"Located in the heart of downtown right by Pioneer Courthouse Square, The Nines is Portland’s most classic hotel option. The 15-floor building was constructed in 1909, and today the hotel has combined the historic with funky design details."

"The newest addition to the Provenance Hotels portfolio, the Woodlark is everything you’d imagine a Portland hotel to be. Formerly two early 19th-century hotel buildings that were renovated and fused together, the Woodlark combines art deco elements like velvet and aged brass with floral wallpaper and lots of plants."

"The tagline at Tusk is “locally sourced, aggressively seasonal.” This Middle Eastern-inspired menu features chicken skewers, baked cheese, mezze, and lots of veggie-centric dishes, like kale with potatoes, daikon, and chickpea miso."

"This 18-seat restaurant located inside a former music venue serves up a fish-focused tasting menu three nights a week, from Thursday to Saturday (Sunday to Wednesday they’re open only to private parties). The focus here is on sustainably-sourced seafood, including bycatch (things accidentally caught by fisherman) and invasive species like sea urchin. Dishes also include foraged seaweed, sea snails, and rock crab. The menu is pricey—$125 with a $75 optional wine pairing—but well worth it for dishes like pacific octopus with green garlic and dungeness crab pie."

"The concept here is that the best meals aren’t necessarily found in restaurants—often they’re cooked by loved ones at home (like your mother). And so you’ll find classics on the menu like a lox platter, corned beef hash, turkey reuben, and fried chicken, in addition to a monthly “M.O.M. Menu” with dishes from a featured Mother of the Month."

"Ro Tam opened the first location of Either/Or in Sellwood in 2013. The coffee shop was so small—only 300 square feet—that when she started experimenting with making her own chai, she had to leave all the doors open so the space wouldn’t overheat. The smell permeated the block, and it became a marketing function of sorts. Flash forward five years, and Tam opened a second, bigger location in Northeast, with the goal to become a full service bar in addition to an all-day cafe. As a first generation Vietnamese person, Tam says her food is a hybrid of flavors, much like herself. Wonton noodle soup and rice bowls with house-made kimchi are on the menu, in addition to breakfast burritos and nachos."

"There is much discussion around the best donuts in Portland, but our vote is solidly for Blue Star Donuts. The orange olive oil donut is what dreams are made of, and the Mexican hot chocolate, blueberry basil cake, and sugar n’ spice, and passion fruit cake round out the vegan offerings."

"A fun fact: Portland has the ideal climate for roses, thanks to its warm dry summers, mild winters, and heavy clay soils. During World War I, nursery owners began planning a large rose garden to protect European rose species, which became the International Rose Test Garden in 1917."

"Outdoor opportunities abound here—an easy hike up Mt. Tabor, with views overlooking the city, makes it obvious why people are drawn to Portland’s balance of nature and city."

"At Workshop Vintage, find a curated selection of mid-priced clothing and home goods from the 50s, 60s, and 70s."

"Carve out a decent amount of time for the cavernous House of Vintage, a warehouse full of reasonably-priced old Levi’s, rock tees, colorful nylon jackets, and lace dresses, among many many other things—the shop is a prop and costume supplier for TV shows such as Portlandia, The Librarians, and Grimm."

"Powell’s Bookstore is on everyone’s Portland list, but it’s there for a reason. The giant, independent seller of new and used books has everything from the bestsellers to indie literary journals. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, follow the lead of the “Staff Picks” signs all over the store."

"The Portland Art Museum was founded in the late 1800s, making it the seventh oldest museum in the United States, and the oldest in the Pacific Northwest. In addition to its extensive permanent collection, rotating exhibits have featured everyone from Andy Warhol, Anish Kapoor, Steve McQueen, conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas, and photographer Fazal Sheikh, who photographs displaced and marginalized communities around the world."

"For anyone looking for an introductory course to sours (think a kombucha/beer hybrid), Cascade Brewing Co. is your spot—for over two decades, they’ve been creating world-class sour ales using local fruit and wine barrels."

"Head to Occidental Brewing Company for German-style beers...

"...Upright Brewing for French and Belgian beers..."

"...and Great Notion Brewing for fruity IPAs and “culinary-inspired” sours and stouts."

"If you’re more of a wino, fear not—Portland is (unsurprisingly) a frontrunner in the natural wine movement. The design-lover’s Bar Norman sits at the “intersection” of natural, with a list that features wines made from organic or biodynamic farming, often with low amounts of sulfur and native yeast fermentation."

"Southeast Wine Collective is part winery, part wine bar, and part restaurant, with a menu featuring deviled eggs and shrimp and grits, plus a wine list featuring wines made directly on site."

"At Les Caves, cozy up in this underground venue from the winemakers who run Ovum and Golden Cluster—two of the most exciting labels in the New Oregon Wine scene."

"The Pacific Northwest’s grunge movement may have ended before the turn of the millenium, but there’s still a huge indie music scene in Portland. Check the Portland Mercury’s robust music calendar to see what’s on each night."