The Yeatman | Porto

Porto is an ever growing hub of remarkable food, even better wine and vibrant city life. For us, one of the highlights of Porto has to be the Yeatman Hotel and Spa. Set amidst the port wine lodges, the hotel rests on a hill overlooking Porto and the Douro River within 7 acres of land… and let’s not forget the indoor and outdoor infinity pools…

For those who don’t know, Porto is a UNESCO World Heritage city whose turbulent history dates back to the 1st century BC when, under Roman rule the city (which was then called Portus Cale, the origins of the name of Portugal) played a vital role in the main trade route between Lisbon and Braga. Over the centuries Porto was invaded by the Germanic Suebi people (between 410 AD and 584 AD), the Visioths (584AD), and the Moors (711 AD) to name a few, until eventually by the 1700s the city had a booming economy and wine was an important – if not vital – part of trade.

To learn more about Porto’s fascinating history visit the Yeatman’s website here.

With panoramic views of the River Douro, ‘The Restaurant’ at the Yeatman is the only restaurant in Porto to hold two Michelin stars. Under the experienced and watchful eye of Chef Ricardo Costa the menu offers imaginative cuisine that combines the flavours of Portugal with contemporary flair. A seasonal tasting menu is available to book which includes 8-10 courses and is available with wine pairing to enhance the experience.

For a more relaxed à la carte dining experience, ‘The Orangerie’ is available for dinner and lunch on Sundays. The restaurant as a terrace so  – weather permitting – you can choose to sit outside. The pool lounge provides guests with a place to stop for a light meal or snack while enjoying the ever spectacular views of the city. Light dishes and sandwiches, or even main dishes for lunch are also served in Dick’s Bar with its wide choice of cocktails, wines and Ports.

The Yeatman has established partnerships with many of Portugal’s finest producers which are involved in The Yeatman’s wine tastings, seminars and wine dinners. As well as being available in the Yeatman’s cellars, partner wineries also sponsor the individually designed bedrooms and suites which provide insight into each winery’s unique history and environment, thus making each room unique.

The Yeatman offers its own wine activities and visits can be arranged to leading vineyards and estates in the Douro Valley, Minho, Dão and Bairrada wine regions, all easily accessible by road. The Yeatman also has a wine shop (located on floor 9), so if there is a particular wine you love and would like to take home you can buy it there.

Breakfast can be eaten on the terrace, while overlooking the stunning city views which are said to be breathtaking. The breakfast menu offers an incredible array of fresh, varied foods which can be adapted to your preference and food intolerances are well catered for, so not matter your style of breakfast there’s something here for you.

The rooms available at the Yeatman are spacious and offer views over the city and gardens, not forgetting each space is individually decorated with artefacts and pictures by a well-known Portugese wine producer. Another fantastic quality about this luxury hotel is that your beloved pet is also welcome and will be very taken care of during your stay, with their own food and water bowl upon arrival. The hotel can accept dogs who weigh up to 20kg and or domestic cats (only 1 per room).

Whilst all of the rooms are amazing in their own right, the creme de la creme has to be the President Suite. The two bedroom suite has its own private pool, its own terrace and garden offering a calm space with breathtaking views of the historic city below. Both bedrooms are lavishly designed, the master bed for example is set inside a large crafted port wine barrel, a fireplace and copper bathtub are perfect for unwinding and a telescope is also in the room to view the skyline night and day.

The hotel also has an exquisite Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa where guests can enjoy a range of facial and body treatments which are based on natural ingredients, some of which use exclusive skincare products and therapies using extracts from the vine…

Guests also have access to two panoramic infinity pools which are surrounded by gardens and it has amazing city views from its terrace. The Yeatman also has an indoor pool, a gym with a personal trainer that can provide a range of fitness and exercise programmes as well as useful advice. The indoor pool has direct access to the spa, and it features a post treatment relaxation area.

The spa offers treatments that include around 4 different facials which are around £105 each, a barrel bath with red wine extract which is around £70 per person and there are also around 5 different types of wraps at around £70 – £90 per person. However if you prefer an all day affair, there are also spa packages you book, or you can just chill by the pool and look at the stunning views with a drink or two. For more information on the spa visit the website here.

As you can expect, Porto is bursting with cultural experiences from the Serralves museum, to the ‘worlds most beautiful book shop’ (as rated by the Guardian) Lello bookshop, enjoy a wine tasting or watch a game of football as the Dragao stadium – whatever you enjoy as part of a city break Porto definitely has it all. For a list of exciting things to do click here, or for more information about the hotel visit the website here.

Images, The Yeatman