Now I’m not going to lie: wandering aimlessly through Portland wouldn’t be the worst way to spend a weekend. But having a plan saves a lot of time and maximizes your appetite for the best food in town!
1. Coffee and Brunch
Start off with a nice little cortado at the local coffee shop and one of Portland’s many epic breakfast hashes (my favorite was at Pine State Biscuits). See my food guide for more detailed recommendations!
2. Saturday Market
The top weekend activity in March through December is the Saturday Market (that is open on Sundays too!) Go here to see some fun and quirky crafts that make the perfect souvenirs. You will also find a variety of foods, including funnel cakes and many beer-related items.
3. Downtown Pearl District
The Pearl District is the hub of downtown Portland. Here you will find classic tourist stops like Powell’s Books, the largest independently-owned book store, and the original Stumptown Coffee Roasters nestled in the Ace Hotel. Marvel at modern architecture and converted historic buildings like the old armory that is now a tavern. Dine on the greatest/cheapest seafood in town: Jake’s Crawfish. See my food guide for the details on their amazing happy hour.
4. Laurelhurst
The Laurelhurst neighborhood of Portland is where our AirBNB was located. It was an incredibly quaint neighborhood with vintage houses and a large park. There are tons of cute shops, old theaters, record shops, and yummy brunch spots. It has a very local feel to it and is a great way to experience the less touristy part of Portland while only being a 20 minute bus ride from downtown.
5. Portland Night Life
Portland’s night scene consists mostly of breweries and strip clubs. Now I can’t speak much on the latter, but the microbreweries were awesome! Deschutes Brewery is one of the most known outside of Portland and had a great restaurant/bar, where you can get amazing beer-scented soap! My favorite was Tugboat Brewery, the oldest and smallest brewery in Portland, that had lots of board games and truly delicious beer for $2.50 per glass. I also really enjoyed Ground Kontrol, a barcade (bar with an arcade).
No night out would be complete without a stop at Voodoo Doughnuts. See my food guide for more info!
