Casa do Conto
Stories carved in concrete
Up-and-coming Cedofeita
Porto’s Casa do Conto or ‘house of tales’ certainly has enough to tell: writings from famed typographers are etched into its ceilings, and a whole new style language after years of renovations, following a fire that gutted the building. What rose again was a six-bedroom city escape with Azulejo-tiled exteriors hinting at its former bourgeoisie building, but starkly stylish Brutalist interiors in muted tones and burnished concrete – a look that reflects the city’s modern mindset, even if you are in the historic centre. Modish interiors aren’t the only thing for art-fiends to feed on – the hotel hosts exhibitions where local talents can display their work. Just one of the ways in which the Casa’s penning a whole new story.
Facilities
Rooms
Six suites.
Checkout
Noon, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 3pm.
More Details
Rates include a Continental breakfast and eggs however you like ‘em.
Also
Unfortunately the hotel’s build makes it unsuitable for anyone with mobility issues.
Free Internet Access
At the Hotel
Lounge with free coffee, library, garden, and free WiFi throughout. In rooms: TV, tea-making kit, minibar, bathrobes, slippers, free bottled water, and Castelbel bath products. The AD and AT suites also have small kitchenettes.
Our Favourite Rooms
All rooms at Casa do Conto have a similar industrial feel, and each has its own tale of Porto’s past, written by six local authors (Filipa Leal, Álvaro Domingues, Jorge Figueira, André Tavares, Pedro Bandeira and Nuno Grande), engraved into the concrete ceilings. But the Suite Residence NG is a favourite for its third-floor views of Porto’s terracotta rooftops from the balcony; decor might be stark and simplistic (in elegant fashion), but the space is flooded with sunlight. The hotel only offers breakfast, so if you’d rather spend evenings in, opt for the AD and AT suites, which both have kitchenettes.
Poolside
There's no pool, but you're welcome to take a dip in Tipografia's pool – Casa do Conto's sister hotel, a five-minute walk away.
Packing Tips
Bring a good pair of shoes and plenty of stamina – you’ll need it for both climbing hilly streets and sipping leagues of port.
Also
Each room name is followed by a set of initials that pay homage to the six authors who wrote the stories etched into the suites’ ceilings.
Children
Little Smiths are welcome, but there isn’t much to keep them entertained at the hotel.
Gallery
Food & Drink
Top Table
Go alfresco and hang out the hotel’s small gardens, or on your balcony if you’re staying in the Suite Residence NG.
Dress Code
A bare-minimal look to blend coolly into the Brutalist interiors.
Hotel Restaurant
There’s no formal restaurant at Casa do Conto, but a breakfast of fresh pastries and fruit, crepes, yoghurts and eggs is served in the lounge, and staff at reception are more than happy to help with booking tables at nearby restaurants for lunch and dinner. If you’d rather stay in, the AD and AT suites have their own kitchenettes.
Hotel Bar
The hotel doesn’t have a bar, but you can make use of the champagne, wines and cervejas in your minibar. Plenty of watering-holes surround the hotel too, ask reception staff nicely and they’ll let you in on their favourites.
Last Orders
Breakfast is available from 8am till 11am on the first floor.
Room Service
There’s no room service at the hotel, but some suites have small kitchenettes for in-suite dining.
Planes
Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, a 20-minute drive from the hotel, has good direct links throughout Europe, North Africa and the Americas; private transfers can be arranged for €30 each way.
Trains
The E-line train to Porto’s main Trindade station takes you straight from the airport to the hotel’s nearest station, Carolina Michaëlis, a five-minute walk away.
Automobiles
A set of wheels isn’t necessary here, as public transport and taxis are so efficient; but if you’re planning on exploring further afield, there are a number of rental booths at the airport.
Worth Getting Out of Bed For
Take a self-guided tour of the hotel’s head-turning artwork, and if you want to see more beyond the Casa do Conto’s confines, Serralves Museum and Ó! Galleria both have impressive shows on throughout the year. Oenophiles might get more of a buzz exploring the Port Wine Museum, or spending the day wine tasting at Graham’s Port Lodge, a sustainable family-run vineyard that’s turned out top tipples for more than 200 years. Adventurous sorts can ride over the Douro River in a Gaia Cable Car and swim along the coast at Leça da Palmeira's Piscina de Marés. Or tune into the city’s musical past at the Casa da Música.
Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt
This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .
