Things To Do
Tandem Coffee and Bakery
Unfortunately for all of us, there's a lot of hype surrounding Tandem, absolutely deserved, so the lines on weekends are stupid. BUT their biscuit breakfast sandwich is one of Kiri's favorites anywhere. It's a mess, but a beautiful mess. If you're really on top of your stuff, you can order online but you gotta get it early because they run out. So annoying. So tasty. Oh and their coffee is good?
Belleville
The flaky pastry here, oh my gooooddddd. Rawr. Wow. If you're a croissant fan, get thine buns to this bakery! And you can order ahead if you feel so moved, but you have to order the day before you want to pick it up, so phew, that's some serious planning.
UNION Restaurant
If you're looking for a nice, quiet, calm breakfast with some bangin' juice, head to the Union restaurant in the Press Hotel. The juice is called the Kick Starter and it'll zip zap zoop you right awake.
Ramona's
We went here after a kayak, and ooooweee it was exactly what we needed (just look at the fierce joy in the photo). The Classic Italian Combo (add Calabrian chilis) is what is uuuuup. You can order ahead if waiting isn't your thing. If you do not want to go here, DO NOT look at their instagram because then you will have to go or die from sandwich desire.
Ken's Place
Best lobster roll. That's right, I said it, and I'm not scared and I do not take it back.
Wayside Tavern
Cozy, very popular, and the place we've been back to most frequently. Make a reservation OR arrive when it opens to get a bar seat, which we also love. You must get a cod cheek for everyone at the table.
REGARDS
Fancy Mexican! Hamachi collar, get at least two. Tamales. Some mezcal you've never heard of for sipping. Scallops in any form.
Izakaya Minato
If you can get four or more people to go with you, do it, because that's the only way to get a res. Otherwise you might have a serious wait ahead, which we have opted into and survived to have a great meal. But it was, like, two hours. Once you're in, get some funky cocktail/mocktail especially if it has seaweed in it, then enjoy one of the best deals in town with their omakase - just make sure to add on an order of the fried chicken!
Fore Street
This is the priciest restaurant on the list, but if you're ready to ball out, do. it. here. Fore Street has been around for decades and was one of the first spots to put Portland on the map as a food city. It smalls uhMAZING inside because it is known for wood fired/grilled greatness. Get the bread, get a martini (very dry, Bombay Sapphire, with olives, tysm), get anything that starts with "wood" on the menu, get dessert.
Magnus on Water
This is outside Portland, but it's great and you should go. Peruvian comfort food and great cocktails?? Yes plzzzzz.
Bubba's Sulky Lounge
Now we're not gonna lie, this is not a recommendation for most of you. This is the weirdest bar/dance club that we've ever seen. Are there stuffed animals everywhere? Are there drawers full of photos of race horses? Are there multiple rooms with tutus, blowup toys, partially dressed manikins, boas, a light up dance floor, playing cards, huge, broken animatronics? Yes, yes there are. This was also the place Kiri had the best Halloween of her life. So, we'll leave it at that.
Bayside Bowl
Bowl your lil heart out with some beer and chicken tendies!
Washington Ave is Kiri and Oliver's favorite shopping street
Here we gooooo: Onggi - a store that sells really cool fermented stuff - vinegar, soy sauce, chili crisp, tea, etc, but really what's up is the cafe in the back. The foam, the foam! Hojicha latte, add the black sesame foam. YES. Miso Maple cold brew. Add the foam. Sourdough chocolate chip cookie. Add that foam. JK wish that was possible. Portland Pottery - a studio of local ceramicists where you can also buy the beautiful things. Strata - knives, cookbooks, glassware. The perfect store does exist! Sissle and Daughters - cheese shop with great mustard, chocolate, and hot sauce selections. Postal Supply - fun colored candles, art vending machine (have a bunch of quarters on you), hair accessories that you'll realize you need. Maine and Loire - excellent wine shop! They are so helpful and you will buy more wine than you planned but you'll just be glad. You can also sit and they'll open one of your bottles for some in shop sipping. And there are snacks!
Washington Baths
This is a cool, Scandinavian-style sauna with the hot saunas inside and a cold plunge and warm pool outside, which is great when the weather gets chilly. Just so you know, it is bathing suit optional in the sauna part so YOU WILL SEE NAKED PEOPLE. Like probably Kiri and Oliver.
Peaks Island
Take a short ferry ride to Peaks and walk or bike (there are plenty of rentals on the island) around the island. And we mean, the circumference because, she tiny! Wander down to whatever rocky shores and sand beaches look cool, decide which of the very cute cottages you want to buy, judge the weirder homes along the coast, then get some fries, chowder, and a beer at the Island Lobster Company while you wait for the ferry. Active activity, check!
Eastern Promenade
Take a jaunt, there is a cannon you can sit on and signs you can read. Bring a picnic or get something from one of the food trucks, hang out on the grass, dip down to East End Beach. It's a nice time! Unless the weather is crap, but we won't think about that.