Guidebook for Portland
Drinks & Nightlife
Ultimate summer beer garden destination with an electronic menu since they have so many beers on tap.
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APEX
1216 SE Division StUltimate summer beer garden destination with an electronic menu since they have so many beers on tap.
Night Light Lounge
2100 SE Clinton StSorta dive bar w/ brunch specials.
Dig A Pony
736 SE Grand AveCrafty, hipster-y bar.
Mississippi Studios
3939 N Mississippi AveClassic 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.
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Skyline Tavern
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.
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Double Dragon
1235 SE Division StPortland-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.
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Little T American Baker
2600 SE Division StStumptown 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.
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Palio Dessert and Espresso
1996 SE Ladd AveTraditional 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.
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Bar Avignon
2138 SE Division StReliable, 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.
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Portobello Vegan Trattoria
1125 Southeast Division StreetFairly-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!
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Nuestra Cocina
2135 SE Division StFestive 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.
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Simpatica Catering and Dining Hall
828 Southeast Ash StreetOne 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.
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Broder Café
2508 SE Clinton StHipster 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.
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Ava Gene's
3377 SE Division StGlamorous cutting-edge Italian by the Stumptown owner. Excellent food.
Pok Pok
3226 SE Division StIke's Vietnamese Chicken Wings
Cornmeal fried chicken, magic shell ice cream topper, and vintage video games.
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Sunshine Tavern
3111 Southeast Division StreetCornmeal fried chicken, magic shell ice cream topper, and vintage video games.
Roe
515 SW BroadwayWeekend-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.
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Genies Cafe
1101 SE Division StCasual 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.
Salt and Straw
3345 SE Division StBest ice cream in town, along with Lovely's Fifty Fifty in NE.
Xico
3715 SE Division StHip, modern Mexican cuisine.
Haute hippie cafe with honey pie, breakfast burritos, salad niscoise and a parade of other lovelies. Good luck getting in though!
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Sweedeedee
5202 N Albina AveHaute 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.
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Ned Ludd
3925 NE Martin Luther King Jr BlvdUltimate 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.
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Lovely's Fifty Fifty
4039 N Mississippi AveOne 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.
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DOC food + wine
5519 NE 30th AveExcellent 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.
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Castagna Restaurant
1752 SE Hawthorne BlvdThe 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.
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Biwa
215 Southeast 9th AvenueSuper-fun, local, seasonal and gorgeous Asian-inspired cusine and sakes. I eat here weekly. Go early or late to miss the wait.
Pine State Biscuits Division
1100 SE Division StAnother Portland favorite. Gooey and rich.
Fantastic ramen and the best "karaage" (Japanese fried chicken) in town. Open late.
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Noraneko
1430 SE Water AveFantastic ramen and the best "karaage" (Japanese fried chicken) in town. Open late.
Pinolo Gelato
3707 SE Division StFun 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.
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Blue Star Donuts
3325 SE Division StAgain, 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!
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Pip's Original Doughnuts & Chai
4759 NE Fremont StPlease 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 BoulevardTry 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.
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OX Restaurant
2225 NE Martin Luther King Jr BlvdGreg 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.
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Coquine
6839 SE Belmont StExquisite 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.
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Zilla Sake
1806 NE Alberta StFresh 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.
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Eb & Bean SE
3040 SE Division StOrganic 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.
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Sip
3029 SE 21st AveAdorably 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.
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Loyly Sauna Southeast
2713 SE 21st AveChic Scandinavian-inspired sauna and steam house that also offers massage and facial treatments. Gorgeous setting, relaxing and utilitarian luxury.
The Bhaktishop
2500 SE 26th AveColorful yoga studio in a very modern building.
Spielman Bagels and Coffee Roasters
2200 NE BroadwayAnd bagels.
Holiday
Yet another stellar PDX bakery.
Townshend's Division Street Teahouse
3531 SE Division StSuper 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.
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People's Food Co-op
3029 SE 21st AveLong-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.
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New Seasons Market
1954 SE Division StThink 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.
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Xtabay Vintage Clothing Boutique
2515 SE Clinton StVintage love--including a sought-after bridal boutique for those looking for something special for their special day.
Fifty Licks Ice Cream
2021 SE Clinton StEpicurean ice cream--walking distance from the house!
Well-curated boutique for men and women--specializes in NW style.
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Frances May
521 SW Alder StWell-curated boutique for men and women--specializes in NW style.
Steven Alan
1029 SW Harvey Milk StAnother well-curated shop with clean designs and lots of USA-made goods.
Tanner Goods Flagship Store
1022 W Burnside StLocal 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.
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Made in Oregon
340 SW Morrison StSuper 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 AveCreative 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.
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Little Otsu
3225 SE Division StAdorable minimalist stationary store with a fantastic selection of independent, letter press, and established paper lines.
Canoe
1233 SW 10th AveBeautiful 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.)
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Boke Bowl
1028 SE Water AveKid (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
Iphaki yomduliya
Epic huge park that offers great hiking.
Japanese gardens portland
Small, but beautiful garden that was recently expanded.