Going away for a weekend can often be even more exciting than a long trip to a faraway destination. Weekend getaways are popular among couples who want some excitement after a long work week, families ready for some weekend fun, and groups of friends getting together for an unforgettable time.
Are you traveling to Portland, passing through or just simply looking for the best restaurants in Portland? You’re in luck. Portland, Oregon has no shortage of tourist attractions. It’s known for its vibrant culture, craft breweries, epic outdoor adventures and some fantastic restaurants. Anyone who’s been to Portland knows about the beauty of its local food scene. This northwestern metropolis has classic American staples, fresh seafood, and a wide range of ethnic fare.
Portland is so filled with food, that restaurants employ 5.5 percent of its workforce. That’s more than almost any other city in America and proves why it is so difficult to choose the best restaurants in Portland.
We’ve compiled a list of go-to food destinations to honor Portland’s culinary scene. After a long day of exploring the city, you’ll be ready for a delicious fare, and here are our picks for the 10 best restaurants in Portland.
No list of best restaurants in Portland is complete without Jake’s Famous Crawfish. This epic downtown hotspot isn’t just considered one of the best seafood restaurants in Portland but in the entire country.
Jake’s is a historic eatery that’s been dishing up delicious seafood for over 100 years. Their menu plays like greatest hits of Pacific Northwest fare. You’ll find delicious Dungeness crab, healthy local salmon, ad fresh shucked oysters on their menu.
Jake’s is also known as much for its atmosphere as it is its food. Their upscale bar has a variety of signature cocktails and local patrons.
You’ll forget all about Mexican food after a trip to Teote. Teote is a Latin American restaurant that brings forth the best flavors from Colombia, Venezuela, and more.
This cross-cultural restaurant serves up a range of dishes that are spicy, healthy, and gluten-free. Their signature dish, arepas, are homemade Venezuelan corn cakes stuffed with marinated meat.
Looking to go big? Try La Cena. It’s a family-style dinner with beans, rice, plantains, cheese, arepas and more.
Teote also offers one of the unique dining experiences in Portland. A large tree cuts through its upstairs lounge. How many restaurants can say they have a treehouse?
Thai food fills the menu at many of Portland’s best restaurants. Hat Yai may have stiff competition, but this stellar Thai restaurant stands out from the pack.
They specialize in dishing up fast and tasty southern Thai food. You’ll find mouthwatering options like Thai-style fried chicken and spicy chicken wings on their eclectic menu.
Word to the wise: try the combo plate. It comes with curry, pan-fried bread, rice, and tangy chicken.
If you’re looking for a fancy dinner, look no further than Higgins. This long-standing restaurant is one of the best fine dining options in Portland.
They have a range of gourmet appetizers and entrees on their menu. You can get your seafood fix by trying their muscles, oysters, or Dungeness crab cakes.
One of their more popular appetizers is the charcuterie. It’s a board filled with a mouthwatering arrangement of juicy meats.
Want to know the best part? Higgins partners with local growers, ranchers, fishers, and food artisans. They carry fresh, local and sustainable food from the Pacific Northwest.
You can’t have a list of Portland’s best restaurants without including a food truck. Portland is home to over 300 food trucks, a number that continues to grow every year.
One of the best local food trucks is Matt’s BBQ. This North Portland truck focuses on Texas-style BBQ like pork ribs, beef brisket, and sausage. They smoke their mouthwatering meats Texas-style and serve them on a sandwich, with sides, or by themselves.
This popular spot frequently sells out. Make sure you show up early to beat the crowds.
The Woodsman Tavern isn’t something you would expect to find in Portland. Many of the local best restaurants focus on healthy, sustainable, or ethnic food.
The Woodsman Tavern, on the other hand, is a no-frills classic American restaurant. This rustic hotspot is famous for dishing up staples like fried chicken, cheeseburgers, and bbq sandwiches.
It’s comfort food at its finest. Grab an entree and worry about the calories later.
Russian food might not sound all that appetizing. But one trip to Kachka will change your mind.
This low-key restaurant dishes up an array of unique items with Eastern European influences. You can try bold items like rabbit in a clay pot or the mysterious seven-layer dip.
Really, though, Kachka is all about the dumplings. They fill their dumplings to the brim with pork, beef, and onions. Warning: they are insanely addictive.
No trip to Portland is complete without a trip to Pok Pok. This Thai restaurant has built up a legendary reputation thanks to its Kai Yaang. This dish comes with chicken, garlic, cilantro, lemongrass. They also serve it with spicy, sweet, or sour dipping sauces.
Pok Pok serves up zesty, family-style dishes. It also has a full bar, inviting patio, and a warm atmosphere.
Local foodies know all about Ataula. This Spanish restaurant puts a modern spin on old Spanish classics.
They use Northwestern ingredients to modify iconic Spanish menu items like tapas, paella, and croquetas. Popular dishes include calamari, pork ribs, tartare and pato – or confit duck served with mushrooms.
As a Spanish restaurant, Ataula also specializes in serving up tasty beverages. You won’t want to miss their Spanish wine or sweet sangria.
Three words: reverse happy hour. St. Jack is a cozy French cafe that is popular for its ambiance as much as its tasty food.
This local favorite feels exactly like a real Parisian bistro, right down to the extensive wine list and lively patio.
St. Jack also has a daily happy hour from 4 pm – 6 pm and a reverse happy hour that begins at 10 pm. You can snag popular dishes like butter lettuce, curried poutine, and mussels at a discount.
There’s no shortage of quality restaurants in Portland. Its food scene is filled with culinary adventures from around the globe.
These 10 restaurants showcase the best seafood, ethnic food, and American classics located in Portland.
Are you looking for more things to do in Portland? We can help. Check out our guide to all things Portland on the Clever Neighbor blog.
Every year, Portland is breaking a new record for tourist visits. Last year, the city generated nearly $11 billion in revenue from tourists. This is probably because there are so many great things to do in Portland.
Whether you’re there for the “Seven Wonders of Oregon“, have heard about its hip culture through tv and books or are visiting for college, there’s plenty to do.
If you like food and drink, Portland’s is becoming a destination city for foodies from all around. If you prefer nature and hiking, you’ll find lots of great vistas in the city and just a short drive outside of it. And if you’re a music, art, and culture hound, you’re going to find plenty of events to fill your days and nights with.
With all of the fantastic things to do in Portland, it can be overwhelming to pick just a handful. Here are 8 of the best things to do that might not make every tourist’s guide.
If you’re visiting Portland for a relaxing getaway, the Kennedy Soaking Pool is a must-see attraction. For just $5, you can enjoy a beer while you sit in warm saltwater and watch your stress melt away.
The gorgeous ceramic pools are surrounded by lush natural greenery. It’s a nice getaway so long as you avoid the peak hours where kids might be running around. From 11am-6pm, you’ll find it’s a little rowdier.
For the best experience, show up after 6 pm for a drink and a soak after a long day seeing the sights of the city.
If you check out any general tourist guide, they’ll tell you to go check out Multnomah Falls, which is lovely. But unfortunately, it’s always crowded.
Your best bet is to go to Horsetail Falls Trail, just a few minutes away. You can walk the 2.7-mile loop for if you’ve got an hour. If you’d prefer to stay longer, there’s an option 1.8-mile trip you can take to see Triple Falls.
If you’re the type to find the sound of a rushing waterfall relaxing, this is the destination for you.
Everywhere you go in Portland, you’re sure to see food carts. Like Austin and other parts of the south, they hold some of the best cuisines in the area.
The Portland Mercado area will feed any need you have for Mexican, Colombian, Salvadoran, and Argentinian food. You can sit at indoor or outdoor picnic tables as you eat some of the best Latin American cuisines in town.
This is one of the best places in the city to bike to. And on your way out, don’t forget to grab a churro for the road.
Portland is home to one of the oldest art museums in the Pacific Northwest. Their collection includes works from European masters, contemporary American art, and Japanese screen prints. Immerse yourself in their sculpture garden for a nice break from the hustle and bustle.
The cornerstone of the museum is their Native American gallery with ancient and modern work from over 200 tribes. This is one of the best collections of Native American work held by a major museum in the USA.
Depending on the time of year, you might be able to catch the Northwest Film Festival or the Portland International Film Festival. Check for availability of tickets and screenings before you take your trip.
Take the short walk a few blocks east to the riverfront for a post-museum reflection.
Powell’s City of Books is one of the biggest independent bookstores in the whole world. It’s got over two million books in stock. Whether you’re looking for something new or used, you’re sure to find something in this square city block full of books.
With three stories, book lovers can roam the aisles for hours without stepping in the same place twice. If you start to feel fatigued, take a break at their World Cup Coffee shop for a hot drink and a treat.
While they can be a pain when it comes time to bring your bag to the airport, shopping at Powell’s is one of the most fun things to do in Portland.
Much like the Roosevelt Island Tram in New York, the Portland Aerial Tram is not just for tourists. Designed with residents in mind, it’s part of the daily commute for thousands of Portlanders.
Squeeze in like a local and take the 10-minute trip from the south waterfront district while you’re out looking for things to do in Portland. You’ll go up to the top of Marquam Hill to catch breathtaking views of the entire city.
Wow your travel companions next time you visit with this little bit of local everyday Portland life.
Whether you realized it or not, Portland is known as the City of Roses. When you first set your eyes on the sprawling International Rose Test Garden, you’ll know immediately why.
Since 1917, the American Rose Society has operated this garden. It’s officially the oldest continuously operated rose test garden anywhere in the US.
You’ll find 10,000 roses, marked by type. For literature and theater lovers, there’s a special treat in the Shakespeare Garden. This area is dedicated to roses mentioned in his plays.
There’s also a “Gold Medal Garden” where you’ll see all of the award-winning roses that make a visit to the garden one of the most special things to do in Portland. Look for smaller versions of all of these great roses in their Miniature Rose Test Garden.
There are daily free tours starting at 1 pm during the summer. There’s less to see in winter months, but the site is still a lovely place to see year-round.
You may have heard of Stumptown, whose coffee products you can now find in grocery stores around the world. Unfortunately, it’s now a big corporate entity owned by Peet’s Coffee.
For the real deal in Portland, check out Nossa Familia. With its beans sourced from farms in Brazil, you’ll find some of the best-tasting brews around.
There are tours of the roastery if that’s your thing. Try a brewing class and take home your own bag of beans.
If you’re a fan of Portlandia or a Trailblazers fanatic, check out your favorite shooting locations or swing by a game. You won’t have a shortage of things to do in Portland during your visit.
If you’re still looking for things to do next time you’re in Portland, contact us for more tips.
Spokane is a city full of fun history and solid reputation. From hosting the world’s fair to inventing Father’s day… But what is there to do in downtown Spokane in this day and age?
If you are fortunate to find yourself in the beautiful downtown Spokane area here are a few of our top 6 unique things to do.
Let’s get to it!
Did you know that the city was originally called ‘Spokane Falls?’ Spokane comes from the Indian word for “swift water” and with good reason considering we have a beautiful waterfall right in the middle of downtown Spokane.
If waterfalls are your thing be sure to check out Spokane Falls in the spring as this is when it is most powerful (31,000 cubic feet per second powerful.)
With a beautiful park and a few bridges, there are plenty of angles to view and experience the waterfall, not to mention grab that perfect Instagram pic.
Rainbows are highly common in the falls and actually have built up a reputation for them.
The river runs through downtown Spokane and the falls are just a few minutes walk away.
Iron Goat is part of the Inland Northwest Ale Trail an organization set up to promote local breweries on the network. When you visit any affiliated brewery you know that you will be sampling some of the finest local craft beers.
Iron Goat Brewing started with a conversation in a local Spokane bar between two strangers and has now become a fully established brewery complete with a kitchen, taproom and a wide selection of beers/sours.
To date, the brewery has crafted over 150 beers and has a seasonally rotating menu.
If you’re interested in local beer and cuisine then you’d better pay a visit while in Downtown Spokane.
Why the name Iron Goat: Paula Turnball created a metal goat with a built in trash-vacuum for the World Expo in 1974. The unusual sculpture can be viewed in Riverfront Park and has become a local icon.
Don’t worry if a beer isn’t your thing, they have plenty of other options available including wine.
Why not ask for an Inland Northwest Ale Trail map while you are there to get some more great ideas about other local spots you can go to on your adventure!
Located smack bang in the middle of downtown Spokane, Riverpark Square is a prime location for dining, entertainment, and shopping.
The mall and the surrounding area have a wide range of ways to spend your time.
Entertainment:
Shops:
River Park Square has a wide collection and variety of some of the biggest brand names and local stores.
Restaurants:
Be sure to check out the River Park Square website for information on upcoming sales and events.
There are also meeting facilities available. You can reserve the fan suite for a meeting or private event.
Clever Neighbor tip: You can park in the parking garage and receive a $3 parking discount from selected stores while parking after 5 pm is only $4 which is great if you’re attending the theater or another event in downtown Spokane.
The Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox began as a Fox movie theater in 1931. It was the largest theater in downtown Spokane with 2300 seats!
Designed by Robert Reamer it was the first building in Spokane to have air conditioning and was home to many stars such as Catherine Hepburn and Frank Sinatra.
The theater has made it onto the National Register of Historic Places despite almost being demolished in 2000. Through the generosity of Martin Woldson and his daughter, the theater was saved and given a renovation.
After the makeover and a new name, the theater is now one of the treasures of downtown Spokane offering a prime location for many performances.
The Spokane Symphony calls the theater home and can even be rented out for weddings!
To see what’s on during your visit in downtown Spokane check out their website.
If you need to clear your head for a while Manito Park is just a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute bus ride from downtown Spokane.
This 90-acre park has been around since 1903 and is a great place to get out of the city without having to go out of the city!
Manito park features rose gardens, Japanese gardens, and even a year-round conservatory that is full of tropical and exotic desert plants. It’s common to see geese and ducks in the pond and is filled with places to stroll, sit down and relax.
The park is open daily and entry is free of charge.
Summers are not the same without the 3 on 3 basketball tournament in downtown Spokane. Visit spokanehoopfest.net for more info!
This is just the beginning of unique things to do in Spokane, for more information check out our other guides.
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To register your Downtown Spokane business with our site all you have to do is contact Clever Neighbor.