Cenica Porto Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton

Cénica Porto is a hotel that works. Nothing during my stay was particularly flashy, but everything that matters for a comfortable stay was done well. The room was thoughtfully designed, with attractive finishes, good lighting, and very comfortable sheets. The bed may feel firm to some guests, but I slept very well and found it supportive. The room was also very quiet, the air conditioning worked well, and overall sleep quality was excellent. One room tip: I stayed on the top floor (8th floor). While it was quiet, the windows are noticeably smaller than those on lower floors, which made the room feel somewhat dark. If natural light matters to you, I would recommend requesting a room on the 7th floor or below. The bathroom had excellent water pressure, and the L’Occitane products had a pleasant light citrus scent. The hair dryer was another small but appreciated detail: lightweight, effective, and easy to use. The only real drawback was the shower design, which allowed water to escape onto the bathroom floor. The room included a Nespresso machine, kettle, and an empty minibar refrigerator, which I always appreciate for storing personal items. Small chocolates waiting on the bed at arrival were a thoughtful touch, and water available in the lobby was convenient. The only minor annoyance was the number of light switches, which took some trial and error to figure out. The breakfast was good. Overall, this is a hotel I would return to. If you value quiet rooms, good sleep, strong air conditioning, and thoughtful details more than luxury amenities, Cénica Porto delivers.

We booked a stay from Friday to Monday to celebrate my husband’s birthday. At first impression, the hotel looked modern and well maintained, and the staff were very friendly. We checked in around 8 p.m. and, after a long journey, went straight to our room. The room initially looked clean and comfortable, but unfortunately there were several issues that affected our stay. The room was extremely hot, and we couldn’t adjust the air conditioning. There was also a very unpleasant smell coming from the bathroom. Another disappointment was that bottled water cost €4 each, which felt excessive considering the outside temperature was around 36–40°C. As we were exhausted, we decided to wait until the next morning before reporting the problems. When we spoke to reception, we were told they were already aware that the air conditioning in our room wasn’t working and were trying to fix it. I was disappointed that guests were still being allocated a room with a known air conditioning fault during such extreme heat. My husband and I had a terrible night’s sleep because of the temperature. The bathroom smell was another major issue. I am currently pregnant, so strong smells and excessive heat affected me much more than they normally would. I felt so uncomfortable that I struggled to use the bathroom throughout the night. The air conditioning was repaired the next day, and the bathroom initially seemed better too, but the smell returned shortly afterwards. Reception checked with us to ask whether the smell had gone, and when we explained it hadn’t, nothing further was done. I was also confused that the room contained brochures telling guests to view the menu on the TV, even though our room didn’t have one. There were some positive aspects to our stay. The breakfast on the first morning was very good. However, when we arrived around 10:00 a.m. on the second morning, many items had not been replenished. There was very little food left, and the remaining options, such as smoked salmon and cold meats, weren’t suitable for me during pregnancy. The hotel restaurant was enjoyable, and the banana fondant I had one evening was excellent. The swimming pool was also lovely and relaxing. The staff throughout the hotel were friendly and helpful. The location wasn’t ideal for us. As it was our first visit to Porto, we expected to be closer to the city centre, but it was around a 15-minute walk away. Overall, the hotel has potential, with friendly staff, good facilities, and a pleasant restaurant. However, the issues with the air conditioning and bathroom smell significantly affected our stay. I also believe guests should never be assigned a room with a known fault, especially during extreme temperatures, and that more consideration should be given to pregnant guests and anyone who may be particularly sensitive to heat or strong odours. Update answers Thank you for getting back to me and for acknowledging the issues we experienced during our stay. My husband did mention that you had contacted him by email following our stay, although unfortunately we were unable to respond at the time. I appreciate your apology and that our feedback has been shared with the relevant teams. However, I have to be honest that the experience was extremely disappointing for us, especially considering the amount we paid for the stay. With the air conditioning not working properly and the unpleasant smell in the bathroom during such extreme heat, we really felt that the experience did not reflect the standard we expected, and ultimately it felt like a waste of money. Unfortunately, I am currently very pregnant, so we won’t be able to travel outside the UK for quite a long time. Otherwise, if we had the opportunity to visit your hotel again, we would certainly consider giving you another chance. If you had anything similar within the UK, we would definitely be interested in returning, as we would have liked the opportunity to have a much better experience with your hotel.

I had a wonderful stay at the gorgeous Cenica Porto Hotel. From the moment I checked in, I received such a lovely welcome from the team and my room was absolutely wonderful. My room was upgraded and my Hilton Honors status was recognised which I was incredibly grateful for. There were so many little details which made the room feel luxurious from the chocolates on the bed to the delicious bottle of port and Pastel de nata which were left for me. The room had so much storage and the bathroom was lovely, the air conditioning ice cold and the bed was so comfortable. I slept really well! I only had breakfast on my first day as I was out and about before breakfast started on the second day I stayed - the selection was fresh and tasty, a great way to start the day. My only reason for not leaving five stars is down to the shower in my room (317) - the shower itself is brilliant with good pressure, however, when I exited the bathroom after first use, there was water leaking into the bedroom. It turns out the shower door wasn't sealed properly. The reception team did offer to move my room, but I was happy to stay put as I wasn't staying for long. On the second morning, this happened again despite maintenance fixing the door - I believe the shower basin was filling too much because of the powerful water pressure. Walking around on the wet carpet was uncomfortable but I was grateful the team offered to relocate me. I would absolutely stay here again though, the location was wonderful with all of the major attractions I wanted to visit within walking distance. And the lobby area smelled divine too. I used the gym on one occasion and it would have been great if this was air conditioned, however, it had everything you might need for a good workout. Thanks to team Cenica Porto for a brilliant stay.