Torel Avantgarde

I’d give 6 Stars if I could! From start to finish it was an amazing experience and an unexpected one that we never would have had, had AirBnB not ROYALLY screwed up! From the moment we checked in André and Danielly at the front desk made sure the experience was memorable! An upgraded room with an amazing view of Porto, a tour of the property, André even helped us book a top tier Port wine tasting at Ferreira! Then there was the food! Breakfast was included in our stay. This wasn’t a cheap Motel 6 continental breakfast, this was a SPREAD! Mimosas you name it! And dinner?! My GODS the Arroz De Pato was DIVINE! Concierge, wait staff EVERYONE was friendly and provided top notch service giving great local recommendations and even helping us refine our Portuguese! This will be our spot from now on when we are in Porto!!

This is a small boutique hotel with quick access by foot or short car ride to lots of great restaurants and activities in Porto. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and VERY proud of their hotel - they like to walk you through the hotel in detail in addition to the usual explanation of your room and its features. Each room is uniquely themed/decorated. The rooms are a bit on the small side, and we were upgraded to the "Charlie Chaplin" room after our first night - this room has black painted walls so it is VERY dark even with all the lights on and the curtains opened in the middle of the day. In addition to the lack of lighting, some issues with the bathroom design in particular the water closet door was too short and had a hole instead of a knob so privacy is an issue. This room is also next to the kitchen so it was noisy at bedtime when they're cleaning up after dinner. I would not recommend this particular room. The suites have a 2nd room with a large bathtub and the hotel will prepare you a bath at your convenience. Great views of the river looking out of the rooms.|The hotel only has one restaurant, but it is very good. The breakfast buffet was far better than other hotels I've stayed at in Europe. It has the same menu for lunch & dinner, and the same great view as the rooms.

This review is long overdue but my pleasure to write it. My wife and I stayed here for 3 nights in the Charlie Chaplin room at the mid-November during our two week vacation. The hotel and staff were by far the best experience we had out of all our stays. Everyone at the hotel was extremely attentive and helpful. Érica Oliveira was the consummate host and she truly understands the meaning of 5 Star. Everyone, from the doorman, to the bartender, and chef with the breakfast crew were exceptional. Which is also the word I would use to describe the breakfast arrangements- Exceptional! We are not typically breakfast people but we would not miss waking up early enough to dine here in the morning. The food, service and view never failed. We also booked some spa services in the hotel that proved to be the perfect afternoon treatment to relax between a day of touring the beautiful city of Porto and getting ready for an evening out. I can write so much more, but I will end with saying that my wife and I were truly grateful for the experience, and will not hesitate to stay here again when we return. Thank you all, Drew

This is a gorgeous luxury boutique hotel that has amazing service and even more amazing views! The food at the restaurant was great( I had breakfast and dinner). They pay attention to details and go above and beyond to ensure you have a great stay. I received such a beautiful handwritten note and complementary bottle of wine along with fruit and chocolate for my birthday. The staff was so kind and you can tell they all love what they do. They have a wonderful relaxing spa on site that I highly recommend trying. I was beyond happy to spend a few nights here and definitely will be back. Thank you for everything Danielly, Junior, Hev, Rosalina, and the rest of the awesome staff at Torel Avantgarde.

Atmosphere and cleanliness were awesome and our suites were warm and inviting with all your basic amenities. |The staff was truly amazing, attentive and so nice and eager to assist. |Location was an easy, inexpensive ($4), ten minute “bolt” ride from most town hot spots. |The price for our stay in January was a great value and the included buffet breakfast wonderful. |I would highly recommend. |If we had one complaint it was that the indoor pool air and water temperature were not warm enough to use comfortably

After a wonderful two-night stay at the sister property, Torel Quinta da Vacaria, I transitioned to Torel Avantgarde. I had been weighing this option against the Torel Palace right up until the last minute, but the photographs of the sweeping, panoramic vistas ultimately won me over. Simply put, this hotel is defined by its view—and that view truly forgives almost all of its shortcomings. The valet and bell service across the board is highly commendable. The valet parking, at €30 per day, is a masterclass in efficiency. Despite the hotel's notoriously narrow entrance, the staff handled unlimited drop-offs and pick-ups seamlessly, even having our car pulled out and waiting for us prior to checkout. The location is excellent for walking, and the nearby park makes it a fantastic choice if you are traveling with a dog (the pet fee is €65 per day). We booked two rooms, which are spread across two buildings and uniquely themed after different artists. The building opposite the reception, which also houses the spa, boasts wonderfully high ceilings and a great sense of spatial elegance. Compared to the deep, authentic charm of Vacaria, the overall interior design here feels a bit forced. Additionally, there was a faint, musty scent inside the room upon arrival, but fortunately, simply opening the window for some fresh air cleared it up perfectly. There are also a few operational details that missed the mark. Breakfast was passable but noticeably inferior to Vacaria; simple elements like the depth of flavor in the eggs or the crispness of a slice of bacon lacked refinement. Knowing the restaurant holds Michelin recognition, I suspect the morning and evening culinary teams are different, but the lack of detail at breakfast unfortunately discouraged us from booking dinner. The facilities also present some challenges. Visiting in February meant the outdoor pool was out of the question, so we looked to the indoor pool. It is an enclosed space covered by transparent glass; while this keeps the area pleasantly warm, it also makes the space feel a bit cramped. More problematically, the enclosed structure traps a strong chemical odor, making it quite uncomfortable to use for either swimming laps or simply relaxing on a lounger. The spa and sauna, while introduced by very friendly staff, felt cramped and uninviting due to an awkward layout. Additionally, while bottled water is available upon request, different staff members arbitrarily limited the number of bottles they would provide, which was frustrating for someone who drinks a lot of water. I must also point out an administrative hiccup regarding the front desk. Wanting to take a piece of the Vacaria experience home with me, I purchased a bottle of their Port wine during checkout. I settled this along with my parking fees and remaining balance, and asked for the receipt to be emailed to me. However, it has been nearly three days, and despite sending a follow-up email on the very same day, I have yet to receive a reply or the receipt. As a helpful tip for future guests: if you require a receipt for your stay, I strongly advise asking for a printed copy on the spot rather than relying on their email system. Ultimately, if you are looking for flawless luxury and deep architectural character, there are minor compromises here. But if you want to wake up to one of the most breathtaking, unobstructed views of the city and river, Torel Avantgarde will not disappoint.

We had a wonderful stay at the Torel Avantgarde. Every staff member we met was pleasant, kind and always willing to help. The included full breakfast was a daily highlight, with many fresh options and a relaxed atmosphere. We stayed in the Charlie Chaplin room, which was comfortable, beautifully designed and offered a fantastic view of the Douro River. We also found a complimentary bottle of champagne waiting for us on our first night, and we loved that special touch. The hotel is not in the historic center, but we found the walk into town easy and enjoyable. For evening dinner reservations a bit farther away, we used Uber without any problem. Overall, we loved our time here and would happily stay again.

One of the nicest hotel experiences we’ve ever had. Got upgraded to the Virginia Woolf room and we never waned to leave! The entire staff was wonderful, especially Roman and Diogo! We will definitely comeback next time we are in Porto

My husband and I loved our stay at the Torel Avantgarde. We were forced to make a last minute reservation after finding that the AriBnB we reserved was horrible and not at all as advertised. Last minute reservations can be tricky when you are also traveling with two small dogs. However, the front desk staff responded to our inquiry immediately and we were warmly welcomed upon arrival. All of the rooms are named after artists and we were assigned the Van Gogh Suite. Like Van Gogh, the room was dry and moody. It was also very spacious with lots of room for our luggage. Housekeeping brought up two beds for our dogs and treats. They also offered bowls but we had brought our own. We were also given a bottle of champagne and offered two drinks at the bar. The bed was very comfortable and I slept quite well. Everyone at the hotel treated our dogs like celebrities. We were even able to bring them downstairs for breakfast and dinner because we had them in a stroller. The breakfast buffet is great. The bread that is served at the hotel is amongst the best I have eaten in my life. The staff was so accommodating and professional. One person asked us where we were going for the day and offered us lunch suggestions. The manager also comped our parking fees for each day because of an unfortunate experience we had at dinner. They also left a card in our car wishing us a safe journey and provided a bottle of water. We had a great time during our trip to Porto and the staff and accommodations at the Torel Avantgarde are a large reason why.

Incredible service at this hotel! The staff was so kind to me and showed such care as I was going through a rough time. The room was clean and the maids did a good job coming back in for turn down service and tidying up and replacing water. The fact you can text the front desk was really nice. The breakfast which was included in the stay was delicious and included mimosas even! Loved the hot tub and indoor heated pool. The rose room and art gallery was a fun place to hang out! Comfortable bed and amazing views all around the hotel.

Do not stay at this hotel. The staff is very full of themselves and unfriendly. The rooms are small and dark and the walls are paper thin. You can hearABSOLUTELY everything in the neighboring rooms. We payed $660 a night and felt like we had been ripped off. There are many other hotel options in Porto that are worth the money and will give you a favorable experience.

Loved this concept, art meets home. They claim to be a "baby" hotel since they've only been open since 9/2018. All 47 rooms are decorated based on an artist. We stayed in "Eileen Gray". I had never heard of her before but the room was modern minimalist. A bit cozy. They provide filtered water and nespresso. There are also a plethora of mini bar options and little premium snacks in branded, labeled containers. The rainfall shower was kind of frustrating including the mini shower head which can only be used as a handheld. They do provide shower caps to avoid the total wetness that rainfall showers cause. The buffet breakfast is delicious. Some of the best pastel de nata I've had in this city. The food is fresh. The flower room is beautiful and so instagram-able. However even the lobby has its quirks. Did you look up and see the mirrored ceilings? The outdoor area by the dining room has a nice view of the duoro river. I'd stay here again if my schedule permits.

0 stars for poor management!!! Yes the hotel is beautiful with beautiful views of the Douro River. However, that's where it stops. This is NOT a 5 star hotel. We did not receive 5 star treatment nor did the hotel management reflect a 5 star hotel. We stayed 2 nights on the first part of our trip to Portugal. This was our first trip to Portugal and we researched the best hotel to stay at and chose to spend more money and book the Executive Royal Suite based on the views and terrace from the room. After a long flight from NYC to Lisbon, and taking a 3 hour+ train from Lisbon to Porto, we were looking forward to relaxation and sleep. While the room and bed was comfortable, the hotel did not inform us ahead of time that there was an outdoor music festival just below the hotel that was playing music very loudly until 2am. The main performer, Chemical Brothers did not get on stage until midnight and played until 1:40am. Nevertheless, we did not sleep. When we asked the hotel why didn't they inform us about the festival, they said they left a "notice" with ear plugs in our room during housekeeping that day. WE DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTICE NOR EAR PLUGS. I'm sorry but a "notice" same day as the festival was not sufficient. I had to ask the front desk for ear plugs, which DID NOT work. I can still hear The Chemical Brothers' loud thumping music all night even with ear plugs. I know the hotel have no control over the music festival, however they do have control in communicating and informing guests well ahead of time that this music festival may interfere with sleep. We had a front view of the music festival from our hotel room's terrace. Everything could be and was heard! We have stayed at many Marriott hotels which are not even close to 5 stars, and yet they had the decency to inform us ahead of time of any disturbances that could impact our stay. This is not uncommon for hotels to contact guests ahead of time in the event of construction, closed facilities, loud noises, etc. We could have re-arranged our travel dates and come to Torel Avantgarde after the festival was over. When we asked to speak with the manager, Lily, and asked if they can discount us for the night's stay or comp anything at all (drinks or lunch we had at the hotel restaurant), she did nothing. All she said was that the festival was out of their control and there's nothing they can do. When I asked why they did not inform us of the festival in advance so we can make other arrangements, she said it's not her responsibility to inform every guest. This is NOT how to run a 5 star hotel!!! I was shocked at how Lily handled the situation and she really should not be a manager of a 5 star hotel. Even at a 3-star Marriott hotel, we've gotten comp'ed drinks or a meal at the very least if there were disturbances. Do NOT expect to be treated like a 5 star hotel guest here!!! Torel Avantgarde is nice hotel with beautiful views, but they have a long way to go to call themselves a 5 star hotel. Cons: -outdoor pool is small and not heated. Only the (small) indoor pool is heated. -outdoor hot tub water is not hot at all; it was lukewarm at best. -not enough outdoor loungers by the pool based on how many rooms/people the hotel accommodates -pool towels are at the front reception, not by the pool. It's a no brainer to leave pool towels by the pool?!?!?! -lunch at the restaurant was not good. We ordered salmon sandwiches which came with fries. We asked for ketchup and they never brought it to us. We were so hungry that we ate it anyway. -extremely poor management Pros: -good breakfast -great views

Absolutely amazing hotel and cuisine. Exceptional service and amenities. Multiple languages were spoken and kindness abounds. A must visit and dining experience.

I thought this hotel was better located near the Douro river.... it is not.... it is close on a straight line when you look at a map, but It will take a good 20 minute walk to get to the riverside, walking west where all the action is, is climbing and then coming down or if you go east, it will be downward longer and get farther apart where you need to go. Once we got to the hotel, we were greeted immediately by a nice bell boy who took good care of our car and lugage. The reception people also very nice and amicable... they did tell me that I had a room upgrade.. well here is where my "review" starts. We came to a room that is super small... I am saying SMALL! Once you walk in, the bathroom is just to your right and the sink at the end of the tiny bathroom. To the right of he sink, an enclosed shower with the toilet all in one space.... the architects probably never thought someone was going to take a shower.... they did put a little metal separation in the floor but no door or curtain (well, it does not fit!) so when I took a shower, even being VERY careful, the whole area was drenched.... and with the metal separation and no drainage, everything was soaking wet.. had to though a big towel in the floor to try to contain a pond being overflowed and getting the rest of the room wet.... unbelievable!!! Then get out of the bathroom and imagine being at a dark room with practically NO light.... colors of the wall and ceiling?? Dark grey.... so if you thought reading, getting dressed, looking at something was an option, well NO.... I was completely annoyed. So much so that I called the reception and made a formal complain.... even though I was going to stay for one night, I could NOT stand it.... they tried to find a solution and offered me to go and see a suite to see if the space and room was better.... so I went to see the suite and again, same problem still small room with a small adjacent living room that was also small and dark!!! So I decided to breathe deep and try to sleep early and forget about this night.... we did not move to the suite as the issue was not solved. For the staff, I can say they are very good and amicable trying their best to solve problems.... for location, I would not recommend this hotel and for the room, well, probably the worst room I've been in my life. As for breakfast, in my opinion and coming from several high end hotels in Portugal, this was the worst of them... service was understaffed and variety was not at its best... so, I would skip breakfast there unless you have it included in your room rate. All in all, been there period!

Wonderful helpful staff but that's about the only positive we experienced at this boutique hotel. Tiny rooms and baths, pool was cold as was the jacuzzi. Views they boast are from the terrace of the restaurant. Location was not ideal and required a 10-15 min walk to central Porto.

Beautiful spot for cocktails! It over looks the water and has fabulous views. Try to sit on the patio if its nice. The prices are a bit pricier considering this a hotel but no where near US hotel prices. The interior is also glamorous as it has fake flowers hanging from the ceiling in one room. Great for pictures!

A beautiful boutique hotel with excellent service. The room was a little small but still very comfortable and well decorated. Extremely clean. Breakfast is included and perfect. The view from the restaurant Terrace is magnificent. Good location walking distance from the center of the city.

I booked 5 rooms for 10 people as part of a September 2017 family vacation. The hotel isn't even open yet (it is about to), and I had a small glitch in the booking process. The hotel manager Francisco, and Rita, helped me immediately, from their mobile phones and on their personal time, at 9PM ON A SATURDAY NIGHT (which is an incredible level of personal service). They addressed the issue and made sure to put my family in the best rooms available at the best price. Great personal experience dealing directly with the hotel and we are really looking forward to our stay!

The hotel is now a month old - it is a very modern 47 room hotel. The hotel sits up on the hill and has fantastic views of the city. We had a very good lunch outside - we have a king bed and it pretty much takes up the whole room. This is not a hotel where you would plan to stay in your room. That said we do have small balcony off room with view that is very nice. It is about a 7 minute walk to city center old town. I would recommend this hotel .