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A local's top 11 places to eat and drink in Portland, including pastry shops, eclectic restaurants, and the best brewery
A local's top 11 places to eat and drink in Portland, including pastry shops, eclectic restaurants, and the best brewery
Jules RogersAug 2, 2022, 18:15 IST
Satisfy your sweet tooth with pastries from Portland's Blue Star Donuts.Jonathan House for Insider
As a hub for award-winning restaurants, coffee shops, and breweries, Portland is a foodie haven.
Keep reading for a local's list of recommended restaurants and eateries in Portland, Oregon.
I've been a journalist in Portland for nearly a decade, and it's also my hometown. I've covered openings and evolutions of the local food scene, and regularly drag my husband to the newest hot restaurant run by a local chef or a James Beard Award winner. Though I'm always looking for the next cuisine to try, I also have my tried-and-true favorites.
Portland's main restaurant row is NE Sandy Boulevard — recognizable as the diagonal thoroughfare on the grid-like east side of town. But there are unique restaurants everywhere, especially along the main drags in each neighborhood.
From food-cart pods and artisanal coffee and doughnuts to fine dining and craft spirits, Portland offers a variety of cuisines. Here's where to look while you're scouting dinner reservations — and the top spots I'd take you for my favorite food and drink.
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Stumptown Coffee Roasters
Stumptown Coffee Roasters is a local-turned-national chain with dozens of cafes around Portland.Jonathan House for Insider
23Hoyt
For a bigger breakfast or upscale brunch, 23Hoyt is my go-to. It located on NW 23rd Avenue, a ritzy shopping district in Nob Hill. There may be a line during popular hours on the weekend, but personally I've never needed to make a reservation although it's an available option. I like to order the eggs Benedict with Serrano ham or the Arepa Benedict served on an arepa instead of an English muffin. 23 Hoyt serves dinner as well and has a drool-worthy happy-hour menu, with small bites like marinated olives and bacon-wrapped dates.
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Rose City Coffee Co.
Portland's Rose City Coffee Co. is known for its aesthetic space and signature lattes.Jonathan House for Insider
Kyra's Bake Shop
Portland has a generous number of specialty bakeries and doughnut shops, including Kyra's Bake Shop.
This gluten-free bakery — a four-time winner of "Cupcake Wars" — is in Lake Oswego, just south of town. You can get gluten-free cakes, cupcakes, and doughnuts colorfully decorated with bright frosting, glaze, toppings, and sprinkles. If you get here early enough, try the hand pies, which are like big Pop-Tarts, with flavors that change seasonally; the strawberry one is my favorite so far.
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Blue Star Donuts
With two locations in Portland, Blue Star Donuts offers an elevated take on the classic dessert.Jonathan House for Insider
Xport Bar
Xport's rooftop bar in the heart of downtown Portland provides Instagram-worthy views.Jonathan House for Insider
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Le Pigeon
One of my favorite restaurants for a night out is Le Pigeon, which has French-inspired fare by chef Gabriel Rucker, a 2011 James Beard Award recipient in 2011 and 2013. Rucker is also the creative behind the high-end bistros Little Bird and Canard. During lockdowns Le Pigeon offered specialty dinner boxes for pickup, but indoor dining is now open again. There's a chef's tasting menu as well as wine pairings. If you're willing to splurge, I recommend ordering the whole fish presentation — I was dazzled by a delicious halibut during my last visit.
10 Barrel Brewing
10 Barrel Brewing is the perfect stop for the beer lovers and has tons of locally brewed options to choose from.Jonathan House for Insider
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Q Restaurant
Many Portlanders grieve the old Veritable Quandary restaurant, affectionately known as VQ, which closed to make way for the new Multnomah County Courthouse. VQ's chef, Anne Cuggino, who's trained in French and Italian cuisines, is now at the family-owned Q Restaurant. The cuisine is eclectic and globally inspired, with seasonal and local Pacific Northwest ingredients. You won't go wrong with anything you order — I have a particularly fond memory of the lunchtime steak skewers.
Gino's
Tourists looking for authentic Italian food with a prime location, look no further than Gino's.Jonathan House for Insider
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Multnomah Whiskey Library
This exclusive lounge offers an impressive collection of spirits for a nightcap.Jonathan House for Insider