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🌲 Portland's Pearl, Old Town, Alberta, Hawthorne & the West Hills: Biscuits, Doughnuts & Rose City Classics

34 items

Mikey Stark

My favorite Portland weekend: Powell's and Voodoo downtown, the Japanese Garden and Pittock Mansion up in the West Hills, then biscuits on Alberta and pizza on Hawthorne. These are the spots I send every friend who visits the Rose City.

Map

I can lose a whole afternoon in Powell's, a bookstore so big it takes up an entire city block and hands out maps at the door.

Powell's City of Books

I still stop at the original Voodoo Doughnut for a Bacon Maple Bar, and the pink box is half the fun.

Voodoo Doughnut

I sip tea in the teahouse at Lan Su Chinese Garden, a calm walled garden right in the middle of Old Town.

Lan Su Chinese Garden

I browse local crafts and grab food-cart snacks at Saturday Market under the Burnside Bridge on weekends.

Portland Saturday Market

I walk or bike the Willamette along Waterfront Park, especially when the cherry trees bloom in spring.

Tom McCall Waterfront Park

I always pass through Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland's living room, to see what event or market is happening.

Pioneer Courthouse Square

I spend a rainy afternoon at the Portland Art Museum, and the Native American and Northwest art collections are my favorite.

Portland Art Museum

I take visitors up to Departure on the roof of The Nines for cocktails and city views at sunset.

Departure Restaurant + Lounge

I grab a Fresh Squeezed IPA and pub food at the Deschutes pub in the Pearl after a Powell's run.

Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House

Andina is my pick for a special Peruvian dinner in the Pearl, and I never skip the ceviche and a pisco sour.

Andina

The Portland Japanese Garden is the most peaceful place in the city, and I go back every fall for the maple colors.

Portland Japanese Garden

I wander the International Rose Test Garden in June when thousands of roses are blooming with Mount Hood in the distance.

International Rose Test Garden

I hike up to Pittock Mansion for the best view of downtown and the mountains on a clear day.

Pittock Mansion

I hike the Lower Macleay Trail in Forest Park to the old Stone House when I want the woods without leaving the city.

Forest Park

I wait in line at Salt & Straw on NW 23rd for weird seasonal scoops, and they'll let you taste as many as you want.

Salt & Straw

I post up on the rooftop at Breakside Slabtown for an IPA after shopping on NW 23rd.

Breakside Brewery - Slabtown

I line up at Screen Door for the fried chicken and waffles, and it's worth every minute of the wait.

Screen Door

I book a seat at the chef's counter at Le Pigeon when I want a big French tasting-menu night.

Le Pigeon

I order a round of dumplings, herring, and flavored vodkas at Kachka, my favorite Russian restaurant anywhere.

Kachka

I start my eastside mornings with a pour-over at Coava's flagship in its big, airy old warehouse space.

Coava Coffee Roasters

I get a wood-fired margherita at Ken's Artisan Pizza, and I show up right at 5 to beat the wait.

Ken's Artisan Pizza

I bring a coffee to Laurelhurst Park and walk around the duck pond under the giant trees.

Laurelhurst Park

I go to OMSI for the hands-on exhibits and the submarine tour, and the adults-only After Dark nights are a blast.

OMSI

Apizza Scholls makes huge New York-style pies, and I always order the half-and-half so I can try two.

Apizza Scholls

I climb Mt. Tabor, a park built on an old volcano, and watch the sunset over downtown from the top.

Mt. Tabor Park

I grab organic beer and a pizza at Hopworks, a laid-back brewpub with a big patio.

Hopworks Brewery - Powell Mothership

I order the Reggie Deluxe at Pine State Biscuits, a fried chicken biscuit with bacon, cheese, egg, and gravy.

Pine State Biscuits

I have brunch on the dog-friendly patio at Tin Shed and order the potato cakes every time.

Tin Shed Garden Cafe

I get the Southern Thai fried chicken with roti and curry at Hat Yai, one of my favorite meals in Portland.

Hat Yai

I go to Eem for Thai barbecue and tiki cocktails, and the white curry with brisket is a must.

Eem - Thai BBQ & Cocktails

Ox is where I go for Argentine-style wood-fired steaks, and the clam chowder with bone marrow is famous for a reason.

OX Restaurant

I catch a show at Mississippi Studios, a small venue with great sound, then hang out on the back patio.

Mississippi Studios

I picnic at Cathedral Park under the Gothic arches of the St. Johns Bridge, one of the prettiest spots in the city.

Cathedral Park

I drive 30 minutes into the Gorge to see Multnomah Falls and walk up to the bridge between the two tiers.

Multnomah Falls