Casa do Guindais — Porto, Portugal
This 18th century self-catering guest house has belonged to owners Francisca Pestana da Silva and Álvaro Aguiar's family for over six generations. To restore and reinvigorate the property and its five suits, they enlisted local Porto designer Sofia Marques de Aguiar and Cuban architect Ernesto Jimenes. The award-winning team successfully married the very old with the modern. Ancient granite stone walls, wooden rafters and restored Pau Santo wood commode chairs are juxtaposed with pinewood floors, large sliding soundproof windows and modern steel staircases. There are also all the requisite modern touches, such as mini bars, walk-in rain showers, king-size beds, fully equipped kitchenettes, coffee makers and patio gardens. Every detail of the interior design and decor of Casa dos Guindais has been carefully considered - from the bathroom fixtures right down to the stylish door handles - with pitch-perfect results. Located in the very heart of Porto's historic centre, perched above the Ribeira riverside district, the house has wonderful views over the river and is close to the 'Guindais' funicular cable car that takes you down to the river Douro's Eiffel bridge.
ADDRESS
Rua Arnaldo Gama 72
4000-098 Porto
Portugal
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Rupert Eden has worked for Wallpaper* magazine since 2010 covering everything Iberian from architecture and design to wellness and travel. He is happiest championing sustainable projects featuring up-and-coming artisans or chefs.
-
Robert Therrien's largest-ever museum show in Los Angeles is enduringly appealing'This is a Story' at The Broad unites 120 of Robert Therrien's sculptures, paintings and works on paper
-
The Wallpaper* style team recall their personal style moments of 2025In a landmark year for fashion, the Wallpaper* style editors found joy in the new – from Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel debut to a clean slate at Jil Sander
-
Tokyo’s most cinematic stay reopens as an exercise in architectural self-controlPark Hyatt Tokyo and Studio Jouin Manku demonstrate how design can evolve without erasing memory, balancing modernist heritage with contemporary comfort
-
The Wallpaper* team’s travel highlights of the yearA year of travel distilled. Discover the destinations that inspired our editors on and off assignment
-
Retreat to an earthy resort in a sylvan slice of the AlgarveThe beautifully wild Portuguese landscape envelops the Vale Palheiro Earth Resort, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in rural authenticity
-
Vincent Van Duysen reimagines Lisbon dining at Jncquoi FishA minimalist yet richly textural world sets the tone at a buzzy new Lisbon restaurant, where Portuguese craft, Atlantic produce and fine-tuned gastronomy meet
-
This Portuguese winery looks like it grew from the landscape itselfArchitect Sérgio Rebelo distils the essence of Portugal’s Douro Valley into a new timber-framed winery for Quinta de Adorigo
-
The Viceroy Hotel Group wants you to get on your bikeAcross properties in Santa Monica, Chicago, Washington DC and the Algarve, Viceroy guests can experience curated cycling routes and community events
-
Two new villas extend Christian Louboutin’s exuberant Portuguese hotelA pink, kasbah-inspired residence and a whitewashed boathouse join the French shoe designer’s Vermelho Hotel in Melides, Alentejo
-
Do luxury hotels need a farmer-in-residence?From Ibiza to Indonesia, hospitality brands are cultivating a new travel experience, where wellness begins in the soil and ends at the table
-
Wallpaper* checks into Quinta do Pinheiro, an easy-breezy farmhouse in the AlgarveIn this private five-casa quinta by the Ria Formosa, it’s all about blending rustic charm with modern comfort