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Restaurants, Shops & Hotels we Love

Staff Recommendations

Restaurants, Shops & Hotels we Love

Staff Recommendations

Staff Recommendations

Our Recommended Spots To Visit


Willamette Valley (Newberg, Dundee, McMinnville)

Places to Stay:

Neighborhoods to check out:

  • McMinnville, Dundee, and Newberg are the main neighboring towns along 99W through the valley. All are home to tasting rooms and wineries, as well as some amazing restaurants and shops.

Restaurants in Newberg:

Restaurants in Dundee:

Restaurants in McMinnville:

Something fun:

  • Silver Falls State Park is a bit of a drive, but a beautiful spot to take in some of Oregon’s famous waterfalls.

Northwest Portland

Places to Stay:

Neighborhood to check out:

  • Nob Hill/ NW 23rd Avenue: While the Pearl District and Old Town are great, NW 23rd Ave offers a fantastic array of restaurants and shops, with a truly Portland feel.

Restaurants:

  • Get Cozy: The Fireside. Cozy, upscale gastropub with a great wine and cocktail list.
  • Dine with the locals: Grassa. Homemade pasta served at family-style tables.
  • Sweet tooth: Papa Haydn. European cakes and treats.
  • Different Libation: Breakside Brewery. Home of Portland’s favorite IPAs, get a flight and a burger and watch the brewers from your table.

Something fun:

Southwest Portland & Downtown

Places to Stay:

Neighborhood to check out:

  • Downtown Portland. With all the amenities of any major city, Downtown Portland is a great place to base yourself to explore Portland.

Restaurants:

  • Old world Portland: Huber’s. Old school and funky, you’ll get a show as well as a drink when you order the Spanish Coffee
    Upscale and award-winning:
  • Imperial & Departure Restaurant & Lounge. Both attached to hotels, run by a James Beard winner and nominee respectively, these are musts for the culinary buff.
  • Cocktails with a view: Portland City Grill. On the 30th floor, we recommend going for a happy hour to catch a view like no other.
  • Brunch: Mother’s Bistro. Brunch that is worth the wait
  • Something different: Jake’s Famous Crawfish. This funky spot flies locally caught fish in daily and has been a Portland staple for over 100 years.

Something fun:

Southeast Portland

Places to Stay:

  • Being more residential, we recommend checking out either a B&B or vacation rental for this neighborhood or staying in nearby Northeast Portland.

Neighborhood to check out:

  • Division/Clinton: SE Division Street is a relatively new Portland destination, but it has quickly become home to some of the most amazing restaurants.

Restaurants:

  • Portland Hype: Pok Pok. Yes, the chicken wings are worth the wait. So is the fact that you can wait for your table at nearby sister restaurant and cocktail bar, Whiskey Soda Lounge.
  • Something different: Kachka. Upscale Russian cuisine and a killer vodka list.
  • Sweet Tooth: Lauretta Jean’s. Go for the pie, stay for the hot toddies.
  • Wine fix: Bar Avignon. Pair a great Willamette wine with some Pacific Northwest oysters for a classic Oregon experience
  • Morning pick me up: The Country Cat. Homestyle breakfast (or any meal) as it should be.
  • Portland staple: Le Pigeon. Centrally located Portland stand out.

Something fun:

  • If you want one of the best views of the city and are up for a bit of a jaunt, spend an afternoon hiking Mt Tabor, or see the city from river level by taking a stroll across the Tilikum Crossing Bridge, the first major bridge in the US not to allow cars.

Northeast Portland

Places to Stay:

Neighborhood to check out:

  • Alberta Arts District. Full of shops, restaurants, and art galleries, NE Alberta Street is home to the Alberta Street Fair, a must if you find yourself in town on the last Thursday of any month.

Restaurants:

  • Breakfast: Pine State Biscuits. This spot is good any time of day, especially if you’ve had a bit too much wine the night before and need a biscuit the size of your head.
  • Fun and Funky: Bollywood Theater. Indian street food with a Portland twist.
  • Upscale Portland Classic: Aviary. Small plates, fusing Asian, American, and Middle Eastern cuisines.
  • Dress to Impress: Toro Bravo. Tapas and wine. Sign us up!
  • Pizza: Pizza Jerk. Classic pizza in a classic pizza joint. Bring the whole family.

Something fun:

  • If you are a basketball fan and the Trailblazers are playing, tickets are usually pretty easy to get last minute, and the Moda Center is very convenient to any part of the city.
  • If you are feeling something a little more mellow, we recommend an afternoon walk through Laurelhurst Park, followed by a movie at the Hollywood Theatre, a beautifully restored, historically listed 1926 theater.

North Portland

Places to Stay:

  • Since North Portland is still growing, we recommend staying in a vacation rental or in nearby Northeast Portland, which is within walking distance to all that North Portland has to offer.

Neighborhood to check out:

  • Mississippi: N Mississippi Avenue is a great spot to take in all that makes Portland unique. From award-winning restaurants and breweries to local boutiques and off the beaten track music venues, this street is a favorite of locals to do some great people watching. There’s even a light shop where the owner will read your aura tell you which lights will help balance you!

Restaurants:

  • Quick stop: Ruby Jewels. Local ice cream. Try an ice cream sandwich paired with some window shopping on a nice day.
  • Fun for everyone: Ecliptic Brewing. An award-winning brewery from the ‘Godfather of Portland Beer’, John Harris. All day happy hour on Monday, and home of the top-rated pub burger in town.
  • Brunch: Gravy. One of the best brunch spots around, so we recommend getting there early. The name says it all, get the gravy on everything.
  • Unique Dinner: Uchu Sushi & Fried Chicken. Don’t let the combo scare you off, these guys know what they are doing with both. The ramen is also a must on a cold day.

Something fun:

  • Sunlan Lighting, where owner Kay will read your aura and direct you to different light shades to help you balance your life.
  • Or if you are looking for some nightlife, check out Mississippi Studios, an old Baptist church turned intimate music venue.