During a trip to Portugal, one of the cities that I ventured into was Porto. Porto is a city that, if you are planning to visit Portugal, needs to be on your itinerary. It’s a very walkable city that is filled with history, great food, and so many amazing things to do. While staying in Porto, we wanted to make sure that the place that we were staying was central to everything that we wanted to do, and provided us the feeling of a home away from home with the amenities and comfort that goes beyond the standard which is why we chose Casa da Companhia.
While planning, I discovered the Casa da Companhia – a Vignette Collection hotel that is part of the overall IHG Hotels & Resorts & Resorts group. I have stayed at various IHG Hotels & Resorts & Resorts around the US, such as on a recent trip to New York during NYFW, so I was excited to find the property because I knew that not only was I going to get a luxury stay, but I was also going to be staying at a hotel that provides unique experiences during the stay. In this post, I’ll be sharing my full review of my stay at the Casa da Companhia in Porto, Portugal.
A REVIEW OF CASA DA COMPANHIA
Casa da Companhia (translating to the House of the Company) was originally constructed in the 18th century and served as the headquarters of an influential agricultural company responsible for the production and trade of Port wine – and for those who don’t know, Port wine is what Porto is known for. The building itself blends the architecture style of Baroque and Neoclassical influences which is seen in the stonework, elegant balconies, and the overall original grandeur. Upon stepping into the hotel, you’ll walk into an marvelous entryway where you’ll immediately see the style of the 18th century come to life in a modern way.
The Location OF CASA DA COMPANHIA
Casa da Companhia is located on Rua da Flores – a street right in the heart of Porto, Portugal that is central to almost everything. The location made it very easy for us to navigate around Porto and walk to all of the iconic landmarks and historical sites that we wanted to explore. Within walking distance from the hotel, you’ll find the Sao Bento train station, the Clerigos Tower, and the Ribera district along the Douro River where you can take a relaxing boat tour.
The Rooms IN CASA DA COMPANHIA
Within the hotel, you’ll find an array of exquisite rooms and suites built to make every guest feel as if they are staying in a modern, luxury room that they won’t want to leave. For our stay, we stayed in a junior suite with a balcony view which I highly recommend booking since the price is just right and the view is one that you’ll love waking up to every morning. There are other suite options that allow for balcony views along with interior views, but the balcony view is one that I recommend since it allows you to step up and be greeted by the marvelous views of Porto each morning.
In each room, you’ll find a comfortable king bed, a spacious double vanity, a separate water closet, rain shower, a mini bar, and plenty of closet space. The room we stayed in for our stay in Porto was plenty room for two women who both had big suitcases and lots of clothes, shoes, and accessories. And as someone who is typically very picky on the bed I sleep on, I will say I slept like a baby. When it was time to go to bed, I climbed right in the bed, got super comfortable, and was able to cast my Netflix to the TV to be able to fall asleep watching one of my favorite shows.
THE Amenities TO EXPECT IN CASA DA COMPANHIA
While staying at Casa da Companhia, we were so happy to find so many amenities that made our stay feel enriched with hospitality. Upon arriving at the hotel , we encountered the hotel’s gracious concierge team that assisted us with an easy check-in that also included a glass of Port wine. The team at the front desk is super knowledgeable, and helped us to find hidden gems to visit, eat, and experience during our stay in Porto. During our stay, we were able to take advantage of both the indoor and outdoor pools, the spa, fitness areas, and the areas to just sit back and relax during our stay.
You’ll also find that Casa da Companhia also has a restaurant and bar right in the hotel. Breakfast, which is included, is held in the bar and restaurant area, along with a seating area right near the elevators, and if you are looking for lunch or dinner, you can head into the gourmet restaurant and indulge in the flavors of Porto.
Unique Experiences OF CASA DA COMPANHIA
During our stay, we were able to experience a memorable ritual that Casa da Companhia hosts twice out of the week, so you are guaranteed to experience it when you are staying at the hotel. Right before dinner, we headed to the lobby area where we learned about the history of Port wine in Porto, learned how to make chocolate truffles, and then took part in the famous Portuguese ritual of opening a bottle of Port wine by fire. It was truly an amazing experience and we enjoyed learning, sipping, and eating right before heading out into Porto.
HOTEL REVIEW SUMMARY
Overall, we enjoyed our stay at Casa da Companhia in Porto, Portugal. It gave us the ability to be right in the center of everything, so we never felt that we had to call a car because everything was in walking distance and anything that wasn’t was easily able to get to using public transit which was less than a few minutes walk from the hotel. And after days of exploring it was great to be able to come back to this hotel and lay our head down in a super luxurious room that was not only stunning to look at but super comfortable to the point where I didn’t want to get out of the bed in the morning.
We were hosted by IHG Hotels & Resorts for our stay at Casa Da Companhia. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make LivingLesh possible.
