In the heart of Porto lies a transformed ancient soap factory, now a calm retreat in the city
Escaping to the city may seem like a paradox. Yet, in the heart of Porto, there is a boutique hotel specially designed and equipped to offer total well-being and relaxation amidst urban chaos.
Located on the cobbled Rua do Bonjardim, one of the city’s most vibrant streets, Saboaria is a contemporary retreat named after the defunct Saboaria do Bolhão soap factory.
The iconic factory’s story dates back to the 19th century when it was founded by Galician entrepreneur Vitor Maria Martins, who produced the famous Offenbach soap, colloquially known as ‘blue soap’. Despite being sold multiple times, the building never lost its connection to soap manufacturing and storage. That is, until the business folded.
Having equally fallen into disrepair, two adjoining dilapidated 17th-century buildings got a new lease of life in 2018 when three friends from Jerusalem came across them. After a lengthy search, during which they visited over one hundred buildings in Porto, they fell in love with the constructions as they set eyes on them.
Uri Maeir, Hillel Gassenbauer and Amir Madeson, co-founders of TAMAR – a brand specialising in developing, operating, and managing boutique hotels – were inspired by the story of the old nearby factory and were determined to bring its memory back to life.
“As soon as we realised its industrial character and its history, we were inspired and wanted to tell it again,” says Uri.
To execute their ambitious project, they relied on a skilled creative team. Miguel Nogueira from the NN Arquitectura studio was responsible for the architectural project. NANO Design created the understated luxury interior design, and Studio Eduardo Aires created the hotel’s sudsy visual identity.
To preserve the essence of the derelict buildings, they drew inspiration from and used some of the surviving materials. Cast iron on the doors led to new reproductions, the original floors inspired the black and white hydraulic mosaic tiles in the bathrooms and entrance halls of some of the apartments, and the colour of the wood, “a kind of light green”, was influenced by the old joinery.
The result is an ambience of calm colours and natural textures, such as wood and stone, in which history and hospitality fuse with an organic, clean and unfussy aesthetic.
Opened in December 2022, Saboaria is the group’s second project, following the opening of Laranjais on Rua do Almada. Set in a prime location, within walking distance of Trindade Station and the famous Bolhão Market, its unassuming façade reveals an oasis with 28 apartments, an intimate garden with a heated swimming pool and a delightful spa.
This tranquil and sober hotel feels like a soothing bubble inside which design, creativity and delicate scents set the tone for an exquisite and recharging stay.
As guests step through the door, they are greeted by the delicate aroma of soap wafting through the corridors, reminiscent of the old soap factory.
Across the common areas and in the rooms, tailor-made Portuguese furniture coexists with decorative pieces found in antique and vintage shops from places as far away as India, Bali and Thailand.
In the lounge, beside the reception, a vast seven-metre-wide, made-to-measure grocer’s cabinet aims to recreate the feel of the former factory. Its various wood-lined display cases, reminiscent of a laboratory, are covered in a beautiful collection of jewellery, ceramics, designer baskets and organic beauty products, all of which can be purchased on-site.
Of these, about 95% are Portuguese artisan and manually produced products carefully selected by Filipa Alves, the founder of the Flórida project. She is one of several local artisans the hotel aims to introduce to visitors, showcasing the city’s finest offerings.
Porto’s creative and artistic essence shines through in the amenities of the spacious apartments, featuring premium offerings like Dubon chocolates. This iconic local brand, known for its artistic flair, has a chocolate factory and bar located in the heart of Porto. In all, there are seven room typologies spread across three floors and ranging from 30 to 75 square metres.
Each room is fully equipped for maximum convenience with a kitchenette – allowing guests to cook a meal with fresh ingredients from the Bolhão Market, just 450m from the hotel – comfortable sofas and ample space for a yoga mat, which is provided in every room.
Combining homely comforts with a permanent feeling of serenity and well-being, most of the apartments are arranged around the small garden. Some include a spacious lounge, a balcony with a garden view, and one even features a vast jacuzzi, which promises to be a favourite after a hard day of exploring the streets of Porto.
At the back of the two buildings, the small garden mirrors the atmosphere inside. Sobriety and comfort are prominent here, with a well-maintained lawn, a lengthy turquoise-blue heated pool and a jacuzzi surrounded by a spacious deck equipped with wooden sunbeds and blue and white ceramic side tables.
Next to the pool, located in a former annexe of the industrial unit, the Saboaria Spa invites guests to a moment of self-care.
Here, the focus on well-being is linked to the history of the old soap factory. Available treatments include facials, full-body massages, and signature therapies using d’Natureza olive oil, essential oils, and vegetable butters crafted from aromatic and medicinal plants from the Lousã mountains.
Soon, guests will be able to purchase many of the products used in the spa, allowing them to recreate the Saboaria sensory experience at home. The spa’s facilities also include a jacuzzi and a Turkish bath. Other beauty and well-being services, such as yoga classes, Pilates, personal training, shiatsu, and osteopathy classes, are available upon request.
The hotel has created various activities inspired by its history in collaboration with local artisans, artists and therapists, including an unmissable soap-making workshop.
This activity, organised by Juliana D’Ara of Atelier 7 Artes, teaches guests how to make solid soap using natural materials. During the workshop, they are encouraged to choose their scents, stir the wax, add dried flowers for decoration, and at the end, get to take their creations home.
There are also live music moments in the garden, accompanied by cold drinks and snacks. And, early on Saturday mornings (8.30am),professor Luís Guilherme teaches relaxation techniques.
As for the future, the entrepreneurial trio already has new projects up its sleeves. Passionate about the stories spaces tell, they are working on bringing the charm of yet more old buildings into the 21st century without losing sight of their history.
Soon, they will open two more five-star hotels in Porto. The first one is Arnaldo, a 50-room hotel located in Guindais, next to the Ceuta tunnel, and the second will be named Fábrica, offering 44 rooms.
But they won’t stop there. They have also planned to spread their business to the south. For now, they will focus on Alcantara, in Lisbon, where they are developing a five-star aparthotel, and Tentugal, where they will create their first project combining accommodation with space for art residencies.
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