Alexsandra’s guidebook
Favorite Restaurants
Love the mussels - appetizer size is more than enough for a great dinner, and for me there are leftovers for lunch the next day.
68 locals recommend
Gino's
8051 SE 13th AveLove the mussels - appetizer size is more than enough for a great dinner, and for me there are leftovers for lunch the next day.
Basque food: Pinchos, tapas and entrees. Happy hour. Covered patio with fire pit and heaters for cool, damp days. Love this place!
15 locals recommend
Bar Casa Vale
215 SE 9th AveBasque food: Pinchos, tapas and entrees. Happy hour. Covered patio with fire pit and heaters for cool, damp days. Love this place!
Another Basque restaurant that can't be beat. Great wine selection - again a favorite.
42 locals recommend
Urdaneta
3033 NE Alberta StAnother Basque restaurant that can't be beat. Great wine selection - again a favorite.
Wine Wednesday- half price bottles. Plus decent food at a moderate price. There are several locations around Portland.
38 locals recommend
Pastini
2027 SE Division StWine Wednesday- half price bottles. Plus decent food at a moderate price. There are several locations around Portland.
Peruvian food, Pisco Sours - great location in the Pearl. A bit noisy and worth the price.
183 locals recommend
Andina
1314 NW Glisan StPeruvian food, Pisco Sours - great location in the Pearl. A bit noisy and worth the price.
Bluehour Restaurant
250 NW 13th AveGreat place in the Pearl - nice happy hour.
Love this place. There's a sweet fireplace, just room for two comfy chairs, so go early, wait for your chance and enjoy a cool and rainy winter day.
38 locals recommend
Irving Street Kitchen
701 NW 13th AveLove this place. There's a sweet fireplace, just room for two comfy chairs, so go early, wait for your chance and enjoy a cool and rainy winter day.
Some of the most fabulous desserts you'll ever have. This is the original location, the best I think and a great covered patio for outdoor dining where I always feel like I'm in France or Italy.
189 locals recommend
Papa Haydn
701 NW 23rd AveSome of the most fabulous desserts you'll ever have. This is the original location, the best I think and a great covered patio for outdoor dining where I always feel like I'm in France or Italy.
Tapas, pinchos, and raciones. Busy, will probably have to wait. Opens at 5. A must have: the piquillo peppers - I love them.
179 locals recommend
Toro Bravo
120 NE Russell StTapas, pinchos, and raciones. Busy, will probably have to wait. Opens at 5. A must have: the piquillo peppers - I love them.
Another great neighborhood restaurant, housed in a former mortuary, it has an excellent out door patio for the warm months.
25 locals recommend
Relish
6637 SE Milwaukie AveAnother great neighborhood restaurant, housed in a former mortuary, it has an excellent out door patio for the warm months.
World's first certified sustainable sushi restuarant! And it is delicious.
471 locals recommend
Bamboo Sushi
310 SE 28th AveWorld's first certified sustainable sushi restuarant! And it is delicious.
Some of the best pizza, done by the same people as the bakery. Super good crust!
140 locals recommend
Ken's Artisan Pizza
304 SE 28th AveSome of the best pizza, done by the same people as the bakery. Super good crust!
Farmer's Markets
Wednesdays, May through October, 2:00 - 7:00 PM. Vegies, fruit, music, take-way food - a chance to live and shop like a local.
10 locals recommend
Moreland Farmer's market
1650 SE 14th AveWednesdays, May through October, 2:00 - 7:00 PM. Vegies, fruit, music, take-way food - a chance to live and shop like a local.
Sunday Mornings til 2:00 pm, just a few minutes away on Hiway 99.
17 locals recommend
Milwaukie Farmers Market
10723 SE Main StSunday Mornings til 2:00 pm, just a few minutes away on Hiway 99.
The Park Blocks and PSU campus, Saturday mornings til about 3 pm. One of the biggest Markets in the area. Lots to see and do. Amazing food to purchase, and sit and eat on the lawn. Truly a must visit while in town.
123 locals recommend
Portland Farmers Market at PSU
1803 SW Park AveThe Park Blocks and PSU campus, Saturday mornings til about 3 pm. One of the biggest Markets in the area. Lots to see and do. Amazing food to purchase, and sit and eat on the lawn. Truly a must visit while in town.
Wine Bars
Local hangout, I always see someone I know when I am there. Extensive list of wines for sale. Wine by the glass and beers on tap or by the bottle.
31 locals recommend
The Portland Bottle Shop
7960 SE 13th AveLocal hangout, I always see someone I know when I am there. Extensive list of wines for sale. Wine by the glass and beers on tap or by the bottle.
Flights, tastings, super prices by the case. Very knowledgeable owner - get on his mailing list for great comments and deals. Bring your baguette and cheese and sit outside while you taste.
19 locals recommend
Vino
137 SE 28th AveFlights, tastings, super prices by the case. Very knowledgeable owner - get on his mailing list for great comments and deals. Bring your baguette and cheese and sit outside while you taste.
Food Carts
Mumbo Gumbo PDX (Sellwood)
1825 North Williams AvenueI'm nuts for their red beans and rice.
Hurry Back Ice Cream
Southeast Lexington StreetGet a cone, or take some home - they have lovely ice cream.
Many choices for Mexican, Guatemalan, and other Latin inspired food.
125 locals recommend
Portland Mercado
7238 SE Foster RdMany choices for Mexican, Guatemalan, and other Latin inspired food.
Grocery Stores and Bakeries,
Local chain with several locations. Bakery, deli, meats - lots of gluten free, dairy free products, and organic products.
974 locals recommend
New Seasons Market
1954 SE Division StLocal chain with several locations. Bakery, deli, meats - lots of gluten free, dairy free products, and organic products.
Great bakery, local chain, B corporation (gives back to the community). Try the Monkey rolls - I call them caramet, sticky buns. They're great!
59 locals recommend
Grand Central Bakery - Sellwood cafe
7987 SE 13th AveGreat bakery, local chain, B corporation (gives back to the community). Try the Monkey rolls - I call them caramet, sticky buns. They're great!
Fabulous bread, served at some of the great Portland restaurants. Also serves sandwiches, yummy desserts. Definitely worth a trip to Northwest 21st Ave in Portland to get.
81 locals recommend
Ken's Artisan Bakery
338 NW 21st AveFabulous bread, served at some of the great Portland restaurants. Also serves sandwiches, yummy desserts. Definitely worth a trip to Northwest 21st Ave in Portland to get.
Garden Favorites
Peaceful, and beautiful. The only Japanese Garden in the US recognized by Japan as authentic.
1015 locals recommend
Portland Japanese Garden
611 SW Kingston AvePeaceful, and beautiful. The only Japanese Garden in the US recognized by Japan as authentic.
An authentic Ming Dynasty style garden, built by Suzhou artisans, that takes up an entire block of the city’s historic Chinatown district. Since the garden’s opening in 2000, its covered walkways, bridges, open colonnades, pavilions and richly planted landscape framing the Zither Lake have created an urban oasis of tranquil beauty and harmony.
405 locals recommend
Lan Su Chinese Garden
239 NW Everett StAn authentic Ming Dynasty style garden, built by Suzhou artisans, that takes up an entire block of the city’s historic Chinatown district. Since the garden’s opening in 2000, its covered walkways, bridges, open colonnades, pavilions and richly planted landscape framing the Zither Lake have created an urban oasis of tranquil beauty and harmony.
Wonderful place to walk, the botanical garden is located in southeast Portland (SE28th and Bybee Blvd). The garden, covers 9.49 acres, is named for the numerous springs within the garden.
195 locals recommend
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
5801 SE 28th AveWonderful place to walk, the botanical garden is located in southeast Portland (SE28th and Bybee Blvd). The garden, covers 9.49 acres, is named for the numerous springs within the garden.
Located in Washington Park, thousand of roses to enjoy. View of the city from one of the terraces.
627 locals recommend
International Rose Test Garden
400 SW Kingston AveLocated in Washington Park, thousand of roses to enjoy. View of the city from one of the terraces.
Neighborhoods
Quirky shops and restaurants, it's a great neighborhood for wandering. One of my favorites, Por Que No?, for tacos and other Mexican inspired food located there as well as on SE Hawthorne. Good Margaritas too.
217 locals recommend
North Mississippi Avenue
North Mississippi AvenueQuirky shops and restaurants, it's a great neighborhood for wandering. One of my favorites, Por Que No?, for tacos and other Mexican inspired food located there as well as on SE Hawthorne. Good Margaritas too.