A Quick Guide to Portland, OR

I’ve been to Portland, Oregon a couple of times now. If you follow me on Twitter, you may have caught on to the fact that Portland is not my favorite city. I have my reasons, which I might elaborate on in the future, but I will start this post by clarifying something: my lack of infatuation for the hip, trendy city is not for the lack of cool places. (In fact, that may be part of what irks me?)

During my brief visits to Portland, I spent a lot of time wandering around, both with friends and on my own. I’ve come across a lot of great shops, cafes, and restaurants that I would definitely recommend. Portland is best-described as a city of neighborhoods, and taking the time to explore a new one is always fun–you never know what gems you’ll find!

I’d like to create a more organized and detailed guide to the city in the future, but for now I really wanted to share some favorites with you guys. Consider this a quick resource for your next trip to Portland.

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Eat

Vita Cafe // 3023 NE Alberta St. // Vegan & Vegetarian Comfort Food

Blue Star Donuts // Multiple Locations // DONUTS

Riyadh’s // 1318 SE Hawthorne Blvd // Inexpensive Lebanese Food

Bella Faccia Pizzeria // 2934 NE Alberta St // When You Need a Slice of Pizza

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Coffee

Heart Coffee Roasters // 537 SW 12th Ave // Get a Spicy Chai

Barista // Multiple Locations // Beautifully-designed Cafes & Good Coffee

Stumptown Coffee Roasters // Multiple Locations // Stumptown is a Necessary Stop in Portland

The Clearing Cafe // 2772 NW Thurman St // Laidback Neighborhood Cafe

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Shop

Powell’s City of Books // 1005 W Burnside // A Book-lover’s Heaven

Reading Frenzy // 3628 N Mississippi Ave // Super Cool Zine Shop

Hippo Hardware & Trading Co. // 1040 E Burnside // Awesome Vintage Hardware Store

Rock & Rose // 616 E Burnside // Vintage & New Clothing, Apothecary & Home

Ritual Adornments // 524 NW 23rd Ave // BEAUTIFUL Jewelry, Beads, & Art Objects

Portland Outdoor Store // 304 SW 3rd Ave // Outdoor & Western Wear, Fun to Browse

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See/Do

Forest Park // Northwest Portland // Best Hiking Spot in the City

Mount Tabor // SE 60th & Salmon St // Drive to the Top for Great Views

Museum of Contemporary Craft // 724 NW Davis St // Crafts are Cool

Columbia River Scenic Highway // East of Portland // So Many Waterfalls

Washington Park // Southwest Portland // Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, & More

Read Next: Multnomah Falls

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What are your favorite spots in Portland?

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