PORTO has always been on my bucket list of places to see, with the city’s beauty protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site and with its love affair with world-class food and drink, I didn’t have to be asked twice when I got offered to visit it.
Even though I arrived in mid-November, it was still gloriously sunny, with clear blue skies and temperatures at a delightful 20 degrees.
The Yeatman Hotel was where I was staying for four nights. Nestled on the hills in Vila Nova de Gaia, just across the river from Porto itself, I knew I was in for a treat at the 5-star luxury hotel. I didn’t realise how much of a treat I was actually in for.
The hotel is known not just in Portugal, but internationally, for its sheer grandeur as a luxury hotel, but also a top-class destination for any and all wine lovers.
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Surrounded by world-famous port cellars like Taylor’s and Fonseca, The Yeatman blends seamlessly into the hillside with its 109 rooms cascading down to the culture district, mimicking the vineyards in Douro.
The hotel itself oozes class and has all the fine finishes and touches you’d expect from a destination like it. However, one of its greatest assets is simply the view of Porto across the water. Simply breathtaking.
My room was spacious and luxurious with its own terrace with the most spectacular view of the city, and had fun little finishes from my “producer”. Each room has a wine partner from Portugal who adds their own finishing touches.
The hotel has two incredible restaurants, The Orangerie and the Gastronomic, which are both overseen by their immensely talented two Michelin Star chef.
The Orangerie is where I was lucky enough to have my dinner on the first night. The hotel prides itself on its indulgence of world-class food and drink, and it is exactly what I was served.
I had some of the most mouth-watering seafood I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating, including buttery langoustine, salty octopus, and the freshest sea bass I’ve ever tasted. All washed down with an excellent array of white wine and, of course, some Taylor’s port.
The hotel is linked to the World of Wine (WOW) cultural district, which is a less than five-minute walk from The Yeatman, and is a 55,000 square meter area which echoes a traditional European town square.
Built on the site of former Taylor port warehouses, the complex has managed to preserve much of the original structures, so that it is in keeping with Porto’s historical look. It has also managed to simultaneously create a modern area full of incredible restaurants, state-of-the-art museums, and other visitor attractions.
I was quick to realise WOW was not just an acronym, it is what you’ll find yourself thinking throughout your visit.
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With a jam-packed itinerary, I was lucky enough to get whirlwind tours, and I mean whirlwind as there is so much to see and do that you could easily spend a day at each attraction, of most of the visitor experiences.
I visited three, yes three, museums which ranged from the history of cups through drinking-related artefacts, The Art of Drinking, to learning all about how the cork industry, which Portugal is the world's leading supplier, generating around half of all cork, is vital to the country’s economy and cultural identity at Planet Cork.
The Porto Region Across the Ages also gives an in-depth telling of the city’s fascinating and rich history. I also found it really endearing that WOW works with local schools to help teach school children about their city’s history and heritage through its attractions.
My main takeaway was just how incredibly well thought-out all the attractions were, as they truly were state-of-the-art. They ranged from highly interactive elements, to film screenings which would rival any IMAX, to detailed models, to scales which included even entire streets!
As the name suggests, it was without a good amount of space dedicated to wine.
There is even a dedicated Wine School, where professional qualifications can be gained, and the public can also book tastings.
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I will admit, I was worried at first about how “snobby” it could be, as someone who enjoys wine but isn’t particularly knowledgeable. I could not be any more wrong.
Our host, Diego, was attentive, knowledgeable, and had an infectious passion, which really made the whole experience fun. I also came away feeling that I had learned a great deal, and, for example, had a newfound appreciation for white sparkling wine from Braga.
Among other highlights was the Chocolate Experience, which is another informative attraction, mixed in with some Willy Wonka magic. There was also the Pink Palace, which is a fun celebration of Rose wine with many great photo opportunities, from a pink bubbly ball pit to a real pink Cadillac.
WOW also has some travelling exhibitions. I was just so lucky to be visiting the same time they were hosting BrickWorld, a Lego exhibition. It was easily one of my favourite experiences, as local “brick artists” had made some of Porto’s best-known landmarks out of Lego in what was quite an impressive feat.
Throughout the trip, I was fed and watered at some of the best restaurants I have been lucky enough to visit abroad. At WOW, there’s a full spectrum of cuisine on offer, ranging from seafood at the Golden Catch to more traditional Portuguese meals at T&C. It was there that I had Porto’s famous francesinha, a hearty sandwich full of meat, covered in cheese, and drenched in a rich spicy beer and tomato sauce.
The civil war-themed 1828 steak house was another highlight, as it offered an incredible tasting menu paired with equally incredible wine.
Somehow, amid a full schedule, I was able to visit Porto’s city centre, which is a short walk over the bridge from WOW, where I spent a few hours getting lost and exploring its wonderful historic streets.
Although it felt like a densely packed city, almost akin to the likes of Edinburgh, by the end of my exploring, I felt like I had barely scratched the surface of what it offers.
I left with a full heart and an even fuller stomach, thanks to Porto. A gorgeous city. which is just crying out to be explored, and I was lucky enough to have experienced it through the glass of one of Europe’s top wine destinations. Saúde!
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