Where is it? The far side of the Douro River, which cuts a valley between the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. The hotel is located in Gaia, with beautiful views of (and a 10 minute walk to) the center of medieval Porto, home of some of the best seafood in the world.
The Hotel: A Michelin-starred restaurant, a world-class spa, and beautiful views from rooms literally carved into the hillside. The Yeatman opened in 2010 under the ownership of the Fladgate partnership: a wine consortium which owns several of the major port houses in Portugal. The result is a lot of insider help and advice on how to do wine country right—including better access to the tourable facilities and special tastings.
The Suite: The Bacchus Suite, named for the Roman god of wine, is The Yeatman’s crown jewel: a freestanding master space with all the amenities of a hotel separated from the plebeian need for a hallway or neighbors—no kids sprinting down the hallway at 8 am during the worst of your hangover. Think of it as your own little room-serviced villa on the hill with round the clock service, a spa downstairs, and a restaurant and pools adjacent.
The Selling Point: A private space with beautiful views at once separate from the hotel but with immediate access to all its amenities. Like owning a villa and having servants, but without the hiring and firing. In the summer a tropical paradise, in the worst of the winter a comfortable and beautiful accommodation with a fire place to keep you and a plus one warm.
By the Numbers: The 1,600-square-foot space features two plasma screens, two fireplaces, one copper jacuzzi and one bed, which rotates 360 degrees, so you can fall asleep to the screen or the view—whichever suits you.