The House of Sandeman

The House of Sandeman is a hostel and suite hotel built into a working Port wine cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia, facing the Douro River and the old quarter of Ribeira across the water. It calls itself the world's first branded hostel, a claim tied to its home inside the Sandeman cellars, the company founded in 1790 as the first Port wine brand to fire-brand its own casks. Rooms range from a 20 m² Cosy Room to a 40 m² Deluxe Double or Twin, each hung with original Sandeman artwork and fitted with a turntable and a stack of vinyl records. Superior and Deluxe rooms add river views over the Douro and Porto's downtown. Guests wanting company can choose dormitories instead: seven, eight, or fourteen beds, framed to recall Port wine barrels, with personal lockers and shared bathrooms. The 14-bed dorm comes in mixed or female-only form. Breakfast is included across room types. Downstairs, the Sandeman Terrace serves cocktails and food with live music and a view over the river; guests can also taste wine drawn from the cellar itself. It sits an easy walk from the Marginal de Gaia and Casa dos Ferradores, with central Porto a short crossing away.