Travel Guide: A Weekend in Portland
Is it possible that I could still be full from my trip to Portland a few weeks ago? We ate ALL. THE. THINGS! You always hear people saying that Portland has an amazing food scene and now I can truly vouch for that (my tummy, too!). I’m not 100% sure why it is but in chatting with some of the locals it seems like a lot of amazing NY chefs move to Portland to open restaurants because the cost is much less. Whatever the reason is, I’m here for it. Welcome to the west coast, culinary masters!
Other then the food scene there’s so much nature to be had and WINE… oh boy, did we wine! It’s always nice to visit a new city with a local. Shout out to my friend Ashley (we met in Haiti), a Portland native, who created our amazing weekend itinerary.
Keep scrolling for a great long weekend itinerary plus over 75 recs from the EDPfam and spots I’ve hit on previous Portland trips.
P:S: you can see all our activities on my Portland Highlight on IG
For this trip we stayed at the Woodlark Hotel in downtown which was perfectly central to ALL. THE. THINGS. Check out my hotel diary here.
Day 1:
Lunch at Pine Street Market: It’s a great food hall with a ton of different casual food options AND Salt + Straw’s only soft serve location: Wizbangbar. We opted for tacos which were delish and, of course, some soft serve; the first of many amazing ice cream treats during our trip.
Dinner at Palomar: yummy cuban restaurant. The guava daiquiri is strong and worth the brain freeze. Word is that they also have a rooftop bar but it was closed when we went.
Day 2:
Drive to the Vista House: for a gorgeous view of the Columbia River. It’s a little touristy but so worth it to take in the scenery.
Pay a visit to Multnoma Falls: waterfall located on Multnomah Creek in the Columbia River Gorge. Nature at it’s finest if I might say! It’s a just a skip and a jump away from the Vista House so you can do them in one swoop then head back into the city for lunch.
Stop for lunch at Sugarpine Drive In : the menu is fresh and delicious American food like sammies, saladsa, and soft serve (of course). Rumor has it there’s an off-the-menu drumstick soft serve order! They also have froze which we 100% indulged in.
Don’t miss dinner at Tusk: a very highly recommended mediterranean restaurant that did not disappoint. Whatever you do get the baked cheese.
After dinner drinks at Hey love: great cocktails and great vibe. They call it a cocktail bar and house party all in one. The music genre changes nightly and there’s always a fun party on Sundays.
Day 3: Wine tasting day!
Probably best to rent a driver for this day. We did that super last minute but a quick google will give you plenty of options. One of the wineries also lets you bring in your own food, so we packed a big cooler full of cheese, charcuterie and all the accoutrements.
Stop 1: Argyle - known for their bubbles. Great place to start and kick off the day. There’s some open area that is great if you have kids.
Stop 2: Stoller - this place is STUNNING. It’s a full estate with a ton of open outdoor seating. Grab a picnic table, open up your cooler and enjoy. Honestly it made the most sense to just buy a bottle and enjoy with our food. The price was pretty reasonable, too! VERY family friendly. If I lived in Portland I would be here every weekend.
Stop 3: White Rose Estate - the views are insane; it feels like Tuscany or the South of France. Much smaller tasting area and the price point is on the high end.
Stop 4: Ponzi - another stunning property. We were a bit tired/tipsy at this point but I would definitely go back.
Soak up the wine with dinner at Tasty + Adler: centrally located in downtown with a savory menu filled with country style items. Andy and I went here last fall when we road-tripped through Portland. It’s indulgent!
Day 4:
By day 4 you should be really full - hah! But it’s the last day to eat, so WHEN IN PORTLAND …
Brunch it at Hunnymilk: probably the best brunch I’ve ever had. It’s a pre-fixe for $23 with a sweet and savory option. They also start you off with churros and chocolate dip… so there’s that.
Walk around downtown and check-out the cute shops, Powells Bookstore, and have ice cream at Ruby Jewel.
Pre-dinner dranks at the Hoxton Hotel rooftop: great vibe, gorgeous view, and a lovely cocktails.
Eat one last time at Bamboo: delish Sushi spot in downtown. Garden of Eden roll, fried Cauliflower and Tuna Poke were excellent.
Close out that night at Abigail Hall: v chic cocktail bar in the Woodlark Hotel. Unique and sophisticated cocktails. Great for an after dinner cocktail or two.
TO EAT + DRINKS:
Pine Street Market - food hall for great casual dining plus Salt + Straw’s Wizbangbar.
Palomar - cuban restaurant with rooftop bar. The guava daiquiri is strong and worth the brain freeze
Sugarpine Drive In - great for lunch. the menu is fresh and delicious American food like sammies, saladsa, and soft serve
Tusk: mediterranean restaurant that does not disappoint. Whatever you do get the baked cheese. Don’t forget a reservation
Hey love: great cocktails and great vibe
Argyle Winery - known for their bubbles
Stoller Estate - stunning, great for kids, and allows outside food
White Rose Estate - higher price point wine with insane views of rolling hills and vineyards
Tasty + Adler - centrally located in downtown with a savory menu filled with country style item
Hunnymilk - probably the best brunch I’ve ever had. It’s a pre-fixe for $23 with a sweet and savory option
Hoxton Hotel rooftop - great vibe, gorgeous view, and a lovely cocktails
Bamboo - delish Sushi spot in downtown. Garden of Eden roll, fried Cauliflower and Tuna Poke were excellent
Abigail Hall - v chic cocktail bar in the Woodlark Hotel. Unique and sophisticated cocktails. Great for an after dinner cocktail or two.
Recs from the EDPfam:
Proud Mary USA - amazing brunch
Stella Taco - lunch spot
Kens Artisan
Cheese and Crack - froze + torched brie
Piazza Italia
Andinas
Whiskey Library - put your name in right when it opens
10 Barrel - get the pastrami fries
Brewery Blocks
Toro Bravo - best tapas
Pepe Le Moko - cocktails
Fifty Licks Ice Cream
Rudy's Pizza
Beirstein Bagels
Tope
Afuri
Eem
Enoteca Nostrana
Ok Omens
Departure
Urban Farmer
Pine st 8 Biscuits
Beast
Nongs
Hat Yai
Imperial - dinner
Ava Gene's - make reservation
Pa Dee - Thai
Navarre- Underrated
Casa Zoraya - Peruvian Food
Pok Pok - Chicken Wings
Lechon
Besaws - Brunch
Breakside Brewery
Grassa
Shalom Yall
Hale Pepe
Oven and Shaker
Hairy Lobster
Romtoms
Church
Doug Fir Lounge
Revelry
Punchbowl Social
Tilt - good friend chicken
Dixie Tavern
Deschutes - amazing beer
Ruby Jewel - Ice cream
Le Bistro Montage
The Barrel Room - dueling pianos, fun bar
XLB - best dumplings
Wailua Shaved Ice
Por Que No
Fried Egg Love - best breakfast sandwiches
La Neta
Olympia Provisions
Huber's- spanish coffee
Canard - brunch
Kachka - infused vodka shots, potato pancakes and caviar
Noble Rot - wine + views
Cartopia
Waffle Window
Great Notion - good beer
Quarter World
A cena - local winery that’s fun for wine tasting
Altabira
Kiosko Cafe - great little coffee shop at the waterfront
Pambiche - delicious Cuban
Taqueria Nieve - good Mexican
TO PLAY + STAY:
Woodlark Hotel - beautiful hotel in the heart of downtown. Very much OUR vibe with minimal decor and tons of greenery throughout the hotel. Checkout my full hotel diary here.
Ace Hotel - if you’ve ever been to an Ace property their branding runs strong. Andy and I stayed here last fall and enjoyed how central the location was plus the coffee shop attached.
Vista House - gorgeous view of the Columbia River
Multnoma Falls - waterfall located on Multnomah Creek in the Columbia River Gorge.
Recs from the EDPfam:
Hike in the Columbia River Gorge + stop at Thunder Island Brewing Co.
Portland Flea Market - last Sunday of every Month
Shop - there’s not sales tax!!
Hawthorne, Alberta, NW23rd - great spots for shipping
Artifact: Creative Recycle - vintage shopping