A Portuguesa Guest House

Our stay at Residencial Portuguesa was marred by a troubling incident that left us really disheartened. On our last day, we checked out and left our luggage behind reception whilst we went out nearby for lunch. Upon returning a couple of hours later, we discovered that our rucksacks had been stolen. This unfortunate event left us feeling quite violated and unsafe, especially considering the lack of response and assistance from the staff, who couldn’t speak good English. We had to leave shortly afterwards to catch our booked train onto Lisbon but were assured by the Guest House manager (via phone) that this would be reported to the Porto police. We still reported this to the Lisbon police when we got there. The Lisbon police were empathetic and really helpful and provided us with a crime reference number for insurance purposes. The Guest House provided CCTV video footage to the police and I received photographic evidence of the thief. It is still beyond belief how a thief managed to break through what seemed like a highly secure door that could only be opened by a fob key. Despite numerous attempts to reach out to the Guest House since, who said were also pursuing an insurance claim, the manager has not answered one phone call. We have received very little response and recently no response whatsoever by other means. It almost feels as if the manager is intentionally avoiding me, raising suspicions of possible complicity and having to pay any kind of compensation. In addition to the security concerns, the overall level of service was bang average. The rooms were adequately maintained, and some amenities were lacking. It's evident that there is a disconnect between the pictures available online and the reality of the guest experience. I would advise against staying here, especially if you are travelling with valuables. The lack of security, coupled with unhelpful and potentially complicit staff, creates an environment that is neither safe nor welcoming for guests. We hope that our experience (which might have been a one-off) serves as a warning to others and prompts the management to address these issues promptly and effectively.

Well maintained and upgraded period property. Blue and white tiles on the walls with the original wood flooring. Very nice modern decor and upgrades. Double pane windows, NFC door locks and nice fixtures. The location is 5 star. Easy walk to the airport metro, the old section of Porto and many bars/restaurants.