Porto hotel with warm color scheme and a hint of grandeur

Torel 1884 / Porto / Portugal

It is a fantastic feeling when a hotel can evoke a sense of having been transferred to a totally different reality. Sometimes it is the feeling of having time travelled to a different era or just having been ushered away to a different part of the world. And sometimes it is a combination of both. This is the case with Torel 1884 in downtown Porto.

The hotel really feels like it could be the home of some rich merchant that made a lot of money back in the day, importing goods from the far away corners of the world, bringing it back to Porto to sell. And with the fortunes he made (yes, feels like back then it was always a ”he”), he built this grand manor house showcasing the richness and the worldly ways of the people living there.

This sense is triggered by the design by Nano Design, where inspiration was taken from the goods Portuguese explorers procured and brought back home from their trips to Asia, Africa and the Americas, such as sugarcane, tea, coffee, cinnamon and pepper. These kind of items have been used to create the color scheme of the different rooms. But before starting to share about our room, I have to mention the beautiful atrium that is the first thing you notice when entering, together with some beautiful artwork by Jorge Curval and João Pedro Rodrigues, and the majestic staircase leading up to the wrap-around mezzanine on the first floor. If you continue all the way to the top floor, you’ll find a library with dark parquet floors, plush sofas and shelves stocked with books and magazines. And in additional to that, a really well-stocked honesty bar. And you know I am a sucker for honesty bars.

Torel 1884 is spread over two buildings. There is the main building (where we stayed) where there are 12 rooms and there are 11 apartments situated in a nearby separate building. We stayed in room called Cana de Açucar (the sugar cane room if you are not up to speed with your Portuguese). A huge room (I am pretty sure it must be the largest room I have ever stayed in) with incredibly tall ceilings, windows lined with heavy drapes and hand made tassels to round it all off. And best of all, enough mood lights to be able to create the right level of cozy.

Even though it is tempting to stay in when the hotel looks this good, Porto deserves to be seen and experienced to the full. There are so many great cafés, bars and restaurants so just make your pick and I can promise you you’ll have a good time. If not, you always have the bed at Torel 1884 waiting for you.

Welcome to Torel 1884 in downtown Porto.

The reception. I love the original floor tiles and all the art work on the walls.

Our room was huge with incredibly tall ceilings.

There is something about the dark wooden parquet floors and the soft color pallet of the walls and the furniture.

I know I usually say that I appreciate hotels with proper keys. This must be the most proper key ever.

This complimentary bottle of bubbly was brought to our room directly after check-in. My kind of hotel.

M leaving our room (the middle door) heading upstairs to…

…the library. It is located on the top floor, flooded by light pouring in from the sky lights.

Down stairs, next to the reception is where you’ll find the restaurant where breakfast is served.

Porto seen from the other side of the Duoro River.

Such a treat strolling around the narrow, steep streets of Porto looking at all the beautiful houses.

We found this great little restaurant that we really liked, Nicolau Porto.

The people seated next to us ordered this pavlova for desert and we just had to order one to share. It was just as delicious as it looks.

There is a great coffee culture in Porto. M is entering one of our favorites, So Coffee Roasters.

If the weather is agreeable I can recommend heading out to the cost for a stroll along the ocean or a dip if you are brave.

RG inside info

This place is perfect if you…

…are looking for a sombre boutique hotel right in the centre of Porto. A hotel with a very private feeling, that is both spacious and cozy at the same time. If this is on your list, you should check out Torel 1884.

My favorite thing about this place…

…is the space. Our room was huge, both when it came to square meters as well as ceiling height. The large windows flooded the space in light. Really made us feel like lords of the manor.

What not to miss when staying here…

…is, if the weather is good, to walk, bike or take the tram out to the coast where you have the wild Atlantic right at your feet. Remember to bring your bathing suit.

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