I have family who lives in Portland so I’ve luckily had many opportunities to visit Portland and its surrounding areas over the last twenty something years. And just within this last year, I visited Portland twice!
Portland is a slightly difference pace and scene than I’m used to in Orange County and Los Angeles in California, but it’s got a lot of things I like, including a beer scene, a third wave coffee scene, good pastries, lots of great restaurants and bars, and if you like the outdoors, many great views, hikes and sightseeing within an hour’s drive away.
Let me show you what I personally think are the best things to do in Portland.
1. Restaurants: Kann/Langbaan, Tanaka, Sugarpine, Xiao Ye
Portland is for the foodies because there are so many different varieties of culinary cuisines and dining options to experience. From quick food carts to contemporary Asian eateries to award-winning fine dining, there are options for everyone. If you’re heading to Multnomah Falls, stop by Sugarpine Drive-In. It’s awesome for families because of the large outdoor dining area, so make sure to visit during the summer. They’re known for their ice creams, but don’t miss out on their pork sandwiches–these were amazing! Just note that the closest bathroom is inside the Glenn Otto Community Park, so it’s a small walk.
Xiao Ye is a charming modern Asian American restaurant. I love the cozy and hip interior; the servers were so nice! My favorites were the salted egg shrimp, grilled chicken heart skewers, strawberry and ume salad, and their rigatoni pasta. We didn’t need a reservation here on a Monday evening.
Our fine dining experiences in Portland were newly awarded James Beard restaurants, Kann and Langbaan. Kann features very spicy Haitian cuisine, so keep that in mind. It’s super loud, so hearing the servers explain the dishes was a bit difficult. Kann is priced around $100 per person and is an a la carte menu.
Langbaan was delicious, and I loved the modern Thai take on traditional menu items. Langbaan’s tasting menu changes with the seasons and runs about $135 per person. Finding reservations for these spots wasn’t super difficult if you time it properly, but I do recommend booking ahead of time.
2. Breweries/Bars (Hale Pele, Bible Club)
There are many different breweries and bars to visit for fun night activities–even if you don’t drink alcohol. Bible Club PDX is a cool speakeasy that’s prohibition-themed and set in an old Victorian house. It also has an Osaka location if you’re planning to visit Japan. There’s also an outdoor backyard area called the Revival Bar, but to get the full experience, go inside the front red door of a light yellow Victorian house. I loved that they also served nonalcoholic drinks that were equally as delicious. It’s first come, first serve and relatively small inside, so I would go early and grab a seat.
Hale Pele is a tiki bar in East Portland in an unassuming neighborhood. Compared to other Tiki bars we’ve visited in Chicago and all over the country, this bar seats people as they come, and you can still order drinks while you wait on the patio. The menu is more extensive once you’re seated, and the decor is awesome! It’s not too loud or crowded so that you can enjoy the bar. They only offer reservations for large parties of 8 and up. I like that their menu signifies which drinks originated at different tiki bars around the world.
If you’re into beer, there are currently over 70 breweries throughout Portland! Some famous spots are Deschutes Brewery, which has been around since 1988, and McMenamins, an original brewpub founded in 1985 that has expanded to dozens of restaurants and even hotels. A newer spot that is popular to visit is Breakside Brewery, known for its award-winning IPAs and Stouts.
3. Food pods
Food carts are a Portland staple and go back as far as the early 1900s. They are permanent food trucks, often with outdoor seating. A collection of food carts is called a food pod, aka an outdoor food hall. Food carts didn’t really get popular until the early 2000s, but now you’ll find plazas filled with a variation of food carts throughout the city.
Food carts are a great stepping stone for chefs to start their own restaurants without the high overhead cost of a traditional brick-and-mortar restaurant. Some food carts are so popular that they’ve turned their cart into a full-blown restaurant, like Bing Mi.
There are a never-ending number of food carts and pods throughout Portland and beyond. A larger food pod we visited is located in Beaverton, named the BG Cartel, and features a vast lawn area for kids to run around, picnic seating outdoors, nearby parking, and even a covered deck. Our favorite cart at this food pod was The Frying Scotsman, which sold traditional British fish and chips.
4. Coffee shops (Good Coffee, Coava, Sterling)
TLDR: There are some great coffee shops in Portland. My favorites are Good Coffee, Coava, Sterling Coffee, Super Joy, and I still enjoy Stumptown’s coffee even though service downtown seems to be lacking. However, I wish there was a higher concentration of amazing coffee here as I’ve become used to it in other cities.
Perhaps when I visited around 2010-2015, I was very enamored with the Portland coffee scene. It seemed like one of the first ‘food destinations’ to really care about producing a good cup of coffee. But this was quite a long time ago, and I must say the specialty coffee scene has really exploded. We have countless options for great coffee in Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego now.
But on my most recent visit to Portland in 2024, the awe and surprise of good coffee there wasn’t as potent. There are still a lot of exceptional coffee shops in Portland, but there were surprisingly many very average shops that I wouldn’t visit a second time. My guess is that other cities are pushing much harder with the store experience, coffee science, branding, and brewing and flavor experimentation, whereas it just feels more relaxed in Portland. And maybe that’s just where Portland wants and needs to be.
I highly value a shop that serves hot coffee NOT in a plastic and BPA-lined paper cup, but in a real glass or ceramic mug. I enjoy a well-balanced shot of espresso and welcome shops that have more than one espresso on the menu to try. Just give me a good cortado, hot or iced, and I’m good to go. Latte art is a bonus once everything else is in line.
5. Amazing bakeries: Ken’s, Berlu
After coming home from Paris and London, I can definitely say that my pastry standards are at an all-time high. And I definitely needed to check out some popular and new spots in Portland during my trip.
One of the most memorable bakeries I visited in Portland was Ken’s Artisan Bakery in Nob Hill. Ken’s had the best croissants we had in the city because they were super crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and freshly baked–you could smell the bread from the line. We also loved their palmier, which was perfectly caramelized on the outside and not too hard to bite. There was a small line on a Monday morning, but we’ve been warned it can be quite long during the weekends.
For a modern Vietnamese twist, we loved Berlu. The pastry chef and owner, Vince Nguyen, is an OC native and won Best New Chef from James Beard in 2023. Berlu offers lots of remixed traditional Vietnamese desserts and pastries, like pandan bánh bò nướng, and savory options, like bánh cuốn. I love the way he adds seasonal and local ingredients to his menu, like adding strawberries to ché.
6. Powell’s Books
If you’re an avid bookworm, visit Portland’s famous bookstore, Powell’s City of Books (or simply Powell’s Books). In a time when independent bookstores are seldom found in the wild, Powell’s Books has remained a steady and popular presence in the book industry since 1971.
The headquarters and most well-known location is in Portland’s Pearl District–you won’t be able to miss the huge bookstore as it takes up an entire city block of space. At Powell’s, you’ll find used and new books that cover any specialty or genre. Stop by for a fun day of book shopping or to see upcoming author events.
7. Pittock Mansion
Visit Pittock Mansion to see one of Portland’s historical buildings and learn about the French Renaissance-style mansion built by paper magnate Henry Pittock, who grew the Oregonian into a successful newspaper. This 16,000 square-foot home once housed Henry and his wife, Georgianna, along with other family members and features both the Cascade Mountains and downtown Portland. Built in 1914, it has 23 rooms and grounds full of blooming flowers during the Spring.
Pittock Mansion is operated by Portland Parks & Recreation, so it’s basically a public park with hikes like the Wildwood Trail. They offer self-guided, group, and private tours, but if you can’t make it to Portland, there’s also a virtual tour to explore. We recommend visiting during the Spring so you can explore the amazing grounds.
8. Portland Japanese Garden
Located in the city’s vast Washington Park is the Portland Japanese Garden. With over 12 acres of land and eight different gardens, you could spend the majority of the day here. Explore various Japanese gardens throughout the grounds like the Tea Garden with a traditional teahouse, Flat Garden, Sand and Stone Garden, and Strolling Pond Garden. Learn about Japanese culture by visiting the Cultural Village featuring revolving art exhibitions, Umami Cafe, the Japanese Arts Learning Center, and a guided tour.
9. Shopping
Take advantage of the no sales tax benefit in Oregon and go shopping! There are shopping centers, like Pioneer Plaza, where you can find well-known stores like Nordstrom, but there are also plenty of specialty boutiques throughout the city. Some of my favorite shops are Muji (there are sadly no more stores in California), Woonwinkel for eclectic and colorful home decor, and Tender Loving Empire (a store that features Oregon artists’ goods with multiple locations).
Portland is also an excellent place for thrift and vintage shopping. I’ve found some great second-hand shopping in East Portland, such as Village Merchant. There are also food specialty stores like Mark Bitterman’s The Meadow or Providore Fine Foods where you can find fancy chocolates or other gourmet ingredients.
10. Government Cove
Government Cove is a good spot for those who want to experience nature and grab some beautiful photos with sunset backdrops over the water but don’t want to trek too far on foot. This spot is popular among photographers because you get panoramic views of Oregon’s mountains and the Columbia River Gorge. It’s also a relatively easy hike, and you can park on the road. Government Cove is about 20 minutes past Multnomah Falls, so it’s a nice area to hit up after the waterfalls.
The short and scenic hike is about 10 minutes from parking on the side of the road and full of berry bushes and wild greenery. There are two main spots to hike to. Follow the rocky path to the top of the boulders for a scenic 360 view of the cove. Or follow a smaller path connected to the same pavement where you’ll walk through dozens of wildflowers on the Northwest side of the peninsula. On a mild day, it’s a great area for a picnic and sightseeing. We came here with family that included a handful of toddlers, and it was an easy outdoor activity.
11. International Rose Test Garden
If you’re visiting Portland during the Spring, visiting the International Rose Test Garden and seeing the beautiful roses blooming is essential. This garden is over 4 acres of roses and welcomes almost 700,000 visitors annually. What’s interesting about the International Rose Test Garden is that they experiment with new varieties of roses, and they currently have 650 varieties. To learn more about the roses, they also offer self-guided and guided group tours throughout the week. During the blooming season, we recommend visiting during the week to avoid crowds, as the parking can be challenging.
12. Washington Park
In the bustling city of Portland, you’ll find Washington Park, which spans 410 acres and is filled with many things to do, like the Japanese Garden, International Rose Test Garden, Archery Range, Hoyt Arboretum, and the Oregon Zoo. It’s located on the West side of Portland, next to Nob Hill. Washington Park is so large that there’s even a free shuttle that helps transport visitors to other attractions inside the park. Entering the park is free, but you will need to pay for parking and additional fees to enter attractions like the zoo or gardens.
13. Multnomah Falls
Multnomah Falls is one of those quintessential outdoor activities in Portland because it’s accessible to hike up and is 30 miles from downtown. I was so shocked that you can get super close to the waterfalls without much effort. It’s about a 2.4-mile round trip hike to the top of the mountain, but many people stop halfway on the bridge to take photos. It’s about a mile to this prime spot, and you even feel the cool mists from the 620-foot waterfalls.
Since the falls are so popular, you are now required to purchase a timed permit ahead of time to enter from May to September. Tickets are released 14 days in advance and are $15 per group. There’s plenty of parking, and it’s free to park. You can spend a good part of the day here because the property has restaurants, gift shops, and bathrooms once you enter.
14. Explore the Neighborhoods (Pearl District, Nob Hill, Hawthorne, etc)
Portland is made up of different regions and neighborhoods, with each area offering a different vibe. Some of our go-to neighborhoods are the Pearl District, Nob Hill, and Hawthorne. What was once filled with warehouses is now one of Portland’s most stylish and hip boroughs. The Pearl District is where you’ll find bars like the Teardrop Lounge, never-ending art galleries, and the famous Powell’s City of Books.
Nob Hill is a Portland neighborhood that features a lot of things to do, good eats, and fun tourist stops. Its central location makes Nob Hill an easy stop for any traveler. At Nob Hill, you’ll find great dessert spots like Papa Hadyn, nature activities in Washington Park, and streets lined with old Victorian homes.
There are also cool spots to check out on the Eastside of Portland, like Hawthorne. In Hawthorne, you’ll find great vintage shopping like Village Merchant and eateries like the famous Cartopia Food Cart Pods.
15. Farmer’s Markets (Portland Saturday Market, PSU, Beaverton)
One of my favorite things to do on any trip is to visit the local farmer’s market to see local ingredients and find unique souvenirs. One of my favorites is the Portland Farmer’s Market at Portland State University on Saturdays. It’s set up in the center of the school between SW Park and Montgomery and is open all year round. There are lots of vendors selling seasonal produce and artisan goods. Other memorable markets are the Portland Saturday Market by the water and the Beaverton Farmer’s Market, which has specialty cured meat vendors.
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