Things To Do
Travel Portland website
Check out the travel Portland website for some great recommendations beyond our own Portland knowledge! https://www.travelportland.com/culture/
McMenamins Kennedy School Soaking Pool
Outdoor Soaking Pool located at McMenamin's Kennedy School Hotel. It's open to the public for $8/person which gets you a 1 hour soak. You have to make a reservation. They allow drinks in the pool; they also have a restaurant if you want to grab food after. In our experience, this place is great in all weather unless it's super hot out.
Maruti Indian Restaurant
Best vegetarian indian food
Kinboshi Ramen
Our favorite Neighborhood Ramen Spot
¿Por Qué No?
Hip Taco joint. There are 2 locations in Portland - one here on Hawthorne, the other here on Missippi: 3524 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97227
Taquería Los Puñales
Taco spot on Belmont. Great margaritas here!!
NORMANDIE
French inspired culinary delight! A little pricey but SO delicious
BAES Fried Chicken
Fried Chicken! There are a few Baes locations in Portland.
Rimsky-Korsakoffee House
Eccentric coffee/desserts spot. A relic of "Old Portland". It's in an old house and in our experience, there is ALWAYS a line. FYI!!
Jinju Patisserie
Asian bakery in a hip area (N. Williams Ave)
Sweetpea Baking Co.
This is an amazing vegan bakery!
Pine State Biscuits | Division
Legendary breakfast spot specializing in biscuits & gravy. Beware of lines / this is a popular spot
Fat Straw
Bubble Tea spot with limited food menu
McMenamins Bagdad Theater & Pub
An artsy movie theater with a lively bar in a happenin' part of Hawthorne
Rum Club
Cocktail bar!
Bible Club PDX
This is a speakeasy with a charming 1920's prohibition-era atmosphere. Large cocktail menu! This place can be busy on weekends
The Coffin Club
Dark Goth bar with horror-themed decor, hosting concerts etc. Keeping Portland weird!
The Sweet Hereafter
Bar on Belmont with nice atmosphere
Aalto Lounge
Cool bar with patio out back
Doug Fir Lounge
Centrally located bar with cozy / rustic vibes and live music. Log cabin style
ENSO Winery
Cool winery right near our house.
Laurelthirst Public House
Cozy yet bustling pub with live music and craft brews
10 Barrel Brewing Portland - Rooftop Patio
This is a fun brewery that has rooftop patio! It's located on 13th Ave on Portland's west side, which is known as "Brewery Blocks". Recently, the street has been closed off to cars for pedestrian-friendly brewery explorations!
Roof Deck at Revolution Hall
This is a rooftop bar with a great view! It's always really busy and it's full of people taking pictures...however, the view is really killer. Come at an odd hour to get a seat by the edge! Note: they only sell drinks on roof deck, but you can buy food at the bars on the ground level and bring it up with you.
Tope (Rooftop Restaurant/Bar)
Tope is the restaurant/bar on the roof top of The Hoxton Hotel. Tacos with a view!? This place is on the pricier side FYI
Mox Boarding House
This is a board game bar. You show up and there is a full food and drink menu, and they have a huge library of board games that you can borrow for free while you're there. Good atmosphere!
QuarterWorld Arcade
Arcade Bar!
Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade and Bar
2-story classic arcade bar with vintage games and pinball; located downtown
Mississippi Marketplace Food Truck Pod
A great food truck pod with great atmosphere on Mississippi that is close to a lot of other great bars / restaurants / retail.
Hawthorne Asylum Food Truck Pod
Food Truck pod with a ton of options. there are like 20 + options here. Outdoor seating; good atmosphere! This is right across the street from another great (but much smaller) food truck pod called Cartopia.
CARTOPIA
Great food truck pod with leafy, lush atmosphere. About 7 food trucks here - don't miss the dessert truck with churro sundaes!
Pod 28 Laurelhurst Food Carts
Food truck pod with nice atmosphere near Laurelhurst Park and a ton of other restaurants on SE 28th / Burnside
Laurelhurst Park
Large, lush, picturesque park with mature trees, duck ponds, and rolling lawns; great for a picnic or a stroll; There are outdoor comedy / music / theater events held here in the summer
The Fields Park
Relaxing urban park in the Pearl District; close to 2 other parks. Tanner Springs Park and Jamison Square. All of these parks are small - about 1 block x 1 block
Tanner Springs Park
urban park in the Pearl District
Lan Su Chinese Garden
We have heard this garden is great. It is a traditional walled garden and has an entry fee. FYI the area around this beautiful garden is dilapidated / sketchy and there are hardly any remnants of what was once Portland's Chinatown.
Portland Japanese Garden
World renowned Japanese Garden. Right nextdoor to the Rose Garden and Washington Park.
Oregon Zoo
Portland Saturday Market
every Saturday! This is a market with art / crafts; there is also a market on the weekend nearby that is more focused on food / vegetables / flowers: PSU Farmer's Market. These are both on the west side of the Willamette River (downtown Portland)
Half Day Excursion: Multnomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge
30-40 minute drive from Portland. Multnomah Falls is the most impressive of the Columbia Gorge waterfalls - but there are a number of others within a 10/15 minute drive of this one! Some others: Wahclella Falls, Punchbowl Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Latourell Falls, etc. 50000 Historic Columbia River Hwy, Bridal Veil, OR 97010
Day Trip Excursion: Silver Falls State Park
One of the most beautiful places in Oregon. Great day trip! Multiple enormous waterfalls and at least 3 that you can walk behind. Look up the "Trail of 10 Falls" https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Trail_of_Ten_Falls_Loop_Hike 20024 Silver Falls Highway Southeast, Sublimity, Oregon, 97385