Portland Guidebook
Eat
A tiny, unassuming bakery just up the street from our place, Ville Velo has a small but excellent selection of baked goods made by the friendliest bakers/owners. We recommend the popovers or the biscuits - they bake them fresh all morning so if you’re lucky, you’ll get one piping hot from the oven. Wash it down with a delicious latte from Capitola Coffee, right next door.
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VilleVelo Bake Shop
1465 NE Prescott StA tiny, unassuming bakery just up the street from our place, Ville Velo has a small but excellent selection of baked goods made by the friendliest bakers/owners. We recommend the popovers or the biscuits - they bake them fresh all morning so if you’re lucky, you’ll get one piping hot from the oven. Wash it down with a delicious latte from Capitola Coffee, right next door.
Great Italian by one of Portland's buzziest chefs (Joshua McFadden). A PDX essential. Reservations available via Resy. If you walk-in, prepare to wait about an hour.
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Ava Gene's
3377 SE Division StGreat Italian by one of Portland's buzziest chefs (Joshua McFadden). A PDX essential. Reservations available via Resy. If you walk-in, prepare to wait about an hour.
Modern Israeli/Mediterranean-inspired. Bright and airy design, excellent cocktails, and the freshest veggie-forward dishes. Make a reservation on Resy or walk-in and prepare to wait about an hour. Luckily, there are lots of great bars on Division if you want to grab a drink while you wait.
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Tusk
2448 E Burnside StModern Israeli/Mediterranean-inspired. Bright and airy design, excellent cocktails, and the freshest veggie-forward dishes. Make a reservation on Resy or walk-in and prepare to wait about an hour. Luckily, there are lots of great bars on Division if you want to grab a drink while you wait.
A quick walk from our place, Grain and Gristle has our favorite burger in the city.
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Grain & Gristle
1473 NE Prescott StA quick walk from our place, Grain and Gristle has our favorite burger in the city.
Maybe our favorite restaurant in Portland! Incredible pizzas with farm-fresh ingredients, delicious veggie sides, and homemade ice cream. No reservations, but put your name in and grab a drink at Interurban next door while you wait- if the weather is nice, they have a great back patio with a fire pit.
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Lovely's Fifty Fifty
4039 N Mississippi AveMaybe our favorite restaurant in Portland! Incredible pizzas with farm-fresh ingredients, delicious veggie sides, and homemade ice cream. No reservations, but put your name in and grab a drink at Interurban next door while you wait- if the weather is nice, they have a great back patio with a fire pit.
Gumba began as a fantastic food cart that specialized in freshly-made pasta, and they now have a permanent location on Alberta. Get the burrata to start if it's on the menu, it's homemade and incredibly delicious.
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Gumba
1733 NE Alberta StGumba began as a fantastic food cart that specialized in freshly-made pasta, and they now have a permanent location on Alberta. Get the burrata to start if it's on the menu, it's homemade and incredibly delicious.
DAME
2930 NE Killingsworth StBeautiful, upscale spot with great food and natural wine.
An Australian cafe that's a great stop for coffee or brunch. A local favorite, prepare to wait if you're going during peak brunch hours (or get takeout and eat in Alberta Park, just a few blocks away).
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Proud Mary Cafe
2012 NE Alberta StAn Australian cafe that's a great stop for coffee or brunch. A local favorite, prepare to wait if you're going during peak brunch hours (or get takeout and eat in Alberta Park, just a few blocks away).
Thai BBQ fusion (think brisket in curry). Sounds strange but it's incredible and one of our favorite new restaurants in Portland. Cocktails are excellent, as well.
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Eem - Thai BBQ & Cocktails
127Thai BBQ fusion (think brisket in curry). Sounds strange but it's incredible and one of our favorite new restaurants in Portland. Cocktails are excellent, as well.
Nong's started as a food cart and is a Portland institution. The menu is short and the star of the show is "Nong's Khao Man Gai" ie chicken and rice. It's somehow simple and extremely flavorful at the same time.
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Nong's Khao Man Gai
609 Southeast Ankeny StreetNong's started as a food cart and is a Portland institution. The menu is short and the star of the show is "Nong's Khao Man Gai" ie chicken and rice. It's somehow simple and extremely flavorful at the same time.
*Recently renamed as Kinboshi Ramen - nothing else has changed, though!
There's a lot of great ramen in Portland (rain = prime ramen weather) and this is one of our favorites. The only other location in the world is in Tokyo. Don't be intimidated by the long line, it moves relatively quickly.
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Marukin Ramen
126 SW 2nd Ave*Recently renamed as Kinboshi Ramen - nothing else has changed, though!
There's a lot of great ramen in Portland (rain = prime ramen weather) and this is one of our favorites. The only other location in the world is in Tokyo. Don't be intimidated by the long line, it moves relatively quickly.
Great sushi and (sneakily) one of the best burgers in the city. Grab a drink across the street at Expatriate before or after.
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Yakuza Izakaya Restaurant
5515 NE 30th AveGreat sushi and (sneakily) one of the best burgers in the city. Grab a drink across the street at Expatriate before or after.
A neighborhood favorite for flavorful and fresh plant-based grain bowls. This place will hit the spot if you’re craving something healthy but still super-delicious.
Wild Thing PDX
1483 Northeast Alberta StreetA neighborhood favorite for flavorful and fresh plant-based grain bowls. This place will hit the spot if you’re craving something healthy but still super-delicious.
Drink
Cool, quintessentially Portland cocktail bar with well-made drinks and delicious globally-inspired bar food.
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Expatriate
5424 NE 30th AveCool, quintessentially Portland cocktail bar with well-made drinks and delicious globally-inspired bar food.
Bar Norman
2615 Southeast Clinton StreetA funky natural wine bar with good vibes
A lively restaurant & bar in an old Craftsman home on Mississippi Ave., with a great back patio
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Interurban
4057 N Mississippi AveA lively restaurant & bar in an old Craftsman home on Mississippi Ave., with a great back patio
It's always summer in this retro, tropical-feeling bar that frequently has live music or a DJ during later hours
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Hey Love
920 E Burnside StIt's always summer in this retro, tropical-feeling bar that frequently has live music or a DJ during later hours
Our local wine shop (with a few beers, as well) offers a well-curated selection at a variety of price points. The staff is super friendly, knowledgeable, and ready to help you find your perfect bottle.
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1856 Beer Wine Cider
1465 NE Prescott StOur local wine shop (with a few beers, as well) offers a well-curated selection at a variety of price points. The staff is super friendly, knowledgeable, and ready to help you find your perfect bottle.
Do
Inspired by the saunas of Scandinavia, Loyly is the perfect place to unwind on a rainy Portland winter day. Enjoy the cedar saunas, a massage/facial by appointment, or a handful of DIY services (masks, foot soaks, etc).
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Loyly
3525 NE Martin Luther King Jr BlvdInspired by the saunas of Scandinavia, Loyly is the perfect place to unwind on a rainy Portland winter day. Enjoy the cedar saunas, a massage/facial by appointment, or a handful of DIY services (masks, foot soaks, etc).
If you're here during the spring or summer, the Rose Garden is a beautiful Portland landmark. Enjoy the sight and scent of roses of countless varieties with a fantastic view of the city in the background.
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International Rose Test Garden
400 SW Kingston AveIf you're here during the spring or summer, the Rose Garden is a beautiful Portland landmark. Enjoy the sight and scent of roses of countless varieties with a fantastic view of the city in the background.
A massive independent bookstore where you can find new, used, and rare books. The West Burnside location is the flagship, but if you're looking for something more low-key, there's an East Side outpost on Hawthorne as well.
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Isifunda sasePowell's City of Books
1005 W Burnside StA massive independent bookstore where you can find new, used, and rare books. The West Burnside location is the flagship, but if you're looking for something more low-key, there's an East Side outpost on Hawthorne as well.
One of our favorite parks for a leisurely stroll, with towering pine trees and great views of the city. We recommend grabbing brunch at Coquine afterwards (or least a few of their famous cookies to go - we think they’re the best in Portland!)
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Mount Tabor
One of our favorite parks for a leisurely stroll, with towering pine trees and great views of the city. We recommend grabbing brunch at Coquine afterwards (or least a few of their famous cookies to go - we think they’re the best in Portland!)
Neighborhoods
Portland is divided into four quadrants, NE (where you're staying,) SE, NW, and SW. The city is divided north/south by Burnside Street, and east/west by the Willamette (rhymes with "damnit") River. We’re biased, but we love the East side as it feels more like "real" Portland. Here, you'll find a mix of incredible restaurants and bars, lush parks, and only-in-Portland quirk. Streets with a lot of activity / things to do (Mississippi Ave, Alberta Street, Division, Hawthorne) are just minutes away from residential, tree-lined streets.
Northeast Portland
Portland is divided into four quadrants, NE (where you're staying,) SE, NW, and SW. The city is divided north/south by Burnside Street, and east/west by the Willamette (rhymes with "damnit") River. We’re biased, but we love the East side as it feels more like "real" Portland. Here, you'll find a mix of incredible restaurants and bars, lush parks, and only-in-Portland quirk. Streets with a lot of activity / things to do (Mississippi Ave, Alberta Street, Division, Hawthorne) are just minutes away from residential, tree-lined streets.
Northwest Portland includes The Pearl and Slabtown neighborhoods. Good streets to walk down include NW 21st Ave and NW 13th Ave. Northwest Portland skews a bit more upscale (relative to the rest of the city, it's still the PNW and pretty chill). While our guidebook generally focuses on the East Side, our favorite NW restaurants include Mediterranean Exploration Company (Mediterranean), Oven & Shaker (pizza), and Caffe Mingo (Italian).
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Northwest Portland
Northwest Portland includes The Pearl and Slabtown neighborhoods. Good streets to walk down include NW 21st Ave and NW 13th Ave. Northwest Portland skews a bit more upscale (relative to the rest of the city, it's still the PNW and pretty chill). While our guidebook generally focuses on the East Side, our favorite NW restaurants include Mediterranean Exploration Company (Mediterranean), Oven & Shaker (pizza), and Caffe Mingo (Italian).
Southwest Portland is referred to as "downtown." We don't spend a ton of time here, although there are some good restaurants to be found. If you're visiting Portland, we would recommend sticking to the East side and Northwest.
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Downtown Portland
Southwest Portland is referred to as "downtown." We don't spend a ton of time here, although there are some good restaurants to be found. If you're visiting Portland, we would recommend sticking to the East side and Northwest.
Izeluleko zedolobha
Ukuzulazula
Get around Portland via public transportation or Uber/Lyft
Public transportation is readily available in Portland, from the MAX (rail) to the bus to the streetcar. Ubers & Lyfts are also quick & easy to grab.
The Max and bus schedules are available here: https://trimet.org/schedules/index.htm
The streetcar schedule is available here: https://portlandstreetcar.org/
Ukuzulazula
Portland is a really bike-friendly city
If you like to bike, you'll find plenty of bike lanes and generally flat terrain in Portland. You can rent a bike by the hour through the Biketown bike share program, or for a longer period through a number of local bike shops.
Biketown system map is available here: https://www.biketownpdx.com/map