Na Travessa Suites

Perched within a classical row of Porto styled bourgeois townhouses sits the Na Travessa Suites, a design guesthouse-hotel set between the landmark Sé (cathedral), the Pillory of Porto, the downtown district of São Bento and the old town’s terracotta-tiled roofs that layer upwards from the Douro River. Na Travessa pleasingly resides almost incognito amongst its neighbours, it is unassuming, familiar and reveals little about the poetic architectural features within. A building stripped bare to its core bones, preserved and loved, the bijou casa has been completely reconceived in a calmingly simple design narrative; a duality of heritage wrapped within a modern edit. The eight-roomed Na Travessa Suites is perfect for those style-savvy, independent travellers who appreciate salvaged allure, clean elegant lines, the personal touch and smooth, easy-on-the-eye interior of timbers, hammered concrete, pistachio and peachy pinks and aged stone lintels.

This mod-heritage mash-up is the work of DEPA Architects based in the UNESCO city of Porto.  Through archaeological analysis, it was discovered that the house dated to the mid-19^th century and was once a foundry; it was then the job of architect Luís Sobral to reinvent Na Travessa’s structural heritage features for the contemporary palate, blending old and new in a luxe co-existing combo that works with accomplishment.

Completed in 2021, serenity headlines the interiors; wooden beams contrast harmoniously with concrete flooring, chunky historic stone portals frame vast floor-to-ceiling windows, which overlook a modern, zen-like courtyard. A pared-back minimalist aesthetic reigns, created with wood and stone in soothing tones – pistachio, tawny browns and caramels which swathe window frames, mid-century seating and cupboard doors. A clever high-reaching atrium floods the ground floor with natural light, from which beautiful minimalist steps in metal skirt around the walls leading up to the guest rooms.

Cheek-to-jowl with its neighbours, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Na Travessa is the hideaway hub for those in the know and its clean and chic interior speaks to discerning visitors who take pleasure in cool, calm interiors. By contrast owners Pedro and Mariana are cheerful, effervescent types, keen to show you their world. It takes guts and vision to turn tradition on its head and with their steadfast commitment to the building’s architectural core, the payoff is a wondrous synergy of style and weighty architectural substance.

So, not only do you have your style-central respite from buzzy Porto but you also have Pedro and Mariana’s little black book of contacts that will open doors to insider experiences in the city that most tourists don’t even get close to. Your oh-so-cool entry point into Porto starts here.

This guesthouse-hotel of covetable design has just eight rooms, which have bijou balconies and alluring views over the old town’s red roofs. Within the bedrooms, the types differ from standard to superior plus, which really just comes down to size, as all of the rooms are furnished to a simple yet stylish level with beamed ceilings, wooden floors and bathrooms that come with rain showers.

Extremely liveable, the bedrooms are tranquil fuss-free nests, a place to sit back and relax after a day exploring the cobbled streets of Porto. Open up the shuttered windows though – and Porto comes back into focus, beautifully framed vistas of the city – perhaps the Se cathedral, the São Sebastião market or the Clérigos chuch tower that punctuates the skyline.

With Porto’s widely acclaimed upscale and experimental foodie scene on your doorstep, Na Travessa decided to let the city do the talking when it came to dining. But you will get a lovely breakfast here, laid out on the long wooden table on the ground floor and on little tables overlooking the courtyard.

Fresh orange juice, buttery pastries, hams, salami, cheeses and fresh fruit decorate the scene, lining you up for the day – perhaps tasting port or Douro wines, walking along the waterfront, heading to the beach or simply wandering in and around the warren-like cobbled streets.

Pretty Porto sits entwined with the river Douro which becomes the focus of many a stay here. The waterfront lined with restaurants and bars is a good spot to soak up the scene, equally cross the Dom Luís I Bridge, designed by Gustav Eiffel to catch the most amazing sunsets and views over the river from the sun trap Jardim do Morro.

Na Travessa itself is located between the Sé cathedral and São Bento Station in the historic heart of Porto, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1996. From here wander the narrow streets, to find your fun in tiny bars to Michelin-starred restaurants helmed by the likes of Pedro Lemos and Ricardo Costa. Stop at port houses to try the city’s namesake at Graham’s and Taylor’s amongst numerous others. Further afield take the meandering river east to discover one of the world’s oldest wine-making regions – the Douro. Taking the road west brings you to the lovely beaches and bracing Atlantic waters of the coastline.