Top Eat. Drink. Wanderlust. Must-Do's - The Portland Edition
This regular little post has become one of my favorite pieces to work on each month. It could be that I really love to eat, drink and explore new places (and old favorites). Honestly, I love sharing a little slice of my world with you, and I hope that it’s inspiring you to try new things. Come each month (hopefully, you visit more!) for a list of bites, sips, and experiences that I've been excited about.
Portland, Oregon is one of my favorite cities to visit for weekend getaways. It's a short three-hour drive from Seattle or a leisurely Amtrak ride away. If you're feeling fancy, you can take a short puddle jumper flight that will have you touching down quicker than you can finish your complimentary glass of beer or wine. If you fly Alaska Airlines, you know what I'm talking about. Portland never disappoints when it comes to the food and drink scene. It seems like there are always great new spots opening every time I visit which makes it hard to try them all and squeeze in my old favorites too. Here are a few places I was in love with during my last visit.
Obligatory photo with the PDX Airport carpet.
This gem of a restaurant is brought to you by the lovely people of Le Pigeon (located next door) and Little Bird, and like their other spots, it does not disappoint. It's a cute little cafe serving breakfast and lunch during the day and night is a bustling wine bar and restaurant with great cocktails. Dinner was so delicious that we went back for brunch later that weekend. To our surprise, the brunch wait was not long at all. If you've been to Portland or watched the brunch episode of Portlandia, you know that this town loves its' brunch. Who doesn't love brunch, especially if you're indulging on the Duck Stack? Vegetarians, look away because this dish is not for the faint of heart. A stack of pancakes topped with duck gravy, Tabasco onions and a fried duck egg with an option to add seared foie gras. Which of course we added and it was amazing. Do not skip the Oeufs en Mayonnaise and the Steam Burger (we had them twice in one weekend) and they can be found on the menu all day. Pair your brunch with a boozy float or tasty glass of wine at dinner, actually go ahead and order the bottle because you'll want to stay awhile.
Portland has no shortage of great cocktail bars, so it takes a lot of get me excited about one. Located in SE Portland, it's tucked away in a quiet neighborhood away from the craziness of the city nightlife. One look at the cocktail menu I knew that this place was special. Ingredients like bitter melon, country ham, and cabbage were just a few savory flavors that make you go hmmm, weird or cool? Definitely COOL! Casper's Ghost which has rhum, mezcal, bitter melon, citrus, pineapple, and tarragon was my favorite of the evening. Go to Deadshot with the intention of having at least two cocktails because you cannot go to Deadshot without getting the Crystal Daiquiri. It's magical and quite delicious!
Let me start by saying that I am a doughnut snob. My parents owned doughnut shops until I was 16 years old and I pretty much grew up in these shops. Their doughnuts are the bar for how I measure all other doughnuts and shops. I would say that there is two famous doughnut shop in Portland. In my opinion, the other one is more gimmicky than delicious. I am team Blue Star Donuts all of the way! With flavors like Cointreau Creme Brulee and Valrhona Chocolate Crunch, it will make you want to order a whole dozen to yourself. No judgment if you from me over here.
The change of seasons has me craving all of the noodles and soup, which is my version of comfort food. I was so excited to have stumbled upon this ramen shop on our last trip. I may have indulged in some adult beverages the night before and was looking for something cure that dreaded hangover. Enter AFURI ramen + dumplings to the rescue. The most unctuous, rich, and cure all broth I've ever had in a ramen dish. The noodles were the perfect firmness and the portions generous. My husband and I weren't able to finish our bowls, and we both went in there ravenous. We ordered a steam bun and gyoza to start with, they were excellent, especially the steam bun, but the star of the show was hands down the ramen.
Electric Scooter Share
Love or hate them; electric scooter share has arrived in Portland. I first used these on my last trip to Austin and was so excited when I saw them in Portland. We have LimeBike in Seattle, so I had the app loaded with funds for our scooter adventure in Portland. These little guys pick up speed quickly and can get you around town in a jiffy. We picked up a couple nearby the Portland Opera and cruised across the pedestrian and bike only Tilikum Crossing Bridge to the riverfront. Stop midway for a great view and instagrammable photo op. We enjoyed a leisurely ride along the waterfront park and the up to the Pearl District for some sales tax-free shopping. Portland has wide, bike dedicated lanes which made the trip safe and fun. As always, be a good steward of the road, obey the traffic lights and signs, and most importantly ride responsibly and safely!
Have you been to Portland, OR before and if so, what are some of your favorite spots? Please share your thoughts here on the blog on or connect with me on Instagram (@eat.drink.wanderlust) and using #EatDrinkWanderlust. Have fun planning your next weekend getaway!