Explore Porto this Autumn and Winter with New Hotel and Cultural Space M.Ou.Co.

Porto’s first music hotel features a restaurant, bar, garden, music library and concert hall.
M.Ou.Co. is now open in the city’s Bonfim neighbourhood and is centrally located

You know it is autumn in Porto not just by the changing colours but because of a very distinct smell. Everywhere around the city there is a scent of roasted chestnuts (castanhas) in the air with these being roasted at busy points in Porto for residents and visitors to buy and nibble on as they go about their days. This is the build up to St Martin’s Day on 11th November when the Portuguese celebrate winter and its bounty including the harvest of grapes. This is also an excuse for a party and the Portuguese love outdoor celebrations always with wine and Portugal now produces some of the world’s best and affordable wines which are all very different to other European wines.  

Portugal’s second largest city Porto recently welcomed a new hotel and cultural space where music is the headliner.  This September M.Ou.Co. celebrated its one year anniversary. This independent space in the city’s Bonfim neighbourhood combines a 62-bedroom hotel, a 50-seater restaurant, a bar, a garden with alfresco dining, an outdoor swimming pool, a music library, musical instruments for hire and a concert hall with a capacity of 180 seated and 300 standing guests. Music is at the heart of everything at M.Ou.Co. The interior design is focused entirely on vintage making the most of the city’s vast vintage shops and warehouses. All furniture is either vintage or was commissioned locally to reflect a vintage look. 

Here are 10 autumn highlights for visitors: 

• The reopening of Bolhão Market – Opened in 1839 in the heart of Porto, Mercado do Bolhão stands out in the heart of Porto as a leading market. The original building was designed in 1914 influenced by the École des Beaux Arts. The market closed in 2018 for extensive renovation works and finally reopens this September and will welcome old and new traders, restaurants and shops. It will be a major event bringing back to public life one of the city’s most famous destinations. 
• Porto’s most beautiful gardens Jardins do Palácio de Cristal are centrally located and offer uninterrupted river views. Autumn is the time to see the changing colours, meet the resident peacocks and explore this magical garden which is spread across various areas. The gardens are home to a venue with cafés and the gardens also host the annual book fair. 
• Unwind at M.Ou.Co. including in the music library with a modern fireplace. Select a book or a vinyl and sit back and enjoy or head to your bedroom and listen to up to five vinyls and relax with a glass of wine or cup of something warm. M.Ou.Co. also has a bar / lounge area open throughout the day and the perfect spot to unwind in. Or for the more musical, hire musical instruments for free from reception and head to the bedroom to play! 
• Take a different city walk and embark on a vintage tour of Porto. Porto is a vintage treasure trove and the city is filled with vintage shops. M.Ou.Co. has unveiled a new walking vintage tour designed to show a wide portfolio of vintage styles across the city. The walking tour starts at M.Ou.Co. and crosses several neighbourhoods including Bonfim, Cedofeita and Ribeira and has been created to include interiors, fashion, lighting and much more. The 5.7km vintage tour ends by the Douro riverfront at the vast Armazém where you can enjoy a drink.
• Porto can be surprisingly mild throughout autumn and even winter. The beaches around Porto offer something for all beach fans and are easily reached from M.Ou.Co. either by metro, train or taxi. Visitors to Porto can explore beach areas including Matosinhos, Foz and on the other side of the river in Gaia. Hop on a bike and enjoy the 21.7km long cycle path combining riverside and city which takes in several beaches along the way. 
• Sunsets over Porto can be spectacular with the historic city’s location combined with the river setting. There are of course many spots to enjoy a sunset but one which may surprise visitors is the Guindalense Football Club Bar – This isn’t what you are thinking. It isn’t in a stadium, it doesn’t have large screens everywhere and it most certainly isn’t a luxury spot, but it does have a vast terrace over several levels with fantastic uninterrupted views of Porto’s UNESCO Luis I Bridge which crosses the Douro River.
• For those staying longer (or not) a trip to the Douro Valley is always a must. Autumn is truly the most wonderful time to see the Douro Valley’s many vineyards and the changing colours at this time of year. This is also harvest season. Take the train from the beautiful São Bento station and head to Pinhão for the day and maybe extend the stay overnight at a vineyard. 
• Red wines are often associated with colder months. Porto has many wine bars and there is a growing natural wine trend. Overall the city is blessed with wine given its proximity to the Douro Valley. For a unique foodie and natural wine experience head to newly opened restaurant Tia Tia in the heart of Porto. 
• Porto from above with Porto 360 – Inside Porto’s stunning Jardins do Palácio de Cristal gardens which date back to the 19th century, visitors will find a pavilion dating back to 1865. The Pavilhão Rosa Mota can be climbed for a unique view of the city. The 150 steps over this green dome shaped building offer the best views of all of Porto including for sunset. Priced 12,50€ per person and with a guide. 
• Enjoy a concert or stand-up comedy in Porto. The city attracts many English speaking artists. Jimmy Carr will perform this autumn in the city and is just one of many visiting artists. M.Ou.Co. has been building a solid line-up of artists since its opening and the ideal way to enjoy an autumn evening out / in is with a meal at M.Ou.Co. restaurant followed by a concert.  

Stay. Listen. Play. at Porto’s newest hotel and discover a different rhythm this autumn in Portugal’s northern city. 

moucohotel.pt
instagram.com/m.ou.co 

B&B is priced from 85€ per room per night

M. Ou. Co – Rua de Frei Heitor Pinto, 67, 4300-081, Porto, Portugal 

Less than five minutes walk to Heroísmo metro station or Campanhã train station 

Porto is served by airlines including TAP Air Portugal, BA, easyJet, Ryanair and WIZZ from various airports across the UK including London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Luton and London Stansted. 

M.Ou.Co. Agenda – tickets now on sale for the following concerts: 

30th September 21:30 Jota.pê

1st October 21:00 Pietá

27th October 21:30 Fado Bicha 

28th October 21:30 Just Mustard

5th November 21:00 L’Objectif 

13th November 21:00 The Lounge Society 

24th November 21:30 Zola Blood 

More to be announced throughout the rest of 2022

M.Ou.Co. : M=música; Ou=outras; Co=coisas (Music and Other things…)