Located on the banks of the Douro River, Hotel Vincci shines out like a beacon of architectural prowess among the medley of aristocratic palaces, Victorian mansions and a 16th century monastery that make up Massarelos- Porto’s crumbling industrial quarter. Housed in a former fish market – which was linked to the river by a tunnel – the 1930s building was restored in the 1950s by Portuguese architect Januario Godinho, who transformed it into a modernist gem, fusing three industrial warehouses with one uniform façade. Now under the ownership of Spanish hotel brand Vincci, the building has been revived once again, this time by local firm José Carlos Cruz, who converted the space to house 95 guestrooms, a restaurant, gym and rooftop terrace with views of the Atlantic. Inside, soaring ceilings are offset with a sensuous 1940s interior that features solid lamps, sleek wooden furniture and a reception desk fashioned from solid onyx.
