FOOD! The food carts at Prost! Marketplace are some of the best in the city. A few of the can't miss ones are: Desi PDX, Fried Egg I'm in Love, and Matt's BBQ - all featured on Somebody Feed Phil! They are situated on Portland's iconic Mississippi street which holds some of Portland's best bars, restaurants, shops and concert venues! A few doors down on Mississippi make sure to stop into The Rambler Bar for a summer slushie cocktail and the best chicken strips in the city! If you stay through Tuesday, they have the best Trivia night!
FOOD! Inspired by southern Thai street food. This is some of the best chicken in the city! Order the Hat Yai for 2 for the full experience and pair it with one of their unique cocktails! After filling up on Thai food head down on Killingsworth from 16th to 6th to Keys Lounge for a mid-century vibe and a DJ playing actual vinyl records. The cocktails here are unmatched!
FOOD! Kachka, meaning duck, is a Soviet era inspired Russian restaurant. Their dumplings are to die for and they have quite an array of infused vodkas. After a vodka flight or 2, we recommend hopping over a block to 12th street to check out Roadside Attraction (cash only) an old Chinese restaurant converted into a bar. It's a unique spot with free pool. Or try Basement Pub next door for the true Portland Dive Bar experience.
BAR! Our favorite neighborhood spot with a great patio and fantastic fries!
BAR! This small and beautifully curated bar boasts NO drink menu. They ask you what you like and get to know your preferences and make you a custom cocktail! They never miss! They also have a delicious dinner menu. Angel Face sits on 28th and Burnside and is surrounded by fun bars, exceptional dining, ice cream and coffee shops and one of Portland's many independent theaters: Laurelhurst Theater! Make a whole afternoon or evening out of this lively area!
BREWERY! Steeplejack brewing is located in a beautifully restored 1900's church. The location itself is a must see and the food and beer aren't too bad either! We also recommend walking a few doors down to the world's first women's sports bar, The Sports Bra! to catch a game!
WINE! Dogwood is owned by our friends Brant and Gabby and is a great spot to grab a glass of wine and a bouquet of flowers grown by Gabby in her garden. This place is so beautifully curated and sitting on their patio on a summer day with a glass of wine is a perfect way to spend an afternoon. If you come into Portland early make sure to stop here on Thursday. Alberta street closes down the last Thursday each month in the summer for a street fair and art walk. You'll see art vendors, music, food, and much more. The event is called Last Thursday and spans Alberta Street from 15th to 30th.
COFFEE! A beloved NW Portland staple! They have great indoor and outdoor seating and it's always a quiet place if you need to get some work done. It's located on the lively 21st Avenue. There are endless things to do on this street after grabbing your morning cup of Joe. Shops, restaurants, theaters, bars and an electric atmosphere. 21st Avenue also has a great night life scene! For a bit of a higher end experience hop over to 23rd Avenue for more shopping and great eats!
COFFEE! Our favorite neighborhood cafe. They make all their pies and pastries in house! Definitely try the mini quiche!
TO DO - PORTLAND! Forest Park is one of the largest urban forests in the country! It's a 5200 acre park with 70 miles of hiking trails and nearly 1000 species of trees and you can reach it right from downtown. We recommend hiking up to Pittock Mansion to see a bit of Portland's history and a beautiful panoramic view of the city! Forest Park also backs up to Washington Park when you cross Burnside. Washington park is home to the International Rose Test Gardens and is such a unique place to walk through. Across from the rose gardens is the Portland Japanese Garden, said to be the most authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan. It sits on 12 acres and showcases 8 different garden styles and has a Japanese tea house. It is a one of a kind experience! After taking in your nature for the day we recommend working your way down Burnside to Mox Boarding House to try out a new board game and finishing the day at Powell's City of Books. This bookstore is a whole city block!
TO DO - PORTLAND! McMenamins Bagdad Theatre is one of Portland's many independent theaters and is a fun place to see a new release or sometimes even an old classic. Sit up on the balcony to get food and drinks brought right to your seat! The McMenamins brand is famous for restoring and preserving historic Portland buildings so whether you visit this one or any other you will see a bit of Portland's past. After the movie check out the Bagdad Backstage Bar with its spectacular 7 story ceilings, it's a true gem! Bagdad theater is located on bustling Hawthorne Street with some of the best thrift and vintage stores. In either direction you'll find great places like Apizza Sholls, Little Griddle, Champagne Poetry and Gold Dust Meridian
TO DO - DAY TRIPS! Hood River is a charming Columbia River town located just 1 hour outside of Portland. The drive to Hood River is one of the most scenic in all of Oregon. We recommend taking Highway 30, the Historic Columbia River Highway. Along this route you'll pass by Vista House, a historic viewpoint high above the Columbia River Gorge, and 4 picturesque waterfalls including Multnomah Falls, a 620 foot tall waterfall and Oregon's most visited natural attraction. Stop and take photos or do the 2.5 mile hike to the top of the falls. Then hop over to I84 into Hood River, the windsurfing capital of the world! To do: Ferment Brewing - They have an expansive beautiful second story deck overlooking the river. Great for lunch and a beer! There are loads of other breweries if this one doesn't blow your kite! Wineries - There's one on every block! We recommend Stoltz Winery located in the oldest house in Hood River. Restaurants - 3 Rivers Grill - PNW Fare Desert - Mike's Ice Cream
TO DO - DAY TRIPS! Mt. Hood, or Wy'east, is the highest peak in Oregon and dominates the skyline, when it's not raining :) We recommend making the trek up to the iconic Timberline Lodge! Oregon's first and oldest ski resort. Located 90 minutes from Portland, it's a scenic drive through the forest and up the mountain. There are many hikes along the way and we recommend the Ramona Falls loop. It's a 7 mile loop that takes you across the sandy river to a massive waterfall. It isn't a particularly rigorous hike but the river crossing isn't for the faint of heart. You turn off at ZigZag and we recommend stopping off for a much deserved drink at the ZigZag Inn before heading the rest of the way up to Timberline Lodge. Ramona Falls Info: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mthood/recarea/?recid=53460From ZigZag Highway 26 will take you to Goverment Camp and Timberline Highway will take you the rest of the way up to the lodge. The lodge has a great restaurant we love for lunch or dinner.
TO DO - DAY TRIPS! Cannon Beach is the quintessential Oregon Coast town located just 90 minutes from Portland. It is home to haystack rock which you might remember from our save the dates! You can explore tide pools, watch the Tufted Puffins or set up for the afternoon on the expansive sandy beach. The town of Canon Beach has an array of things to offer! Food, wineries, breweries, art galleries, cafes, book stores and museums! A few of our favorite places to stop are: Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters - they do small batch organic coffee, Mo's Seafood and Chowder for a great cup of clam chowder,