Best of Portland

Desire to explore the city? Our student ambassadors shared their top Portland spots! 

Food

• St. John's Coffee Roasters 
  • We are lucky to have many coffee options near campus, but my go-to favorite for lattes and studying is at St. John's! Nice studying areas, choices of espresso, and dog-friendly peeps make it an awesome Sunday stop!
• Besaw's
  • Brunch is amazing! Ask for the huevos rancheros.
• Paiku
  • Delicious breakfast and lunch place. Has vegan and vegetarian options. Located in St. Johns, so it is super close to campus.
• Salt & Straw
  • Ice cream!
• Ruby Jewel
  • Ice cream AND ice cream sandwiches with homemade cookies! So yummy!
• Thai Ginger
  • Great thai food and close to campus!
• Burgerville 
  • Seasonal foods are to die for!
• The Matador 
  • Mexican food.
• Voodoo Doughnut
  • Famously known for their donuts!
• Jam on Hawthorne
  • American breakfast & lunches served in a big, art-filled cafe that's family & vegan friendly. So many option!
• Slappy Cakes
  • Breakfast restaurant serving delicious pancakes!
• Screen Door
  • Southern food.
• Cha Cha Cha!
  • Mexican food. Show your UP student ID and you can order off the happy hour menu all day.
• The Eisenhower Bagelhouse
  • Ugh, the best bagel sandwiches. That is all.
• Bernstein Bagels
  • Close to campus and has amazing bagels!
• The Rambler (21+)
  • Night out with friends at this bar on Mississippi! It's casual and has some fire pits and games. Great food and drinks!
• Cibo
  • Italian food! Recently discovered this place on Division St. It has a lovely atmosphere and quality Italian dishes. 
• Santa Cruz (St. John's)
  • Has the best tacos and burritos! Fits within every college student's budget.
• Uchu Sushi and Fried Chicken
  • Great sushi place! Has happy hour every day and the prices are great!
• Bamboo Sushi
  • The cauliflower is to die for! The best I have ever had.
• Pastini 
  • Italian inspired food! Nice atmosphere and good portions. Everyone I went with enjoyed their food (which is rare with larger groups).
• Presso Coffee
  • Fancy toast (avocado toast, smoked salmon toast, etc.) and good coffee. Nice environment to do homework in.
• Carioca Bowls
  • Can choose your acai base and add all the toppings you want!
• McMenamins St. John's Theater & Pub 
  • Fun decor, good service, and you can bring your food into the theater with you!
• Food Trucks in St John's
  • There is a burrito truck that has the best burritos ever!

Places/Things To Do

• General hubs: Mississippi District, Alberta St., SE Hawthorne, NW 23rd and Alphabet District
• Hikes: Angel's Rest and Dog Mountain
• Parks: Cathedral Park, Forest Park, Japanese Garden and Council Crest Park
• Waterfront (go to the docks on hot summer days for a swim)
• Sauvie's Island
• Glowing Greens Mini Golf
• Pittock Mansion
  • Easy hike and you can read about the history of the mansion once you go inside.
• Portland Saturday Market
  • Big market with lots of vendors with some pretty random, but cool art.
• Tilikum Crossing Bridge
  • A taste of the river and some exercise! The views while walking or biking over the bridge are legit, especially at sunset. 
• St. John's Movie Theater 
  • Old theater with a lot of character. They only show a couple movies at a time, but it's close to campus! Matinee prices are only $6!

• Portland Night Market
  • Several different vendors and food! Easy to find and parking wasn't too hard to find.
• St. John's Farmers Market (Saturday morning)
  • Smaller market with lots of product and some fun art 
• Powell's Books
  • If you are into reading, you could easily loose yourself here just looking at all the books all day.
• Thicket 
  • A garden shop that has the cutest plants for great prices. It is on Alberta, hidden behind Pine State Biscuits.