Distrito do Porto Travel Forum

WE ARE GOING TO PORTO FOR FIVE DAYS IN DEC 07 AND ARE THINKING OF STAYING IN THE EUROSTAR DAS ARTES HOTEL HAS ANYONE STAYED THERE OR COULD YOU TELL ME A ANOTHER HOTEL NEAR THE CENTRE. ALSO ANY GOOD EATING PLACES THANK ALL

Hello,

From reviews I have read your hotel is about 15 mins walk into the centre of Porto. I can recomend the Hotel Peninsular ( Rua Alexandre Herculano 185 Tel: 222 084 984) which is central, just across from the Sao Bento train station. It is charming and has a faded 1920's art deco glamour with a fantastic wodden panelled lift. The satff are very friendly and you get a great view across Porto from the front upper floor rooms, I think it was around 50€ in high season and much cheaper off season if you pay in cash.

Porto has no shortage of places to eat and drink but for something a little bit different and special I can recomend Casa Mariazinha (Rua Belmonte 2/4 - ask at the Tourist office for directions tel 222009137) which is a small, cosy restaurant with only 12 tables where you can have an amazing 7 course dinner. There is no menu but Antonio and his wife choose what is fresh that day from the market and cook it up, each table has different food so that the surprise isn't spoiled. It isn't traditional Portuguese cuisine but it is amazingly tasty and you have a different regional wine with each course too. Arrive early as you probably won't leave until after midnight and Antonia will even drive you home afterwards. It is part of the slow food movement and I can't remember what we paid (think it ws around 25-30 euro's per head) but it felt like a bargain compared to what you would pay for a similiar meal anywhere else in the world.

Enjoy Porto, it is a very beautiful and relaxed City.

Best wishes

Spacehopper

Eurostar das Artes it's really nice. Cozy, nicely situated close to the center (walking distance) and quiet surroundings. I've been there and recommend it.
Besides that one you have some other choices nearby - (www.hoteisfenix.com) (http://hoteis.hotelopia.pt/portugal/porto/hotel-internacional-porto.html) (http://www.vilagale.pt/pages/hoteis/?hotel=9) (http://www.hotelmalaposta.com/index.htm)
or a little bit further you have lots of them around Boavista Avenue.
Opposite to the center (but still Porto) you have (http://www.mercure.com/mercure/fichehotel/gb/mer/1975/fiche_hotel.shtml)
and a charming hotel in Rua Sta Catarina (http://www.grandehotelporto.com/)
Another charming hotel in Ribeira with best views (http://www.pestana.com/hotels/pt/hotels/europe/OportoHotels/Porto/Home/)

By the way spacehopper -I've never been to Casa Mariazinha but it seems I've been missing something. Do you know some other "slow food" restaurants in Portugal?
I would like to try.

Cheers

Hello A2 Lopes,

I do not know of any other slow food places in Portugal but you could look at the Portuguese website http://www.slowfood.pt or ask the main Slow Food movemment people at www.slowfood.com, they might be able to help.

Good luck

Best wishes

Spacehopper