The House of Sandeman - Hostel & Suites

This Hotel calls itself a hostel but also has hotel like rooms. It's located in a very old historical building right on the river front so you are right in the heart of Porto's tourist area. Because of its historical status they cannot install a lift and you have to ascend two flights of stairs to get to the reception. However, disabled access is possible via stair lift. Staff are friendly and helpful.

We stayed in a river view suite on the top floor. The property has lots of character with stone and wood decorated in art with a nod to the winery next door. The view from our room was gorgeous. We enjoyed sitting on the terrace with a drink, music, and people watching. There is a common reception, breakfast, happy hour lounge that has an at-home feel. Great location on the winery side of the river just a short and scenic walk over the bridge to Porto.

A great hostel in a good, safe location. The staff are friendly and helpful and dealt with any query thoroughly and with ease. The rooms were good and clean, beds were large and uniquely designed however even though it’s not a bunk bed, the beds are still connected so when someone near you is making repeated shakey movements, you can still feel it, but my sleep wasn’t disturbed by this especially since the beds itself was very comfortable. I really liked that the lockers were outside the room which means you can drop or collect stuff without disturbing the other guests. The breakfast is a simple buffet style breakfast with fresh items like omelettes made to order, you can eat with a gorgeous view. There is also 24/7 water and luggage storage available. Overall it was a lovely stay.

I loved this hotel’s decor, amenities, cleanliness, breakfast, rooms, location, customer service. It looks just like the pictures. They provide a towel, shampoo/bodywash, they clean all areas daily. Beds have privacy. Big restrooms and plenty. I stayed at a 14 all women room. They had 4 full restrooms, lockers all separated from sleeping area. Breakfast is included, varied and deli. Pictures provided are true to reality. Great customer service, they do have a place for you to store luggage if needed. Location is perfect, close to everything interesting by waking. Beware, do not buy a bus/subway card, it really is not needed.

I genuinely enjoyed my stay at House of Sandeman, but the experience was overshadowed by the theft of my jewellery and how the situation was handled. I left with the sense that my concerns weren’t taken seriously by management, which was disappointing. Here’s my breakdown: Rooms: I stayed in the 7-bed mixed dorm. The room was spacious, the bed was comfortable, and the bathrooms were clean with hairdryers, shower gel, and towels (with a 10 euro cash deposit). Only lockers provided are digital. One issue is the room door, which doesn’t close properly unless pulled firmly, risking security if no one double-checks. Location: Excellent. Beautiful views and a 10-minute walk to the city centre. Service: The staff I spoke to were kind and empathetic, but the manager’s response to the theft was disappointing. I felt the handling lacked seriousness and accountability. Theft Incident: On 14 July, I returned from the beach to find all my jewellery, worth around €500, missing from my digital locker. I reported this to the manager, who inspected the scene. It was the first such case for the hostel and for me, yet the manager immediately suggested I must have failed to lock it properly. I was confident I had, but that seemed to be the end of the discussion. Their only solution was to move me to another dorm, which didn’t address the loss or the breach in security. The next day, I found out that another room had lockers opened in the same way, though nothing was stolen there. I asked if the CCTV would be reviewed. I was told yes, and that I would be updated. I went to the police, who asked why the hostel hadn’t contacted them directly, which is a valid question I hadn’t considered, but something I believe the hostel should have handled. When I checked out on 16 July, there was still no update on the CCTV. Staff promised to email me, but as of 22 July, I have yet to hear anything. Overall, I’m disappointed not just by the loss of my belongings, but by the lack of clear communication and resolution. There was no apology from the manager, and no accountability taken. I’d advise the hostel to review its security measures and guest support protocols. Even if this was a first for them, the minimum they could do is follow up and keep affected guests informed. That alone would show a basic level of care.

We had a wonderful time at Sandeman’s. Everything was absolutely perfect. The staff was SO FRIENDLY and accommodating, the breakfast was varied (eggs, cereals, fruit, ham, cheese, pancakes, etc) and delicious. The building is beautiful and historical. The dining room overlooks the river and feels very cosy.. You can stay in a dorm or in a private room. We chose one (number 12) overlooking the river and we couldn’t have been more pleased. I highly recommend this place.

Amazing hostel on the river with fantastic views and a short walk to Porto's touristic center aswell as being right next to all the oldest and best Port Wine Cellars. Very good value for price aswell as I was very confortable and in general had a great time. Highly recommend.

Great place to stay. Very clean and a great atmosphere with brilliant original art work. Very comfortable beds. Nice breakfast with a good choice. The record player in the room is a nice touch.

I booked this hostel for my second accommodation in the Porto region and boy am I glad I did . It wasn't that the other hostel was bad but this hostel was a bit cheaper and has one of the most amazing locations . Located right on the Douro river you have one of the best views of the region right from the lobby , the terrace outside and even some of the private rooms . Also booking a night here in any accommodation comes with free breakfast ( such a fan of their baked apples with cinnamon which is amazing in a bowl of special K / cornflakes btw ) and their Tomato salad with rosemary and feta with toasted break and butter . l was also a fan of as their welcome drink ( port and tonic ) which is delicious! Great value ! **Update** Updating my review after one full night here and reducing the score from a five to three stars . While again the location is great This hostel also has a very weird policy that prohibits guests from preparing their food in the morning because they have a breakfast service . While it is cool they offer a free breakfast it does not include certain items like eggs etc and even if you have a special diet and or you have your own food you are not allowed to use the kitchen until noon . After being yelled at by an older Portuguese woman that the kitchen was closed I confirmed after speaking with one of the staff that one would literally have to wake up and use the kitchen at 5 am if you had special dietary needs and could not eat what was being offered . In summary - Location is a 5 Cleanliness 5 ( I love how even in the dorms they will make your bed for you everyday like when you stay at a hotel ) Accessibility- ( for guest with special dietary needs or in need of additional services due to a disability ) 2.75 Customer Service also is an average 3.5 ( based on morning staff interactions the morning after ..which initially lowered my rating from a 5 to a 2 the my first morning at the hostel but the staff have been trying their best the following days ( like remembering what I can't eat and trying to modify my plate to accommodate my diet so I am raising their score ) ( overall I give this place 4.2 out of 5 stars and would recommend if you are staying in the porto region )

We stayed at the House of Sandeman as a hotel room. They also offer a hostel as well. Our room was spacious, immaculately clean and beyond our expectations. Views from our room overlooked Porto and the Douro river. Wide plank wood floors and rustic beans demonstrate and highlight the beauty of this historic building. Our bed was spectacularly comfortable. The staff were polite, informative and professional. The included breakfast was an amazing spread of coffee, tea, fruits, cereal, vegetables, yogurt and various breads & sweets. All included with the room or hostel stay. Be advised there are many sets of stairs within this property and even some in the hotel room. I would absolutely stay here again! Beyond what we had hoped for & definitely one of the most scenic places I've ever stayed.

The Staff were very helpful in showing me around. You get a welcome drink your first night. I stayed 2 nights. The hostel had its own winery right next door. Super easy to set up a tour. The perfect view right across from Sandeman. The rooms were clean and I liked the private bathroom set up. I stayed in a 8bed bunk. The coolest part had to be the beds made out of wine barrel outlines! Close to some bars & a strip of restaurants.