I’d go to Barista, and I’d get the single origin espresso. Barista has breakfast, but you could also go to the Waffle Window, and get chicken and waffles.
Then, take a walk around Mt. Tabor. It’s just a big park—well, actually, an old volcano. But to be honest, I guess it’s just a park that you can walk around and it's really nice.
After that, I’d take the Tri-Met downtown, and you can start day drinking. There are a lot of bars downtown, and just more foot traffic.
Barista Coffee's first shop in downtown's Pearl District is one of four locations today and a good place to start a walk through the unique neighborhood.
Mt. Tabor is a great spot to take a walk, set kids loose on a playground, or just enjoy the view.
Strawberry shortcake at Pepe le Moko, a dark and intimate bar under the Ace Hotel in downtown Portland. The vibe is like being in a sexy submarine.
You have to check out Pepe le Moko. It’s an underground bar that you wouldn’t expect. It’s this whole thing.
You’ll go to the host stand and they’ll say, do you have a reservation? And you’ll say no, and then they’ll just take your name.
And then you go to Clyde Common next door and wait. Then she’ll call you and bring you into this like, underground tavern. It’s very mysterious. That’s why I like it. Oh, it’s cocktails and oysters.
Then let’s say you’re recovering from a hangover the next morning. Brunch is huge here. Brunch is everything, if you’ve watched Portlandia. The Screen Door is popular for brunch, but it’s impossible to get in there. If it’s my ideal day? Then I can get into Screen Door. But the trick is you have to go at 1:30, because they stop seating at 1:45, so you just go and get a beer, and wait for 1:45.
You won't regret the short drive to the St. Johns bridge, Portland's tallest. It sits over a green park with a little dock where you'll find friends hanging out next to the river.
Mouther Foucalt's, where books rise to the ceiling in hardwood shelves, is the quieter, more old-fashioned version of the indie bookstore--the kind that almost seems like it came out of a dream.
I’m sending you all over the place, but it’s worth the drive.
So, the best falafel I’ve ever had is DarSalam. It’s a mishmash of Middle Eastern food and just really good. There's one downtown.
Then, everyone will tell you to go to Powell’s…but Mother Foucalt's is just across the bridge, and it’s also a really good bookstore.
Dark and cozy, Dig a Pony is like the bar equivalent of that super cool and good-looking friend you've got who's somehow also the nicest in the group. Speaking of friends, besides the fries, a highlight is there's plenty of space here if you're traveling with a big crew of friends.
Get out to North Portland if you can. To get there you have to cross my favorite bridge, which has these big, gothic arches. It’s called the St. Johns bridge, and that’s also the name of the neighborhood. You should explore that too.
Finally, live music is my favorite thing here. Mississippi Studios is just great. Then there’s a place called Dig a Pony that has a DJ every night, so you can’t strike out there.
