Suggestions before or after your tour ending/beginning in or near downtown Portland.
Accommodations:
The lovely Woodlark Hotel in Downtown Portland, is situated in a lovingly refurbished Baroque-revival-style building, constructed in 1908, and it oozes with debonair. It's clean, inviting, and modern.
The hotel also houses a restaurant, Bullard Tavern, that features seasonal and local fare, as well as speakeasy-style Abigail Hall for cocktails and high tea. And the coffeehouse in the lobby serves Good Coffee, locally roasted in Portland, as well as fresh lattes, kolaches, and pastries (like banana bread).
The Ritz-Carlton surpasses expectations as the first true luxury hotel in town, with a spa, club lounge and electric Mercedes house car. The gleaming skyscraper is one of the city’s tallest buildings, so guests enjoy incredible skyline views whether they’re relaxing in the zero-edge infinity pool, working out in the fitness center or dining at the signature restaurant, Bellpine, up on the 20th floor. Copper and timber motifs are on display throughout the property, from the textured drapery and tree-branch chandeliers in the “forest hall” lobby to the moody artwork in the guest quarters. The hotel’s art collection, including the reclaimed-fir table at lobby bar Meadowrue, was commissioned from regional artists.
Leading the kitchen at Bellpine is Michelin-starred Pedro Almeida, who previously oversaw the eateries at the Ritz-Carlton–owned Penha Longa Resort in Portugal. Here, he embraces Oregon delicacies like cedar plank–roasted sockeye salmon and mushroom ice cream for dessert.
Dinner:
Nostrana for dinner. The big, beautiful dining room has interesting lighting, art, and an open-air kitchen. The food and wine is exceptional. Chef/owner Cathy Whims is a six-time James Beard Foundation Award finalist. The eatery features Italian specialties such as thin-crust pizza, braised lamb shoulder, roasted trout, grilled rib eye, fresh pasta and organic chicken. The divine wine list is heavily weighted with a healthy dose of local selections as well as Italian options. The Oregon wine is elegant and complex. At dusk, the window screens are hoisted up, and the amber glow fills the dining room.
Janken, is one of Portland’s most exciting eateries, opening in 2022. The Japanese-Korean fusion cuisine has an eternally blossoming cherry tree with chef’s table seats around it. It's romantic, clean, and simple. Peking duck... And the rib eye had a charcoal smoked hibachi flavor..., and all the sushi and sashimi tasted like they were fresh from the sea.
A perfect complement after finishing your tour, is dinner at Amaterra in the West Hills. The beautiful two-year-old resort-style property features a soaring, pitched, cedar-planked ceiling and big windows and wood accents throughout, with a gorgeous view of the forest below, both inside and on the expansive deck. Menu includes salmon, halibut, scallops, risotto, New York steak, and a smash burger, among others, starting with house-made olive-and-herb focaccia bread is served in a cast-iron pan. Wine list is mostly local varietals who exemplify the collaborative spirit of that wonderful industry. Amaterra is also a state-of-the-art winery, with a 12-acre vineyard and gravity-flow winery on site. To visit the winery, Amaterra charges a one-time $25 membership fee, applied toward the purchase of two or more bottles of wine.
Chef Gregory Gourdet serves the most personal food of his career at Kann, blending culinary influences of the African and Caribbean with the freshest, most flavorful Pacific Northwest ingredients. Kann was named the best new restaurant in America at the James Beard Awards and received similar praise from The New York Times, Esquire and Eater.
Live-fire, jerk spices, coffee rubs and herb marinades reflect Haitian barbecue traditions. You can have griyo twice-cooked pork — with fried green plantains and pikliz (pickled vegetables), or Akra (crispy taro root fritters). All of the food is gluten- and dairy-free, with vegan options. A robust zero-proof cocktail list is also available.
Last is Canard, owned by a James Beard Foundation award-winning sister restaurant, Le Pigeon. Enjoy duck stack featured pancakes, duck gravy, Tabasco onions, duck egg, and seared foie gras, duck frites, trotter toast, and foie gras dumplings! But the offerings are mainly not related to duck. The list includes comfort food such as smoked sablefish queso dip, steak tartare, delicata squash, fried chicken wings, seared scallops, and White Castle-like burgers.
Breakfast/brunch:
Screen Door, is a decadent old-world Southern comfort spot that’s perfect for brunch. With an open kitchen, you can order shrimp and grits and a blood orange mimosa. Or chicken and waffles, cornmeal-crusted okra, crispy fried oysters, praline bacon, black-eyed pea fritters, and bananas Foster French toast. Extremely friendly personnel.
Or head to Cheryl’s on 12th. Order salmon eggs Benedict and a guava mimosa in a bustling corner restaurant, and a perfect spot to begin your day’s adventure with My Chauffeur.
Shopping:
Northeast Portland’s Alberta Arts District is a quirky mix of galleries, shops, restaurants, and murals. The area is frequented by a mostly young and tattooed set. Psychic Sister has recycled and vintage clothing. ECOVIBE and PDX Gold Dust have fun selections of home décor and gifts. The many restaurants feature multicultural cuisine (Ethiopian, Iraqi, Mexican, Indian, and more). You can also roam the Pearl District, Downtown, and West End, where you can step into the famous Powell’s City of Books as well as shops such as Orox Leather Co., MadeHere, Woonwinkel, Amity Artisan Goods, and French Quarter Linens. You also can shop along NW 23rd Ave., SE Division and SE Hawthorne streets, and other areas.
Cocktails:
The Teardrop Lounge is a sophisticated bar and a great place to take in the early evening scene. It has an industrial hip design with a circular bar in the center surrounded by booths. It's well-lighted with tall front windows and skylight. Elaborate bottles of spirits and mixers sits on the edge of the bar. The sound of old soul music plays over the speakers.
And it's on the list for North America’s 50 best bars, one of the best bars in Playboy magazine, among the best bartenders of the year by Portland Monthly, among the best bars in America by Esquire, one of the 50 best bars in America by Food & Wine, and America’s best cocktail bars by Travel + Leisure. Teardrop is extremely serious about its cocktails.
There's no way to visit all the restaurants, wineries, bars, and shops on the full list. The Portland area offers a great deal to discover, including soulful experiences packed with substance and unique twists. I guess you'll just have to book another trip with MyChauffeur soon.
Spirited to you by edible Reno-Tahoe. And Artful Living.
The lovely Woodlark Hotel in Downtown Portland, is situated in a lovingly refurbished Baroque-revival-style building, constructed in 1908, and it oozes with debonair. It's clean, inviting, and modern.
The hotel also houses a restaurant, Bullard Tavern, that features seasonal and local fare, as well as speakeasy-style Abigail Hall for cocktails and high tea. And the coffeehouse in the lobby serves Good Coffee, locally roasted in Portland, as well as fresh lattes, kolaches, and pastries (like banana bread).
The Ritz-Carlton surpasses expectations as the first true luxury hotel in town, with a spa, club lounge and electric Mercedes house car. The gleaming skyscraper is one of the city’s tallest buildings, so guests enjoy incredible skyline views whether they’re relaxing in the zero-edge infinity pool, working out in the fitness center or dining at the signature restaurant, Bellpine, up on the 20th floor. Copper and timber motifs are on display throughout the property, from the textured drapery and tree-branch chandeliers in the “forest hall” lobby to the moody artwork in the guest quarters. The hotel’s art collection, including the reclaimed-fir table at lobby bar Meadowrue, was commissioned from regional artists.
Leading the kitchen at Bellpine is Michelin-starred Pedro Almeida, who previously oversaw the eateries at the Ritz-Carlton–owned Penha Longa Resort in Portugal. Here, he embraces Oregon delicacies like cedar plank–roasted sockeye salmon and mushroom ice cream for dessert.
Dinner:
Nostrana for dinner. The big, beautiful dining room has interesting lighting, art, and an open-air kitchen. The food and wine is exceptional. Chef/owner Cathy Whims is a six-time James Beard Foundation Award finalist. The eatery features Italian specialties such as thin-crust pizza, braised lamb shoulder, roasted trout, grilled rib eye, fresh pasta and organic chicken. The divine wine list is heavily weighted with a healthy dose of local selections as well as Italian options. The Oregon wine is elegant and complex. At dusk, the window screens are hoisted up, and the amber glow fills the dining room.
Janken, is one of Portland’s most exciting eateries, opening in 2022. The Japanese-Korean fusion cuisine has an eternally blossoming cherry tree with chef’s table seats around it. It's romantic, clean, and simple. Peking duck... And the rib eye had a charcoal smoked hibachi flavor..., and all the sushi and sashimi tasted like they were fresh from the sea.
A perfect complement after finishing your tour, is dinner at Amaterra in the West Hills. The beautiful two-year-old resort-style property features a soaring, pitched, cedar-planked ceiling and big windows and wood accents throughout, with a gorgeous view of the forest below, both inside and on the expansive deck. Menu includes salmon, halibut, scallops, risotto, New York steak, and a smash burger, among others, starting with house-made olive-and-herb focaccia bread is served in a cast-iron pan. Wine list is mostly local varietals who exemplify the collaborative spirit of that wonderful industry. Amaterra is also a state-of-the-art winery, with a 12-acre vineyard and gravity-flow winery on site. To visit the winery, Amaterra charges a one-time $25 membership fee, applied toward the purchase of two or more bottles of wine.
Chef Gregory Gourdet serves the most personal food of his career at Kann, blending culinary influences of the African and Caribbean with the freshest, most flavorful Pacific Northwest ingredients. Kann was named the best new restaurant in America at the James Beard Awards and received similar praise from The New York Times, Esquire and Eater.
Live-fire, jerk spices, coffee rubs and herb marinades reflect Haitian barbecue traditions. You can have griyo twice-cooked pork — with fried green plantains and pikliz (pickled vegetables), or Akra (crispy taro root fritters). All of the food is gluten- and dairy-free, with vegan options. A robust zero-proof cocktail list is also available.
Last is Canard, owned by a James Beard Foundation award-winning sister restaurant, Le Pigeon. Enjoy duck stack featured pancakes, duck gravy, Tabasco onions, duck egg, and seared foie gras, duck frites, trotter toast, and foie gras dumplings! But the offerings are mainly not related to duck. The list includes comfort food such as smoked sablefish queso dip, steak tartare, delicata squash, fried chicken wings, seared scallops, and White Castle-like burgers.
Breakfast/brunch:
Screen Door, is a decadent old-world Southern comfort spot that’s perfect for brunch. With an open kitchen, you can order shrimp and grits and a blood orange mimosa. Or chicken and waffles, cornmeal-crusted okra, crispy fried oysters, praline bacon, black-eyed pea fritters, and bananas Foster French toast. Extremely friendly personnel.
Or head to Cheryl’s on 12th. Order salmon eggs Benedict and a guava mimosa in a bustling corner restaurant, and a perfect spot to begin your day’s adventure with My Chauffeur.
Shopping:
Northeast Portland’s Alberta Arts District is a quirky mix of galleries, shops, restaurants, and murals. The area is frequented by a mostly young and tattooed set. Psychic Sister has recycled and vintage clothing. ECOVIBE and PDX Gold Dust have fun selections of home décor and gifts. The many restaurants feature multicultural cuisine (Ethiopian, Iraqi, Mexican, Indian, and more). You can also roam the Pearl District, Downtown, and West End, where you can step into the famous Powell’s City of Books as well as shops such as Orox Leather Co., MadeHere, Woonwinkel, Amity Artisan Goods, and French Quarter Linens. You also can shop along NW 23rd Ave., SE Division and SE Hawthorne streets, and other areas.
Cocktails:
The Teardrop Lounge is a sophisticated bar and a great place to take in the early evening scene. It has an industrial hip design with a circular bar in the center surrounded by booths. It's well-lighted with tall front windows and skylight. Elaborate bottles of spirits and mixers sits on the edge of the bar. The sound of old soul music plays over the speakers.
And it's on the list for North America’s 50 best bars, one of the best bars in Playboy magazine, among the best bartenders of the year by Portland Monthly, among the best bars in America by Esquire, one of the 50 best bars in America by Food & Wine, and America’s best cocktail bars by Travel + Leisure. Teardrop is extremely serious about its cocktails.
There's no way to visit all the restaurants, wineries, bars, and shops on the full list. The Portland area offers a great deal to discover, including soulful experiences packed with substance and unique twists. I guess you'll just have to book another trip with MyChauffeur soon.
Spirited to you by edible Reno-Tahoe. And Artful Living.
