0.3 business
Address:
Rua arnaldo gama 56, Batalha
, Porto 4000-094, Portugal
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Lonely Planet review
- Robert Landon
- Lonely Planet author
At the Pensão Astória, time stopped somewhere in the middle of last century, possibly earlier. Occupying an austere but elegant townhouse at the top of a vertiginous stairwell that leads down to the Ribeira district, this place has its quirks -- and all of them are charming.
Dona Deolinda and her daughter run a tight ship, but with inimitable grace; these women should be protected by UNESCO right along with the Ribeira district. Their rooms vary in size and equipment - only a few have full baths, and even these are oddly distributed. But all are decorated with trim antiques, many have high ceilings, several boast fine garden and river views, and all are clean as a whistle. Do pack an extra sweater in winter, as they're not heated. However, they are equipped with boxy black phones, manufactured many decades ago by the 'Anglo-Portuguese Telephone Company'. Here's the clincher - they still work, thanks to the medusa-like switchboard downstairs. This is our clear choice as the best budget option in Porto, but be prepared to book ahead - well in advance at summer and holidays.
