Dukes Corner Guest House

I spent a week at Dukes Corner Guest House with my mother. The room was cute, the sheets and towels were clean, and breakfast was wonderful. The couple who own the place were lovely, as was their staff member. I can’t recommend it enough. Thanks for a great stay!

Breakfast was a real highlight, with plenty of choices, attentive service, and freshly squeezed orange juice, a Portuguese breakfast staple. The coffee was acceptable, and the cozy dining area made for a relaxed start to the day. The guesthouse is close to the city center, in a leafy, quiet neighborhood that felt safe, though a little scruffy. We spent two nights here while traveling through northern Portugal. The staff were pleasant and accommodating. They spoke little English but made a real effort to communicate and help. The place is a typical older European property, well kept enough, with some awkward adjustments to a building that’s nearly a century old. Our room had high ceilings and ornate details, but was small, with little space to sit or unpack. The queen bed was comfortable. The bathroom was squeezed into one end of the room, and the shower leaked quite a bit. Adjusting it didn’t solve the problem. It’s a nuisance for guests and seems likely to cause more damage over time. The wooden stairs and heavy doors look handsome, but creak. You can hear people walking, talking, or watching TV in nearby rooms. Thankfully, it quieted down after 10 p.m. There are three flights of stairs, which would be hard for anyone with mobility issues. I tend to prefer old buildings to modern hotels, but this one has its share of trade-offs and quirks.

We really enjoyed our month at Dukes Corner Guesthouse. It’s on a quiet street, with restaurants, bars, shops, a laundromat, groceries, pharmacies, and cafes all just a few minutes away on foot. The city center and Bluedragon Tours are about a 10-minute walk. Christina was wonderful, handling the continental breakfast, squeezing fresh orange juice, and cooking scrambled eggs and bacon when asked. She also cleaned the rooms, and the service was outstanding.

The lady was very accommodating and deserves five stars for service. Breakfast was okay, and the fresh OJ was nice. But we asked the host about heating and were told there’d be no heat until October. It was chilly in late September. There are lots of steps to the room, which felt like four stories rather than two. The host said it was a five-minute walk to the river, but it isn’t, though you can see the river and then have a steep walk down the hill. A garbage truck came at 11:30 PM. I’m not sure how this place got such high ratings on some sites.