Portland Travel Tips

Put a bird on it!

Downtown Eats

  • Stretch the Noodle Food Cart << local favorite
  • Boxer Ramen – veggie currry Ramen is great. Also nice shops in the covered corridor. – SW Harvey Milk (Stark) btwn 10th & 11th
  • Clyde Common (at Ace Hotel) – can also just get drinks there. – SW Harvey Milk (Stark) btwn 10th & 11th
  • Fuller’s – counter seating old school diner. Cheap and yummy. Great burgers with house-made buns. – NW 9th & Davis
  • Food carts on SW 10th between Washington and Alder – tons of variety, just outside w/o seating
  • Pine Street Market – indoor food hall on SW 2nd and Pine.
  • Kure – bowls and smoothies, quick and healthy – SW Taylor btwn 5th & 6th
  • Little Bird – good late night happy hour! – SW 6th & Pine
  • Los Gorditos in the Pearl (near Fuller’s) – good Mexican with lots of vegan/veggie options- NW Davis btwn 9th/10th
  • Lauretta Jean’s – best biscuits in town. Downtown location is just to-go / housed in a parking structure – SW 6th & Pine
  • Duck House – an rating of ok from the locals
  • Tienda Santa Cruz is good Mexican but across the river and north in St. Johns
  • Shigezo is tasty Japanese ramen and small plates near hotel. They have a couple other spots on the east side as well.

Really good Coffee

  • Water Ave Coffee – SW 6th & Yamhill
  • Heart – SW 10th & Alder

Really good Drinks

  • Bailey’s Tap Room – lots of yummy beer – SW Broadway & Ankeny
  • Pepe le Moko – nice cocktails, classy atmosphere, best for small groups, literally underground. – SW 10th & Harvey Milk (Stark)
  • Ground Kontrol – beer and video games – NW 5th & Couch

Good drinks, divey bars

  • Virginia Café
  • Momo
  • Yamhill Pub
  • Higgins (not as divey)

Shopping

  • Floating World Comics – NW 4th & Couch
  • Powell’s Books (of course!) 10th & Burnside

Things to see & do

 

Travel Info

Public Transit
Portland’s public transit system, TriMet (https://trimet.org/) include bus, MAX line rail, streetcar | Fares: Adult ($2.50 USD / $5 Day Pass), Honored Citizen (Age 65+, Low Income, Disabled) ($1.25 USD / $2.50 Day Pass) / Hop FastPass (Pay by Phone or Card).


Restaurants/Dining/Hotels/Tipping
From food carts to farm-to-table to craft beer, you can find a variety of local versions of various cuisines/food easily. US tipping standards are 10%-15% for fast food (delivery), 15%-20% for higher end dining/bars (or whatever you deem fair but do tip if you get good service). $2-$5 USD per day for housekeeping suggested.

Smoking Rules
You can possess, buy, and use recreational marijuana if you are 21 or older. Otherwise, it is illegal. You can use on private property or at home. Public space usage is not allowed.  General cigarette smoking rules apply.

For more info: http://whatslegaloregon.com/.

Popular Culture (TV & Media)
“The dream of the 90s” is very much in vogue right now.” “Put a Bird on It.”  “Portland is a city where young people go to retire.”
More here: https://www.oregonlive.com/tv/2016/06/25_best_movies_filmed_in_orego.html

Regional Slang/Terms
“Spendy”(expensive), “full on/rad” (cool, awesome), “soda” or “pop” (Coke, soft drink), “the mountain” (Mount Hood), “the gorge” (Columbia Gorge), “the coast” (Oregon Coast)

More here: https://www.dailyemerald.com/archives/the-basics-of-portland-lingo/article_fba2575e-c714-5786-9097-609b5d8ec12f.html

Souvenirs/Shopping
NO SALES TAX!
For more: https://www.travelportland.com/collection/tax-free-shopping/.

 

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