I am constantly exploring the abundance of shops, restaurants and hot spots in and around Portland. It seems like every month there is a new place to visit, new food to taste and new people to meet. However, there is something comforting about familiar surroundings, good food and service. Here is a list of some of my favorites.
Top Places Around Town:
1) Muddy’s Coffeehouse – Delicious breakfast or brunch in a charming Victorian on historic Mississippi Ave.
3560 N Mississippi Ave
Portland, OR 97227
(503) 445-6690
www.muddyscoffeehouse.com
2) Stumptown Coffee Roasters – Locations all over town, but my favorite is on SE Belmont. Portland is known for it’s great coffee and sophisticated baristas. Most of the best coffee shops in town brew with Stumptown beans. The social and environmental business practices of this company are amazing. Their coffee is even better!
3356 SE Belmont St
Portland, OR 97214
503-232-8889
www.stumptowncoffee.com
3) Yoko’s Japanese Restaurant – Hands down the best sushi in Portland. This quaint, tiny restaurant is worth the wait. No reservations, so get there early on a weeknight.
2878 SE Gladstone St
Portland, OR 97202-3561
Phone: (503) 736-9228
4) The Kennedy School – The McMenamins brothers converted Kennedy Elementary School into an all around fun place to hang out. There is a hotel, a movie theatre, a restaurant, a couple different bars, a brewery and a relaxing soaking pool.
5736 N.E. 33rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97211
(503) 249-3983
www.kennedyschool.com
5) Bombay Cricket Club – Best Indian food in Portland! Must try the Mango Margaritas!
1925 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 231-0740
www.bombaycricketclubrestaurant.com
6) The Japanese Gardens – A wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Take a stroll through the five gardens and get some ideas for your own backyard. Don’t forget your camera!
611 SW Kingston Ave
Portland, OR 97205
(503) 223-1321
www.japanesegarden.com
7) Forest Park – Over 5,000 acres in the West Hills of Portland consisting of hiking trails, biking trails, horse trails and lush old growth trees. This is the largest urban forest reserve in the United States. A fantastic place for an afternoon hike with the dogs!
www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?PropertyID=127&action=ViewPark
8) Laurelhurst Theatre – Good, cheap fun! An excellent place to catch a $3 movie and a slice of pizza.
2735 E Burnside St
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 232-5511
laurelhursttheater.com
9) Veritable Quandary – Old Portland charm in the middle of downtown. Great patio for summer meals.
1220 SW First Ave
Portland, OR 97201
Phone: (503) 227-7342
www.veritablequandary.com
10) Normandale Park – My favorite dog park. This park is great for the dog owner or dog lover. Before I had dogs of my own, I would spend my weekend mornings with a cup of French press and play with other people’s dogs! It’s a large, fenced, off-leash park. It’s also divided into two sections so that the less active or smaller dogs can hang out without being trampled.
Take NE Halsey St to NE 55th Ave. The park is located between NE 55th-57th Ave.
www.portlandpooch.com/dogparks
11) Mama Care Yoga Studio with on site child care- A family gathering place located in the heart of NE Portland's Alberta neighborhood. Mama Care offers services that will entertain, balance and nurture the whole family. Mama Care classes are geared towards moms, but are also open to everyone at every experience level.
Located at "The Little Church"
5138 NE 23rd Ave
Portland, OR 97211
(503) 515-5867
www.mamacarepdx.com
12) The Red E Cafe - A great space to enjoy some of the best coffee in town. Serving Coava and Intelligentsia. Absolutely delicious!
1006 N Killingsworth Ave
Portland, OR 97217
Phone: (503) 998-1387
www.theredecafe.com
13) Living Room Theaters - Get ready for the ultimate cinema experience. Nibble on some fantastic cuisine and grab a glass of wine. This cozy venue is geared towards the celebration of great independent films!
341 SW 10th Ave
Portland, OR 97205
Phone: (971) 222-2010
www.livingroomtheaters.com
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