Next up on Naz Knowz is the beautiful city of Portland! I decided this year that I want to explore more cities in the US, so when we had 3 days to visit somewhere close to LA, Portland was at the top of my list. Not only had I heard that it’s a beautiful city, but also that it’s a haven for Foodies and has a huge restaurant scene. And with no sales tax, Portland was a no-brainer.
Getting To Portland
We booked a nonstop 2 hour flight from LAX to Portland(PDX) with Delta Air. Alaska Airlines also has direct flights, and is the airline of choice for many who travel within the Pacific Northwest. Portland is a metropolitan city with everything that you need and a top-notch public transportation system. If you’re staying in the downtown area, book a day pass for $5 and jet about town with no problem.
There are loads of hotel and airbnb options in Portland, however the only place I wanted to stay was at The Nines, a Luxury Collection Hotel right in downtown Portland. What a unique hotel! The lobby is on the 8th floor, so check-in there and make sure to ask the amazing Concierge staff for recommendations. Also, do not forget to eat at Urban Farmer. We had breakfast here every morning – farm fresh eggs, Oregon beef, amazing bloody mary’s, and homemade bread...delish! Big Thanks to Heidi in Concierge who really went above and beyond to make our stay so pleasurable. We were upgraded to a Deluxe King size room facing the city. Lots of space, great beehive amenities.
What To Do:
By the time we unpacked, we were hungry. Heidi recommended Q Restaurant for lunch, just a 10 minute walk from the Nines. Portland is famous for their breweries so we had to get some beer to accompany our lunch, a couple pints of cider and IPA’s. We ordered their stuffed bacon wrapped dates to share, the reuben, the burger and of course the pulled pork sandwich. What a great start to our weekend.
Powell’s Books
We headed to Powell Books, the biggest independent book store in the country. This is an institution and a must see. Time for some coffee, a Portland staple. So many coffee spots to try. We walked over to Heart, known for their homemade cashew almond milk and a cute spot for a picker upper. My latte was insanely good – a must try.
Multnomah Whiskey Library
Our first night in Portland was very special. I was told that the Multnomah Whiskey Library is a must in Portland. You can either wait in line when it opens, or buy a Hall Pass online for $25 pp and their lovely host will secure a spot for you. We had dinner reservations here and so happy we did. Multnomah Whiskey Library is a private membership only club that opened in Portland about 5 years ago. With over 1500 bottles of Whiskey from all over the world to 200 bottles of other spirits, they have it all. What an amazing and unique experience this was for us. We did a whiskey flight that included some very rare whiskeys that we had never heard of. The staff is very knowledgeable and attentive. It was one of the coolest places we’ve been to.
Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival
I had heard that the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival had extended their schedule for one more week so we decided to rent a car for a day at Dollar Rental Car, about a 5 minute ride from the Nines. The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is about an hour south of Portland. And boy was it worth it. Even though we were there at the end of the season, it was still a breathtaking view. The pinks, reds, yellows… planted so beautifully. I highly recommend visiting Portland in the springtime to view these tulips.
Multnomah Falls
You can’t visit Portland without going to Multnomah Falls, about a 45 minute drive from downtown Portland. This scenic drive will take you by the Columbia river gorge. The beautiful greenery, the trees, the river… it won’t disappoint. The falls are about 620 feet high, so get your cameras ready for the perfect photo opp.
After a long day of driving and soaking in the beauty of nature, we decided to order room service from The Nines hotel and stay in. We needed energy for the next day.
Japanese Gardens
Our 3rd and last day in Portland, after our delicious breakfast at Urban Farmer at the Nines Hotel, we took an uber to the Japanese Gardens. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, we had a perfect view of the city from the gardens. Located in Washington Park, the Japanese Gardens are the 2nd most beautiful gardens outside of Japan. Although we missed the cherry blossoms, there were tons of azaleas and other gorgeous flowers to admire. There’s also the rose garden, which on this visit, had not bloomed yet. If you go in the summertime, make sure you see its magnificence. Washington Park is great for hiking, bike riding or taking a nice stroll through the greenery. There’s also a holocaust memorial dedicated to the millions of lives lost during WW2.
North East District
My belly was growling and it was time to eat again. From Washington Park, we walked about 20 minutes or so to the North East district which is also called Nob Hill. This is where the original Salt and Straw Ice Cream is located. Lots of cute galleries, shops and restaurants in the this area. I took a great liking to the energy here. We ordered a couple of burgers from Little Big Burger and 3 cans of beer…Portland Cider, Rainier and Pabst Blue Ribbon. We sat outside and grubbed on the burgers…and washed it down with the beers.
Imperial Restaurant
By the time we got back to the hotel to pack, we got hungry again and were craving oysters. Almost every restaurant in Portland has Happy Hour, 7 days a week – heaven! We walked over to Imperial just a couple of blocks from the Nines, sat at the bar and ordered some oysters, olives and their famous Vieux Carre..cognac, george dickel rye, sweet vermouth, benedictine and bitters. This drink was amazing! Soooo good! Owned by Chef Vitaly Paley, who is pretty much “the Dean of Portland Chefs”, Imperial is a landmark in Portland. This restaurant is not to be missed. We happened to sit next to the Chef de Cuisine Matthew Jarrell, who has been helming Imperial for the past few years.
Ruby Jewel Ice Cream
You can’t come to Portland without having some ice cream. While hubby was hanging at Imperial, I walked over to Ruby Jewel. If you ask any Portland natives, they say this is their favorite ice cream. So I had to try it, since we already have a Salt and Straw in Los Angeles. Family owned and operated since 2004, Ruby Jewel uses the best ingredients to make their delicious ice cream. Pictured here: bottom: mexican chocolate with double chocolate cookie, caramel with salted dark chocolate in the middle and on the top, Oregon strawberries. yum! Craving some again. I scream for ice cream!
If I could jump on a plane and go back to Portland, I would do it in a heartbeat. The energy in Portland is so natural. People are genuinely nice, they say hello and they’re happy you’re visiting their beautiful city. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend Portland Oregon for your next destination.
– Naz