Last Updated on September 2, 2022 by Eve Dawes
Which Torel Hotel is Best? Here’s Why We Chose Hotel Torel Palace Porto VS Torel Avantgarde Porto
Torel Palace Porto or Torel Avantgarde Porto Portugal? If you’re wondering where to stay in Porto Portugal or have been searching for the best hotels in Porto, you’re sure to have already come across Torel Boutique Hotels. I used to live in Porto, so knew the areas I wanted to stay that would be the most convenient to get to the things we wanted to see and do. We narrowed it down to Torel Palace Porto and Torel Avantgarde Porto before deciding on Torel Palace. Both are stunning in very different ways but this is why we decided on hotel Torel Palace Porto and my complete review.
This where to stay in Porto Portugal post contains affiliate links.
Best Hotels In Porto Portugal | Torel Palace Porto VS Torel Avantgarde Porto
Let’s be fair, both are absolutely gorgeous and beautifully furnished. My husband and I are both very organized people and had a spreadsheet on the best hotels in Porto Portugal that we were considering. With all of their details so that we could compare them easily. Casa Da Companhia and PortoBay Teatro had also been in the running but got lower ratings on Trip Advisor.
All 4 hotels have the same number of restaurants and bars (1) and come up on most of the best hotels in Porto Portugal lists. However, PortoBay Teatro didn’t have a pool and was only 4 star versus the other 3 which are all 5 star. We took out Casa Da Companhia as it didn’t have as much character or feel as authentic as the others.
Main Features and Differences between Torel Palace Porto and Torel Avantgarde Porto
The big selling point for Torel Avantgarde Porto for us was the outside pool with it’s fabulous views. The big selling point for Torel Palace was it’s more central location and more authentic, luxurious decor.
Here’s some of the main things to know and comparison of Torel Palace Porto vs Torel Avantgarde. Both are 5 star and very similar in price, within a few dollars. They also both have air conditioning (a lot of buildings and some boutique hotels in Europe don’t).
Torel Palace Porto
Newest elegant five-star boutique hotel
- Star rating: 5 star
- Location: Centro/Baixa. 28 min drive Porto airport, 11 min drive Porto Historic Center.
- Opened February 2020 but it was a palace built in 1861.
- Breakfast included
- 1 restaurant & bar ‘Blind’: gastronomic space with an unusual menu.
- 24 rooms and suites
- Outdoor pool in a secluded courtyard
- Central location
- Room size: 269-649 sq ft
- Trip Advisor rating #3
- Wellness spa.
- More historic, elegant and decadent.
- Free wifi, parking available, gym, air conditioning.
- Pets aren’t allowed.
- Cost: Around $1300 for 3 nights for an executive/superior room in July (2022).
- Romantic, quiet and great for couples
Torel Avantgarde Hotel
Five-star art boutique hotel
- Star rating: 5 star
- Location: União de Freguesias do Centro. 24 min drive airport, 8 min drive Porto Historic Center.
- Opened and built in 2017
- Breakfast included
- 1 restaurant & bar ‘Digby’: contemporary Portuguese cuisine.
- 39 rooms and 21 suites (60 total)
- Outdoor pool with views and swim-up bar
- Stunning views
- Room size: 194-753 sq ft
- Trip Advisor rating #3
- Wellness spa.
- More modern and trendy.
- Free wifi, parking available, gym, air conditioning.
- Pet friendly.
- Cost: Around $1300 for 3 nights for a superior double room in July (2022).
- Aimed at LGBTQ guests (according to Hotels.com)
Torel Palace Porto Review
Here’s a quick Torel Palace Porto review and tour inside and outside of Torel Palace Porto including our hotel suite, the pool, breakfast and main areas. It’s pretty easy to see why it’s always rated as one of the best hotels in Porto Portugal.
I was really excited for our stay at Torel Palace Porto as it’s very much my vibe and I was just excited to be back in Porto but as a tourist. When I lived there I was a ballerina in the show Amar Amalia. We booked the Superior Double Room for 3 nights which was on the top floor.
The location is very central which was perfect to walking to all of the major sights like Clerigos Tower, Livraria Lello and Palacio Da Bolsa (all about a 5-10 min walk). As well as walking over the Dom Luis 1 bridge to Villa Nova De Gaia for port tastings and sunset dinner.
Torel Palace Porto Decor
The hotel has such beautiful and artistic decor. From the books suspended from the ceilings of the library and reception to the opulent spiral red staircase and stunning domed skylight. The staff were all very helpful and spoke excellent English. The outdoor pool is peaceful, secluded and elegant but not heated.
Extra Features
We arrived to a complimentary bottle of rosé wine waiting for us in the room which was a nice touch. More for me, since my husband doesn’t drink it so I took it down to the daybed by the pool with me.
Some of the features we weren’t expecting was the small balcony our suite had. We were on the top floor and when I say small balcony, it could just fit the smallest table and 2 chairs but it was still a nice feature to have and to sip espresso and wine on.
There’s also the amenities you’d expect like a hairdryer, espresso machine, mini bar, safety deposit box, robes and slippers.
Torel Palace Porto bathroom
Our beautiful black and white marble bathroom didn’t have a bath but it did have a fabulously large shower. The toiletries provided are shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and body lotion which all smell amazing. I can’t speak for the hair products as I always travel with my own.
The other feature was that the entire bathroom ceiling was a skylight which was brilliant for lighting to do my makeup in. There is a curtain that goes across the bathroom door so the room isn’t flooded with light at the crack of dawn.
Breakfast and Dining at Hotel Torel Palace Porto Portugal
Breakfast was outstanding with champagne, an extensive buffet and eggs made to order. Definitely try their mini muffins. The apple, caramel and chocolate were all outstanding and filled. I may have put on a few pounds this trip as the breads and cakes are so good in Portugal.
We didn’t eat at Blind, the hotel restaurant as we prefer to go out and explore the place we are in but it does get excellent reviews. We did stop in for a bed time tea one night though and it was very quiet. The prices even for the tea are expensive by Portuguese standards.
We ate dinner at 3 different places which I recommend for different reasons. I also recommend having dinner in Villa Nova De Gaia along the river as you get the best views of Porto and sunset from that side of the river.
- Escondidinho for authentic Portuguese food (just around the corner from the hotel, 5 min walk max). The mussels were outstanding.
- Uva By Calem right on the river in Villa Nova De Gaia for a romantic dinner indoors with sunset views.
- Theophilu’s Bar in Villa Nova De Gaia for a casual, authentic dinner al fresco with sunset views. Some of the best octopus and garlic spinach I’ve ever had.
Airport transfer to and from Hotel Torel Palace
Both Torel Palace Porto and Torel Avantgarde offer an airport shuttle (available 24 hours) which costs approximately EUR 40 per vehicle one-way. You can take an uber but we has recepetion book us a taxi just to be safe as we knew it’d show up. Uber is in Porto and really affordable.
Have questions?
Feel free to send me a message on Instagram if I missed something in this Torel Palace Porto review that you want to know.
More travel and hotel reviews
Some of our favorite places to stay and visit and things to do in Europe and the Caribbean. As well as some cute and comfortable outfits for traveling.
