The iStay Hotel is housed in a seven-floor building with a top-floor wraparound terrace that offers lovely views of the historic district. There's a modern lobby with bright-red chairs and a reception desk done in purple and orange. It's a pleasant enough space to sit for a few moments to relax or to check email on the public computer. Another gathering spot is in the breakfast room, a rather bland-looking space in a windowless basement that feels a bit like a bunker. The hotel tends to draw younger leisure travelers looking for a convenient and affordable stay who don't mind skipping the extras. 

The iStay is just outside of Old Town in an area filled with coffee shops, restaurants, and bars, a little less than a five-minute walk from the Rua de Santa Catarina shopping street. Public transportation is close at hand: the Porto FlixBus station is less than a one-minute walk, Batalha funicular to Guindais is a four-minute stroll, and the Bolhao bus stop (service to the airport) is 10 minutes on foot. It takes roughly seven minutes to walk to Porto–Sao Bento station, and Porto's main square, Praca da Liberdade (Liberty Square), is just northwest of the station. 

Porto Cathedral, perched on a rock overlooking the city, is an eight-minute walk. Other top sights within a 15-minute walk include: Igreja da Misericordia; Teatro Marionetas do Porto (Marionette Theater); Infante D. Henrique Square; Bolsa Palace; Church of St. Francis; Ribeira Square; River Douro; and Dom Luis I Bridge. Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport is about a 25-minute drive or 45 minutes by bus from the iStay. 

Guest rooms at the iStay Hotel feature bright-orange doors with room numbers notated in a distinctive decimal format (like 3.7 instead of 37). Their neutral, beige-and-while backdrop is livened-up with details like pale-green curtains and splashes of bright orange and purple on bedding, furniture, and accent walls. Units are clean and well-maintained, but overall look may feel more spartan than minimalist-modern to some. All have open clothing racks rather than closets or wardrobes, and they lack amenities like mini-fridges, electric kettles, and safes that some other city hotels at this pearl-level have. Air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi, come standard, and some feature views of the surrounding area's red-roof buildings. Bathrooms have a striking look, done in a combination of stark-white and orange so bright it borders on neon. All contain stall showers and hairdryers, but they lack toiletries. 

The iStay is a budget hotel with limited property features. It has no leisure facilities or full-service restaurant, but it serves a continental breakfast for an extra charge with croissants, fresh fruit, a wide range of other cold items, and hot and cold beverages. The hotel also has a top-floor terrace (though no tables or chairs), public computer, vending machines, luggage storage, and a 24-hour front desk with tourist assistance. Indoor parking is available for a fee, and there's free Wi-Fi throughout.