After last year’s trip, it’s barely a secret how much I love Portland. Fantastic food (like seriously, how are people not a million pounds in that city?), the freshness of the outdoors, extremely nice people, and everything within biking distance. It’s a sleepy, magical place where the young go to retire. In our case, it was where we spend the weekend having a mini college reunion and watching Cal football.
It’s crazy that while only an hour flight away, Portland’s landscape vastly differs than SF in that it has seasons. Actual fall, where the leaves change colors and all you want to do is wear beanies and sweaters and eat brunch for 3 hours to escape the cold.
Each morning began with a cup of coffee from to warm up my hands (locations in the map above); it doesn’t hurt that the caffeine here rivals that of SF in taste. Last year, I tried Portland favorites like Heart. This weekend, our coffeeshops of choice were:
- Barista Coffee: There are multiple locations around the city that make a great cappuccino. In the Pearl space, they serve seasonal pop tarts like pumpkin – fall AF and I ain’t even mad.
- Voodoo Doughnut: Overrated, yes. But they serve Stumptown coffee and if you go at 11:30am on a Friday, you’ll only wait 10 minutes!
For a seasoned Portland traveler or a first-time tourist, Pok Pok is a must. The Chiang Mai-style food is killer – especially the spicy chicken wings. Even after 8 dishes, you’ll find yourself wanting dessert, whether that’s a Thai affogato, or pumpkin pie ice cream from Salt and Straw across the street (or if you’re letting it all loose like me, both).
Fried Egg, I’m in Love: Easy food highlight of the trip. Besides the hilarious fact that everything on the menu are puns from famous rock and roll songs, the fried egg sandwiches are DELICIOUS. I had the Sriracha Mix-a-Lot, sprinkled with Magic Egg Dust because why not.
Other don’t-miss Portland spots included:
- Multnomah Whiskey Library for a Sazerac to die for
- Mother’s Bistro for salmon hash and tablecakes (that’s when you order pancakes for the table to share. It’s a thing. Do it).
- Boxer Ramen for spicy miso noodles
I haven’t decided if I could actually live in Portland, but I do leave a little piece of myself there every time I visit. Til next time!
i have been dying to visit portland for a long time….and yes pok pok is a MUST i hear…
DO IT – I’ll go with you!!