PortoBay Hotel Teatro

Opened in 2010 on the former site of the Teatro Baquet, a cultural hub and theater built in 1859 and destroyed by fire in 1888, the Teatro Hotel Porto honors its legacy. Once inside, expect to see highly stylized theatrical decor, which includes spotlight-style lighting, costume cabinets, and a reception desk designed to resemble a theater box office. The lobby has warm woods and rich colors of brown, black, bronze, and gold. Designed by Nini Andrade Silva Atelier, the theme may be too much for some, but we found it to be restrained enough to look chic rather than forced. The restaurant is dark and atmospheric, with curved-wood ceilings and a large black-and-white photo of a theater audience on one wall. The restaurant draws locales as well as guests, who gather to feast on innovative Portuguese cuisine. Alfresco dining is also possible in the inner courtyard, which has spotted plants and a waterfall wall. The stylish cocktail bar is done in black, bronze, and gold, with black furniture of vaguely mid-century style. Like the public spaces, the rooms are dimly lit, and have their own visual drama. The Teatro mainly attracts couples, as its theme has an undeniable bit of romance, but groups of friends and families find their way here too.

Centrally located, the Teatro Hotel Porto is a two-minute walk to Praca da Liberdade, Porto's main Belle Epoque square. It's within a short walk of plenty of restaurants, cafes, bars, nightclubs, and boutiques. True its name, the Teatro is within a five-minute walk of several theaters, including the Teatro Municipal Rivoli, the Teatro Sa da Bandeira, and the Teatro Nacional Sao Joao. The hotel is two-minute walk to the Sao Bento bus, metro, and train station, which offers easy access to the rest of the city and points beyond. The eighth-century Baroque Church of Saint Ildefonso, Batalha Square and the Dom Pedro V Monument, and Clerigos Tower are all within a five-minute walk of the hotel. Porto Cathedral is perched on a rock formation overlooking the city, a seven-minute walk from the hotel. Infante Dom Henrique Square, Bolsa Palace, and the Monument Church of St. Francis are within a 15-minute walk or a five-minute taxi ride. Ribeira Square, the oldest part of the city and a UNESCO World Heritage site, is also a 15-minute walk from the hotel. Francesco Sa Carneiro Airport is a 15-minute drive from the hotel, or about 45-minutes by metro from Sao Bento station. 

Like the common areas, the 74 rooms at the Teatro Hotel Porto are dramatic, with fine wooden furnishings and crisp all-white cotton bedding. Some of the beds have distinctive curved canopy headboards, with mirrors behind them. The color palette is a rich brown, bronze, and gold, with a splash of slate blue in the rugs. Rooms are dimly lit, which guests will find either atmospheric and romantic, or too dark. In lieu of dressers with drawers, rooms offer closets with shelves. While everything has a high-end finish, it's worth noting that some double beds are two singles pushed together -- a bit disappointing in a hotel of this category. Street noise can also be an issue.Rooms are spacious by European standards, ranging in size from 226 square feet (21 square meters) to suites that measure 1,012 square feet (94 square meters). All rooms include desks, safes, minibars, electric kettles for instant coffee and tea, free Wi-Fi, and large flat-screen TVs with cable and satellite access. Some rooms have swish lounge chairs, others have velvet seating, further contributing to the plush ambience. Suites have sitting areas with sofa beds. Bathrooms are stylish, but they're not entirely separated from the bedrooms by doors. Showers and toilet stalls are hidden by smoked glass, but guests can pull a curtain for more privacy. All bathrooms have rainfall showerheads and bidets, and some have separate vintage bathtubs. Metal sinks and copper fixtures up the elegance and class. All bathrooms include bathrobes and slippers, hairdryers, and premium bath products. 

It's all about style here, though substance runs pretty deep as well. Teatro Hotel Porto offers an excellent free breakfast buffet -- not a common feature in Porto's upscale properties -- with a spread that includes plenty of standard options plus homemade tortillas, cheeses, cold cuts, breads, Portuguese custard tarts, and sparkling wine. The restaurant serves innovative interpretations of classic Portuguese cuisine, along with international fare, throughout the rest of the day. Guests can dine in the restaurant's inner courtyard, weather permitting. The stylish cocktail bar pours a wide selection of liquors, cocktails, beers, wines, and ports, and occasionally features Portuguese fado music. While there's no pool or spa, the hotel has a small fitness center. The Teatro also offers concierge services, bell services, meeting rooms, a computer corner, and parking (for a fee; space is limited and reservations are required). Wi-Fi is free throughout.