Guidebook for Portland

Amy
Guidebook for Portland

Drinks & Nightlife

Ultimate summer beer garden destination with an electronic menu since they have so many beers on tap.
115 locals recommend
APEX
1216 SE Division St
115 locals recommend
Ultimate summer beer garden destination with an electronic menu since they have so many beers on tap.
Sorta dive bar w/ brunch specials.
65 locals recommend
Night Light Lounge
2100 SE Clinton St
65 locals recommend
Sorta dive bar w/ brunch specials.
Crafty, hipster-y bar.
66 locals recommend
Dig A Pony
736 SE Grand Ave
66 locals recommend
Crafty, hipster-y bar.
Classic Portland music venue in a great part of town.
436 locals recommend
Mississippi Studios
3939 N Mississippi Ave
436 locals recommend
Classic Portland music venue in a great part of town.
No minors allowed at this laid-back Portland institution. Catch live shows. Cozy in winter--great patio and outdoor area in summer.
18 locals recommend
Skyline Tavern
18 locals recommend
No minors allowed at this laid-back Portland institution. Catch live shows. Cozy in winter--great patio and outdoor area in summer.

Food Scene

Portland-style Vietnamese Bahn-mi sandwiches with homemade potato chips.
66 locals recommend
Double Dragon
1235 SE Division St
66 locals recommend
Portland-style Vietnamese Bahn-mi sandwiches with homemade potato chips.
Stumptown coffee, Foxfire teas, sleek design and the best baked goods in town. Try the orangeata bun for starters.
122 locals recommend
Little T American Baker
2600 SE Division St
122 locals recommend
Stumptown coffee, Foxfire teas, sleek design and the best baked goods in town. Try the orangeata bun for starters.
Traditional cafe in the heart of tree-line and stately Ladd's Addition. Stained glass, large tables and a unique tea selection--like vervain.
60 locals recommend
Palio Dessert and Espresso
1996 SE Ladd Ave
60 locals recommend
Traditional cafe in the heart of tree-line and stately Ladd's Addition. Stained glass, large tables and a unique tea selection--like vervain.
Reliable, relaxed yet sophisticated neighborhood favorite. Oysters, charcuterie, seasonal salads and other goodness abound. Lovely service to boot.
62 locals recommend
Bar Avignon
2138 SE Division St
62 locals recommend
Reliable, relaxed yet sophisticated neighborhood favorite. Oysters, charcuterie, seasonal salads and other goodness abound. Lovely service to boot.
Fairly-priced, artistic environment serving well-crafted seasonal pacific NW vegan food that you often wouldn't know is vegan. Try the tiramisu, for example.
28 locals recommend
Portobello Vegan Trattoria
1125 Southeast Division Street
28 locals recommend
Fairly-priced, artistic environment serving well-crafted seasonal pacific NW vegan food that you often wouldn't know is vegan. Try the tiramisu, for example.
Festive and fun modern Mexican cooking with an outdoor patio. And margaritas!
101 locals recommend
Nuestra Cocina
2135 SE Division St
101 locals recommend
Festive and fun modern Mexican cooking with an outdoor patio. And margaritas!
One of the best brunches in town. Can be a wait but worth it! And they take reservations.
9 locals recommend
Simpatica Catering and Dining Hall
828 Southeast Ash Street
9 locals recommend
One of the best brunches in town. Can be a wait but worth it! And they take reservations.
Hipster haven serving up nutritious and Scandinavian-inspired breakfast and lunch. Very tasty. Can be busy--go early to get a spot without waiting.
156 locals recommend
Broder Café
2508 SE Clinton St
156 locals recommend
Hipster haven serving up nutritious and Scandinavian-inspired breakfast and lunch. Very tasty. Can be busy--go early to get a spot without waiting.
Glamorous cutting-edge Italian by the Stumptown owner. Excellent food.
236 locals recommend
Ava Gene's
3377 SE Division St
236 locals recommend
Glamorous cutting-edge Italian by the Stumptown owner. Excellent food.
Ike's Vietnamese Chicken Wings
460 locals recommend
Pok Pok
3226 SE Division St
460 locals recommend
Ike's Vietnamese Chicken Wings
Cornmeal fried chicken, magic shell ice cream topper, and vintage video games.
27 locals recommend
Sunshine Tavern
3111 Southeast Division Street
27 locals recommend
Cornmeal fried chicken, magic shell ice cream topper, and vintage video games.
Weekend-only avant garde fish presentation.
14 locals recommend
Roe
515 SW Broadway
14 locals recommend
Weekend-only avant garde fish presentation.
Casual breakfast/brunch spot. Hopping on weekends. More traditional fare, especially when compared to the "new" Portland food scene. Try the risotto cake egg benedict.
88 locals recommend
Genies Cafe
1101 SE Division St
88 locals recommend
Casual breakfast/brunch spot. Hopping on weekends. More traditional fare, especially when compared to the "new" Portland food scene. Try the risotto cake egg benedict.
Cheap and easy Mexican with vegan and carnivore offerings. Get it to go and sit in the beer garden at Apex for a budget meal.
1212 SE Division St
Cheap and easy Mexican with vegan and carnivore offerings. Get it to go and sit in the beer garden at Apex for a budget meal.
Best ice cream in town, along with Lovely's Fifty Fifty in NE.
Salt and Straw
3345 SE Division St
Best ice cream in town, along with Lovely's Fifty Fifty in NE.
Hip, modern Mexican cuisine.
76 locals recommend
Xico
3715 SE Division St
76 locals recommend
Hip, modern Mexican cuisine.
Haute hippie cafe with honey pie, breakfast burritos, salad niscoise and a parade of other lovelies. Good luck getting in though!
240 locals recommend
Sweedeedee
5202 N Albina Ave
240 locals recommend
Haute hippie cafe with honey pie, breakfast burritos, salad niscoise and a parade of other lovelies. Good luck getting in though!
Ultimate Portland DIY farm-to-table, wood fired restaurant. Awesome Monday pizza night. Weekend brunch too.
92 locals recommend
Ned Ludd
3925 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
92 locals recommend
Ultimate Portland DIY farm-to-table, wood fired restaurant. Awesome Monday pizza night. Weekend brunch too.
One of my favorite pizza places in town, with beautiful salads and organic ice cream to boot.
147 locals recommend
Lovely's Fifty Fifty
4039 N Mississippi Ave
147 locals recommend
One of my favorite pizza places in town, with beautiful salads and organic ice cream to boot.
Excellent take on Northern Italian with Pac NW ingredients and an amazing wine steward. Get the tasting menu.
69 locals recommend
DOC food + wine
5519 NE 30th Ave
69 locals recommend
Excellent take on Northern Italian with Pac NW ingredients and an amazing wine steward. Get the tasting menu.
The tasting menu is a modernist cuisine treat--perfection.
31 locals recommend
Castagna Restaurant
1752 SE Hawthorne Blvd
31 locals recommend
The tasting menu is a modernist cuisine treat--perfection.
Super-fun, local, seasonal and gorgeous Asian-inspired cusine and sakes. I eat here weekly. Go early or late to miss the wait.
52 locals recommend
Biwa
215 Southeast 9th Avenue
52 locals recommend
Super-fun, local, seasonal and gorgeous Asian-inspired cusine and sakes. I eat here weekly. Go early or late to miss the wait.
Another Portland favorite. Gooey and rich.
145 locals recommend
Pine State Biscuits Division
1100 SE Division St
145 locals recommend
Another Portland favorite. Gooey and rich.
Fantastic ramen and the best "karaage" (Japanese fried chicken) in town. Open late.
13 locals recommend
Noraneko
1430 SE Water Ave
13 locals recommend
Fantastic ramen and the best "karaage" (Japanese fried chicken) in town. Open late.
Fun flavors from an Italian chef that are all the rage.
52 locals recommend
Pinolo Gelato
3707 SE Division St
52 locals recommend
Fun flavors from an Italian chef that are all the rage.
Again, skip voodoo. Instead, hit up one of the Blue Star locations--there are at least two on the eastside, if you don't want to cross the river. They use local grains, eggs, and dairy, and organic ingredients for the glazes and fillings. Yes, they are gourmet donuts but they're totally worth it.
403 locals recommend
Blue Star Donuts
3325 SE Division St
403 locals recommend
Again, skip voodoo. Instead, hit up one of the Blue Star locations--there are at least two on the eastside, if you don't want to cross the river. They use local grains, eggs, and dairy, and organic ingredients for the glazes and fillings. Yes, they are gourmet donuts but they're totally worth it.
Please do yourself a HUGE favor and skip voodoo donuts--it's a ticky tacky tourist trap. In such a donut-rich mecca like Portland, there are many better options. Pip's fills the ultra-hipster, made-to-order donut niche that takes it to another level. And they have chai. And chai pops!
219 locals recommend
Pip's Original Doughnuts & Chai
4759 NE Fremont St
219 locals recommend
Please do yourself a HUGE favor and skip voodoo donuts--it's a ticky tacky tourist trap. In such a donut-rich mecca like Portland, there are many better options. Pip's fills the ultra-hipster, made-to-order donut niche that takes it to another level. And they have chai. And chai pops!
Try and get a reservation in advance for this Japanese-inspired tasting menu. It is one of the hottest food tickets in town from a very talented chef who has apprenticed under respected sushi chefs.
Nodoguro
3735 Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard
Try and get a reservation in advance for this Japanese-inspired tasting menu. It is one of the hottest food tickets in town from a very talented chef who has apprenticed under respected sushi chefs.
Greg and Gabby are now nationally renowned chefs and restauranteurs, but they are still down to earth and know their way around a grill. Pacific NW cuisine done in on a South American-style grill. Despite being an omnivore's dream--best steak in town (lots of the meat the grass-fed), Ox is also pescatarian and veg friendly.
192 locals recommend
OX Restaurant
2225 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
192 locals recommend
Greg and Gabby are now nationally renowned chefs and restauranteurs, but they are still down to earth and know their way around a grill. Pacific NW cuisine done in on a South American-style grill. Despite being an omnivore's dream--best steak in town (lots of the meat the grass-fed), Ox is also pescatarian and veg friendly.
Exquisite seasonal fare in a charming neighborhood setting. Nice outdoor patio in warmer months. Book well in advance for dinner, though you might have last-minute luck for breakfast or lunch off the limited, but lovely, day-time menus.
101 locals recommend
Coquine
6839 SE Belmont St
101 locals recommend
Exquisite seasonal fare in a charming neighborhood setting. Nice outdoor patio in warmer months. Book well in advance for dinner, though you might have last-minute luck for breakfast or lunch off the limited, but lovely, day-time menus.
Fresh sushi with many specials from Japan. No frills but great food.
67 locals recommend
Zilla Sake
1806 NE Alberta St
67 locals recommend
Fresh sushi with many specials from Japan. No frills but great food.
Organic foodie froyo with dairy-free options and fun toppings. Flavors change regularly throughout the seasons, but they always have chocolate and traditional "tart" froyo. Big hit with the kids. There is also a NE location on NE Broadway.
26 locals recommend
Eb & Bean SE
3040 SE Division St
26 locals recommend
Organic foodie froyo with dairy-free options and fun toppings. Flavors change regularly throughout the seasons, but they always have chocolate and traditional "tart" froyo. Big hit with the kids. There is also a NE location on NE Broadway.

Everything Else

Adorably awesome vegan and organic juice, smoothie and milkshake cart. Try the Tropical Greens.
7 locals recommend
Sip
3029 SE 21st Ave
7 locals recommend
Adorably awesome vegan and organic juice, smoothie and milkshake cart. Try the Tropical Greens.
Chic Scandinavian-inspired sauna and steam house that also offers massage and facial treatments. Gorgeous setting, relaxing and utilitarian luxury.
49 locals recommend
Loyly Sauna Southeast
2713 SE 21st Ave
49 locals recommend
Chic Scandinavian-inspired sauna and steam house that also offers massage and facial treatments. Gorgeous setting, relaxing and utilitarian luxury.
Colorful yoga studio in a very modern building.
24 locals recommend
The Bhaktishop
2500 SE 26th Ave
24 locals recommend
Colorful yoga studio in a very modern building.
And bagels.
49 locals recommend
Spielman Bagels and Coffee Roasters
2200 NE Broadway
49 locals recommend
And bagels.
Yet another stellar PDX bakery.
76 locals recommend
Holiday
76 locals recommend
Yet another stellar PDX bakery.
Super sweet Tea Shop.
27 locals recommend
Townshend's Division Street Teahouse
3531 SE Division St
27 locals recommend
Super sweet Tea Shop.

Essentials

Long-standing cob vegetarian co-op with lots of charm, local produce, raw chocolate, a juice bar food cart outside and a fabulous year-round farmers market on Wednesdays from 3 to 7.
113 locals recommend
People's Food Co-op
3029 SE 21st Ave
113 locals recommend
Long-standing cob vegetarian co-op with lots of charm, local produce, raw chocolate, a juice bar food cart outside and a fabulous year-round farmers market on Wednesdays from 3 to 7.
Think Whole Foods but a WHOLE lot better. Great "wok bar" and other deli-style offerings as well as a complete and well-curated selection of organic and other foods and goods. Plus wine and beer.
974 locals recommend
New Seasons Market
1954 SE Division St
974 locals recommend
Think Whole Foods but a WHOLE lot better. Great "wok bar" and other deli-style offerings as well as a complete and well-curated selection of organic and other foods and goods. Plus wine and beer.

Shopping

Vintage love--including a sought-after bridal boutique for those looking for something special for their special day.
10 locals recommend
Xtabay Vintage Clothing Boutique
2515 SE Clinton St
10 locals recommend
Vintage love--including a sought-after bridal boutique for those looking for something special for their special day.
Epicurean ice cream--walking distance from the house!
87 locals recommend
Fifty Licks Ice Cream
2021 SE Clinton St
87 locals recommend
Epicurean ice cream--walking distance from the house!
Well-curated boutique for men and women--specializes in NW style.
30 locals recommend
Frances May
521 SW Alder St
30 locals recommend
Well-curated boutique for men and women--specializes in NW style.
Another well-curated shop with clean designs and lots of USA-made goods.
Steven Alan
1029 SW Harvey Milk St
Another well-curated shop with clean designs and lots of USA-made goods.
Local leather goods and other rugged gear.
10 locals recommend
Tanner Goods Flagship Store
1022 W Burnside St
10 locals recommend
Local leather goods and other rugged gear.
Super fun store that showcases a wide range of products that are made in the great state of Oregon.
6 locals recommend
Made in Oregon
340 SW Morrison St
6 locals recommend
Super fun store that showcases a wide range of products that are made in the great state of Oregon.
Creative and cool shop selling terrariums, DIY terrariums supplies, plants, succulents, and other well-curated Pacific Northwest-y stuff.
Pistils Landscape Design
3811 N Mississippi Ave
Creative and cool shop selling terrariums, DIY terrariums supplies, plants, succulents, and other well-curated Pacific Northwest-y stuff.
Adorable minimalist stationary store with a fantastic selection of independent, letter press, and established paper lines.
15 locals recommend
Little Otsu
3225 SE Division St
15 locals recommend
Adorable minimalist stationary store with a fantastic selection of independent, letter press, and established paper lines.
Beautiful things tastefully displayed.
44 locals recommend
Canoe
1233 SW 10th Ave
44 locals recommend
Beautiful things tastefully displayed.

Entertainment & Activities

Kid (and adult)-friendly restaurant with something for everyone. Fried chicken buns, vegan ramen, cauliflower and brussel sprout salad. (Add fried chicken and orange dot sauce.)
40 locals recommend
Boke Bowl
1028 SE Water Ave
40 locals recommend
Kid (and adult)-friendly restaurant with something for everyone. Fried chicken buns, vegan ramen, cauliflower and brussel sprout salad. (Add fried chicken and orange dot sauce.)

Parks & Nature

Epic huge park that offers great hiking.
940 locals recommend
Forest Park
940 locals recommend
Epic huge park that offers great hiking.
Small, but beautiful garden that was recently expanded.
Japanese gardens portland
Small, but beautiful garden that was recently expanded.