Hotel Carris Porto Ribeira
The hotel sits on the border between the city’s historic quarter and Cais da Ribeira, and its grand frontage is more than a match for the surrounding 18th century townhouses, with their characteristic azulejo-tiled facades and ornate wrought-iron Juliet balconies. Inside, the architecture of the shared guest areas is equally impressive, with imposing stone archways and columns which hark back to Porto’s mercantile past – this industrial-chic continues through the hotel’s Nomadik Lounge Bar and Restaurante Forno Velho.
The contemporary architecture of the upper floors is a pleasant contrast – the décor in the guest rooms is modern, uncluttered and refined, with exposed walnut woodwork and soft shades of white. The main building sits one street back from the river, and its rooms come with a mix of street-views or street-view Juliet balconies. Head deeper into the building and its different areas are connected by glass-panelled walkways, (if you suffer from vertigo, we can recommend an alternative hotel). Selected suites come with either river views or small river-facing terraces overlooking the Douro River, with Porto’s twin city Vila Nova da Gaia on the opposite bank.
Exploring the city on foot is easy, with many of Porto’s most-popular landmarks just a short walk away: the Casa do Infante museum, the Mercado Ferreira Borges, the Se do Porto and the Ponta Luis I bridge.
