Pestana Palácio do Freixo Porto Hotel Review

Recently we spent some time at the Pestana Palácio do Freixo Hotel in Porto, Portugal. The Pestana Palácio do Freixo Hotel is Pousadas de Portugal’s first hotel in the city of Porto, situated on the banks of the Rio Douro and was opened in October 2009.

The Hotel
Situated on the banks of of the Rio Douro, which is named after the famous wine producing region of Portugal, the Pestana Palácio do Freixo Porto consists of 2 separate buildings. The Palace, that features the restaurant, bar and lounges, and the Old Harmony Mill factory which houses a total of 87 rooms of which some overlook the Rio Douro.

Originally constructed in the eighteenth century, under the eye of celebrated Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni, the Palace was commissioned by the Dean of Porto’s Cathedral, D.Jerónimo de Távora e Noronha. Later on the Palace and it’s gardens were sold to the Harmony Company, who then installed a mill next to the Palace before expanding it further in the 1950s and 60s. Inside the palace you will find the hotel restaurant, offering excellent Portuguese cuisine with various seasonal varieties. There is also a separate bar were you can indulge in local wines and ports as well as the finest beer and spirits from around the world.

To help you relax during your stay at the Pestana Palácio do Freixo Porto, there is a modern spa where you can use the Turkish baths, heated pool and sauna as well as a host of massages being available for booking. In the hotel gardens you will find a water fountain centre piece with a large outdoor swimming pool off to the side. Further along the gardens is an old pontoon that sticks out in to the Rio Douro, and has been converted into an outside decking area, perfect for summer evening drinks and food. There is also direct access to the Rio Douro river from the gardens.

All of his is situated just a few kilometres from Guimarães, the European Capital of Culture in 2012, the Campanhã railway station, and just 20 minutes from Porto airport by car. All of this puts the Pestana Palácio do Freixo Porto in a great position for visitors to the fine city of Porto.

Pestana Palácio do Freixo Porto

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The Rooms
The 87 rooms at the Pestana Palácio do Freixo are split into 30 classic rooms, 36 superior rooms, 9 superior deluxe, 5 junior suites and 6 suites with views of the Rio Douro.

The majority of the Classic rooms have views overlooking the magnificent Posada gardens, whilst the Superior and Superior Deluxe rooms overlook the Douro River. The Junior suites and Standard suites have separate living and sleeping areas at approximately 60-70m². The Standard suites overlook the Douro River, with Junior Suites having the corner views.

All the rooms are decorated in an elegant and modern style, and come with the option of either a double bed or twin beds. The Classic, Superior and Superior Deluxe rooms are between 30-43m² in space whilst the Junior and Standard Suites are either 60 or 70m². They all have air conditioning, a flat screen tv, desk and a private safe.

The largest and most impressive suite at the Pestana Palácio do Freixo is the “Suite Nasoni”. Named after the famous architect who designed the Palacio do Freixo, the Suite Nasoni features a separate living room with working areas and a 60m² terrace with fabulous views of the river and the pool. There are also two bathrooms in the suite, one of which is lit by natural light.

Dinning
At the Pestana Palácio do Freix, guests have the option to dine at the “Palatium Restaurant” or the “Nasoni Dining Bar” during their stay. The Palatium Restaurant has space for 80 people, and offers a fine range of traditional Portuguese favourites with a modern take. Many of the specials commonly feature local seafood, whilst offal is also a popular dish commonly found in Portuguese cuisine.

The Nasoni Dining Bar provides guests with a more relaxed environment, offering a more traditional pub/bar style of food while still maintaining a high standard. The Nasoni Dining Bar is also the ideal place to have a relaxing drink, with a great range of drinks on offer including local Port and Gin.

Pestana Palácio do Freixo Porto Dining

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Conclusion
Offering you luxury without compromising on location, The Pestana Palácio do Freixo Porto is a great place to stay whilst exploring the fascinating city of Porto. Comfortable and spacious rooms, offering great food, drinks and service, The Pestana Palácio do Freixo Porto impressed us greatly.