In a vintage port wine house and cellar that remains in operation today, Tivoli Kopke Porto Gaia Hotel has made quite a big impression since opening only a few months ago. Along the Gaia side of the river, the panoramas from the hotel are second to none, and the focus on immersing guests into the local wine culture adds extra appeal to a stay here. Kopke is the oldest port wine house in the country, but the hotel that now takes up much of its original location is impressively modern. These are five of the best reasons to stay here during your next visit to Porto.
The setting
This is still a working wine cellar with the hotel taking up buildings that once housed the offices. Windows from some of the guest room hallways peer into the wine storage areas. There will soon be a tasting room open to the public, and the wine cellars will also be available to host special events.
Almost all rooms have some sort of lovely view towards the river, city and pool gardens. The layout of the building has the lobby on one of the top floors with guest room accommodations in different buildings on lower levels.
A garden passageway takes guests down through the hotel gardens to a special gate that leads to the waterfront. This is the only hotel to offer such convenience. If you have stayed in other parts of Porto, the city’s famous hills can be tough to navigate on the way back up. At Tivoli, guests have a shortcut to the waterfront.
The rooms
Minimalist style and elegant furnishings mark all guest rooms. Some have soaring ceilings, and the concrete floor is softened by beautiful area rugs. These riverview rooms are part of the original wine cellar. Wide desks and plush armchairs sit in one corner.
The beds are enormous and come with extra-large pillows and a pillowtop mattress with a thick duvet. Power outlets are conveniently placed on either side of the bed.
Open-plan bathrooms have excellent lighting, water closets, glass shower stalls with natural light and towels on warming rails. Tivoli’s signature line of toiletry products comes in large pump bottle on the vanity. Tivoli often includes extra goodies for guests like lip balm and turndown service with chocolates and bottles of water.
The rooftop
If you have visited other Tivolis, like its famous sibling in Lisbon, the rooftop bar and lounge are huge draws for both guests and locals. The Porto Sky Bar is no different. It has a menu of colorful cocktails, local wine and port, beer and mocktails. During our visit, it was preparing to open for the first time and will regularly feature live music.
The cocktail menu here complements what is available in the lobby lounge, which is also home to the hotel’s signature fine dining room, 1638 Restaurant and Wine Bar by Nacho Manzano, a three-starred Michelin chef.
Port wine is not just a traditional dessert wine, but something that can be enjoyed with a meal, too. Among the growing list of cocktails that use port is a delicious mix of white port wine with tonic water or club soda for a refreshing summertime sip (similar to an Aperol Spritz). If you are interested in exploring more about the local wine culture as well as fashion, cuisine and even the famous cork production, the World of Wine experience is a short walk from the hotel.
The food
Three meals a day are available in the main dining room, which starts with an impressive breakfast buffet. Fresh juices, salads, pastries and Portuguese cheeses are on display with a separate menu of made-to-order breakfast entrees.
Also impressive is the array of gluten-free and vegetarian options for travelers. From this vantage point, the views of Porto are front and center for diners.
On Manzano’s menu is a heavily Iberian selection of elegant light bites and heartier meals, designed to pair with its impressive wine and port wine list. Dishes will include delicacies like Iberico ham, smoked cod fish and caviar, and many will feature a modern take on traditional recipes from Portugal and Spain.
The spa
Come here for pampering, and you won’t be disappointed. Wrapped in windows overlooking the city across the Douro River, the spa here is truly something special. A mix of massage and beauty treatments are on offer, and of course, wine, grapes and cork are woven into the experience. The spa has even developed its own blanket of dozens of corks woven together and is part of the signature massage experience here. It is one of a kind.
Before or after a treatment, guests can take a dip in the outdoor swimming pool, heated for year-round enjoyment. Inside, the hydrotherapy circuit includes a barrage of massaging jets and currents to work the kinks out after a long flight.
A steam room and sauna (with more windows) are also on offer. The spa facilities are not just for those having a treatment, and any guest can come to enjoy them. A menu of energy drinks and special coffee with ashwagandha root are available.
The gym also has walls of windows where guests can work out using modern equipment or even take digital exercise classes on a large screen. But, the best motivation for working out here (besides the delicious port wine) is the epic views from almost every part of this luxury hotel.
