PDX travel (okay, food) guide

Long time no see, blog! Obviously I’m killin’ the procrastination game. BUT I just moved back into my sisters adorable house, I have brand new room set up, and a cute little desk area and I’m feeling inspired! So how ’bout a locals guide to Portland?

I’m always getting messages on Instagram asking for recommendations of things to do (and eat) in Portland. And I love getting them! Telling people about my favorite places (most of them… gotta keep some a secret, ya know what I mean) and then seeing them explore them, too, is my favorite! So why not compile them all into one handy dandy blog post?

The thing about Portland is that the good areas are a bit spread out. Most of the best parts aren’t downtown. They’re in the different neighborhoods, or districts. And while downtown public transportation is great, the rest is not (unless you’re up for figuring out the bus system, which isn’t too bad). So if you’re planning to visit consider renting a car… Or racking up a nice big Uber bill. Whichever.

*Keep in mind these are just my favorites and completely subjective.

The Favorite Districts: Alberta arts, Hawthorne, Pearl, and Industrial. 

Alberta Arts District

This district is my original love. My very first favorite Portland neighborhood. It’s not far from the college I went to, has some of the best food in Portland, and is known for its funky and fun murals on just about every free wall. Photo opportunities GALORE. Annnnd now… my recommendations!

• Cha Ba Thai – In my opinion, the best thai food in all of Portland. And I’ve tried a lot. The inside is colorful and fun, and so is the outside. In the summer they have a closed off patio area so you can eat outside with all the bees if that’s your idea of a good time.
• Grilled Cheese Bus – Portland is known for food carts, and this one goes a bit farther. You get your grilled cheese and then you take it to eat in their converted school bus. Not only is it super fun, but the grilled cheeses are weird and delicious and better than probably (definitely) any you’ve tried before. If you go, get the Jalapeno Popper grilled cheese. Thank me later.
• Thai noon – In my opinion, the second best thai food in all of Portland. And the side of the restaurant has garage doors, so in the summer it’s a breezy and fun spot. Pro tip: Order the spices on the side of your dish so you can add them in yourself. They tend to either go overboard with the spicy, or none at all. Another pro tip: order the chicken salad rolls. With extra peanut sauce.
• Townshends Teahouse – I’m not a fan of tea. I was scarred by tea (literally) as a child and I’m really good at holding grudges. But this place has the best bubble tea and serves amazing kombucha on tap!
• Barista Coffee – Seriously delicious coffee, aesthetically pleasing shop, generally rude baristas. The super tasty norm.
• Stella taco – Order the breakfast tacos. It’s all you’ll want to eat for the rest of your life.

There are so many more things to do and see on Alberta. You can walk from one end to the other pretty easily, and will probably want to stop a million times at all the cute shops and art galleries. And you should.

Hawthorne District: 

Ahhhh, Hawthorne. Strange, strange, Hawthorne. This is one of the best streets in Portland, and some of the most recognizable restaurants are located on this street. Since I lived on this street for a bit (in the most adorable vintage studio that I miss every. day.) I’m going to list my favorites that aren’t as popular.

• East side delicatessen – The. Best. Sandwiches. Don’t go here if you’re looking for somewhere to sit and eat, because it’s literally just a tiny sandwich deli. But DO go here if you’re looking for the best sandwich of your life (probably).
• Tabor bread – An old house turned into a bakery. Fresh loaves of bread, pastries, and cafe type food.
• Roosevelt’s terrariums – A place filled with greenery and trinkets. The guy that runs it is the sweetest, full of stories, and looks just like Theodore Roosevelt. Just. Like.
• Tender loving empire – My FAVORITE store in Portland. This place is filled with the cutest handmade things – posters, cards, pillows, jewelry. Everything.
• House of vintage – It’s really more like a mall of vintage. A mansion of vintage. A planet of vintage…. it’s really big. So come fueled up with coffee and in a determined state of mind. There are so many clothing treasures in there! I get anxiety just from thinking of all the amazing things waiting to be found.
• Coffee…. honestly, I never found a coffee shop I loved ON Hawthorne. BUT. Two of my absolute favorites are just a couple blocks off Hawthorne: Good Coffee on division, and Upper Left Roasters on Clay. The BEST.

And again, this is a street that’s perfect for walking top to bottom. It’s full of boutique stores, restaurants, donut shops, and all sorts of opportunities to people watch. Oh, there’s also a Powell’s bookstore branch here. Less chaotic than the main one downtown, and there’s a cute coffee shop attached.

 

The Pearl District:

The Pearl District is where downtown went right. It’s beautiful. The buildings are well maintained, there’s brick everywhere, the parks are clean and unique, and the people don’t suck.

• The Fields Park – This is my favorite park in Portland. It’s really just a big field with a bridge and some industrial buildings in the background and a little, modern playground for kids to the side. But it’s the absolute perfect picnic and reading space.
• Black Rock Coffee – I am in no way endorsing their coffee. It’s actually quite gross. BUT the shop they just opened downtown is beautiful and reminds me of Richard Gilmore’s office and that deserves a mention.
• Tanner Springs Park – My other favorite park! This one is half wetland, half park. They built a fun little wall and added a dock to walk across the wetland. It’s peaceful and random and perfect.

Honestly, I don’t have many things to necessarily recommend in the Pearl district, because in reality I usually just walk around and sit in parks when I’m down there. The whole area is so beautiful and fun to just walk around.

(Eastside) Industrial District: 

I love industrial areas. I don’t know exactly what it is. I just love the abandoned buildings, all the brick, the raw, unrefined feeling it has. The trains that run straight through the middle and make you sit still for 10 minutes straight while you wait. And again, this is an area that won’t have a ton of recommendations exactly, but still so worth checking out!

• Eastbank Esplanade – the best view of Portland. It’s on the other side of the river from downtown, and there’s a boardwalk along the river with exits onto any of the million bridges to get to downtown (#bridgecity). Go out onto the docks, cross the bridges, sign up for boat tours. Sit on the floating walkway and read while trying not to get sick.
• Kure – Smoothies and juices and acai bowls and all things that are GOOD.
• Cup and Bar – Good coffee, cool shop, and lots of specialty drinks.
• City Home – Go here to drool on the most amazing and fun furniture. Then leave because you probably can’t afford any of it. The place is a giant warehouse, with the garage doors open in the summer, and it’s just filled with the coolest and  most unique pieces.
• Grand Marketplace – Another place to drool on the most amazing furniture. ANTIQUE furniture.

And that about sums up my top favorites! Of course, there are so many more things that I didn’t even begin to touch on. There’s too much! But if you do end up visiting, send me a message and let me know your own favorites! I’m running out of new things to explore here and always looking for more!