two other standout spaces. Named for city gardens and famous local architects, writers, and painters, rooms have a stylish and colorful look. As with most hostels, the clientele skews young, but older travelers and families will feel welcome here too. The hostel has no elevator, so guests with mobility issues should request rooms on lower floors. Staff will help with baggage. 

Gallery Hostel is in a residential neighborhood in the Miguel Bombarda quarter, a vibrant area with modern art galleries, cafes, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. The University of Porto and Clerigos Tower are only a 10-minute walk from here, making this a fine base for exploring the historic center of the city as well. Praca da Liberdade (Liberty Square), Porto's main square dating from the Belle Epoque era, is a little more than a 10-minute walk from the hostel in the Old Town Area. Aliados metro station is a 10-minute walk and the Sao Bento metro and train station are a five-minute drive or a 15-minute walk  from the hostel. The area with Infante D. Henrique Square, Bolsa Palace, and Monument Church of St. Francis is a seven-minute drive or 20-minute walk from the hostel. Porto Cathedral is a five-minute drive or 20-minute walk away. The oldest part of the city, the UNESCO World Heritage-protected Ribeira Square, is a 25-minute walk downhill, which is pleasant enough in Porto, and driving will only shave about 10 minutes off that travel time. Next to Ribeira Square are the River Douro and Dom Luis I Bridge. Gallery Hostel is a 20-minute drive from Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport.

Gallery Hostel has 10 rooms and 41 beds in its four-floor main building, and five rooms and five beds in the two-story guest house. Named for city gardens and famous local architects, writers, and painters, rooms have a stylish look, with white walls displaying funky photos and art. Most rooms sport bright colors of green, red, and orange. Decor in the guest house rooms is particularly creative, with walls painted by local artists. Beds are surprisingly comfortable for a hostel. Rooms come in double/twin, triple, and four- and six-bed (bunk beds) dorm room configurations. One dorm room is for women only. All rooms have ensuite bathrooms (dorm guests share the bathroom with other room guests), air conditioning, reading lights, and free Wi-Fi. Dorm rooms have security lockers and guest house rooms have desks, radios, iPod docks, and flat-screen TVs with satellite and English channels. Some rooms have garden views, and some have balconies.  Bathrooms are spacious, clean, and well-designed, with mosaic tiling but frequently limited counter space around sinks. Fixtures are contemporary, and most have walk-in showers. Rooms are all non-smoking, but guests can smoke outdoors in the garden. Unlike at many hostels, use of towels and sheets is included in the room rate, and housekeeping is performed daily. The Gallery is an eco-conscious property, with recycling, solar-heated water, and use of local and organic products.

The Gallery offers an excellent array of amenities, especially for a hostel. The free breakfast buffet includes scrambled eggs, cold cuts, cheeses, breads, croissants, homemade cakes, pastries, cereal, fruit salad, coffee, and juice. A communal kitchen is available for guests to prepare their own meals. The hostel serves an inexpensive three-course dinner, with dishes like codfish, barbecue, Caldo Verde, Arroz de Pato, and vegetarian options. An extensive wine list is available -- another hostel rarity. The bar has a good array of beer, wine, and cocktails, and hosts occasional port wine tastings. The cinema room shows DVD movies on a big projection screen. The room also has big chess board and hosts karaoke nights and occasional concerts. There's also a communal kitchen. Hostel staff leads guests on a free 90-minute walking tour of Porto's major sights. The hostel also has 24-hour front desk, bicycle rentals, a computer corner with two PCs, and a library. Wi-Fi is free throughout.