48 Hours in Portland: Exploring the City's Food, Culture, and Scenery
Portland, Oregon, is a city that boasts a diverse and thriving food scene, stunning natural beauty, and a creative arts community. A two-day itinerary in Portland offers visitors the opportunity to experience a range of activities, from indulging in delicious food to exploring the city's street art scene and taking in breathtaking views. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a local looking for new adventures, there's something for everyone to enjoy in this vibrant Pacific Northwest city.
Day 1
Start your day with breakfast at Screen Door's Eastside location. This restaurant is known for its Southern-style breakfast food. Their signature dish is the fried chicken and waffles on the savory side, but they also have other delicious options like biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits, and beignets. They also have a full bar to enjoy a mimosa or a bloody mary with your breakfast. My favorite is their bananas foster french toast for the sweet side on the brunch menu with a plate of praline bacon to share. Be sure to check out their dinner and dessert options.
After breakfast, go to Pip's Original Doughnuts & Chai for mini donuts. Be sure to try their seasonal flavors and arrive early since locals and tourists alike will line up even on a weekday!
Stroll or bike using Biketown along the Willamette River in Tom McCall Waterfront Park and enjoy the beautiful city skyline views. If you're visiting on the weekend, swing by Portland Saturday Market to check out local artisans, food vendors, and live music. And if you're in town during the spring, take advantage of the cherry blossom trees in full bloom at the Japanese American Historical Plaza.
Afterward, let's head over to Slabtown. This charming neighborhood is home to various shops and eateries on 23rd Ave that extends to Nob Hill, but we're heading to one of my favorite food carts in the city. Portland is well-known to have food carts scattered throughout the city, so be sure to add others to your list. Bing Mi Food Cart has been serving tasty jiangbings, a savory Chinese crepe with egg, bing sauce, green onion, cilantro, zhacai, and wonton crackers wrapped inside. My favorites are The Taylor or The Adam, loaded jianbings, and sweet soy milk.
To rest your belly, drive to Council Crest Park, the city's highest point, for panoramic views. If you have time, stop by Washington Park to explore the zoo, forestry museum, arboretum, rose garden, Japanese garden, and more. The park is free, but admission to the Portland Japanese Garden, World Forestry Center Discovery Museum, and Oregon Zoo is charged. There is a $2/hour fee to park. However, there's a free shuttle daily shuttle around the park.
After some sightseeing, grab dinner at Harlow, a vegan-forward plant-based cafe. Take advantage of their Hawthorne Mac, Walnut Chorizo Quesisidlia, and Chipotle Chili Bowl or their delicious scrambles since breakfast is served all day. It is worth noting that Portland is one of the country's most vegetarian and vegan-friendly cities.
Finally, head back to South Waterfront and ride on the Portland Aerial Tram for stunning nighttime city views. Usually filled with OHSU students and staff, commuters will enjoy a 4 min ride to the Marquam Hill Tram Terminal. Portland is home to 12 bridges (15 including ones that connect to Washington state). The Tilikum Crossing Bridge remains my favorite, the only bridge in the country to accommodate light rail, buses, bicycles, and pedestrians without automobiles. For a unique perspective, you can just cross over to the east side toward OSMI and walk down the pathway to the dock next to the decommissioned USS Blueback Submarine. A section on the left will have a stunning view from the water, looking up at the bridge.
Day 2
On our second adventure-filled day, start with Southern-style brunch at Pine State Biscuits in the Alberta Arts District. Whenever I visit, I recommend trying their Reggie Deluxe and their beignets for a sweet pairing. After fueling up, check out the city's street art scene by taking a walking tour of the murals, thanks to the PDX Street Art Alliance's map.
Next up, we'll head over to Never Coffee's downtown location. This colorful aesthetic cafe has an understated vibe specializing in creatively flavored lattes; one of my most unique drinks on their menu is the yuzu latte. You can also explore Powell's Bookstore nearby, the world's largest used and new bookstore, which occupies an entire city block and houses approximately one million books.
For lunch, visit Nong's Khao Man Gai, a popular food cart-turned-restaurant specializing in chicken, rice, and a delicious signature sauce. And for dessert, we indulged in the iconic Salt & Straw ice cream with new monthly flavors that can please anybody's taste buds. They offer an expansive menu with new monthly flavors that can please anybody on a cup, cone, or by pint!
After walking off our food, we head to the Eastbank Esplanade to enjoy downtown Portland's stunning views. We then went to Kachka for dinner, a highly-rated Russian restaurant that offers a modern take on traditional dishes like dumplings and borscht. Their house-infused vodkas added a unique and flavorful touch to our meal.
Finally, we explore the Central Eastside Industrial District, a fun mix of grungy industrial spaces, cool bars, coffee shops, and restaurants. With roughly 70 breweries in Portland, it's no wonder why this city is known for its beer and cider scene.
In just two days, we have explored some of the best food spots, outdoor activities, and cultural attractions Portland offers. From Southern-style breakfast to Russian-inspired dinner, we have sampled a range of flavors that highlight the city's diverse food scene. Whether you're interested in street art, bookstores, or brewery hopping, Portland has it all. This city is perfect for those seeking a unique experience that combines nature, art, and good food. So come discover why Portland is known as the "City of Roses."
