The Ultimate Portland Travel Guide
The Gritty Pretty guide to what to see, eat and do in the American riverside town of Portland, Oregon.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of venturing outside of the cities of New York or Los Angeles, this is a sign you should. But with 50 states across the United States of America, it can be hard to know where to start. As a fellow Australian, Oregon has to be on your list, and I highly recommend a stay in Portland, the most populous—and the coolest—county in the state. A frontier river town, Portland is home to excellent bars, mountain ranges, a coffee culture to rival Melbourne and so much more.
STAY
If a hotel is approved by Gwyneth Paltrow, then I have no qualms about staying there.. I stumbled across The Woodlark Hotel on Goop while researching Portland and quickly gathered it was the most stylish hotel in town. Upon arrival, my suspicions were only proven to be correct, as I took in the artful design of the lobby and experienced true hospitality at the check-in desk. The Woodlark had sent a pre check-in link (don’t you love that!) via text message, making my early evening arrival a breeze, and I was sitting down to dinner at their in-house restaurant, Bullard Tavern, within 15 minutes. I loved this finishing touch as I headed up to my room: the concierge asked whether I wanted to pre-order my coffee for the morning. (Naturally, I said yes, and it was delivered to the room as a wake-up call).
Every inch of the hotel is Instagram-worthy. The Woodlark resides in a historic building, which fuses old-world charm with a polished aesthetic. Designed by celebrated local architect John Virginius Bennes, the lobby features a dramatic coffered ceiling, terracotta accents and monochromatic tiled flooring. Inside the spacious rooms, luxury awaits, with grand windows offering sweeping views of the city, a light-filled design, plus velvet interiors and refined accents.
With a rich heritage, comfortable and luxurious accents, and restaurants so good you won’t have to leave, there really is nowhere else to stay in Portland.
EAT
Located at The Woodlark, Bullard Tavern celebrates local produce that’s in-season. Designed in a tavern-style, this private restaurant features rich-textured timbers, leather booths and artfully-designed wallpaper. Make a booking for dinner and order the steak or club sandwich, with a glass of red.
An intimate restaurant located on NE Killingsworth St, Dame gives neighbourhood restaurant vibes, serving creative New American fare alongside a stellar wine list.
Trust me on this one. Fried Egg I’m In Love came recommended by my brother who lives 6 hours from Portland, and when I googled it, I found both a restaurant and a food truck in walking distance. I chose the latter and consumed the best breakfast sandwich I’ve ever eaten while sitting in the Pioneer Courthouse Square (also known as Portland’s living room).
Like its name suggests, this place serves good coffee. Located in the lobby of The Woodlark, the cosy space provides a perfect vista for people-watching and Australians won’t be disappointed by the quality of the lattes.
Owned by two Australians, Proud Mary is your go-to for when you’re feeling homesick for a flat white (or Vegemite on toast, which they also serve). Stop by for all-day breakfast featuring avo toast and fresh juices.
Abigail Hall is a cocktail bar in Downtown Portland, serving up cleverly-named cocktails which are as delicious as they are fun to order.
DO
Book fans should make a visit to Portland for Powell’s City Of Books alone. Famous in Portland (and across the country), Powell’s City Of Books is an iconic bookstore which is legendary because it has 10 different rooms, offering a room per genre. The store boasts more than one million books—if you’re after a rare book or a tome by a little-known author, you can guarantee you’ll find it here.
There are Nordstroms across the country, of course, but I recommend beauty lovers stop by Portland’s haunt to top up on any beauty staples. Serving up cult brands like Supergoop, 111Skin and OSEA, this one is a must-visit.
Per the brand’s website, the CANOE vision is to offer “simple, beautiful, and functional objects that can be used and enjoyed everyday.” That’s exactly what they stock: from beautiful glass nesting bowls, to organic linen towelling and a small collection of beauty staples, Canoe is definitely worth a visit.
The Ultimate Portland Travel Guide
The Gritty Pretty guide to what to see, eat and do in the American riverside town of Portland, Oregon.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of venturing outside of the cities of New York or Los Angeles, this is a sign you should. But with 50 states across the United States of America, it can be hard to know where to start. As a fellow Australian, Oregon has to be on your list, and I highly recommend a stay in Portland, the most populous—and the coolest—county in the state. A frontier river town, Portland is home to excellent bars, mountain ranges, a coffee culture to rival Melbourne and so much more.
STAY
If a hotel is approved by Gwyneth Paltrow, then I have no qualms about staying there.. I stumbled across The Woodlark Hotel on Goop while researching Portland and quickly gathered it was the most stylish hotel in town. Upon arrival, my suspicions were only proven to be correct, as I took in the artful design of the lobby and experienced true hospitality at the check-in desk. The Woodlark had sent a pre check-in link (don’t you love that!) via text message, making my early evening arrival a breeze, and I was sitting down to dinner at their in-house restaurant, Bullard Tavern, within 15 minutes. I loved this finishing touch as I headed up to my room: the concierge asked whether I wanted to pre-order my coffee for the morning. (Naturally, I said yes, and it was delivered to the room as a wake-up call).
Every inch of the hotel is Instagram-worthy. The Woodlark resides in a historic building, which fuses old-world charm with a polished aesthetic. Designed by celebrated local architect John Virginius Bennes, the lobby features a dramatic coffered ceiling, terracotta accents and monochromatic tiled flooring. Inside the spacious rooms, luxury awaits, with grand windows offering sweeping views of the city, a light-filled design, plus velvet interiors and refined accents.
With a rich heritage, comfortable and luxurious accents, and restaurants so good you won’t have to leave, there really is nowhere else to stay in Portland.
EAT
Located at The Woodlark, Bullard Tavern celebrates local produce that’s in-season. Designed in a tavern-style, this private restaurant features rich-textured timbers, leather booths and artfully-designed wallpaper. Make a booking for dinner and order the steak or club sandwich, with a glass of red.
An intimate restaurant located on NE Killingsworth St, Dame gives neighbourhood restaurant vibes, serving creative New American fare alongside a stellar wine list.
Trust me on this one. Fried Egg I’m In Love came recommended by my brother who lives 6 hours from Portland, and when I googled it, I found both a restaurant and a food truck in walking distance. I chose the latter and consumed the best breakfast sandwich I’ve ever eaten while sitting in the Pioneer Courthouse Square (also known as Portland’s living room).
Like its name suggests, this place serves good coffee. Located in the lobby of The Woodlark, the cosy space provides a perfect vista for people-watching and Australians won’t be disappointed by the quality of the lattes.
Owned by two Australians, Proud Mary is your go-to for when you’re feeling homesick for a flat white (or Vegemite on toast, which they also serve). Stop by for all-day breakfast featuring avo toast and fresh juices.
Abigail Hall is a cocktail bar in Downtown Portland, serving up cleverly-named cocktails which are as delicious as they are fun to order.
DO
Book fans should make a visit to Portland for Powell’s City Of Books alone. Famous in Portland (and across the country), Powell’s City Of Books is an iconic bookstore which is legendary because it has 10 different rooms, offering a room per genre. The store boasts more than one million books—if you’re after a rare book or a tome by a little-known author, you can guarantee you’ll find it here.
There are Nordstroms across the country, of course, but I recommend beauty lovers stop by Portland’s haunt to top up on any beauty staples. Serving up cult brands like Supergoop, 111Skin and OSEA, this one is a must-visit.
Per the brand’s website, the CANOE vision is to offer “simple, beautiful, and functional objects that can be used and enjoyed everyday.” That’s exactly what they stock: from beautiful glass nesting bowls, to organic linen towelling and a small collection of beauty staples, Canoe is definitely worth a visit.
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