One Year In Portland, Oregon
One Year In Portland, Oregon
A tour of my favorite places and things to do in the city
Monday marks one year since moving to Portland, Oregon. I remember when we crossed into our new state, and over walkie talkies because we were driving separately, Steve and I both commented how green it was. On our last morning of caravanning, we left the motel before the sun rose to reach the city by midday. Fog hung low over the bridges and bodies of water. Trees formed a tunnel over the road. And once we reached our new home, neighbors introduced themselves as we unpacked. The light rain shower rehydrated our desert-drained spirits.
A year has gone by fast, like it always seems to do. I still feel like the new kid in town, but we’re growing accustomed to this new place day by day. We’re making new friends, discovering favorite spots, learning what’s what. To celebrate our year, I have decided to document the places we’re most fond of in a guide. I’ve included my favorite places to eat and drink, community events and spaces, and boutiques and vintage shops. It’s like a virtual tour of my perfect day!
Whether you’re local or visiting one day, save this post for future reference. And I’d love to hear your favorite spots in the city, too!
Happy adventuring,
Eateries + Cafes
In no particular order, these are my favorite places for eats and drinks. We’re most familiar with the East side so I’m skipping the West side. I’ve also added a section for coffee shops since those are a staple in our exploration.
Northeast
Twisted Croissant is our favorite bakery within walking distance. If you’re in the mood for something sweet or savory, simple or decadent, they have it all. Cafe Olli relies on seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients for every dish. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but I really love their pizzas and their chocolate cake is famous. If you’re craving the best sandwich of your life, butcher shop and restaurant Pasture is not to be missed on Alberta. Order the OG, grab a drink from their fridge, and sit outside on a sunny day. You won’t be disappointed. Head to Salt & Straw after if you have room or hit up Eb & Bean later on Broadway for non-dairy frozen yogurt. In the evening, we like to sip non-alcoholic piña coladas on the patio of Victoria Bar, which also serves vegan fare. We also just tried out Drifter (which is Saint Simon Coffee Co. by day) for small bites like snack pizzas.
Southeast
Ranch was the first pizza joint we tried, and the Detroit-style Veggie was perfectly spicy and filling. Don’t forget to dip it in ranch. Ken’s Artisan Pizza (Ken Forkish’s place) is probably top of the list when we crave pizza. For flavorful ramen, we go to Nudi Noodle Place, an unassuming spot in Milwaukee. We also like Afuri Izakaya. On Division, Someday is a cute neighborhood bar tucked behind some shops. I love their list of non-alcoholic drinks, and the ingredients are simple but impactful—like a plate of lettuce drizzled in a refreshing, citrus dressing. Tusk is another favorite for Mediterranean cuisine: order the mezze platter and you’ll fill up fast. For drinking and cozy vibes in subterranean spaces, whisky bar Scotch Lodge’s no-groni literally tastes like the real deal, and Sousol has a full menu of NA drinks that’s as long as the regular cocktail list. Bless.
Coffee Shops
My favorites for their coffee and spaces include Upper Left Roasters, Never Coffee Lab, Case Study, Keeper Coffee, Saint Simon, Cà Phê Portland, Capitola Coffee, and Tea Bar.
Events
There’s always so much to do that sometimes it can feel overwhelming! Cute little events are always popping up and sometimes I make it, sometimes I don’t. But these are some events that I’m glad I could check out over the last year.
Rain or shine, you can count on the PSU Farmers Market to set up their canopies. It’s pretty big and enticing so bring a big vessel for carrying your goodies. The Portland Flea Market is also a place where you’ll want to spend a lot of money. Local vendors sling art, homemade wares, vintage clothes, and more. The Irvington Garage Sale happens every June, the Swan Island Dahlia Festival blooms in August, and the Portland Book Festival takes place in November.
One of the coolest events we went to was what’s called the Swift Watch, when thousands of Vaux’s Swifts fly overhead and then funnel into a chimney at Chapman Elementary School in Northwest. It’s quite the spectacle.
Community Spaces
Woo-woo is a meditation studio and space for community healing. PDX Contemporary Art is a small gallery with all different types of exhibitions. Zen Space is where I get acupuncture. Movement PDX is our climbing gym—and the kicker is that it has a sauna. Knot Springs is a “wellness social club” where they have hot and cold soaking pools, a sauna, a steam room, and a gym. As for green spaces, Forest Park, Mt. Tabor, and Irving Park are our favorite places to hike and picnic. And lastly, the Portland Japanese Gardens are beautiful in every season.
Shops
Again, this is in no particular order. Each of these spaces is carefully curated and whether I buy something or just look around, they make me feel happy. Wild Cactus Boutique has the best selection of pastel clothing and BAGGU everything. The consignment shop Artifact: Creative Recycle is right next store, and there’s always something good to find on their racks. A few blocks away on Division, there’s the cutest paper goods shop called Little Otsu and the Black-owned Third Eye Books. Broadway Books is another indie bookstore in the city. For my sewing needs, I go to Bolt Fabric Boutique and Modern Domestic. For plants, the employees at Arium Botanicals and Solabee Flowers are always helpful, and Pomarius Nursery is lovely to walk around. Next Adventure is our local gear shop. I’ve had good luck with vintage at Urbanite and Program Shop. And when you feel like splurging on specialty salts and chili oils, go to Providore Find Foods.
