Guidebook for Portland
Parks & Nature
If you want something in our green city that's a little more quiet and serene...
The first urban wildlife refuge in Portland. Wetlands and hiking trails, plus a bike path on the bank of the Willamette River. Good for bird watching, including egrets, hawks, osprey, shorebirds, gulls, terns, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, grebes, falcons, vultures, and other waterfowl. You may even see the elusive nutria or beavers!
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Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge
10830 Southeast Oaks Park WayThe first urban wildlife refuge in Portland. Wetlands and hiking trails, plus a bike path on the bank of the Willamette River. Good for bird watching, including egrets, hawks, osprey, shorebirds, gulls, terns, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, grebes, falcons, vultures, and other waterfowl. You may even see the elusive nutria or beavers!
Amazing hilltop park that's actually an extinct volcano! Beautiful woods with amazing views of downtown Portland, Mt. Hood, and surrounding areas. Catch the adult soap box derby once a year in the summer.
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Mount Tabor
Amazing hilltop park that's actually an extinct volcano! Beautiful woods with amazing views of downtown Portland, Mt. Hood, and surrounding areas. Catch the adult soap box derby once a year in the summer.
Sightseeing
Tilikum Crossing Bridge of the People is the largest car-free bridge in the United States! Beautiful view of the city. OMSI science museum and jet boat tours on the near side, Elephants Deli and Starbuck on the other along with the newest expansion of OHSU medical schools and cancer research center.
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Tilikum Crossing Bridge
Tilikum CrossingTilikum Crossing Bridge of the People is the largest car-free bridge in the United States! Beautiful view of the city. OMSI science museum and jet boat tours on the near side, Elephants Deli and Starbuck on the other along with the newest expansion of OHSU medical schools and cancer research center.
Gorgeous and expansive Japanese garden, renovated in 2017. Also see some amazing bonsai.
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Portland Japanese Garden
611 SW Kingston AveGorgeous and expansive Japanese garden, renovated in 2017. Also see some amazing bonsai.
Contained in one exquisitely pack city block, the garden was built by hand by 60 master craft workers from Portland's sister city Suzhou, the Grand Central of traditional Chinese gardens. A must see (if you like that sort of thing)!
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Lan Su Chinese Garden
239 NW Everett StContained in one exquisitely pack city block, the garden was built by hand by 60 master craft workers from Portland's sister city Suzhou, the Grand Central of traditional Chinese gardens. A must see (if you like that sort of thing)!
Our 64-acre (26 ha) zoo currently holds more than 1,800 animals of more than 230 species. if you catch the light-rail from downtown you'll go through the deepest transit stop in North America, and take the elevator 260 feet to the surface.
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Oregon Zoo
4001 SW Canyon RdOur 64-acre (26 ha) zoo currently holds more than 1,800 animals of more than 230 species. if you catch the light-rail from downtown you'll go through the deepest transit stop in North America, and take the elevator 260 feet to the surface.
Shopping
Local arts and crafts store, lots of fun to browse. There are many other boutique stores up and down Division and nearby Hawthorne streets.
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Collage
1639 NE Alberta StLocal arts and crafts store, lots of fun to browse. There are many other boutique stores up and down Division and nearby Hawthorne streets.
Essentials
Local grocery chain, similar to Whole Foods. Hot bar, salad bar, bakery, and deli.
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New Seasons Market
1954 SE Division StLocal grocery chain, similar to Whole Foods. Hot bar, salad bar, bakery, and deli.
Trader Joe's
2122 NW Glisan StSafeway
1030 SW Jefferson StWalgreens
5420 NE 33rd AveOld-school food co-op. A small farmer's market on Wednesdays, year-round with food, produce, and wares.
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People's Food Co-op
3029 SE 21st AveOld-school food co-op. A small farmer's market on Wednesdays, year-round with food, produce, and wares.
Entertainment & Activities
Oaks Amusement Park
7805 SE Oaks Park WayThe biggest farmers market around, it's a few blocks long and a block wide. Year-round on Saturdays on the main PSU campus downtown.
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Portland Farmers Market at PSU
1803 SW Park AveThe biggest farmers market around, it's a few blocks long and a block wide. Year-round on Saturdays on the main PSU campus downtown.
Some people book us for shows here. 1 mile away, on-street parking. We've taken the bus, the #9 will get you there or back in 5 min and runs often.
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Aladdin Theater
3017 SE Milwaukie AveSome people book us for shows here. 1 mile away, on-street parking. We've taken the bus, the #9 will get you there or back in 5 min and runs often.
Restaurants/Coffee/Beer
Most places are in a few miles or less. Take a look, and let us know if there's something else you're looking for or you have special dietary needs or preferences.
See Yelp and TripAdvisor for general recommendations, along with pdx.eater.com for the latest restaurant and gastronomy news.
"...this adorable corner bistro is one of the best seafood restaurants in town. Nearly all the fish and shellfish here is certified sustainable, ranging from small plates like smoked scallop ceviche with sprouted coriander to family-style feasts like whole cedar-plank-roasted trout with grilled lemons, skyr, and spicy harissa. And instead of treating the aquatic bounty with the usual greasy fry-up or butter-based sauces, preparations here hew to grilled, roasted, or raw, with a heavy emphasis on seasonal vegetables and herbs."
BON APPETIT
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Jacqueline
2039 SE Clinton St"...this adorable corner bistro is one of the best seafood restaurants in town. Nearly all the fish and shellfish here is certified sustainable, ranging from small plates like smoked scallop ceviche with sprouted coriander to family-style feasts like whole cedar-plank-roasted trout with grilled lemons, skyr, and spicy harissa. And instead of treating the aquatic bounty with the usual greasy fry-up or butter-based sauces, preparations here hew to grilled, roasted, or raw, with a heavy emphasis on seasonal vegetables and herbs."
BON APPETIT
Broder Café
2508 SE Clinton StUpscale Scandinavian brunch and lunch
Delicious small plate dishes and sushi. Also see Bamboi for another local sushi experience, or ask us for our secret discount spots.
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Yama Sushi & Izakaya
2038 SE Clinton StDelicious small plate dishes and sushi. Also see Bamboi for another local sushi experience, or ask us for our secret discount spots.
A short walk from our house on Gladstone. Closes at 8pm.
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Baan Thai | Restaurant and Bar
A short walk from our house on Gladstone. Closes at 8pm.
Sometimes you need fast food - local Portland burger chain. Drive-through open late
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Burgerville
1135 NE Martin Luther King Jr BlvdSometimes you need fast food - local Portland burger chain. Drive-through open late
8+ Latin American food carts, plus a beer/wine bar, grocery, fruit shakes, coffee, and more. A fav for our visiting friends and family.
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Portland Mercado
7238 SE Foster Rd8+ Latin American food carts, plus a beer/wine bar, grocery, fruit shakes, coffee, and more. A fav for our visiting friends and family.
Israeli vegan. We're not vegan and we can't stay away, they make amazing combinations of flavors and textures.
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AVIV
Israeli vegan. We're not vegan and we can't stay away, they make amazing combinations of flavors and textures.
Local breakfast every way. They cure their own ham and we love their Benedicts, also vegan/GF options.
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Genies Cafe
1101 SE Division StLocal breakfast every way. They cure their own ham and we love their Benedicts, also vegan/GF options.
Dedicated GF bakery cafe, just started shipping nationally. Baguettes! Challah! Pizza! ...and a whole lot more. As of 2020 they've moved to 25th & SE Division, just 0.8 miles away.
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New Cascadia Traditional
2502 Southeast Division StreetDedicated GF bakery cafe, just started shipping nationally. Baguettes! Challah! Pizza! ...and a whole lot more. As of 2020 they've moved to 25th & SE Division, just 0.8 miles away.
Brand new with 20 food carts and seating. Only tried a few, love the Punjabi cart.
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Hawthorne Asylum
1080 SE Madison StBrand new with 20 food carts and seating. Only tried a few, love the Punjabi cart.
I describe these as the donuts Martha Stewart wishes she could make. Everything is from scratch. Don't miss the location at the airport!
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Blue Star Donuts
3325 SE Division StI describe these as the donuts Martha Stewart wishes she could make. Everything is from scratch. Don't miss the location at the airport!
Iconic Portland Ice Cream, now expanded up and down the west coast. It started a few blocks from here as a pushcart in an abandoned gas station parking lot. If the line is only partway out the door, stop.
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Salt & Straw
2035 NE Alberta StIconic Portland Ice Cream, now expanded up and down the west coast. It started a few blocks from here as a pushcart in an abandoned gas station parking lot. If the line is only partway out the door, stop.
Great French bakery with a few GF options. Amazing pastries and other entrees.
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St. Honoré Bakery SE Division
3333 SE Division StGreat French bakery with a few GF options. Amazing pastries and other entrees.
The BEST pie in Portland, and I'll fight anyone that says otherwise. They start with an amazing butter crust and build up from there. Fruit! Creme! And more, plus pastries, cakes, coffee, beer, and wine.
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Lauretta Jean's
3402 SE Division StThe BEST pie in Portland, and I'll fight anyone that says otherwise. They start with an amazing butter crust and build up from there. Fruit! Creme! And more, plus pastries, cakes, coffee, beer, and wine.
Shhh - this little taco cart is delicious, and it's right down the street across from Reed College and a local fruit/vegetable stand. M-F only, but ask us about the one that's open Saturday.
El Pato Feliz Mobile
5523 SE 28th AveShhh - this little taco cart is delicious, and it's right down the street across from Reed College and a local fruit/vegetable stand. M-F only, but ask us about the one that's open Saturday.
They make their own flour tortillas that taste like eating a cloud, and fill them with bbq and/or eggs potato & cheese for breakfast. Local corn torillas as well. Delicious. See also Matt's BBQ cart on Mississippi, the mothership.
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Matt's BBQ Tacos
2216 SE Hawthorne BlvdThey make their own flour tortillas that taste like eating a cloud, and fill them with bbq and/or eggs potato & cheese for breakfast. Local corn torillas as well. Delicious. See also Matt's BBQ cart on Mississippi, the mothership.
Our favorite cute little neighborhood wine bar. Great selections and service.
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Bar Avignon
2138 SE Division StOur favorite cute little neighborhood wine bar. Great selections and service.
You've probably heard about it: it's very, very popular. Try it for a weekday lunch or expect a very long wait. Instead, look up HA VL or Rose VL for incredible soups, or try Master Kong or Chin's Kitchen for something different.
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Pok Pok
3226 SE Division StYou've probably heard about it: it's very, very popular. Try it for a weekday lunch or expect a very long wait. Instead, look up HA VL or Rose VL for incredible soups, or try Master Kong or Chin's Kitchen for something different.
Very nice little neighborhood restaurant, run by a Tuscan chef and his American wife. Great pastas.
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Burrasca
2032 SE Clinton StVery nice little neighborhood restaurant, run by a Tuscan chef and his American wife. Great pastas.
This is the most popular breakfast spot in Portland. Go early (or for lunch) on a weekday and wait might not be bad at all.
On the weekends, waiting 2 hours for brunch is the norm as it can be at any popular weekend spot.
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Screen Door
2337 E Burnside StThis is the most popular breakfast spot in Portland. Go early (or for lunch) on a weekday and wait might not be bad at all.
On the weekends, waiting 2 hours for brunch is the norm as it can be at any popular weekend spot.
Portlandy Russian food! Fun place to visit. Also see their new sister restaurant Katchinka, which is more about drinking and bar food.
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Kachka
960 SE 11th AvePortlandy Russian food! Fun place to visit. Also see their new sister restaurant Katchinka, which is more about drinking and bar food.
Phở Hùng
4717 SE Powell BlvdOur favorite local Phở place, very friendly and low-key.
Romantic French restaurant/bar specializing in mussels and fries. Great happy hour.
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La Moule
2500 SE Clinton StRomantic French restaurant/bar specializing in mussels and fries. Great happy hour.
The Bar Scene
I asked my secret source (the local rep for Moët Hennessy) where the cool kids hang out these days.
District
220 SW Ankeny StShake Bar
28 NW 4th AveFortune
614 SW 11th AveTube
18 NW 3rd AveBit House Saloon
727 SE Grand AveProduce Row Cafe
204 SE Oak StMy Father's Place
523 SE Grand AveLoyal Legion
710 SE 6th AveGoodfoot Pub & Lounge
2845 SE Stark StLocal neighborhood bar / dance club
Holocene
1001 SE Morrison StWarehouse-style inclusive bar & dance club.