HF Ipanema Porto

Like most other branches in this chain, the HF is a simple hotel with a simple, contemporary style that -- while pleasant -- won't make much of a lasting impression. Instead, it's a fine, reasonably priced home base for those in town on business, or who don't mind cabs to reach Porto's wealth of historic sights. The hotel is housed in a stark, 10-story white building on a busy street. Inside, there are a few places for guests to linger and gather. The public spaces make ample use of purple, in the lobby carpeting and armchairs, as a stripe on the rectangular columns in the reception area, and most dramatically in the huge, hanging circular light fixtures. The color repeats itself in the violet-colored ottomans in the guest lounge. The Portuguese restaurant is decorated in shades of brown and orange, and has a cafeteria-style layout, with communal-style wooden tables. Located in a business and shopping area that's within a five-minute drive of the Alfandega do Porto Congress Center, the hotel draws business travelers and a good share of tourists, especially couples. 

HF Ipanema Porto is in Boavista, between Porto's center and the western beaches. The neighborhood is a business and shopping area, with many restaurants, bars, clubs, shops, pharmacies, and banks. Agramonte Cemetery, with its 19th-century monuments, is a two-minute walk from the hotel, and the Avenida da Boavista is a five-minute walk away. The hotel is a five-minute drive or 10-minute walk to the Rem Koolhaas-designed Casa da Musica concert hall, and the Alfandega do Porto Congress Center. The Botanical Garden and the Planetarium are also within a 15-minute walk of the hotel. While the hotel is a little off the beaten path for visiting Porto's major sights, there's a bus stop is across the street, and the Casa da Musica Metro station is about a 15-minute walk away. Most the major sights require a 20- to 45-minute trip by metro or bus, and the historic city center takes about 10 minutes to reach by taxi. Estadio do Bessa XXI football stadium, home of Boavista soccer club, is a seven-minute drive or 20-minute walk from the HF Ipanema. Clerigos Tower is a five-minute drive or 20-minute walk from the hotel. Attractions near the Douro River, such as Infante D. Henrique Square, Bolsa Palace, the Monument Church of St. Francis, and Ribeira Square are about a 10-minute drive or 45-minute bus or metro trip from the hotel. The hotel is a 15-minute drive to Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport.

The 150 rooms at the HF Ipanema Porto range from Standard Rooms to Suites with separate living areas, and include Family Rooms. Rooms are uniformly styled, with modern light-wood furniture and paneling, olive-green drapes flanking sheers, tan-patterned carpeting, gray faux-gator skin accent walls, and all-white cotton bedding. Rooms range from 248 square feet (23 square meters) to 409 square feet (38 square meters) and have double-glazed windows to ensure quiet, but street-facing rooms might pick up some traffic noise. All rooms are air-conditioned and include desks, minibars, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with cable and English-language channels. Only suites have coffeemakers. Family Rooms have cheery kids' rooms with light-wood bunk bed, child-size furniture, toys and dolls, wall-mounted TVs, and playful accent walls. Family Rooms also include microwaves. Bathrooms are marble-tiled and well-lighted, and most have shower/tub combos, but some only have showers. All include bidets, hairdryers, magnifying mirrors, basic toiletries. 

The HF Ipanema is not big on extras. There's no on-site fitness center or swimming pool, but the front desk will recommend nearby fitness facilities that are open to the public. The hotel serves an ample breakfast buffet (for a fee) with eggs, bacon, pastries, breads, cereals, fruit, coffee, and juice. The restaurant serves traditional Portuguese and classic European cuisine for lunch and dinner, and provides room service. The hotel also features a stylish cocktail bar with a big-screen TV. Bikes can be rented for a fee. The HF Ipanema also has a business center and can accommodate conferences. It also provides free daily newspapers, tour booking, airport transfers (for a fee), a 24-hour front desk, and parking (for a fee). Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.