The Largo is a ‘design fairy tale' that took time to craft, as all valuable things do.
This unique hospitality project is situated within a labyrinth of former commercial and residential buildings, meticulously restored by the renowned Lisbon-based architect Frederico Valsassina and embellished by the 'poetic modernist' design studio Space Copenhagen.
Set behind an unmarked green door on Porto’s bustling Largo de São Domingos, Largo is a brainchild of the Danish hospitality collective Annassurra. The 18-room hotel, restaurant, and bar span five interconnected buildings from the 15th, 16th, and 19th centuries.
Entering Largo feels like stepping into a multi-threaded narrative. The interior is suffused with a slightly hazy, fairy-tale mist. There’s no typical lobby or reception; instead, an informal salon with softly glowing light and a stone patio that hides secrets welcomes you. A stone tunnel, reminiscent of cinematic magic with its "open sesame" entrance, leads to a wine cellar where the staff introduces you to the flavours of wine mainly from northern Portugal.
Every element here is exceptional, from the interiors and service to the architecture and the rituals of celebration. Designed by the Scandinavian studio Space Copenhagen, known for their masterful interiors and projects for esteemed brands, they took a great care and attention to detail while working under Largo.
Restoring the historic ceilings in each apartment and inviting renowned Portuguese artists to fill the hotel with art objects have given the space a unique character. These pieces serve as time capsules, inviting guests to pause and immerse themselves, slowing time down. One of the key objectives of the three-year renovation was conserving centuries of history and preserving the crafts and traditions embedded in the architecture. Space Copenhagen carefully stripped back and restored the interiors to reveal and maintain the wildly varied original features, creating a space that is both timeless and profoundly connected to its heritage.
One of the highlights of a stay at Largo is the walk from your room to breakfast. As you traverse the exterior staircase, you witness the grandeur of Largo with breathtaking views of the patio, where beneath the “floating” pool levitates Rui Chafes’ eldritch steel sculpture, Luz Sobriamente Pura.
As a next grand point is Alvaro Siza’s mural, meanwhile, forms the centerpiece for Cozinha das Flores, the in-house restaurant led by chef Nuno Mendes. This dusky green and ochre mélange of hand-sketched jazz musicians in full flow is his only tile mural in Portugal. More striking still is the light installation in the foyer, conceived by Sommer and Can Yanardag and produced by Vitamin Studio. Technicolor images of Porto’s streets, taken by a local photographer, are abstracted and change with the seasons, creating a visual ambient wash that responds to touch thanks to some clever projection technology. Perhaps the most nuanced example of Largo's philosophy is the hanging stucco/macrame hybrid, A Shelter, by Maíra Mafra. Created in response to an open call to incorporate the decaying, geometric, centuries-old ceiling tiles found during renovation, it manifests the melding of hospitality, heritage, and community intervention—a neat summation of what Largo is achieving.
Many may find it easy to get lost in this calm oasis, as if Largo exists in its own special timezone and universe, captivating sensitive and conscious travelers where the layered historic past is thoughtfully intertwined with modern accents, making it a top experience in the city of Porto.
