Where To Stay In Porto: Review Of Le Monumental Palace (Maison-Albar Hotel)

November 14, 2021

Visitors to this charming city have an abundance of great choices for where to stay in Porto. However, I have to say this right from the outset—if you’re looking for one of the absolute best options then look no further than Le Monumental Palace (a Maison-Albar Hotel).

I am not affiliated with this hotel in any way and paid for my stay. There are a few affiliate links throughout the post from which I may earn a small commission for any qualifying bookings (which I greatly appreciate, and at no extra cost to you), but all opinions are, as always, completely my own. Learn more in my Disclosure Policy.

My stay here was a true 5-star experience…not over the top ridiculous luxury, just beautiful, efficient, special, and excellent on every level. I recommend you check out the detailed reviews on both Booking.com and TripAdvisor as well, and you’ll see that I wasn’t alone in this experience.

Prices can range quite a lot depending on time of year, how busy they are, and whether you’re staying on a weekday or weekend. I’d expect $250-400 per night (USD) for the Superior rooms, depending, or around €200-350.

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As you enter the hotel, the bustle of busy Avenida dos Aliados fades away and you’re welcomed into a kind of Art Deco-like entry that definitely reflects the building’s roots (it dates back to the 1920s and 1930s).

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This glamorous throwback aesthetic continues throughout the entire hotel in a way that felt fancy but very soothing.

The staff were extremely welcoming and helpful, whether I needed help figuring out the air conditioner (I never could quite get my room as chilly as I wanted) or assistance trying to get reservations (almost impossible last minute, particularly on a Sunday when many places aren’t open).

The hotel does have a Japanese restaurant, Yakuza, that’s supposed to be excellent. It also has another restaurant called Le Monumental which is supposed to have a Michelin plate. And an American Bar.

I didn’t end up trying any of the restaurants or even taking advantage of the breakfast that was included with my room, so can’t speak to them (but they get great reviews).

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I booked a Superior Double Room, which was more than spacious enough. I loved that it had a couple different seating options in addition to the bed. The bed was quite comfy (my complaint with nicer hotels in particular though is that the pillows are way too squishy without providing support).

The bathroom was beautiful and had everything I needed. There were two different closets I could choose from, and a full-length mirror (a must, and something many hotels miss!).

The room’s décor expertly blended a sense of Art Deco elegance and a modern sensibility. You can see more at their website, but it seems like each of the different rooms (or types of rooms) is somewhat unique in décor and ambiance.

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And the quality goes beyond just the room itself. I absolutely loved all the little extra touches that the Monumental provides, and these (along with the service and pretty rooms) are what makes this the best Porto hotel and where you absolutely need to stay.

When I walked into my room I was welcomed by a little table filled with bottled water, a bottle of tawny port, some pasteis de nata, and a few other little treats. As I’d been in the car for a couple hours, this was extremely welcome!

I also made constant use of the espresso machine early in the morning before getting out and about, and late at night (with decaf) to wind down and enjoy a sweet.

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The hotel does offer turndown service as well, stopping by sometime in the evening to fluff your pillows, make sure you have what you need, and leave some extra bottled water and lovely little macarons.

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And then let’s talk about the location. There are many great areas to stay in Porto because it’s such a compact and walkable city. Each has its charms, but I thought that the Monumental’s location on the Avenida dos Aliados (Avenue of the Allies) was perfect.

It’s extremely central to everywhere I was wanting to go in Porto, which made it simpler than normal to stop back by whenever I needed…to drop off shopping bags, change shoes, switch into different clothes when it got too hot, etc. Or just to use the bathroom when I couldn’t find a good public one!

The only real downside is that you don’t have a river view, so if that’s what you’re really wanting then look elsewhere. However, my guess is that the trade-off there is having a much more touristy and expensive stay.

If I were lucky enough to book a return trip to northern Portugal, I would without question stay at Le Monumental again. I think it’s one of the best Porto hotels, though obviously a splurge for some people. If you’re wondering where to stay in Porto, whether for your entire trip or even a night or two as a treat, look no further!

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