A local's top 11 places to eat and drink in Portland, including pastry shops, eclectic restaurants, and the best brewery

Jules RogersAug 2, 2022, 18:15 IST

Satisfy your sweet tooth with pastries from Portland's Blue Star Donuts.Jonathan House for Insider

As a hub for award-winning restaurants, coffee shops, and breweries, Portland is a foodie haven.
Keep reading for a local's list of recommended restaurants and eateries in Portland, Oregon.

I've been a journalist in Portland for nearly a decade, and it's also my hometown. I've covered openings and evolutions of the local food scene, and regularly drag my husband to the newest hot restaurant run by a local chef or a James Beard Award winner. Though I'm always looking for the next cuisine to try, I also have my tried-and-true favorites.

Portland's main restaurant row is NE Sandy Boulevard — recognizable as the diagonal thoroughfare on the grid-like east side of town. But there are unique restaurants everywhere, especially along the main drags in each neighborhood.

From food-cart pods and artisanal coffee and doughnuts to fine dining and craft spirits, Portland offers a variety of cuisines. Here's where to look while you're scouting dinner reservations — and the top spots I'd take you for my favorite food and drink.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters

Stumptown Coffee Roasters is a local-turned-national chain with dozens of cafes around Portland.Jonathan House for Insider

I always start my day with coffee in Stumptown — the nickname for our city full of tree stumps. It's also the name of Stumptown Coffee Roasters, a beloved local turned national coffee-shop chain.

In my opinion, Seattle and Starbucks have nothing on Oregonian coffee shops like Stumptown. The cold brew is the standout for me, and the cold cans of coffee with oat milk have saved me on many busy workday mornings. I also recommend picking up a bag of Stumptown's French roast or Founder's Blend to share with friends.

I always start my day with coffee in Stumptown — the nickname for our city full of tree stumps. It's also the name of Stumptown Coffee Roasters, a beloved local turned national coffee-shop chain.

23Hoyt

For a bigger breakfast or upscale brunch, 23Hoyt is my go-to. It located on NW 23rd Avenue, a ritzy shopping district in Nob Hill. There may be a line during popular hours on the weekend, but personally I've never needed to make a reservation although it's an available option. I like to order the eggs Benedict with Serrano ham or the Arepa Benedict served on an arepa instead of an English muffin. 23 Hoyt serves dinner as well and has a drool-worthy happy-hour menu, with small bites like marinated olives and bacon-wrapped dates.

Rose City Coffee Co.

Portland's Rose City Coffee Co. is known for its aesthetic space and signature lattes.Jonathan House for Insider

Another of my favorite Portland coffee shops is Rose City Coffee Co. It's across from Brooklyn Park and adjacent to the Brooklyn Mall, where I like to hunt for antiques with coffee in hand. One time a barista put seasonal homemade caramel in my apple latte — it was to die for.

Rose City also has a huge selection of plants in a partnership with local plant shop Artemisia, which needed a new home during the pandemic. Once you have your brew, you can browse their cute pots and planters, crystals, succulents, and terrarium kits.

Kyra's Bake Shop

Portland has a generous number of specialty bakeries and doughnut shops, including Kyra's Bake Shop.

This gluten-free bakery — a four-time winner of "Cupcake Wars" — is in Lake Oswego, just south of town. You can get gluten-free cakes, cupcakes, and doughnuts colorfully decorated with bright frosting, glaze, toppings, and sprinkles. If you get here early enough, try the hand pies, which are like big Pop-Tarts, with flavors that change seasonally; the strawberry one is my favorite so far.

Blue Star Donuts

With two locations in Portland, Blue Star Donuts offers an elevated take on the classic dessert.Jonathan House for Insider

The famous Voodoo Doughnut is a great stop for people with a sweet tooth who'll enjoy doughnuts with toppings like Froot Loops or candy, but I recommend stopping by Blue Star Donuts for what it calls "donuts for grownups." Here you'll find flavors like blueberry bourbon basil and Cointreau crème brûlée — I like the lemon and lime curd or the chocolate almond ganache, but flavors change whenever the chefs get creative.

Find Blue Star along SW Jefferson Street near Providence Park, or at its South Waterfront location along South Gaines Street.

The famous Voodoo Doughnut is a great stop for people with a sweet tooth who'll enjoy doughnuts with toppings like Froot Loops or candy, but I recommend stopping by Blue Star Donuts for what it calls donuts for grownups. Here you'll find flavors like blueberry bourbon basil and Cointreau crème brûlée — I like the lemon and lime curd or the chocolate almond ganache, but flavors change whenever the chefs get creative.

Find Blue Star along SW Jefferson Street near Providence Park, or at its South Waterfront location along South Gaines Street.

Xport Bar

Xport's rooftop bar in the heart of downtown Portland provides Instagram-worthy views.Jonathan House for Insider

You couldn't be in a better town than Portland for craft beer and artisanal liquors. For a rooftop happy hour, Xport is one of my favorite spots. The bar offers a signature-cocktail menu with seasonal changes — I once had a cocktail here made with beets that I'll never forget.

Located on the 16th floor of The Porter Hotel, the bar has two patio areas with views of downtown and cozy fire pits to keep warm on windy evenings.

Le Pigeon

One of my favorite restaurants for a night out is Le Pigeon, which has French-inspired fare by chef Gabriel Rucker, a 2011 James Beard Award recipient in 2011 and 2013. Rucker is also the creative behind the high-end bistros Little Bird and Canard. During lockdowns Le Pigeon offered specialty dinner boxes for pickup, but indoor dining is now open again. There's a chef's tasting menu as well as wine pairings. If you're willing to splurge, I recommend ordering the whole fish presentation — I was dazzled by a delicious halibut during my last visit.

10 Barrel Brewing

10 Barrel Brewing is the perfect stop for the beer lovers and has tons of locally brewed options to choose from.Jonathan House for Insider

10 Barrel Brewing started in Bend, Oregon, in 2006, and now has a Portland location in the Pearl District. Here you'll find limited-release, special-edition, and seasonal brews, and mixed packs to take home. Many Portlanders go for the hoppy IPAs our state is known for, but I prefer the sweet, dark porters (look for one with vanilla or chocolate) — just ask what's local and on tap.

Q Restaurant

Many Portlanders grieve the old Veritable Quandary restaurant, affectionately known as VQ, which closed to make way for the new Multnomah County Courthouse. VQ's chef, Anne Cuggino, who's trained in French and Italian cuisines, is now at the family-owned Q Restaurant. The cuisine is eclectic and globally inspired, with seasonal and local Pacific Northwest ingredients. You won't go wrong with anything you order — I have a particularly fond memory of the lunchtime steak skewers.

Gino's

Tourists looking for authentic Italian food with a prime location, look no further than Gino's.Jonathan House for Insider

For casual dining, Gino's is a top choice for me. A full-service Italian restaurant, Gino's offers dishes like locally sourced seafood and made-from-scratch pasta that are lauded by locals and tourists alike — even Lady Gaga ate here a few years ago. It's in the southeastern historic neighborhood of Sellwood along 13th Avenue, a lively shopping district worth walking around before settling down for some fresh pasta.

Multnomah Whiskey Library

This exclusive lounge offers an impressive collection of spirits for a nightcap.Jonathan House for Insider

If you're looking for a nightcap after a long day of sightseeing, I recommend dropping by the Multnomah Whiskey Library downtown, which is exactly what it sounds like. The upstairs lounge has a cozy vibe and exposed brick, and the menu features more than 1,500 spirits as well as small plates.

The Whiskey Library is membership-based, but visitors can buy a pass to make a one-time reservation from Tuesday through Thursday.

View Insider's comprehensive guide to visiting Portland, Oregon.