As much as we enjoy spending time in downtown Portland, we have stumbled upon a few noteworthy neighborhoods whose charm, intrigue and good eats keep us coming back for more. In an effort to keep things interesting we always attempt to visit a few new places and this time was no different.
Our first stop was lunch at Mee- Sen Thai Eatery. The mismatched furniture, different shaped water vessels and recycled seating allowed for not only visual interest while we awaited for our food, but enhanced our overall experience. I would have liked to have a little more spice in our food, but there was a constant stream of people coming in and out which is always a good sign.
The three main streets of interest are Mississippi Ave, Hawthorne and Belmont St.
A trip to Portland without a trip to Ruby Jewel would be the equivalent of going to San Francisco and not eating sourdough or Ghirardelli chocolate. Ruby Jewel is hands down the best ice cream we have ever had. I would recommend the Honey Lavender and Cameron would recommend the Peanut Butter or Chocolate Peanut Butter.
A flower shop with flowers spilling out onto the sidewalk, too charming for words.
There are so many cute stores and if you like vintage stores Mississippi Ave. is the place for you.
We stayed at Hotel Monaco Portland for the first time, we have stayed at the one in San Francisco before and found it to be a pleasant experience.
Pops of color accent the room.
If housewares are what you are after; stores like Cargo or West Elm in the Pearl District are interesting places to roam around.
When you time it right you can have the whole place to yourself, which is exactly what happened at Blue Hour. I love their long forest green drapes, minimal decor and stunning light fixtures....oh and their food is delicious too.
Happy hour is the way to go at Dragonfish and I would recommend the lettuce cups. The best part is that you do not have to go to Portland to eat there, they have a location in Seattle too.
What are your favorite spots to eat in Portland?