I'm going to Portland and have never been there before... Any must do restaurants, activities, or places (neighbourhoods, shopping, etc) to go?
Thanks in advance,
DA
Thanks in advance,
DA
Going to Portland... Any must do restaurants , activities, or places to go ?
- Thread starter Devils_Advocate
- Start date
Was there about a year ago. Depends what you are into, but my highlights were Powell's bookstore (huge selection of new and used), the Chinese garden in Chinatown (although, the Chinatown was pretty lame-- just a street or two, and empty). Voodoo donuts was kinda unique, and I believe they were expanding the size of the place. There is a big park just outside the city that has a rose garden, a Zoo, and a japanese garden. I would recommend those when it's warmer as it was a bit damp, and cold on the day we were there.
The street cars were free within the city limits, so it is a very walkable city. At one end of the street car, there was Lloyd center mall-- a decent sized mall with a full size ice rink in it. Lots of one way streets once you start driving through the city, and there were some wicked multi-level bridges entering / leaving the city!
Enjoy your trip!
The street cars were free within the city limits, so it is a very walkable city. At one end of the street car, there was Lloyd center mall-- a decent sized mall with a full size ice rink in it. Lots of one way streets once you start driving through the city, and there were some wicked multi-level bridges entering / leaving the city!
Enjoy your trip!
I would check out this link:
http://www.mcmenamins.com/
McMenamin's have a really good thing going on with innovative pubs, restaurants, hotels, etc throughout WA and OR.
I used to work down there and would entertain in their places. Great food, atmosphere and brewed on the premises beers.
One place I went to was formerly an elementary school and it retained the same name "Kennedy School". I think it only had three hotel rooms in classrooms but it had several bars, a movie theatre and numerous places to eat.
So many cool neighbourhoods to name. Its a great city just for walking around and hanging out.
http://www.mcmenamins.com/
McMenamin's have a really good thing going on with innovative pubs, restaurants, hotels, etc throughout WA and OR.
I used to work down there and would entertain in their places. Great food, atmosphere and brewed on the premises beers.
One place I went to was formerly an elementary school and it retained the same name "Kennedy School". I think it only had three hotel rooms in classrooms but it had several bars, a movie theatre and numerous places to eat.
So many cool neighbourhoods to name. Its a great city just for walking around and hanging out.
If you're into the food scene, Portland is known as the model that other cities are trying to follow for their "street food" program.
Vancouver has about 30 street food carts (and intends to ramp it up to 60 within 2 years).
Portland has about 700, mostly in the downtown area.
http://www.foodcartsportland.com/maps/
Unlike Vancouver, Portlands carts are semi permanent. Instead of operating on street corners or sidewalks, theirs operate from private parking lots. The lots are leased long term, and the vendors set up shop in large clusters in these parking lots for months or years at a time.
Vancouver has about 30 street food carts (and intends to ramp it up to 60 within 2 years).
Portland has about 700, mostly in the downtown area.
http://www.foodcartsportland.com/maps/
Unlike Vancouver, Portlands carts are semi permanent. Instead of operating on street corners or sidewalks, theirs operate from private parking lots. The lots are leased long term, and the vendors set up shop in large clusters in these parking lots for months or years at a time.
Very misleading to say the streetcars are free in the city. There is a rail-free zone in the downtown core and out to Lloyd Center, but hardly free in the whole city. Buses used to be included, but no longer.
And, believe it or not, Chinatown has basically moved to the east side of the city, along 82nd ave. At least that is where the good Chinese restaurants are located, but I once had a Chinese friend tell me there are "no" real Chinese restaurants. Avoid Chinese food there and enjoy the great Vietnamese restaurants, especially Pho Van.
And, believe it or not, Chinatown has basically moved to the east side of the city, along 82nd ave. At least that is where the good Chinese restaurants are located, but I once had a Chinese friend tell me there are "no" real Chinese restaurants. Avoid Chinese food there and enjoy the great Vietnamese restaurants, especially Pho Van.
I have always found that any of the Tripple D restaurants have always been very good
http://find.mapmuse.com/interest/diners_guy I've used this site then I take a boo at the epsiode on you tube
http://find.mapmuse.com/interest/diners_guy I've used this site then I take a boo at the epsiode on you tube
I was in Portland for my first (but SO not last) time in November. It is such a fun city! Powell's Books is a definite must- see. You know it's the largest independent bookstore in the world? *drool*
The food truck pods are amazing. I would have had to have stayed there for weeks to eat everything I wanted. I'm enough of a food nerd to get a thrill from eating at a place I've seen on the show Eat St.
Obviously you can't go to Portland without sampling their many... many... strip clubs. I love a good dive, so Mary's was my favourite. As a bonus, they had the BEST friggin' mexican food I've ever had! Did I mention that I love Portland?
On our last night in the city, my travelling companions and I had a life- altering cocktail experience at a speakeasy called Central. http://www.centralpdx.com/ This place is so hip it hurts, and the cocktails... oh god. TAKE ME WITH YOU!
The food truck pods are amazing. I would have had to have stayed there for weeks to eat everything I wanted. I'm enough of a food nerd to get a thrill from eating at a place I've seen on the show Eat St.
Obviously you can't go to Portland without sampling their many... many... strip clubs. I love a good dive, so Mary's was my favourite. As a bonus, they had the BEST friggin' mexican food I've ever had! Did I mention that I love Portland?
On our last night in the city, my travelling companions and I had a life- altering cocktail experience at a speakeasy called Central. http://www.centralpdx.com/ This place is so hip it hurts, and the cocktails... oh god. TAKE ME WITH YOU!
El Gaucho - make sure to go visit the cigar room and also have a Caesar salad made at your table. Great experience and great steak.
Andina - great Peruvian food and atmosphere. Reservation highly recommended (OpenTable), but not expensive.
The Original for breakfast. I always found it hard to find a good breakfast place downtown that wasn't just a glorified coffee shop (to be fair, I probably don't look hard enough)
Powell's is fun, and the shopping in the district North of there is great as well (Yaletown-ish) as the shopping on NW 23rd is great (cross between Robson/Commercial)
Andina - great Peruvian food and atmosphere. Reservation highly recommended (OpenTable), but not expensive.
The Original for breakfast. I always found it hard to find a good breakfast place downtown that wasn't just a glorified coffee shop (to be fair, I probably don't look hard enough)
Powell's is fun, and the shopping in the district North of there is great as well (Yaletown-ish) as the shopping on NW 23rd is great (cross between Robson/Commercial)
