Staycation All I Ever Wanted!!
For our anniversary, my husband and I recently booked a hotel room in downtown Portland, Oregon. It was our first time staying downtown since we moved to Oregon in 2020, and we were excited to experience everything it had to offer. In this post, I’ll share details about the location, nearby dining options, and entertainment. If you’re thinking about visiting, keep reading to learn more about this beautiful and historically rich city.
Embassy Suites Downtown Portland
When I say “it’s all about location, location, location,” the Embassy Suites in downtown Portland is it! The property sits on the corner of SW Pine Street and SW Third Ave in downtown Portland, Oregon making it walkable to many attractions, including the iconic Voodoo Donut and beautiful Tom McCall Waterfront Park. In addition, the hotel offers several amenities, including a pool, hot tub, game room, gym, and even a well-stocked onsite convenience store. A fun piece of trivia, per Historic Hotels of America, the hotel is an adored historical landmark dating back to 1912 and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Watch my video for a quick tour!
Old Town Portland
After settling in at the hotel, we decided it was time to explore the neighborhood. Our first stop was Dan & Louis Oyster Bar, just a 3-minute walk from our hotel, where we indulged in some delicious baked oysters and cocktails! Next, we popped into Dante’s nightclub across the street. It was still early, and no band was playing. The venue’s atmosphere was mystic, with black and red decor, from curtains to floor, that resembled an inferno. We then returned to the hotel to take advantage of complimentary cocktails served in their lounge/bar area from 5:30-7 PM before taking a plunge in the pool and hot tub.
A Night Out Downtown
Not surprisingly, after swimming, I was ready to eat again. We heard great things about the Urban Farmer Steakhouse, so my husband called and was able to reserve a table. The restaurant is inside The Nines Hotel, less than a 10-minute walk from where we stayed. Once we arrived, we were quickly seated at a quiet table for two. The ambiance was warm and welcoming, with a chic farmhouse aesthetic decor. The restaurant’s location is on the 8th floor, and you can look up to see several stories of rooms surrounding you. After dinner, we slipped off to the rooftop bar to find amazing views of downtown.
Wake and Breakfast
Although the Embassy Suites serves complimentary made-to-order breakfast, we grabbed coffee and breakfast at Kingsland Kitchen, located on the outside corner of the same historic building. They’re known for their full English breakfast. The atmosphere, service, and food were all amazing! Afterward, we returned to the hotel for the 11 AM checkout. The Embassy Suites allowed us to leave our luggage with them, fee-free, while we explored more of downtown.
Up Next, Site Seeing and Bar Hopping
Dive Bar
First afternoon stop, Yamhill Pub for a drink. Yamhill Pub is a downtown dive bar with a love-to-hate reputation and is known to have some of Portland’s grossest restrooms. I can vouch that they’re pretty damn nasty. I walked into the wrong one and was like a deer in headlights staring at the urinal…lol. I assumed they were gender-neutral since I didn’t see a sign. I immediately walked out and ran into Anthony, a new friend, who was kind enough to direct me to the correct bathroom and even hold the door closed because it didn’t lock. It was an experience, to say the least. Coming of age in OKC, I love a good dive bar! The atmosphere and sticker-filled graffiti walls of Yamhill Pub did not disappoint!
Waterfront Market and an Historic Fountain
After the dive bar, we walked to Tom McCalls Waterfront Park to check out the Portland Saturday Market. It was full of local artists and small business owners selling everything from jewelry to cutlery. Then, we headed over to Keller Fountain Park to see the historic fountain that had recently reopened after a year of being out of commission due to a faulty pump. The fountain was serene and beautiful. Although swimming is not allowed, it is a nice shaded place to hang out and cool off on a hot day.
City Art
Downtown Portland also has a lot of great art and architecture to enjoy. The historic buildings have a unique charm, and several artists leave their mark on the city with beautiful murals and sculptures. We saw several cat sculptures from Coraline’s Curious Cat Trail and discovered that from 8/2/24-10/13/24, these cats will be throughout downtown Portland! Then afterward, they will be auctioned off to raise money for OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. You can find out more here.
Last Stop Sushi!
Before returning to the hotel for our luggage, we stopped to cool off at Old Town’s Kaizen Sushi. Kaizen Sushi is located directly across the street from Embassy Suites and next to Voodoo Donut. The restaurant has an earthy yet elegant aesthetic with a great selection of sushi rolls, fish, and appetizers. The staff was friendly, and the service and food were excellent! It was a perfect way to end our downtown anniversary adventure!
That’s a Wrap!
From the arts to dining and bars, downtown Portland has no shortage of things to do. I feel lucky to be able to call Portland my home. It is an enchanting city that has my heart. I hope you enjoyed sharing in my downtown Portland adventure! Check out my Gallery to view more photos from the trip and other travel adventures. If you have a downtown Portland favorite, please share in the comments below. I may check it out next!
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