Visit Portland, Oregon

Want to visit Portland, Oregon? The Pacific Northwest? Home to the hipsters and craft beer? Then this is the list for you.

I’ve been living Portland for over 2 years now and I have a loooonnnggg list of things to eat, see and do! Tons and tons and tons of food! It’s the perfect mix of city and nature.

Where to Eat in Portland, Oregon

There are A LOT of great places to eat when you visit Portland, so this list is going to be YUUUGEEE. Prepare yourselves… and your stomachs.

Breakfast/Brunch/Cafe‘s in Portland, Oregon

• Radio Room– $$ Brunch. The Black Market Hash is what I get every time but there’s a million other good things.
• Crema Bakery & Cafe– $$ So DELISH. I had a Spanish latte that was to die for but the honey and vanilla latte was also calling my name.
• Hunnymilk– Only open on weekends. My favorite breakfast I had. You pick 1 drink, 1 sweet option and 1 savory option. I had the lemon poppyseed crepe with a key lime curd for my sweet choice. TO DIE FOR.
• Tin Shed Cafe– $$ My best friend claims these are the best biscuits she’s ever had. I got the Salm I Am (Egg scramble with smoked wild salmon, roasted red pepper, sweet onion and roasted garlic scramble topped with fresh dill, cream cheese & capers.)
• Case Study Coffee– $ Great coffee and great location, across from the fancy library.
• Pearl Bakery– $ The only coffee I’ve had that compares to Italy.
• Stumptown Coffee– $ Locals rave about this coffee. Starbucks who? Locations errrrywhere.
• Tea Bar–$ You know ya gurl loves her boba. Had to try this place. I will say, the boba pearls were really fresh and chewy!

• Mother’s Bistro – $$ Another highly recommended place.
• Screen Door– $$ I did not go here but every time we drove by the line was HUGE. It must be good because 1. there are a million brunch options in Portland so 2, to stand in line for a place it must be good. This is an observation recommendation.

Food Carts in Portland, Oregon

Food Carts at 10th and Alder (downtown block) $-$$$: A million options! It’s an easy lunch or dinner. Comes highly recommended by my friends when you visit Portland. Here’s my favorites.

• E San Thai– which also has a stand alone restaurant nearby. 
• 808 Grinds– Hawaiian
• Whole Bowl– Healthy option

Lunch in Portland, Oregon

• Fire on the Mountain– $$ Wingss for dayyss (even vegan wings). I actually heard MANY people talk about this place while I was there but I didn’t have time.
• Cheese and Crack Snack Shop– $$ My mother and sister went here without me and wouldn’t shut up about it. They are both cheese snobs so it must have been good.

• Pine Street Market–$-$$$ Idk which restaurants are in it because it was always changing but I liked everything I ate there.
• Lardo–$ Sammachies and fries. A lot of bloggers raved about their fries.

Dinner in Portland, Oregon

• Mi Mero Mole– $ Mexican Food. It’s no California Mexican but it gets the job done, and the chips are perfect. 
• Sizzle Pie– $ YAAAASSSSSS PIZZA (many vegan options too).
• Andina – $$$ We went here for my cousin’s graduation dinner and it was GREAT!!!! I can’t recommend it more if you like or want to try Peruvian food.
• Pok Pok– Thai- Another place listed on all the blogs and ANOTHER place my mom and sister went without me… and wouldn’t shut up about. Oh Marissa, it was so good, you really missed out, blah, blah, blah.

• Cruzroom– Lord, let me tell you about these tacos. Actually I can’t. They are indescribable. Probably the best tacos I’ve had. I had the fresh price taco: “marinated steak on a pepper jack cheese crisp, smothered in our house cheese sauce and topped with tempura green peppers and onions”. COME ON PPL.
• Grassa– $$ Came up on many food blogs I researched. Homemade Italian pasta.
• Departure– $$$ Come for the views, stay for the food. We went here for happy hour. I had the kimchi fried rice and it was divine.

Desserts in Portland, Oregon

• Salt and Straw–$ You already know the deal. World famous ice cream yada yada yada. There is one in LA I’ve been to so I didn’t go here. But I will say, it is delish. The line is always super long thooooo.
• Wiz Bang Bar– $ I ferking love this place! THIS IS A HAVE TO GO TO. It’s actually inside Pine Street Market with a bunch of other food options.
  Voodoo Doughnuts–$ I mean….it’s kind of a must do. If you don’t want to wait in the line at the original there’s one on the Eastside as well that doesn’t get as many crowds.

• Blue Star Donuts– $ Where the fancy people get doughnuts. And if you consider yourself fancy, like me, try out this place. I had a lemon, key lime donut and let me just say… heavenly.
• Olympic Provisions– $$ Small plates and meat boards. Recommended by Oprah!!

Breweries in Portland, Oregon

You will find breweries errryyyywhere. There is pretty much a brewery around every corner. Here is a list of even more: MORE BEER PLEASE. These are just a few that we went to:

• Rouge Brewery
• Fathead Brewery
• Deschutes Brewery
• Base Camp Brewery

Where to Stay in Portland, Oregon

I stayed with one of my friends at her house and also at an Airbnb with my family. Portland is split up into 5 sections: Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, Southwest and North. Because doing it into four sections (North, East, South, West) would have been too logical.

• Airbnb– Soooo, from my findings, most Airbnb’s in Portland are in the basement of someone’s house. This location was fine, and the place was nice and yes, technically, we had the “entire apartment” but, we were just in someones basement. The host was nice and the price was right. Just giving you all a fair warning.
• Northeast Area – This is the area my friend lived and ERMUHGERD it was so cute. The neighborhoods were so picturesque.

What to Do in Portland, Oregon

• Walk around downtown– The city is so beautiful. So many cute stores scattered about.
• Powell’s– Coolest bookstore ever! Make sure you go to the rare book room on the top floor.

• Punch Bowl Social– Drinks and karaoke and bowling and board games and other games and just a lot of fun stuff to do with a group.
• Laurelhurst Park– If you have time go check it out! Word on the street is they have Caturdays. Where people bring out their cats on leashes and HANG OUT. What a magical place.
• Saturday Market– On Saturday, downtown, there is a food and crafts market. You know me, I always love a good market.

• Mississippi St– Another great shopping street.
• 23rd St– Great street of unique shops

Hiking in Portland, Oregon

• Forest Park– More beautiful hiking right on the edge of the city. Better if you’re short on time, but doesn’t have the waterfalls or variety of the Gorge. Honestly should do both though. This was my mom’s favorite place.
• Columbia Hills State Park– Yes I know this is in Washington. But it’s an easy hike with views of Mt. Hood ANDDDDD wildflowers. It only took us about 45 mins to get there and Multnomah Falls is on the way. Win-Win.

• Columbia River Gorge– Beautiful, amazing, wonderful, did I say amazing yet?
• Multnomah Falls– Honestly, you’ve probably seen this waterfall all over Pinterest and Instagram, but it’s super pretty! Right outside the city. Get there early to get a good picture with no tourists.

• Japanese Gardens– Gorgeous gardens with a great view of Mount Hood. I heard the tea house here was really good as well.
• Silver Falls State Park– One of the most popular parks with picturesque waterfalls.

Tips for Visit Portland, Oregon

• Lots of homeless people and beggars, just be mindful.
• Take public transportation. For $5 a day you can ride around on any bus, street car (tram), metro. Super easy to figure out. You can download the TriMet Ticket app to buy your tickets ahead of time too.
• Nike also has bikes all around town you can rent. Download the Biketown App, create a profile, add in your credit card and bike away! Portland is v. bike friendly.

• If you rent a car, don’t try to pump your own gas.
• You CAN fly with edibles in a carry-on back to California lol

Well, that’s all for now folks! I hope you enjoyed my Visit Portland, Oregon post! Feel free to check out my other blogs on Visit: Long Beach, CA, Visit: Austin, Texas or Top Things to Do in California! I have tons of destination recommendation lists for all over the world. Enjoy your trip!!!