Hotel Infante Sagres

My partner and I stayed here for the Porto portion of our Portugal trip, and Hospes Infante Sagres did not disappoint. We were made to feel welcome from the moment we arrived. The first and second floors feel like a dream, and are so meticulously decorated while still being comfortable and inviting. We agreed that the included breakfast was the best complimentary breakfast we had ever had. We were sad to find that this Hospes location does not have a spa, but we are just further motivated now to stay at a Hospes property with a spa in the future. We can't recommend this hotel enough! Our one note of criticism is that you could skip Scarlett, the hotel restaurant - if you're the unadventurous business traveler and just want a cheeseburger, then fine, but otherwise there are more interesting and tasty places to eat in the city proper.

SO LOUD WE WERE UP ALL NIGHT. This hotel would be fine if you came to look at it but you’re there to SLEEP. It was as if the windows were opened but they were not. There was noise from outside all night. WE DID NOT SLEEP. As an aside the bathroom is so dark you can’t see to shave or do your makeup. Find another hotel!!!!

This hotel claims to be 5-star, but unfortunately, the service we received did not meet that standard. We arrived at 10 a.m. and were told our room would only be ready at 3 p.m.—which is understandable. However, there was no effort to make us feel welcome in the meantime. No offer of coffee, no lounge area suggested, and no alternatives provided for how we might spend the time. I also asked for a concierge, since that’s something one would expect at a true 5-star property. I was told there was no concierge available, but that a staff member would assist me instead. When I briefly stepped away, she left to run errands, leaving me unattended. Although she did apologize when she returned, this type of service is not consistent with what I expect from a luxury hotel. Overall, the experience fell short of the level of professionalism and hospitality a 5-star hotel should provide.

I have to be honest — this hotel did not meet 5-star expectations at all. I would rate my stay 1 star. Upon arrival, I was surprised to find there is not only no valet service, but also no parking at all. I had to leave my car in a public parking lot nearby. The welcome was polite, but my room wasn’t ready, and although they said they would call me when it was, I never received a call. I requested an ironing board for a dinner I had planned, but they had none available and promised to have my clothes ironed. Later, they called to say they didn’t have staff available, so I had to go to a friend’s hotel to iron my clothes. The fruit-infused water in the lobby was left half empty with no glasses. To make things worse, they even tried to charge me again for a night I had already paid, blaming it on a system error. At check-out, there was only one staff member handling the process, which made even a simple check-out unnecessarily slow. This was my last stop after wonderful experiences at Quinta da Pacheca and Casa da Calçada, which were both unforgettable 5-star stays. Ending the trip here left a very bitter taste. If you are traveling through Portugal, I strongly recommend choosing Casa da Calçada and Quinta da Pacheca instead — they truly deliver the exceptional service and memorable experiences you’d expect.

Step through the doors of Hospes Infante Sagres Porto and you are transported into another world — Portugal of the 1950s, preserved in style, service, and atmosphere. I stayed here with my eighty-five-year-old mother and my five-year-old son, and it was a stay we will always remember. My eighty-five-year-old mother has spent her life traveling as a frequent Cunard world cruiser. She has stayed in some of the most celebrated hotels on earth — Raffles in Phnom Penh, the Waldorf Astoria in New York, Ashford Castle in Ireland, the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, the Claremont Club in Berkeley, The Savoy in London, the Sofitel Dalat Palace in Vietnam, the Metropole in Hanoi, the Hassler in Rome, the Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe, and even the classic Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite. She knows true five-star service when she sees it — and Hospes Infante Sagres Porto stands comfortably alongside these icons. Porto outside the doors of the hotel is alive with steep hills, tight streets, cars, and constant movement. It is thrilling, but it wears on you. Inside this hotel, everything slows down. The front desk host welcomed us with a smooth, unhurried check-in and a glass of port wine. The bellman carried himself with quiet professionalism, and the restaurant team treated us like valued guests at every meal. Our room was spotless, the air conditioning worked perfectly (essential when traveling in Southern Europe), and anything we requested — towels, blankets — arrived in minutes. The courtyard restaurant served fresh oysters and excellent dishes, and it was also an easy, comfortable place for a five-year-old. The pool and patio became our quiet retreat after the city. Hospes Infante Sagres Porto captures Porto perfectly — the energy and movement outside, and the calm and comfort within. You feel the history here, and the location puts you in the middle of everything. It is an oasis in the heart of the city, and if you do not stay here, you are missing the essence of Porto.