Portland is continuing to gain popularity in recent years. With great food, beer, and awesome sites, you can easily spend a few weekends here. Only an hour and a half flight from San Francisco, I decided to take a weekend trip with a few girlfriends mid-January early this year. Yes, rainy season and it was a little cold but we were lucky to have pretty good weather that weekend! Here’s my guide to Portland in a weekend!

Where To Stay

Hotel Modera is in a great location with modern interior. Walking distance to downtown Portland and shopping. We really enjoyed our stay at Hotel Modera.

Hotel Rose is another great option with similar characteristics. The location is much more central to downtown Portland.

Booking.com

What To Do

Rent a car and head East of Portland to the Columbia River Gorge. Home of Horseshoe Falls, Multnomah Falls, and local hiking trails.

Horsetail Falls is a 30-minute drive from downtown Portland.

Only a 5-minute drive from Horsetail Falls you will encounter Multnomah Falls two-tiered beauty. There are many hiking trails here but we only stayed to experience the waterfall.

Photo by @la_vida_mel

If you have time to drive to Rowena Crest, it is a magnificent view and you don’t want to miss it! The road is a bit scary to drive, sadly it was very foggy when we went and did not have a view like this! The drive was about an hour from Multnomah Falls.

Explore Portland Art Museum

Witches Castle At Forest Park

Photo by @heyitskathy

Nike Campus

You’re welcome to wander outside but if you’re lucky enough to know an employee you can go shopping and walk around the beautiful campus.

What To Eat And Drink

BRUNCH

Screendoor Restaurant – The best chicken and waffles of my life!! Not only that but everything else at Screendoor Restaurant was amazing and cheap too!

Pine State Biscuits – Yum, biscuits and gravy! In this case biscuits and gravy chicken sandwich!

Tasty N’ Sons for the famous donuts! Chicken hash and so much more!

SWEETS

Voodoo Donut – Always a line… was it worth the wait? Not really.. the donuts are average but great for Instagram.

Blue Star Donut – Quality over quantity. AGREED!

Salt & Straw for amazing ice cream!

DINNER

Do not leave Portland without trying Le Pigeon! This was one of my favorite Chefs Tasting meal of my life! Make reservations ASAP and you will not regret it! You will thank me later =)

Pok Pok for delicious Thai food

Andina for tapas. It’s located in Pearl District which is a great location to go out after dinner.

Ataula is another great option for delicious Spanish tapas.

DRINKS

Portland is known for awesome beers so stop by a beer hall and drink as much as you can

Multnomah Whiskey Library if you’re a whiskey and scotch fan. Great atmosphere with awesome bartenders who make the best mixologist drinks! Make sure to make reservations if you’re looking to try this place.

Hope you have as much fun as I did in Portland! =)