Guidebook for Portland
Drinks & Nightlife
All places listed in this category are an easy walk from the apartment.
Walkable, hole-in-the-wall soccer bar. Kids are allowed, but rarely there. Outside seating. They show EPL games early weekend mornings; they're Arsenal fans. Great place to watch Timbers games.
47 locals recommend
Beulahland
118 NE 28th AveWalkable, hole-in-the-wall soccer bar. Kids are allowed, but rarely there. Outside seating. They show EPL games early weekend mornings; they're Arsenal fans. Great place to watch Timbers games.
Bar that has live music daily. Nothing fancy, and a very local vibe. Music skews country/bluegrass. Check their website for band info. Serves brunch, too.
65 locals recommend
Laurelthirst Public House
2958 NE Glisan StBar that has live music daily. Nothing fancy, and a very local vibe. Music skews country/bluegrass. Check their website for band info. Serves brunch, too.
One of our favorites. Closest brewery to the house. Migration has won many awards for their beers, and they're frequently rolling out new styles. Nice outside seating; often crowded on sunny days. Happy hour (3-5PM, M-F, and again 9-11PM daily) with food and drink specials.
65 locals recommend
Migration Brewing - Glisan
2828 NE Glisan StOne of our favorites. Closest brewery to the house. Migration has won many awards for their beers, and they're frequently rolling out new styles. Nice outside seating; often crowded on sunny days. Happy hour (3-5PM, M-F, and again 9-11PM daily) with food and drink specials.
Not a winery, but wine store: wines are sold by the glass or bottle with a focus on food compatibility, tastings, classes & events.
7 locals recommend
Pairings Portland Wine Shop & Bar
455 NE 24th AveNot a winery, but wine store: wines are sold by the glass or bottle with a focus on food compatibility, tastings, classes & events.
Bartenders prepare drinks to each patron's flavor preferences at this polished European-style haunt. Small food menu.
83 locals recommend
Angel Face
14 NE 28th AveBartenders prepare drinks to each patron's flavor preferences at this polished European-style haunt. Small food menu.
Hidden inside Nomad.PDX, Wednesday - Sunday. Ash Bar is Nomad's hidden drinking establishment. Tucked away from the dining room, it is quiet, intimate, and cozy. A la carte dinner menu is available. Happy hour 5-6pm.
23 locals recommend
Blue Diamond Bar & Grill
2016 Northeast Sandy BoulevardHidden inside Nomad.PDX, Wednesday - Sunday. Ash Bar is Nomad's hidden drinking establishment. Tucked away from the dining room, it is quiet, intimate, and cozy. A la carte dinner menu is available. Happy hour 5-6pm.
Essentials
Great local grocery store. Large organic section, but also has conventional items.
974 locals recommend
New Seasons Market
1954 SE Division StGreat local grocery store. Large organic section, but also has conventional items.
Smaller Whole Foods than you typically see. It makes it feel more neighborhoody. Hot/salad bar and fresh pastries.
630 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
1210 NW Couch StSmaller Whole Foods than you typically see. It makes it feel more neighborhoody. Hot/salad bar and fresh pastries.
Trader Joe's
2122 NW Glisan StTrader Joes! Walkable grocery store.
This is essentially a grocery store, Home Depot, and Target combined. It's huge, and where we do the bulk of our grocery shopping. They stock both conventional and organic products.
616 locals recommend
Fred Meyer
3805 SE Hawthorne BlvdThis is essentially a grocery store, Home Depot, and Target combined. It's huge, and where we do the bulk of our grocery shopping. They stock both conventional and organic products.
Parks & Nature
Oregon Park
Small, local park with a playground and bathrooms.
Iconic neighborhood park with playground, horseshoe area, tennis courts, lake, walking trails, off-leash dog area, and movies/concerts in the summer. Many picnic benches and bathrooms.
437 locals recommend
Laurelhurst Park
SE Cesar E Chavez Blvd & Stark StIconic neighborhood park with playground, horseshoe area, tennis courts, lake, walking trails, off-leash dog area, and movies/concerts in the summer. Many picnic benches and bathrooms.
Neighborhood park connected to Grant High School with playground, walking trails, off-leash dog area, tennis courts, a pool, turf field and track, and movies/concerts in the summer.
31 locals recommend
Grant Park
Neighborhood park connected to Grant High School with playground, walking trails, off-leash dog area, tennis courts, a pool, turf field and track, and movies/concerts in the summer.
Washington Park
4033 SW Canyon RdHuge park in downtown Portland.
Amazing gardens with dozens of rose varieties. Great photo opportunities, looking down towards the city with Mt. Hood in the background. Parking can be a nightmare in the summer months.
627 locals recommend
International Rose Test Garden
400 SW Kingston AveAmazing gardens with dozens of rose varieties. Great photo opportunities, looking down towards the city with Mt. Hood in the background. Parking can be a nightmare in the summer months.
Many styles of gardens showcased in serene 5.5-acre space with waterfall, teahouse & mountain view.
1015 locals recommend
Portland Japanese Garden
611 SW Kingston AveMany styles of gardens showcased in serene 5.5-acre space with waterfall, teahouse & mountain view.
Tranquil botanical garden featuring rare plants native to China, decorative stonework & a tea shop.
405 locals recommend
Lan Su Chinese Garden
239 NW Everett StTranquil botanical garden featuring rare plants native to China, decorative stonework & a tea shop.
Food Scene
Most of these are walkable from the apartment.
The Goose, offers Southwestern fare with hand crafted cocktails made from scratch and a seasonally rotating margarita menu. Huge tequila selection! No kids allowed.
23 locals recommend
The Goose
2725 SE Ankeny StThe Goose, offers Southwestern fare with hand crafted cocktails made from scratch and a seasonally rotating margarita menu. Huge tequila selection! No kids allowed.
Small, local Italian restaurant. Good pastas, salads, paninis, and drink selection. Kids menu! There's a pop up, fixed price brunch restaurant on Sunday mornings in the same space, named Honey Milk.
33 locals recommend
La Buca
40 NE 28th AveSmall, local Italian restaurant. Good pastas, salads, paninis, and drink selection. Kids menu! There's a pop up, fixed price brunch restaurant on Sunday mornings in the same space, named Honey Milk.
Great, great brunch spot. Gets really crowded on weekends. Go early!
52 locals recommend
City State Diner
128 NE 28th AveGreat, great brunch spot. Gets really crowded on weekends. Go early!
Well known restaurant that also has a meat counter. Very popular and almost always requires reservations. Meat counter does great sandwiches for lunch during the week.
147 locals recommend
Laurelhurst Market
3155 E Burnside StWell known restaurant that also has a meat counter. Very popular and almost always requires reservations. Meat counter does great sandwiches for lunch during the week.
One of our favorites! Former food cart turned brick-and-mortar restaurant. Amazing tortas and salads.
73 locals recommend
Güero
200 NE 28th AveOne of our favorites! Former food cart turned brick-and-mortar restaurant. Amazing tortas and salads.
Small building with 4 micro restaurants and both indoor and outdoor seating. Restaurants include Basilisk (the best fried chicken you'll ever have), pizza, coffee shop, Tight Tacos, and Sari (ramyun, bibimbap). There's also a bar (Paydirt, known for their whiskey selection) and Finger Bang, a nail salon.
25 locals recommend
The Zipper
2705 NE Sandy BlvdSmall building with 4 micro restaurants and both indoor and outdoor seating. Restaurants include Basilisk (the best fried chicken you'll ever have), pizza, coffee shop, Tight Tacos, and Sari (ramyun, bibimbap). There's also a bar (Paydirt, known for their whiskey selection) and Finger Bang, a nail salon.
Wonderful sushi! This restaurant is the first certified, sustainable sushi restaurant in the world, offering the best fish, meats, and produce.
471 locals recommend
Bamboo Sushi
310 SE 28th AveWonderful sushi! This restaurant is the first certified, sustainable sushi restaurant in the world, offering the best fish, meats, and produce.
Bustling spot providing thin-crust pies with unusual seasonal toppings, plus appetizers & wine. Expect long lines.
140 locals recommend
Ken's Artisan Pizza
304 SE 28th AveBustling spot providing thin-crust pies with unusual seasonal toppings, plus appetizers & wine. Expect long lines.
PaaDee
6 SE 28th AveExcellent Thai food. Can have a wait because it's so popular.
Local ice cream store; they make everything from scratch. Fun flavors like: caramelized honey, blackstrap gingersnap, blackberry bomb, and rose city lemonade.
47 locals recommend
Fifty Licks Ice Cream
2742 E Burnside StLocal ice cream store; they make everything from scratch. Fun flavors like: caramelized honey, blackstrap gingersnap, blackberry bomb, and rose city lemonade.
Excellent, locally-made gelato shop. On weekends they also have fantastic donuts and biscuits.
26 locals recommend
Staccato Gelato
232 NE 28th AveExcellent, locally-made gelato shop. On weekends they also have fantastic donuts and biscuits.
Delicious Lebanese and Middle Eastern food. We love them so much we had them cater our wedding rehearsal dinner!
125 locals recommend
Nicholas Restaurant Lebanese and Mediterranean Cuisine
3223 NE BroadwayDelicious Lebanese and Middle Eastern food. We love them so much we had them cater our wedding rehearsal dinner!
Well known and loved Cuban restaurant. There's almost always a line. Brunch on the weekends, too!
166 locals recommend
Pambiche
2811 NE Glisan StWell known and loved Cuban restaurant. There's almost always a line. Brunch on the weekends, too!
Great little meatball restaurant. Part of "The Ocean" building of micro restaurants.
20 locals recommend
24th and Meatballs
2341 NE Glisan StGreat little meatball restaurant. Part of "The Ocean" building of micro restaurants.
Small Indian restaurant; good happy hour. Vegan and vegetarian options. Part of "The Ocean" building of micro restaurants.
58 locals recommend
The Sudra
28 NE 28th AveSmall Indian restaurant; good happy hour. Vegan and vegetarian options. Part of "The Ocean" building of micro restaurants.
Small Mexican restaurant, known for their street tacos. Prices range from $2-$3 per taco. Part of "The Ocean" building of micro restaurants.
15 locals recommend
Uno Mas
2329 NE Glisan StSmall Mexican restaurant, known for their street tacos. Prices range from $2-$3 per taco. Part of "The Ocean" building of micro restaurants.
Great bakery for miniature (and full sized!) sweet and savory pies. Part of "The Ocean" building of micro restaurants. They do have another location in SE. They also do a mean latte.
20 locals recommend
The Pie Spot
521 NE 24th AveGreat bakery for miniature (and full sized!) sweet and savory pies. Part of "The Ocean" building of micro restaurants. They do have another location in SE. They also do a mean latte.
Kind of an upscale grocery store. Several vendors inside: Pastaworks, Arrosto, Flying Fish (has an oyster bar), The Meat Monger, Little T Bakery, and Rubinette Produce.
52 locals recommend
Providore Fine Foods
2340 NE Sandy BlvdKind of an upscale grocery store. Several vendors inside: Pastaworks, Arrosto, Flying Fish (has an oyster bar), The Meat Monger, Little T Bakery, and Rubinette Produce.
European-inspired market specializing in hazelnut-finished pork products, with a sandwich counter. Yummy!
7 locals recommend
Tails & Trotters
525 NE 24th AveEuropean-inspired market specializing in hazelnut-finished pork products, with a sandwich counter. Yummy!
Popular chicken wing restaurant. Oddly, we never get the wings; we always get salads or Tot-chos. And yes, those are nachos make with tots. There can be a wait, especially when they're showing live sports.
68 locals recommend
Fire on the Mountain Buffalo Wings | Burnside
1708 E Burnside StPopular chicken wing restaurant. Oddly, we never get the wings; we always get salads or Tot-chos. And yes, those are nachos make with tots. There can be a wait, especially when they're showing live sports.
Popular chicken wing restaurant. Oddly, we never get the wings; we always get salads or Tot-chos. And yes, those are nachos make with tots. There can be a wait, especially when they're showing live sports. They brew their own beer at this location; it's smaller than the one on Burnside.
95 locals recommend
Fire on the Mountain Buffalo Wings | Fremont
3443 NE 57th AvePopular chicken wing restaurant. Oddly, we never get the wings; we always get salads or Tot-chos. And yes, those are nachos make with tots. There can be a wait, especially when they're showing live sports. They brew their own beer at this location; it's smaller than the one on Burnside.
Minimal-chic Korean spot with upscale tasting menus & drink pairings, plus noodle & dumpling nights. Note: dinner only, and closed Tuesday-Thursday.
35 locals recommend
Han Oak Restaurant
511 NE 24th AveMinimal-chic Korean spot with upscale tasting menus & drink pairings, plus noodle & dumpling nights. Note: dinner only, and closed Tuesday-Thursday.
One of our favorite Thai restaurants. Not fancy at all, just great food.
91 locals recommend
Cha'Ba Thai
3024 NE Alberta StOne of our favorite Thai restaurants. Not fancy at all, just great food.
This bright, casual spot for coffee, baked goods & sandwiches also offers custom cakes & free WiFi. Hipstery.
144 locals recommend
Crema Bakery & Cafe
2728 SE Ankeny StThis bright, casual spot for coffee, baked goods & sandwiches also offers custom cakes & free WiFi. Hipstery.
One of the best breakfasts in town. Great French pastries, in addition to lunches.
385 locals recommend
Petite Provence Boulangerie & Patisserie
3420 NE Sandy BlvdOne of the best breakfasts in town. Great French pastries, in addition to lunches.
Amazing scrambles for breakfast. Also nice lunches. Can have a wait on the weekends.
179 locals recommend
Gravy
3957 N Mississippi AveAmazing scrambles for breakfast. Also nice lunches. Can have a wait on the weekends.
Warm, casual German eatery & bar offering a menu of classic dishes, plus lagers, ales & bocks. Tasty stuff, but heavy.
76 locals recommend
Stammtisch
401 NE 28th AveWarm, casual German eatery & bar offering a menu of classic dishes, plus lagers, ales & bocks. Tasty stuff, but heavy.
High-end farm-to-table spot with an open kitchen serving elevated New American tasting menus. Fancy.
Nomad.PDX
575 NE 24th AveHigh-end farm-to-table spot with an open kitchen serving elevated New American tasting menus. Fancy.
Cozy bar & eatery serving vegan South American dishes & pisco cocktails in a warm, colorful space.
15 locals recommend
Epif
404 NE 28th AveCozy bar & eatery serving vegan South American dishes & pisco cocktails in a warm, colorful space.
Laid-back outfit serving an array of cheese boards & soft serve ice cream, plus beer & wine.
35 locals recommend
Cheese & Crack Snack Shop
22 SE 28th AveLaid-back outfit serving an array of cheese boards & soft serve ice cream, plus beer & wine.
Small food cart pod that includes a beer bus, Mediterranean, Thai, pasta, burritos, chicken, and vegetarian options. Something for everyone!
Pod 28
113 SE 28th AveSmall food cart pod that includes a beer bus, Mediterranean, Thai, pasta, burritos, chicken, and vegetarian options. Something for everyone!
Getting Around
MAX (light rail) train station. Runs from the airport throughout the Portland metro area. <3/4 mile walk from our house.
12 locals recommend
Hollywood/NE 42nd Ave TC MAX Station
MAX (light rail) train station. Runs from the airport throughout the Portland metro area. <3/4 mile walk from our house.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
2740 NE Sandy BlvdEntertainment & Activities
Enjoy microbrews, wine, pizza, salads, popcorn and candy. All of which may be brought into the auditoriums to enjoy at your table while you watch your movie.
329 locals recommend
Laurelhurst Theatre
2735 E Burnside StEnjoy microbrews, wine, pizza, salads, popcorn and candy. All of which may be brought into the auditoriums to enjoy at your table while you watch your movie.
The Hollywood Theatre is a Portland landmark with a national reputation for award-winning film programming, innovative educational programs, and providing fiscal support for local filmmakers. They show classic and contemporary films, host live performances and special guests, and produce innovative film series like Hecklevision, B-Movie Bingo, and Kung Fu Theater. In 2015, they brought 70mm projection back to the Hollywood, and they continue to work to restore the character of the historic theater while providing the best possible moviegoing experience.
231 locals recommend
Hollywood Theatre
4122 NE Sandy BlvdThe Hollywood Theatre is a Portland landmark with a national reputation for award-winning film programming, innovative educational programs, and providing fiscal support for local filmmakers. They show classic and contemporary films, host live performances and special guests, and produce innovative film series like Hecklevision, B-Movie Bingo, and Kung Fu Theater. In 2015, they brought 70mm projection back to the Hollywood, and they continue to work to restore the character of the historic theater while providing the best possible moviegoing experience.
Shopping
The iconic Portland bookstore that takes up an entire city block. Even if you're not planning to buy any books, it's still worth a visit.
976 locals recommend
Powell's City of Books
1005 W Burnside StThe iconic Portland bookstore that takes up an entire city block. Even if you're not planning to buy any books, it's still worth a visit.