Portland, OR
Eco-conscious travelers shouldn’t pass up a chance to visit Portland for some of the greenest urban policies in the United States, while food and drink connoisseurs will flock to the city for the best local microbrews and ultra-hip eateries tucked into charming urban pockets throughout the city. With forward-thinking chefs, green urban spaces, and a laid-back sensibility, Portland, Oregon, makes for the perfect getaway. While the sprawling Southeast area is popular for its indie shops and Craftsman bungalows, it’s also home to Division Street, the city’s newly minted restaurant row. The Pearl District remains its most upscale area, with the shopping and luxury lofts to match, while downtown’s creative hub in the West End caters to hipsters at packed cafés and buzzy lounges.
Milk & Honey Tip
Rent a car and get out of the city! Cannon Beach and Seaside are two popular beach towns just 90 minutes from the city. Seaside is particularly popular with families and Cannon Beach is stunning with a rugged coastline and plenty of hiking trails.
Eat
Sweedeedee is a cute little cafe in North Portland serving homestyle breakfast and brunch. The breakfast burrito was excellent and the egg sandwich also comes highly recommended. Home to both excellent pizza and delicious cakes, Handsome Pizza is worth straying from the main Alberta Street area. It’s next door to a popular Thai place called Hat Yai where people rave about the chicken. A strong contender for my favorite Mexican food on the West Coast, ¿Por Que No? Taqueria is a Portland institution, serving a delicious array of tacos and small Mexican plates in a colorful, lively restaurant. Finish off with ice cream from Salt & Straw - a Portland staple!
Play
Powell’s City of Books is the world’s biggest independent bookstore, occupying a whole city block and including nine colour-coded rooms with over 3,500 different sections. It’s crack for book lovers and you could easily spend a whole day there. One of the most beautiful spots in the city is the acclaimed 12-acre Portland Japanese Garden, which features five different garden styles and is considered one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan. Set on a hill overlooking the city, the garden’s view of Mount Hood is fantastic. The bustling Saturday Market in downtown Portland is a fun way to spend the morning, trying different food stalls and shopping the local handcrafted goods. There are over 250 different stalls!
Sleep
Ace Hotel Portland [Boutique]
The look at the Ace Portland, as you might expect, leans heavily on recycled and repurposed materials — bits and pieces from the original Clyde Hotel as well as disused factory furniture, clip-on lights and military-surplus pieces — and scrappy works by local artists. Guests are real live creative types, rather than executives — instead of a $15-a-drink cocktail bar, you’ll find Portland’s legendary Stumptown Coffee Roasters, the cozy communal-seating Clyde Common restaurant, a second-floor guest room converted into a breakfast nook, and the retro diner-themed Kenny and Zuke’s Delicatessen.
the Nines [Luxury]
Ideally situated next to Portland’s Pioneer Square and the MAX light Rail, the Nines rests atop the landmark Meier & Frank Building and is a contemporary homage to the structure’s storied past both in its striking decor and impeccable service. As one of the country’s premiere “walking” cities, Portland is an ideal spot to launch all of your adventures. A magnificent contemporary art collection by local artists graces each of the 331 newly-renovated, luxurious guest rooms, including 18 suites. Twice daily maid service, plush bedding, and 50” Ultra-HD televisions complete the picture of approachable elegance at the Nines.
The Hoxton [Boutique]
The concept of the “hipster” is a contentious one, but it’s safe to say that Shoreditch, the London district that’s home to the original Hoxton hotel, and Portland, the counterculture capital of the Pacific Northwest, have something in common. The Hoxton, Portland, set just outside the Chinatown Gateway, adapts the brand’s post-industrial aesthetic to a century-old building, but it’s not a copy of the London edition — here the Hoxton group’s in-house design studio took their inspiration from the Northwest modernist movement of the Sixties and Seventies. A hotel like the Hoxton depends at least as much on its common spaces as on its accommodations. And there’s plenty to love here, from Lovely Rita, the all-day Pacific Northwest bistro and café, to Tope, the Mexico City–style rooftop taqueria, and 2NW5, the basement bar, a speakeasy-style space that feels like a well-kept secret.
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