Yatzer is always on the look out for intriguing design, and we are lucky to have spoted one at Hotel Favorita in Porto, Portugal.  One of our favorite French designers Sam Baron sent us in images of a recently accomplished project of his, Hotel Favorita which is located in the Portuguese capital of the north, Porto; Porto is internationally recognized for the Douro riverbank, the wines and its special cookery.

Hotel Favorita takes its name from the iconic name "Favorita" which is “a reference to the chosen woman, usually personalizing both romantic and political intelligence and influence, that had the favors of the king or emperor and that he secretly encountered.”  Further to the interiors which have been completed by Sam Baron, the hotel has been structurally transformed by Nuno Sottomayor, a local Portuguese architect.  The interiors of this hotel include a mix and match approach of vintage pieces with modern day furniture.  One would not categorize Favorita as a design hotel despite the strong design influences, but rather as a house where everyone is warmly welcomed.  This is mostly due to the fact that every single piece in the selection of objets and references has been given the amount of attention to detail it should.  The interior program of the hotel has been designed in such a way to offer an abundance of space regarding the communal spaces, and the private spaces of the rooms and bathrooms. 

The designers’ and the hotel management have paid attention to leisure within the hotel as it is obviously part of the concept with modular ways of living in it.  The lounge area has been developed through a mixture of old and contemporary furniture which allows for the guest to be part of the whole, or to isolate themselves in a corner.  The lounge allows for moments with friends of laughter and joy, to tasting local Portuguese products, listing to a vinyl on the record player, or reading a book.   This old house has been transformed into a cozy hotel, a symbol of modern living through the designs imposed on it.  Close details has even been paid to the corridors which are used as exhibition spaces, with the help of the art direction of Dama Aflita Gallery.  The walls present illustrations by Julio Dolbeth and Ruy Santos, who are artists of Dama Aflita Gallery, the first design and illustration gallery of Portugal, located in rua da Picaria in Porto.

All in all, Hotel Favorita consists of seven rooms with en-suite bathrooms, a restaurant adjacent to the garden _  “La Bombarde”, a massage room and a lounge area with the reception.  The garden adjacent to the retaurant is located on the back of the building and offers outdoor life for relaxing drinks and dinners.  The seven rooms all have their private bathroom, dressing room and a writing desk.  The rooms are composed of four double rooms with dressing rooms, one offering a private terrace over-viewing the garden, two suites ideal for two to four persons, with a living room and dressing room, and one attic room which can welcome three persons. 

The doule room is “ideal for a luminous pause between discovery walks around Porto, the north of the Portuguese capital; the suites are “evolving rooms” considering the needs of its guests, as they can be reserved by one, two, three or four persons. A longer stay is imaginable thanks to the kitchen corner and the large table as the centre-heart of the adjacent room space. The suites have been thought for these week long stays encouraging whoever to chose the Favorita hotel as the place to install and keep himself independent though accompanied if wanted by the gentle team running the place.”  Last but not least, Sotão or otherwise known as the attic room, can accommodate a maximum of three persons, to enjoy a special chilled-out experience in a unconventional space over-viewing the garden.

Hotel Favorita has been given a second life due to the contemporary approach which proposes an easy and comfortable lifestyle without sacrificing the spirit and elements of this old Portuguese house.  “Located in the gallery street of Porto, the hotel is in the heart of the cultural life of the city, and participates to it with the monthly opening night events that occur, and with mounting exhibitions in the public areas of the building.”

Project:  Hotel Favorita
Location:  Porto, Portugal
Owner:  Ema Xavier
Architect:  Nuno Sottomayor
Designer:  Sam Baron assisted by Isabel Abreu

discover Hotel Favorita through the pictures that follow //