Guidebook for Portland
Food Scene
Named Portland's best restaurant for 2016 by the Oregonian, Coquine's menu evolves throughout the season. Flawless food, thoughtfully curated wine list, perfect service, intimate setting. Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. For dinner on a weekend, you'll need to reserve weeks ahead!
101 locals recommend
Coquine
6839 SE Belmont StNamed Portland's best restaurant for 2016 by the Oregonian, Coquine's menu evolves throughout the season. Flawless food, thoughtfully curated wine list, perfect service, intimate setting. Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. For dinner on a weekend, you'll need to reserve weeks ahead!
Weekend brunch here is comfort food to die for. Show up just before 9 am and get a spot in line and a table when the doors open - by 9:15 the line is around the corner. Great for lunch and dinner too. For groups of 6 or more they will make a brunch reservation for you.
117 locals recommend
The Country Cat Dinner House and Bar
7937 SE Stark StWeekend brunch here is comfort food to die for. Show up just before 9 am and get a spot in line and a table when the doors open - by 9:15 the line is around the corner. Great for lunch and dinner too. For groups of 6 or more they will make a brunch reservation for you.
This place hasn't changed one bit since the mid 1980s. It's not the urban hipster pizza place with unusual toppings and high prices - this is a family pizza joint with an old school salad bar, and full pies piled high with toppings. At lunch, you can order a custom slice (one monster slice will be sufficient for most appetites). Calzones are fantastic.
69 locals recommend
Flying Pie Pizzeria
5300 N Lombard StThis place hasn't changed one bit since the mid 1980s. It's not the urban hipster pizza place with unusual toppings and high prices - this is a family pizza joint with an old school salad bar, and full pies piled high with toppings. At lunch, you can order a custom slice (one monster slice will be sufficient for most appetites). Calzones are fantastic.
Delicious Lebanese fare. Fresh baked puffed up pita bread with creamy hummus, a variety of mezza options, and mouthwatering main courses.
60 locals recommend
Ya Hala Lebanese Cuisine
8005 SE Stark StDelicious Lebanese fare. Fresh baked puffed up pita bread with creamy hummus, a variety of mezza options, and mouthwatering main courses.
Redwood
7915 SE Stark StGood solid menu - from the burger to the breakfast chilaquiles.
Every possible type of tea you could imagine, plus kombucha. Once I asked if they had a "women's headache relief tea" and the guy laughed and said, "Actually, we do." On a rainy day, bring a book and curl up on one of their vintage sofas with some comforting tea.
22 locals recommend
Townshend's Montavilla Teahouse
7940 SE Stark StEvery possible type of tea you could imagine, plus kombucha. Once I asked if they had a "women's headache relief tea" and the guy laughed and said, "Actually, we do." On a rainy day, bring a book and curl up on one of their vintage sofas with some comforting tea.
This is a quintessential Portland coffee shop. Funky ambience, unpredictable music, lots of people working on laptops. Solid options when it comes to coffee drinks, tea, baked goods, and breakfast/lunch food. Good selection of pie as well, including vegan and gluten free options.
111 locals recommend
Bipartisan Cafe
7901 SE Stark StThis is a quintessential Portland coffee shop. Funky ambience, unpredictable music, lots of people working on laptops. Solid options when it comes to coffee drinks, tea, baked goods, and breakfast/lunch food. Good selection of pie as well, including vegan and gluten free options.
Warm, inviting ambience, great food and drinks, friendly service. A good spot for a lingering dinner with friends, or late night food. The Over & Out is a sports bar with a food menu that is located in back - if the Observatory is crowded, try the Over & Out.
171 locals recommend
The Observatory
8115 SE Stark StWarm, inviting ambience, great food and drinks, friendly service. A good spot for a lingering dinner with friends, or late night food. The Over & Out is a sports bar with a food menu that is located in back - if the Observatory is crowded, try the Over & Out.
Coffee, tea, mini-cupcakes, macarons, pastries, and bialy sandwiches. Delicious food and friendly staff. Mellow atmosphere.
36 locals recommend
Hungry Heart Bakery
414 SE Stark StCoffee, tea, mini-cupcakes, macarons, pastries, and bialy sandwiches. Delicious food and friendly staff. Mellow atmosphere.
Drinks & Nightlife
Casual setting with a few outdoor tables. Good food and drinks. Pool table.
13 locals recommend
Over & Out
410 SE 81st AveCasual setting with a few outdoor tables. Good food and drinks. Pool table.
Roscoe's
8105 SE Stark StDive bar with great food!
Handcrafted cocktails and snacks. Try something new and unusual.
64 locals recommend
Vintage Cocktail Lounge
7907 SE Stark StHandcrafted cocktails and snacks. Try something new and unusual.
Try a flight of beers, or a pint of cider on tap. Sit under an umbrella table in their outdoor area and enjoy the night air.
42 locals recommend
Montavilla Brew Works
7805 Southeast Stark StreetTry a flight of beers, or a pint of cider on tap. Sit under an umbrella table in their outdoor area and enjoy the night air.
A mellow neighborhood wine bar that sometimes has live music
9 locals recommend
Vino Veritas Wine Bar and Bottle Shop
7835 SE Stark StA mellow neighborhood wine bar that sometimes has live music
Shopping
Powell's City of Books
1005 W Burnside StIt's a full city block full of books!
Maven Collective
8842 SE Stark StUnique decor
Fantastic consignment store for all things related to kiddos
13 locals recommend
Beanstalk Children's Resale Clothing
8021 SE Stark StFantastic consignment store for all things related to kiddos
Union Rose
8029 SE Stark StBeautiful, locally made women's clothing, accessories, and gifts.
Parks & Nature
Hike up the hill to Mount Tabor park...the perfect place for an urban hike or jog. Or hang your hammock under the trees and take a nap. Picnic, or play at the playground. No matter where you are you'll experience the majestic trees.
420 locals recommend
Mount Tabor
Hike up the hill to Mount Tabor park...the perfect place for an urban hike or jog. Or hang your hammock under the trees and take a nap. Picnic, or play at the playground. No matter where you are you'll experience the majestic trees.
Forest Park is unmatched in the United States, with 5,000+ wooded acres. Miles and miles of trails perfect for hiking, jogging, biking, and bird-watching.
940 locals recommend
Forest Park
Forest Park is unmatched in the United States, with 5,000+ wooded acres. Miles and miles of trails perfect for hiking, jogging, biking, and bird-watching.
Portland Japanese Garden
611 SW Kingston AveSerene, beautiful, quiet.
Entertainment & Activities
$4 admission and second run flicks. Forget popcorn and Raisinets...the menu includes pizza slices from Flying Pie, sushi from Miyamoto, wine, beer, and kombucha. They offer on-site babysitting for kids age 2-8 - $9.50 for the length of the movie.
159 locals recommend
Academy Theater
7818 SE Stark St$4 admission and second run flicks. Forget popcorn and Raisinets...the menu includes pizza slices from Flying Pie, sushi from Miyamoto, wine, beer, and kombucha. They offer on-site babysitting for kids age 2-8 - $9.50 for the length of the movie.
Oregon Zoo
4001 SW Canyon RdBecause: animals!
Essentials
This tiny neighborhood grocery has been in continuous operation for almost 100 years! It's open seven days a week and has a little bit of everything you need, including fresh fruits and veggies, a good selection of beer and wine, and of course, chocolate. Owners Mel and Errol are on hand to make conversation and make you feel like you've been plunked down into the middle of Mayberry.
12 locals recommend
Taylor Court Grocery
This tiny neighborhood grocery has been in continuous operation for almost 100 years! It's open seven days a week and has a little bit of everything you need, including fresh fruits and veggies, a good selection of beer and wine, and of course, chocolate. Owners Mel and Errol are on hand to make conversation and make you feel like you've been plunked down into the middle of Mayberry.
Sightseeing
Portland's new pedestrian and transit-only (no cars) bridge. Walk across and enjoy a beverage at Elephant's Deli, then continue on to the aerial tram for a bird's eye view of the city scape.
49 locals recommend
Tilikum Crossing Bridge
Tilikum CrossingPortland's new pedestrian and transit-only (no cars) bridge. Walk across and enjoy a beverage at Elephant's Deli, then continue on to the aerial tram for a bird's eye view of the city scape.
Tour this historic home for a sense of what early Portland was like.
622 locals recommend
Pittock Mansion
3229 NW Pittock DrTour this historic home for a sense of what early Portland was like.