Porta Azul

This boutique guesthouse trades large-scale hospitality for a peaceful atmosphere that's won over plenty of travelers, ourselves included. Hosts Pedro and Marta are warm and attentive, and Pedro is known to welcome guests with an enthusiastic slideshow tour of Porto on his iPad that’s packed with valuable insider information. The house itself was built in the 19th century and retains many original architectural features, including elegant sculpted ceilings and large airy rooms. There are large hand-painted murals that add a quirky dash of fun in unconventional places: on the sides of the bar in the breakfast room, under a faux framed archway on a stair landing, and on table tops in the bedrooms. These depict whimsical, pastoral scenes with floating birds and clouds, rolling hills, and symbolic blue doors meant to represent Porta Azul itself: arguably the perfect place for a relaxed, pleasant escape. If the interiors aren't enough, there are always the quiet gardens and hammocks out back -- no doubt a major reason why couples tend to flock here despite its somewhat out-of-the-way location.

Porta Azul is on a residential road lined with historical 19th-century houses, each with different patterned tiles and colored doors. It's certainly photogenic, and is just on the edge of Porto’s busy tourist areas. The Jardins Palacio de Cristal are just across the street and the guesthouse is within an arts district that's home to local galleries. The Douro River is a 14-minute walk away, as is Clerigos Tower. It takes a bit longer to reach the city's other major sights. Sao Bento station is 18 minutes away on foot, along with Bolsa Palace and the UNESCO-listed Ribeira Square. Rua De Santa Catarina, the main shopping area in downtown Porto, is a twenty-minute walk or 10-minute drive. Expect a 20-minute drive to Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport.

There are six rooms at Porta Azul, and each is individually decorated in a simple, sharp style. All have basic wood furniture and colorful custom-made pillows that echo the whimsical themes of the hotel’s hand-painted murals. Many of the rooms have elegant high ceilings and French doors that open out to a shared balcony (or provide direct access to the private garden). Others have views overlooking the Jardins do Palacio de Cristal at the front, and most have polished wood floors. Bathrooms are basic, but modern, with white ceramic sinks, tiled showers, and free basic toiletries. Rooms come in three different categories -- Standard, Superior, and Junior Suite -- with the main distinguishing factor being size. Double glazed windows make street noise in the front-facing rooms a minimal nuisance, and all rooms also come with a welcome carafe of local port wine, electric kettles, and free Wi-Fi. None of the rooms have TVs or air-conditioning.

As a small family-run guesthouse, the features are admittedly limited, as there are no on-site bars or restaurants. This may not be an issue however, as there are plenty of good local restaurants within walking distance from the hotel, and hosts Marta and Pedro have ample recommendations for dining spots all around Porto. The standout feature is the guesthouse's lovely garden -- a sunny, grassy, and peaceful spot with pretty flowering shrubs, white and gray furniture, and hammocks for relaxing. Marta also serves a breakfast buffet (fee depending on room rate) with hot options including eggs cooked to order, and a different homemade daily cake inspired by recipes from her grandmother. The hotel also offers babysitting, massage, and laundry services, as well as free use of a tablet for browsing. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and bikes are free to borrow as well.