Explore Portland

Portland, which has always taken great pride in its eccentricities and refusal to adhere to the norm, is known for inspiring some of the greatest minds on the map — musicians, designers, chefs and revolutionaries — which is why so many exceptional creatives choose to call this extraordinary city home. Visitors are therefore fortunate enough to have access to some of the most cutting-edge cuisine, tipples, fashion and art in the region and beyond. And if you’re looking for the kind of inspiration that fresh air and fir trees offer, Portland has it in spades, with sprawling urban green spaces only steps from downtown. Check out our guide below for our best recommendations for the city that sparks invention.

As you plan future trips, please double check with the featured businesses' websites as, given safety measures in place and state regulations, hours and operations may be affected. 

  • Sentinel

    Jake’s Grill

    Address: 614 SW 11th Ave. Portland, OR, 97205

    Known for serving some of the best steak and seafood in the city, Jake’s Grill is also an outstanding spot for grabbing a craft beer or a cocktail (they have quite an extensive selection of whiskies). They serve happy hour all day on Sundays, and the happy hour menu includes some of their most popular dishes. Jake’s also serves an enticing full brunch.


    Fortune

    Address: 614 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

    Bringing its new energy, good vibes, mixed beats and creatively crafted food and beverages, Fortune is located in the lobby of Sentinel. Find renowned chef Jewan Manuel – aka Plant Based Papi – who has been making waves in Portland’s culinary scene with his inventive vegan menus.


    Andina

    Address: 1314 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR 97209

    Serving “novo-Peruvian” cuisine, Andina’s dishes are unparalleled. Most of the menu is friendly to the gluten intolerant, but you’d never miss the ingredient, as the flavors are so intoxicating and rich and the textures so engaging. Half of the menu is tapas and half is entrees, and you can certainly make a dinner out of an exploration of their fascinating tapas plates — but don’t neglect their excellent cocktail menu.


    Mediterranean Exploration Co.

    Address: 333 NW 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97209

    With a unique and innovative menu featuring cuisine from Greece, Turkey and Israel, Mediterranean Exploration Co. pays homage to the explorers of yesterday who traversed the beautiful Mediterranean region. Expect unexpected dishes that are perfectly seasoned and stunningly presented. The Chef’s Tasting Menu is a superb deal if you don’t mind letting the chef choose your dishes.


    Enoteca Nostrana

    Address: 1401 SE Morrison St #105, Portland, OR 97214

    Next door to the wildly popular Southeast Portland Italian restaurant, Nostrana, Enoteca Nostrana has one of the most extensive wine lists in the city, with a focus on Italian reds. Sidle up to the bar for happy hour (4-6pm) and you can indulge in their very authentic pizzas. Their regular menu features traditional small plates and comforting pasta dishes.


    Hat Yai

    Address: 605 SE Belmont St., Portland, OR 97214

    If you’re a fan of crispy fried chicken (and who isn’t), you must try Hat Yai’s Thai-style bird. Marinaded in a garlicky sauce, with a light-as-air rice flour breading, it’s then double fried and served with a sweet-and-spicy dipping sauce — it’s an irresistible version of the favorite dish that might make you forgo all others. In addition to their famous chicken, Hat Yai also serves a number of fantastic traditional Thai dishes, along with beer and wine.


    Langbaan

    Address: 6 SE 28th Ave, Portland, OR 97214

    A meal at the intimate, 24-seat Langbaan is one of the best experiences you can have in Portland. Chef Earl Ninsom’s Issan Thai menu is like nothing you’ve ever tasted — medleys of imaginative flavors and textures and explosions of spices and fresh ingredients. The restaurant is generally booked out a few months in advance, so make your reservation as soon as you’ve booked your trip to Portland — your foresight will be handsomely rewarded.


    G-Love

    Address: 1615 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209

    Touting themselves as Portland’s first ever “Reverse Steakhouse,” G-Love’s mainly vegetarian menu puts the spotlight on locally grown and farm-sourced produce, with the cooks putting in shifts at a partner farm in Silverton. Carnivores won’t miss the meat here, with filling, creative dishes with a focus on freshness. G-Love also serves craft beer, cider and wine.


    Le Pigeon

    Address: 738 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214

    Le Pigeon is a beloved Portland fine-dining favorite, first opened in 2006 by James Beard Award-winner Gabriel Rucker. Serving cheerful French dishes in a tiny space, Le Pigeon is still at the top of most critics’ best restaurants lists. Try their five- or seven-course tasting menus, and if you’re lucky, sit at the chef’s counter and watch the magic happen.


    OX

    Address: 2225 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97212

    Led by James Beard Award-winning duo, Chefs Greg and Gabrielle Denton, OX brings exciting and carefully crafted Argentinian wood-fired grilling traditions to Portland, while showcasing local and seasonal ingredients. The menu may be upscale and scrupulously presented, but Ox is full of friendly, welcoming energy, and you’ll find yourself feeling at home — and immediately uplifted.


    Grits N' Gravy

    Address: 215 SW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97204

    Serving delicious southern breakfast food in Portland, OR. from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM daily.


    Akadi

    Address: 1001 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202

    Low-key eatery serving traditional African grub such as samusas, attiéké, fried fish & plantains.


    Kann

    Address: 548 SE Ash St, Portland, OR 97214

    Haitian cuisine meets Pacific Northwest bounty at kann, a live-fire restaurant from James Beard Award winning chef Gregory Gourdet. The restaurant honors his heritage and culture while also honoring the seasons and local ingredients of Oregon.


    Blue Star Donuts

    Address: 3325 SE Division St., Suite 1, Portland, OR 97202

    Blue Star is a gourmet donut shop that makes incredible yeasted and cake donuts from scratch, with fresh fruits, herbs and spices, even liqueurs. You must try the Cointreau Crème Brûlée donut, a signature brioche shell filled with fresh custard, hand torched for that bruléed sugar crust that we all adore so much — with a pipette of Cointreau inserted into the top. Give it a squeeze to make it extra special!

    • Sentinel

      Multnomah Whiskey Library

      Address: 1122 SW Alder St, Portland, OR 97205

      Situated in the heart of downtown, Multnomah Whiskey Library has a head-spinning inventory of spirits, with rare bottles that would make Raymond Chandler’s knees weak. Sit and sip from a Lagavulin neat or a cocktail, and watch as the expert bartenders slide along the floor-to-ceiling shelves on ladders, plucking up glinting bottles like treasure.


      Green Room

      Address: 1122 SW Alder St, Portland, OR 97205

      Located beneath the Multnomah Whiskey Library, The Green Room provides the same impeccable experience, delivered in a bright and relaxed atmosphere.


      Pepe Le Moko

      Address: 407 SW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

      Underneath the famous Clyde Common restaurant, you’ll find the tiny (only 42 seats) speakeasy helmed by acclaimed barman Jeffery Morgenthaler, Pepe Le Moko. The tunnel-like design feels like a cross between a subway car and a cozy diner, but it’s Jeffery’s cocktails that are the true star of this spot. Try his version of the Long Island Iced Tea, made with top-shelf liquors and Cointreau.


      Fortune

      Address: 614 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

      Located in the lobby of Sentine, DJs spin dance tunes at this snug club with sleek decor serving up craft cocktails and plant based fare.


      Angel Face

      Address: 14 NE 28th Ave, Portland, OR 97232

      When you walk up to the large, oval bar inside the charmingly floral Angel Face, you won’t see a drink menu. Instead, the bartender might ask you how you’re feeling today, or what sort of things bring you joy. They will ask you what your favorite flavors are, your favorite types of liquor. And then you will be presented with a cocktail tailor made for you by your expert mixologist, and it — of course — will be perfect.


      Deadshot

      Address: 2133 SE 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97214

      With some of the most uniquely delicious craft cocktails we’ve ever tasted, Deadshot is a must-visit if you’re imbibing on the east side. The Who is Jack Nance? Cocktail contains whiskey, sesame and mustard, and is fantastic, and the Double Feature has smoked cola and popcorn. Sophisticated palates must not miss out.


      Driftwood Room

      Address: 729 SW 15th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

      Swanky retro cocktail lounge in the Hotel deLuxe serving champagne cocktails & actor-named martinis.

    • Sentinel

      Domaine Serene

      Address: 1038 SW Alder St, Portland, OR 97205

      Popular, polished lounge at Sentinel Hotel with flights from Oregon wineries & elevated light fare.


      10th Ave. Liquor Store

      Address: 925 SW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

      Market offering liquor & craft beer, specializing in scotch, whiskey & locally made spirits.


      Abbey Creek: The Crick PDX

      Address: 912 SW Morrison St, Portland, OR 97205

      This downtown Portland tasting room is anything but your typical tasting room. Hip hop bumpin' all while maintaining a relaxed vibe.

    • Sentinel

      Freeland

      Address: 2671 NW Vaughn Street, Portland, OR 97209

      Freeland Free Spirits is a locally run, women-owned and -run distillery — one of very few women-owned and -run distilleries in the world. With gorgeous jewel-toned bottles of gin and bourbon, and cans of lovingly formulated cocktails created with locally sourced herbs and ingredients, any spirits connoisseur needs a Freeland creation in their suitcase.

    • Sentinel

      Stumptown

      Address: 1026 SW Harvey Milk St., Portland, OR 97205

      Located in the lobby of the Ace Hotel in downtown Portland. Relax with friends in overstuffed couches in the lobby or take your coffee to-go. With Powell’s Books and tons of great restaurants and shops nearby, it’s the perfect starting spot to explore Portland.


      Never Coffee

      Address: 537 SW 12th Ave., Portland, OR 97205

      Hip hangout with an understated vibe specializing in creatively flavored lattes.

    • Sentinel

      Cathedral Park

      Address: N Edison Street and N Pittsburg Avenue, Portland, OR 97203

      In North Portland, nestled under the Instagram-worthy St. Johns Bridge, you’ll find Cathedral Park. Named for the Gothic bridge supports that create the soaring cathedral-like arches, and situated on a Willamette River beach and across from the tree-lined hills of Forest Park, it’s arguably the most serene of all of Portland’s parks. Bring a picnic and sit on the grass, take a walk along the path, or catch the family-friendly Cathedral Park Jazz Festival every July.


      Tom McCall Waterfront Park

      Address: 98 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland, OR 97204

      Easily accessible to downtown, Tom McCall Waterfront Park runs adjacent to the Willamette River and is often bustling with joggers, cyclists, picnickers, and others who want to enjoy the fresh air and the water. You definitely do not want to miss it in the spring, when the park’s numerous cherry trees absolutely explode with blossoms — it’s a sight to behold.


      Hoyt Arboretum

      Address: 4000 SW Fairview Blvd, Portland, OR 97221

      With twelve miles of both relaxing and challenging hiking trails winding through 189 acres, Washington Park’s Hoyt Arboretum provides access to a globally diverse landscape, from stands of stately redwoods to groves of flowering dogwoods and cherries, exhibiting many rare and threatened species along the way.


      International Rose Test Garden

      Address: 400 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR 97205

      Located in Washington Park, the International Rose Test Garden is home to over 10,000 rose bushes of approximately 650 varieties. Visit between April and October to see the blooms, with the peak happening around June. Take a peaceful and fragrant stroll through the rows and forget your cares, enjoy the unbeatable skyline view, or snap some amazing floral selfies.


      Forest Park

      At 5,200 acres, Forest Park is the largest urban park in the country, and is a gorgeous, forested oasis alongside the city. Forest Park’s extensive system of trails, fire lanes and gravel roads provide excellent accessible opportunities for hiking, walking, running, and simply escaping the urban atmosphere. You’ll be amazed at the lush canopy of deep forest and ferns, wildlife and birdsong, just minutes from downtown.


      Laurelhurst Park

      Address: SE Cesar E Chavez Blvd & Stark St, Portland, OR 97214

      Laurelhurst Park is a peaceful, wooded, 26.81-acre city park in Southeast Portland’s Laurelhurst neighborhood. A paved walk runs around the perimeter of the park, perfect for walkers and joggers, and a large, grassy expanse is ideal for picnics and kids. Arguably the park’s most popular feature is the duck pond, with a resident cast of ducks, geese, fish and turtles.


      Washington Park

      Address: 4033 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, OR 97221

      Washington Park is an urban park that includes the Oregon Zoo, World Forestry Center, Hoyt Arboretum, Portland Children’s Museum, Rose Test Garden, Portland Japanese Garden, amphitheater, memorials, archery range, tennis courts, soccer field, picnic areas, playgrounds, public art and many acres of tranquil wild forest with miles of trails for hiking. It’s easily accessible via either car or Max from downtown.

    • Sentinel

      Cycle Portland

      Address: 117 NW 2nd Ave., Portland, OR 97204

      A full-service bike shop that also offers rentals, repairs, and awesome themed tours of the city, Cycle Portland is a must if you’re inclined to push the pedals in PDX. Show up hungry and take the Foodie Field Trip tour, which spans 7-8 miles and hits a number of local hotspots, or rent a set of wheels and set out on your own path — they have everything from easy-going e-bikes to uber-hip single speeds.


      BurnCycle

      Address: 910 NW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97209

      BurnCycle is a local fitness favorite — a signature 45-minute indoor cycling workout that incorporates drills to target your entire body. They’re all about community and positivity, so show up for this low-impact, high-intensity workout with a smile on your face, and you’ll be met with endless words of encouragement, and you’ll leave feeling like a million bucks — body and soul.


      Ground Kontrol

      Address: 115 NW 5th Ave., Portland, OR 97204

      Welcome to the West Coast’s premier retro arcade, with two stories of classic video games, pinball machines, a full bar, yummy eats, and live music. Play Atari and Nintendo Classic games from your youth while you snack on Frito pie and sip Montucky Cold Snacks. And if you’re lucky, you may even get to take part in a pinball tournament with some serious paddle pros.

    • Sentinel

      Serra Cannabis

      Address: 220 SW 1st Ave., Portland, OR 97204

      With a clean, light-filled, and modern design, Serra Cannabis is easy and comfortable to navigate, and makes it easy for newbies to cannabis to shop. Just fill out a Feelings card to help you express what kind of experience you’d like to have with your cannabis (relaxed, focused, creative, happy, energetic, or relief), and a guide will help you choose the appropriate strain to suit your needs.


      Kissing Booth

      Address: 1111 SW Alder St, Portland, OR 97205

      Vintage clothing store in Portland, Oregon


      Music Millenium

      Address: 3158 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214

      Founded in 1969 and the oldest record store in the Pacific Northwest, Music Millennium specializes in mostly underground music and homegrown Portland talents. Aside from hard-to-find vinyl and the latest new releases, you can also catch in-store performances at the shop from time to time.


      Portland Gear

      Address: 627 SW 19th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

      Originally stemming from a Portland-pride Instagram page, Portland Gear grew from the founder’s desire to wear his pride for his city on his sleeve. The logo, featuring a “P” with the outline of the state of Oregon, has since become synonymous with hometown pride in the City of Roses. Their store sells T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and accessories with trendy, Portland-centric designs you won’t find in any tourist shop.


      Bridge & Burn

      Address: 1029 SW Harvey Milk St, Portland, OR 97205

      Bridge & Burn’s clothing is inspired by Portland and the Pacific Northwest, with deep, earthy colors you might find on a hike through the Columbia River Gorge. The appealing, utilitarian designs are well made in small runs, and the flagship downtown Portland store offers a selection of local brands of the same stripe, such as Pendleton Woolen Mills and Kiriko.


      Francis May

      Address: 1136 SW Alder St, Portland, OR 97205

      Modern boutique with independent-designer tops, pants, knits, shoes & accessories for men & women.


      Steven Smith Teamaker

      Address: 110 SE Washington St, Portland, OR 97214

      If you’ve tried Steven Smith Teamaker teas at Provenance Hotels and loved the uniquely marvelous blends like Meadow and Portland Breakfast, you definitely need to visit the Smith Headquarters Southeast Portland Tasting Room. Take a factory tour, where you’ll learn all about sourcing, blending and producing their divine-smelling teas and tisanes, then take your newfound tea knowledge and enjoy a tea flight or a fancy tea mocktail.


      Tender Loving Empire

      Address: 412 SW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

      A local record label that’s also a local handmade goods shop — how very Portland! We dare you to walk into the boutique without uttering the word “cute” at least once; full of handmade jewelry, baby items and stuffies adorned with cheerful faces, intricately illustrated prints, apparel, candles and other housewares — we also dare you to leave without buying anything.


      Wildfang

      Address: 404 SW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

      WILDFANG is a whole mood. A female-founded, women-run clothing and lifestyle shop, Wildfang makes undeniably stylish clothes for gender-non-conforming womxn and tomboys. The Portland flagship store has a wall where you can carve your name and permanently make your mark, like the boss that you are!


      MAAK Lab

      Address: 916 W Burnside St, Portland, OR 97209

      A scent development lab that dispenses their experimental scents into high-quality candles, lotions, soaps, and more, MAAK Lab is hard to describe — apothecary, workshop, fragrance developer — all we know is that their signature soaps smell AMAZING. We like waking up and showering with the Coffee Bar, which is actually made with coffee and espresso beans.


      Drexler's

      Address: 712 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

      Shoe store in Portland, OR specializing in exclusive sneakers.

    • Sentinel

      Health & Safety

      If you are having a medical emergency, please dial 911 immediately.

      CVS Pharmacy (located inside Target)

      Address: 939 SW Morrison St, Portland, OR 97205

      A full service pharmacy located inside Target.

      ZOOM+Care

      Address: 202 NW 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97209

      Make an appointment online or walk-in.