Portland has become one of my go-to cities for a weekend escape from San Francisco. During my last trips, I mainly ate and wandered my way through the city. Below are some of the highlights from those adventures and a compilation of all the amazing recommendations I got from friends. Hope you have a chance to visit this amazing city!

Neighborhoods

• Alberta Arts: Northeast of downtown Portland, this neighborhood is filled with cool boutiques, restaurants, and bars. For instance, there is a restaurant called UCHU that serves Sushi & Fried Chicken (um, two of my favorite things!), which is right next to this amazing Thai place called Mee-Sen Thai Eatery. After a delicious lunch, I would recommend going a few blocks down to grab some beers at StormBreaker Brewing or you can fulfill your sweet tooth at Ruby Jewel Scoops. Best part, you can walk everything off by exploring the boutiques on Mississippi Ave.
• Chinatown: I remember stumbling upon Portland’s Chinatown, north of the Burnside bridge, since it’s so close to downtown. You can find some cool bars and of course, the famous Voodoo Doughnuts. Below is a photo of my doughnut picks, and yes, there are real slices of bacon on that maple doughnut.

• Downtown Portland: This is a shopping haven since there are so many mainstream brands and boutiques, and also I should mention there is no sales tax in Oregon! There are also various coffee shops, food trucks, restaurants, and bars. One aspect that was refreshing for a downtown area were all the public spaces like small parks and cultural centers. My friend who has lived there for several years did warn me there are some dodgy areas of Portland and areas with a high concentration of homeless camps.

• Pearl District: This is one of my favorite neighborhoods, I love the cobblestone streets, all the coffee shops, delicious restaurants, and Powell Book Store. This area is also great for shopping and browsing boutiques like House of lolo and Cheryl’s on 12th, or grabbing beers at BridgePort Brewing Co. You are also so close to the water and can catch views like the one below by walking across one of the bridges in the city.

• Nob Hill: I also love this neighborhood because of all the good food like Bamboo Sushi and Salt and Straw ice cream. You can also easily get into nature and walk to Forest Park, which is perfect for runners or hikers.

Shopping

• Nike: When in Portland…yeah not really a saying, but you should stop by the Nike store in downtown Portland (5th & Morrison). If you really want a deal and have a car, then you can even go to the factory store.
• Powell’s City of Books: The world’s largest independent book store in the world! I could spend hours here just browsing the different levels and sections.
• Table of Contents: Pretty high-end boutique downtown that constantly rotates new items in based on the season. Warning, expect sticker shock.
• Machus: Another very high-end boutique with brands like Band of Outsiders, APC, Apolis, Head Porter, Saturdays, Alexander Wang.
• Stand Up Comedy/Haunt/Sword & Fern: On the other side of E.Burnside near Machus, is a strip of boutiques focused on jewelry, gifts, and other odds and ends.
• House of Lolo: Super colorful and flirty styles for women.
• Animal Traffic: Pretty affordable boutique with vintage and outdoorsy clothing, leather goods and accessories, and cool things for the home.
• Snow Peak: This is a famous Japanese camping equipment brand that opened its first N. American store in Portland. They are known for their titanium gear and sleek designs.
• Canoe: This was recommended by a friend, but didn’t get a chance to visit. I was told this was a great shop for gifts.

Bars

• I found out from a local that Portland bars have to serve food for as long as they’re open and serving alcohol, which makes it great for people like me who are always hungry. Best yet, most of the bars serve really good food.
• Rontoms: Located on the other side of the bridge in East Portland. There is a patio and is a pretty spacious bar and right next door to Sizzle Pie (pizza).
• Dig a Pony: Another East Portland bar that reminded me of one of those NYC bars. It got really crowded the Friday night we were there and apparently can turn into a dance floor. I also love that it is walking distance from Tarad Thai Market.
• Kask: A mixology bar located in downtown Portland. It’s pretty intimate, which made it a perfect catch-up-with-friends bar.
• Bye and Bye: A NE bar that also serves vegan food like “meatball” sub or the grilled “cheese”.
• Doug Fir: One of PDX’s most famous music venues, but also a great bar (see who’s playing).
• Departure: Located on the rooftop of The Nines Hotel, so expect the typical hotel bar crowd and pricey drinks. I will say the views of the city were pretty great though.

Food

• Tarad Thai Market and Restaurant: OMG amazing Thai food and the portions were insane for the price. I basically had leftovers for the next two meals and it’s walking distance to Dig a Pony.

• Big Ass Sandwiches: I love the food truck scene in Portland. As you can imagine, this is a food truck that makes AMAZING and big ass sandwiches.
• Mother’s: Great, consistent brunch spot with amazing coffee. I personally loved their biscuits.

• Nong’s Khao Man Gai: There are several locations, including a food truck, and specializes in a super simple chicken and rice dish. It’s simple but so amazing.
• Pine Street Market: The city’s first food hall and a great spot for groups since there is a variety of restaurants. My friend took me to Marukin Ramen and we then got some desserts at one of the bakeries inside this market.
• Other Food trucks: There are SO MANY food trucks or carts (many are permanently parked) and are all over town and open throughout the day. You can get pizza to fried chicken to Korean fusion to smoothies. Heads up, good to have cash since some of the carts are cash only.

Recommendations from locals

• BEAST: Prix fixe menu by Top Chef’s Naomi Pomeroy. My friend told this was one of the best meals she has ever had. This is an all-meat based menu and requires you to make a reservation (http://beastpdx.com/). Another recommendation: Don’t overlook the foie gras bonbon–it’s tiny, so savor it.
• Ava Genes: Roman Italian Trattoria. Owned by the Stumptown Coffee’s Duane Sorenson, the food and service are meticulous, all locally sourced (like many Portland restaurants), and very reasonably priced. The menu changes frequently, but some highlights: The dinosaur kale salad, the burrata, the beets, and the wagyu culotte.
• Pok Pok: Come here for dinner if you couldn’t make it there for lunch; even bigger menu.
• Le Pigeon: French and one of the more expensive restaurants in Portland, but also one of the best. Chef Gabriel Rucker won the James Beard Northwest Award and the James Beard Best Rising Star Chef Award in 2011.
• Little Bird: French and the little sister of Le Pigeon, one of Portland‘s best restaurants. Open until midnight and usually not a long wait.
• Andina: Very authentic, upscale Peruvian tapas. Recommendation: Yucca Rellena, the empanadas, and the chicharrones de pollo.
• Laurelhurst Market: If you’re in the mood for meat, this is the place and it’s really reasonably priced. My favorite steak and fries in PDX and priced at $20.
• Boxer Sushi: Possibly the best sushi and the Omakase is only $39. Sounds suspect, but it’s top inventive and top notch. Worth every penny. My friend said she would eat here almost every day if she could.
• Bamboo Sushi: First sustainably farmed sushi restaurant. Not my friend’s favorite, but people are raving about this place. Recommendation: Green Machine Roll.
• Clyde Common: Inside the Ace Hotel, it’s a new American restaurant with a seasonal menu, like most Portland spots. The menu isn’t huge, so worth taking a look to make sure there’s something you’ll like.
• Riffle: One of the best seafood spots in Portland. The octopus is especially good.
• DOC: Delicately prepared Italian food. Great spot for a date–tiny, intimate. You walk through the kitchen to a 20 or 30 person dining room.
• Piazza Italia: Delicious, down home Italian. It’s consistently great and a local’s regular go-to since everything is good on the menu. Warning, don’t wear a hat… the old grandfather-like Italian owner will ask you to take it off. Recommendation: Rigatoni Bolognese or the Pappardelle with slow cooked boar meat sauce.
• Nostrana: Great Italian. A little upscale. Chef Cathy Whims has been nominated for the James Beard Award for the Northwest 5 years in a row. Recommendation: Budino for dessert.
• Oven & Shaker: Nostrana’s sister restaurant. Recommendation: Great neopolitan pizza, kale salad, and arancini risotto balls.
• Apizza Scholl’s: Incredible pizza, but can often times be a 1-hour wait (if that’s a bust try Lovely’s 50/50 or Ken’s Artisan Pizza).
• Urban Farmer: Inside the Nines Hotel, beautiful space, American fare (worth having a drink there).
• Pho Van: Best, most consistent Vietnamese pho in town. All their other Vietnamese dishes are very authentic as well. Several locations but favorite is out on NE 82nd St. If you don’t want to make the trek out there, they have a more upscale restaurant called Silk in the Pearl. Though it’s in the Pearl, it’s still reasonably priced.

Activities

• Rent and explore the city via bikes – city is amazing for cyclists since it’s mostly flat
• Do an urban hike either at Forest Park or explore one of the many parks like Laurelhurst Park or Olympic Sculpture Park

• Try some of the local beers at one of the many breweries like Breakside Brewery or bars
• Admire the roses at the Gold Medal Rose Garden Fountain

• Escape into nature and explore The Grotto, a Roman Catholic sanctuary. I’m not religious but I have to say I loved the peaceful and serene effect this place had as I was roaming around. The lower levels are free and you can pay a small fee to enter the top area / larger gardens. This made it a nice escape into nature and away from the city.