Guidebook for Portland
Food Scene
Cute little neighborhood bakery / cafe. Good wifi connection. Great vibe. Ok coffee.
100 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Posies Bakery & Cafe
8208 N Denver AveCute little neighborhood bakery / cafe. Good wifi connection. Great vibe. Ok coffee.
Amazing Paleo friendly food! Gluten free / dairy free / mostly locally sourced, organic, etc. 100% delicious!
If you have kids, I play children's music here every Thursday morning at 11 AM. :-)
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cultured Caveman
Amazing Paleo friendly food! Gluten free / dairy free / mostly locally sourced, organic, etc. 100% delicious!
If you have kids, I play children's music here every Thursday morning at 11 AM. :-)
Where I go if I want great coffee and don't care about ambiance (because it's a cart).
23 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
GrindHouse Coffee
1934 N Rosa Parks WayWhere I go if I want great coffee and don't care about ambiance (because it's a cart).
Pizza, pasta, salads, etc. Cute little bar area as well...
57 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fino Bistro Bar Pizzeria
8225 N Denver AvePizza, pasta, salads, etc. Cute little bar area as well...
My favorite breakfast / brunch place in the universe. Also good craft cocktails in the PM (or anytime, really).
478 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Tasty n Daughters
4537 SE Division StMy favorite breakfast / brunch place in the universe. Also good craft cocktails in the PM (or anytime, really).
Hands down my favorite restaurant in Portland. (Not great for vegan or gluten free options.) Arrive close to opening time (5:30 PM) or expect to wait for a table. (It's worth the wait.)
178 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Toro Bravo
120 NE Russell StHands down my favorite restaurant in Portland. (Not great for vegan or gluten free options.) Arrive close to opening time (5:30 PM) or expect to wait for a table. (It's worth the wait.)
Since this place is only two blocks from my font door I sometimes forget how good it is and kind of take it for granted. The Steak banh mi sandwich is my fave.
96 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Swift and Union
8103 N Denver AveSince this place is only two blocks from my font door I sometimes forget how good it is and kind of take it for granted. The Steak banh mi sandwich is my fave.
This recent blind taste test of 12 Portland doughnut places demonstrates why locals avoid Voodoo and Blue Star. (they came in 12th and 11th, respectively):
( https://www.oregonlive.com/expo/erry-2018/05/2c50e47f219013/portlands_best_doughnut_shops.html )
Instead try Heavenly, Angel's, or Delicious Doughnuts for simple inexpensive deliciousness.
(They came in 6th, 3rd, and 1st, respectively -- I'm posting Heavenly because of my neighborhood loyalty, but Delicious and Angels are worth googling if you're a doughnut aficionado. Oh! And Pips -- google them too! ;-)
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Heavenly Donuts
1915 N Lombard StThis recent blind taste test of 12 Portland doughnut places demonstrates why locals avoid Voodoo and Blue Star. (they came in 12th and 11th, respectively):
( https://www.oregonlive.com/expo/erry-2018/05/2c50e47f219013/portlands_best_doughnut_shops.html )
Instead try Heavenly, Angel's, or Delicious Doughnuts for simple inexpensive deliciousness.
(They came in 6th, 3rd, and 1st, respectively -- I'm posting Heavenly because of my neighborhood loyalty, but Delicious and Angels are worth googling if you're a doughnut aficionado. Oh! And Pips -- google them too! ;-)
K -- TOTAL SECRET INSIDE SCOOP HERE! (Seriously -- I don't even tell my neighbors about this because I don't want it to become a thing. :-)
Go to Prince coffee, get a coffee or tea beverage of your choice and a freshly made stroopwaffle (pronounced strope-waffle, not strupe-waffle -- you're welcome. ;-). Get them to go.
Take them two doors down to the outdoor showroom of the Bamboo Craftsman (2104 N. Willis Blvd.). In the outdoor showroom there is a bamboo treehouse. Go to the very top -- there's comfy seating up there and it's the perfect spot to chill, enjoy your treats, and plan your day!
43 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Prince Coffee
2181 NW Nicolai StK -- TOTAL SECRET INSIDE SCOOP HERE! (Seriously -- I don't even tell my neighbors about this because I don't want it to become a thing. :-)
Go to Prince coffee, get a coffee or tea beverage of your choice and a freshly made stroopwaffle (pronounced strope-waffle, not strupe-waffle -- you're welcome. ;-). Get them to go.
Take them two doors down to the outdoor showroom of the Bamboo Craftsman (2104 N. Willis Blvd.). In the outdoor showroom there is a bamboo treehouse. Go to the very top -- there's comfy seating up there and it's the perfect spot to chill, enjoy your treats, and plan your day!
Best Cuban food this side of Havana. if you go at a peak meal time expect a wait. I personally love to go here middle of the afternoon for a no-wait late lunch. Truly though, cannot over-state how amazing this place is.
166 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pambiche
2811 NE Glisan StBest Cuban food this side of Havana. if you go at a peak meal time expect a wait. I personally love to go here middle of the afternoon for a no-wait late lunch. Truly though, cannot over-state how amazing this place is.
Is it really a visit to Portland without a trip to Voodoo Doughnuts? Doesn't matter, because doughnuts.
If you want the full tourist experience, go to the downtown location and be prepared to wait in line for up to an hour (depending on day and time, of course).
If on the other hand you want the doughnuts (and probably more importantly, the pink box to IG a selfie with ;-), without the wait, then go to this NE Davis location. Same doughnuts, same iconic pink box, little to no wait.
125 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Voodoo Doughnut - Davis
1501 NE Davis StIs it really a visit to Portland without a trip to Voodoo Doughnuts? Doesn't matter, because doughnuts.
If you want the full tourist experience, go to the downtown location and be prepared to wait in line for up to an hour (depending on day and time, of course).
If on the other hand you want the doughnuts (and probably more importantly, the pink box to IG a selfie with ;-), without the wait, then go to this NE Davis location. Same doughnuts, same iconic pink box, little to no wait.
Drinks & Nightlife
Good cheap drinks and a pool table. Sometimes good live music. Sometimes horrible live music.
43 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Kenton Club
2025 N Kilpatrick StGood cheap drinks and a pool table. Sometimes good live music. Sometimes horrible live music.
Great blue-collar, neighborhood bar, greasy spoon. I recently overheard some 20 something hipsters saying it's their new favorite bar, so get here quick -- in 6 months it'll be overrun. ;-)
Strangely they close at 10 on weeknights, and 11 weekends, which is actually kind of a Portland thing. We like to sleep -- being retired at 30 is hard work...
25 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Kenton Station
8303 N Denver AveGreat blue-collar, neighborhood bar, greasy spoon. I recently overheard some 20 something hipsters saying it's their new favorite bar, so get here quick -- in 6 months it'll be overrun. ;-)
Strangely they close at 10 on weeknights, and 11 weekends, which is actually kind of a Portland thing. We like to sleep -- being retired at 30 is hard work...
Essentials
Great smaller grocery store, specializing in organic, locally sourced, healthier options. A little spendy, but usually worth it.
1021 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
New Seasons Market
5320 NE 33rd AveGreat smaller grocery store, specializing in organic, locally sourced, healthier options. A little spendy, but usually worth it.
Fred Meyer
6850 N Lombard StHuge grocery store with everything you need.
Everything Else
A food cart that serves the worlds most amazing waffles. You want to go to here.
14 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Flavour Spot
4707 N Lombard StA food cart that serves the worlds most amazing waffles. You want to go to here.
Parks & Nature
Amazing forest hikes right here in the city. Plus check out this list of 20 hikes in Portland! http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2016/05/portland_hiking_guide.html
940 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ipharki yomdiliya
Amazing forest hikes right here in the city. Plus check out this list of 20 hikes in Portland! http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2016/05/portland_hiking_guide.html
One of the most stunning waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge, which is saying something. This is the touristy "must see" and then once you're out there, there are plenty of other waterfalls and hikes to explore.
974 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Multnomah Falls station
One of the most stunning waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge, which is saying something. This is the touristy "must see" and then once you're out there, there are plenty of other waterfalls and hikes to explore.
Sightseeing
Dude! Like, the biggest Paul Bunyan statue in the world! (Maybe? I think I heard that somewhere...)
Whatever! It's big, and it's adorable, and it's three blocks away! Take your pic in front of it because why not!
23 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Paul Bunyan statue
North Denver AvenueDude! Like, the biggest Paul Bunyan statue in the world! (Maybe? I think I heard that somewhere...)
Whatever! It's big, and it's adorable, and it's three blocks away! Take your pic in front of it because why not!