Spontaneous Spree: Porto

Cork magazine holder by António Brito

Located in the heart of Porto and founded by interior designer and neuroarchitecture specialist Diva Cruz, Suuuper is a concept store that goes beyond traditional retail; its collection is curated with the philosophy of ‘designing for happiness’, and each item is carefully chosen not just for its aesthetic appeal, but for the positive emotional and psychological stimuli it brings to your space. Objects are smooth, tactile and architectural, and often made from natural materials, such as rattan, ceramic, and cork. Wallpaper* is choosing the cork magazine holder made from natural cork and handcrafted by designer- maker António Brito.

Porto T-shirt by 002 Distortion

Lufalufa was born in 2015 in the city of Porto, founded by three creatives who prioritise minimalism, geometry and typography. Their range of T-shirts is designed and produced in Portugal and engineered for low environmental impact. We like the brand’s ‘Porto’ shirt, its ‘O’ represented by the red Port stain from a wine glass.

‘Alton’ table lamp by Mercado Loft Store

A home decor and interior design atelier and store, Porto’s Mercado Loft Store produces its own furniture and products, stocked alongside unique new and antique pieces acquired in Portugal, Africa, and Asia. We’re taking this ‘Alton’ table lamp with its smoked opal glass bulb home in our hand luggage.

Fruit basket by Hija

The founders of the Coração Alecrim store believe Portugal has a lot to offer to the world. Showcasing local craft and expertise, the store prioritises sustainable products, immersed in beauty, simplicity and zingy colours. These fruit baskets – a lemon, a lime, an apple, a plum and an orange – are hand-woven in palm fibre.

Wooden ‘Moore’ bag by CRU

Porto’s CRU Store and CRU Creative Hub prioritise high quality, coherence and originality from the Portuguese design scene. This wooden ‘Moore’ bag is designed in-house and handmade in ziricote wood by a family of artisans from Barcelos. The father is the carpenter, his two daughters and son-in-law work on the creative side.

Banho citron verbena soap by Claus Porto

Have an invigorating hot-towel wet shave, then indulge yourself further with a restock of Portuguese soaps, perfumes, lotions and unguents. Claus Porto’s beautifully packaged products are a Porto signature. The Banho soap – scented with the brand’s eponymous best-selling fragrance – has top notes of lemon, orange, grapefruit and verbena, and contains shea oil for a smooth, nourishing lather.

Embroidered bag by Isilda Parente

Ex-journalist Catarina Portas founded A Vida Portuguesa after a thorough investigation of classic and beloved Portuguese products. She sought out made-in-Portugal items that had been around for decades, had kept their original packaging and were still manufactured using time-honoured techniques and formulas. Now a five-store concern, the brand was born, says Portas, ‘from the belief that there is a future for Portuguese products’. This bag by Isilda Parente has a typically quirky story; instead of napkin holders, these elegant little bags did the trick of embellishing a dinner table while keeping the napkins out of dust’s way. They are available in white or beige linen cloth, with colourful embroidered motifs – and they also double as a purse.

‘Alma do Porto’ tableware by Vista Alegre

Vista Alegre, a luxury Portuguese porcelain manufacturer located in Ílhavo, south of Porto, specialises in colourful and decorative tableware. The house’s ‘Alma do Porto’ is a collection of cups, plates and saucers based on the city’s architectural and cultural icons; take a tabletop tour around the Sé cathedral, the Port wine cellars and street kiosks, followed by a (ceramic) rabelo boat ride on the river Douro with its magnificent Dom Luís bridge.