B28 Apartments offers seven beautiful and spacious boutique apartments, tucked away on a lovely street in the historic centre of Porto.
Historic Centre
Lovely View
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We thoroughly enjoyed breakfast at Vermelho. Highlights included the array of Portuguese and French pastries that were brought to your table and the perfectly cooked a-la-carte eggs. Breakfast was delicious but also beautifully arranged, featuring tableware from Vida Dura.
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Elisabeth Lincot's installation, Lagrima de Loros, graces an exterior hearth at Vermelho with glazed and colourful ceramic bird heads.
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B28 Apartments are set in an authentic 17th-century Porto bourgeois building which has been renovated with extreme care to bring back its original splendour.
The seven fully equipped apartments are flooded with light and are beautifully decorated. We love the minimalist decoration, intricate ornate ceilings and hardwood custom doors.
B28 is a great choice for couples and also families. The most spacious apartment is the Upper Deluxe Apartment 5, which has two bedrooms (one double, one twin), a bathroom and a living room - plus stunning views over the city and the river.
These are among some of the best serviced apartments in the centre of Porto, and we highly recommend them. Don’t miss our interview with Alida Jamal, the creative mind behind B28 Apartments.
Awesome
Your opportunity to experience the splendour of Porto’s 17th-century architecture.
Some of the apartments have killer views.
Daily cleaning is included in the price of your stay, and there’s an optional organic seasonal breakfast available.
Excellent restaurants and some of Porto’s most iconic sites are a stone’s throw away.
Bear in Mind
The apartments are spread over five floors, and there’s no lift.
To avoid street noise, go for the top-floor apartments, although the noise isn’t bad considering you are in the city centre.
Minimum two-night stay.
B28 Apartments are set in an authentic 17th-century Porto bourgeois building which has been renovated with extreme care to bring back its original splendour.
The seven fully equipped apartments are flooded with light and are beautifully decorated. We love the minimalist decoration, intricate ornate ceilings and hardwood custom doors.
B28 is a great choice for couples and also families. The most spacious apartment is the Upper Deluxe Apartment 5, which has two bedrooms (one double, one twin), a bathroom and a living room - plus stunning views over the city and the river.
These are among some of the best serviced apartments in the centre of Porto, and we highly recommend them. Don’t miss our interview with Alida Jamal, the creative mind behind B28 Apartments.
Interview
A Conversation with Alida about B28 Apartments in Porto
“I fell in love with the building, the staircase, and the back entrance door that faces the steps of Escadas da Vitória.”
– Alida, owner of B28 Apartments
We loved our stay at B28 Apartments. We were impressed with how spacious and airy the apartments were. How did you find this building, and what drew you to it?
I’m really glad you enjoyed your stay. At the start, I was on the lookout for a building with a garden at the back. However, all the places that I went to look at were in really bad condition. Eventually, I came across this building which, even though it was pretty rundown, still had many original elements which could be rescued. And that’s not to mention the breathtaking views from the 4th and 5th floors.
I can tell you that it was love at first sight. I fell in love with the building, the staircase, and the back entrance door that faces the steps of Escadas da Vitória on the third floor. And after that, we had many other nice little surprises. I wanted to restore the stucco ceilings, the foyer, and the roof lantern, which was decaying but still capable of lighting the staircase.
I have always liked this part of Porto. It’s an area that was degraded for so long, even as far as I can remember. When I was little, I used to come to downtown Porto with my grandmother. She’d go to the hairdressers, and then we’d go for lanche (Portuguese afternoon snack) at Costa Moreira or to Leitaria da Quinta do Paço (these are two of Porto’s most classic confeitarias, or pastry confectionaries). Then there was always some shopping to do, errands, etc. We’d visit Rua das Flores and Largo dos Lóios up to Rua 31 de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, doing all of this while listening to my grandmother's stories.
We stayed at the two-bedroom apartment (Upper Deluxe Apartment 5) on the top floor, which boasts breathtaking views.
How did you go about choosing the right architect for the project?
I chose Architect José Bernardo Távora because I was sure he would be able to keep the building’s character. He has huge respect for popular architecture, and the aim was to bring back this building’s previous splendour.
I’m against the facadism trend (when façades are maintained but the interior is completely rebuilt). I think it’s important to keep the identity, to wholly respect old buildings.
The staircase before and after the renovation process. Photography credit: Luís Ferreira Alves
B28's Upper Deluxe Apartment 5 - the before and after. Photography credit: Luís Ferreira Alves
How long did the renovation process take? What were the biggest challenges?
I purchased the building in May 2012, and I only opened B28 in August 2018. It was a long process with a lot of setbacks. But in the end, we got there and achieved what we wanted.
The actual construction work took two years, from 2015 to 2017. Afterwards, it was the licensing. This renovation was conducted with extreme caution. It’s almost like giving birth, giving it life and seeing it growing up. That’s the feeling B28 gives me.
“The way the renovation was done is this house’s biggest luxury.”
– Alida, owner of B28 Apartments
Did you have any prior experience in the hospitality sector before starting B28?
I didn’t have any experience in the tourism sector. I’m academically trained in Financial Management, but I always liked to travel, and I knew what I wanted for this project: something pretty simple, giving priority to comfort. Yet, everything required for the function of the house has a story. The way the renovation was done is this house’s biggest luxury. For the decoration, I mainly chose Portuguese brands and materials.
What do you enjoy the most when it comes to running B28?
What I enjoy the most is undoubtedly the relationship you create with the guests. You can’t please everyone, but I feel most of them adore staying here. They feel at home. They love to ask about all the details, and they pass on the word to friends and family. Many have come back and stayed in the same apartments. That’s very fulfilling.
You run a small concept store below the apartments. Can you tell us a bit about it?
The idea for the concept store came about as a way to give continuity to the apartments. It’s a polyvalent space where we will occasionally host an art show, a supper club, a pop-up, or even a workshop. The main objective is to promote Portuguese artists and brands, preferably sustainable ones. I need to identify with the projects. It’s interesting to watch the synergies that the concept store brings us.
We sell ceramics, organic artisan liqueurs, handmade lamps made with reused materials, organic infusions, teas, olive oil, clothing, candles, and so on.
What's your favourite object/feature at B28?
Without a doubt, the photographs shot by Luís Ferreira Alves. They are spread around the building and tell a little bit of the story of the renovation process.
They were taken to document the work, but when I started thinking about the decoration, I realised it made full sense to use them in the design of the building’s interior.
The photographs shot by Luís Ferreira Alves (seen hanging on the wall) are spread around the building and tell a little bit of the story of the renovation process.
Describe your perfect day off in Porto.
The perfect day in Porto is to leave the house unrushed and cycle 500 metres to the riverfront. Then I would keep cycling down the waterfront and go to Serralves to see some art. Finally, I’d have lunch in downtown Porto and finish the day with a drink at Ibar.
For Alida a perfect day in Porto starts with a bike ride along the waterfront...
Alida likes to end her day with a drink at Ibar, a beach bar tucked away right on the rocks of Aquário beach in Foz do Douro.
What is your favourite hotel in the world?
I don’t know if it’s my favourite hotel in the world, but the first one that came to mind was a palafito when I visited Chile. Patio Palafito inspired me a lot. It was a unique experience to sleep right on the sea, with the constant earthquakes that are so characteristic of that part of the world. It’s fantastic. It’s also a renovation that fully respects its heritage, and even though it’s very simple, it’s so comfortable.
Alida loves Patio Palafito, a small boutique hotel in Chile.
Obrigada Alida!
Where
B28 Apartments are located in the historic centre of Porto, a stone's throw away from the most iconic sites.
B28 Apartments are located in the historic street Rua de Belomonte, a stone’s throw away from Porto’s most iconic sites.
The small but mighty street Rua de Belmonte holds some hidden treasures, such as the Escovaria de Belomonte - this family shop specialising in artisan brushes is one of the oldest businesses in the city and perhaps in the Iberian Peninsula. The street houses some of the best examples of traditional 17th and 18th-century architecture of downtown Porto.
Right behind B28 Apartments you will find the charming steps of Escadas da Vitória, which lead you to a viewpoint with breathtaking views over some of Porto’s most famous buildings and the Douro River.
Some of our favourite restaurants, as well as some of Porto’s most iconic sites and the Douro River, are just a short walk away.
For post-dinner action, head to the nearby Rua da Galeria de Paris (900m), where bars and partygoers fill the streets until the early hours.
Read on to discover more local tips. For more recommendations, check out our Porto Travel Guide.
Watch the video above which we did with Condé Nast Traveller. In it we talk about Foz do Douro - the seaside neighbourhood in Porto where we grew up. check out the Full article on their website.
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Nearby are two restaurants that we really like. Cantina 32 serves Portuguese classics, such as Bacalhau à Bráz (salted cod with fried potatoes and egg), as well as some creative dishes. Around the corner is also Mistu, one of Porto’s coolest restaurants. It serves tasty fusion cuisine with a Portuguese touch. The dulce de leche fondant is divine.
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Salão Árabe in Palácio da Bolsa is a great hall in the neoclassical former stock exchange palace that is an exquisite sight to behold.
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The river fronted neighbourhood of Ribeira is a must-do in Porto. Enjoy one of its many riverside bars and restaurants and take a 'Six Bridges Cruise' along the River Douro. Cross the Dom Luís bridge and go wine tasting at one of the Port lodges. From this side of the river, you have an awesome view of Ribeira.
Wander around the historic centre and be mesmerised by the glorious sights. Enjoy some of the best views of Porto at the viewpoint Miradouro da Vitória and from the top deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge.
Visit Serralves Museum, featuring a collection of Portuguese and international contemporary art, interesting sculptures and a delightful park. Its gardens are home to more than 8,000 specimens of exotic plants and an awesome Treetop Walk.
Grab a bicycle or go for a walk along the seafront in Foz do Douro, and then relax in Parque da Cidade (Porto’s city park).
Watch the sunset at one of the beach bars in Foz, such as Praia da Luz.
Take the boat Flor do Gás across the river, to Afurada. Enjoy some delicious grilled fresh fish at the Taberna de São Pedro in Afurada, an unassuming and authentic tavern where locally sourced fish and seafood are charcoal-grilled by the roadside.
Matosinhos is a key seaport and another go-to place for seafood lovers. The streets are packed with traditional restaurants. Salta-Ó-Muro and Marisqueira de Matosinhos are two of our favourites.
You are in Porto so you shouldn't leave without trying a francesinha. Porto's craziest food invention is like a sandwich similar to an elaborate Croque Monsieur. It’s filled with various meats, topped with melted cheese and the chef’s secret spicy sauce. Cufra, Café Santiago, Bufete Fase and Cervejaria Brasão are some of the best places in town to try it, with the latter offering one of the best vegetarian francesinhas in Porto.
B28 Apartments Rua de Belomonte 28 4050-096 Porto Portugal
LOCATION
B28 Apartments is a collection of seven beautiful and spacious boutique apartments tucked away on a lovely street in the historic centre of Porto.
BY AIR
The closest airport is Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro airport. From there you can take a taxi (Uber, Bolt etc. widely available), metro, bus or hire a car.
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