Spring is an especially beautiful time to visit Portland, Oregon, with azaleas, rhododendrons and cherry blossoms bursting to life and rare morel mushrooms popping up across the lush forest landscape. The destination’s proximity to the Pacific Ocean and Willamette Valley wine country makes for an abundance of culinary delights, from truffles and hazelnuts to seafood and wild berries galore. The pioneering spirit that first lured settlers out west pervades the vibrant food scene here, and a diverse array of chefs, craftspeople and artisans are taking risks to bring the city to creative new heights.
Photography provided by The Ritz-Carlton, Portland
Stay
The Ritz-Carlton surpasses expectations as the first true luxury hotel in town, with a spa, club lounge and electric Mercedes house car. The gleaming skyscraper is one of the city’s tallest buildings, so guests enjoy incredible skyline views whether they’re relaxing in the zero-edge infinity pool, working out in the fitness center or dining at the signature restaurant, Bellpine, up on the 20th floor. Copper and timber motifs are on display throughout the property, from the textured drapery and tree-branch chandeliers in the “forest hall” lobby to the moody artwork in the guest quarters. The hotel’s art collection, including the reclaimed-fir table at lobby bar Meadowrue, was commissioned from regional artists.
Leading the kitchen at Bellpine is Michelin-starred Pedro Almeida, who previously oversaw the eateries at the Ritz-Carlton–owned Penha Longa Resort in Portugal. Here, he embraces Oregon delicacies like cedar plank–roasted sockeye salmon and mushroom ice cream for dessert.
Photography provided by Kann
Dine
First-generation Haitian-American chef Gregory Gourdet serves the most personal food of his career at Kann, blending culinary influences of the African and Caribbean diaspora with the freshest, most flavorful Pacific Northwest ingredients. Upon opening, Kann was named the best new restaurant in America at the James Beard Awards and received similar praise from The New York Times, Esquire and Eater.
Live-fire cooking combines with jerk spices, coffee rubs and herb marinades to reflect Haitian barbecue traditions. Gourdet serves up the country’s national dish — griyo twice-cooked pork — with fried green plantains and pikliz (pickled vegetables). Akra (crispy taro root fritters) is another menu staple that shouldn’t be missed. In the spirit of inclusivity, all of the food is gluten- and dairy-free, with vegan options. A robust zero-proof cocktail list is also available.
Photography provided by Hopscotch
Do
Surprising and delighting at every turn, the unconventional, interactive exhibits at Hopscotch defy art museum expectations. Rotating sensory works by local and international artists interplay art, light and sound to tell stories in innovative and sustainable ways. The 23,000-square-foot space spans nearly an entire city block, with 14 different installations to discover. Some particularly impactful recent collections include an ethereal rainbow cave constructed from salvaged postindustrial materials; a colorful LED light maze encouraging a future of love and acceptance; and a cosmic quantum trampoline where museum goers could draw pictures with each leap.
Visitors usually spend around 90 minutes at Hopscotch but are welcome to explore as long as they like. Afterward, they can enjoy snacks by beloved Top Chef alum Sara Hauman in the lounge and browse local art at the gift shop.
Photography provided by Travel Portland
Do
Founded in 1892, Portland Art Museum is the oldest arts institution in the Pacific Northwest and a cornerstone of the city’s cultural district. The permanent collection includes encyclopedic assortments of Native Northwest Coast art and Japanese prints. PAM frequently hosts artist talks and multimedia presentations, letting visitors engage with creatives and discover the joys of the artistic process. The newest exhibition this spring is dedicated to futuristic footwear, featuring digitally designed and 3D-printed shoes as well as sustainable vegan sneakers made from mushroom leather and ocean plastic.
The Mark Rothko Pavilion opens in 2025 after a multi-year renovation aimed at making the museum more accessible and inclusive, along with a more collaborative curatorial approach. For instance, Native American Art Curator Kathleen Ash-Milby of the Navajo Nation has recently worked closely with Choctaw/Cherokee multimedia artist Jeffrey Gibson, who will represent the United States at the 2024 Venice Biennale and whose glass panels are noteworthy new acquisitions.
Photography provided by Janken
Dine
A cherry tree blossoms over curved booths in the middle of the dining room at Janken, a modern Japanese-Korean fusion restaurant. The glamorous eatery serves sushi and hot-stone wagyu paired with Japanese whisky cocktails and sake against a backdrop of white oak and quartz. There’s also a sleek 10-seat sushi bar.
The extensive menu might seem intimidating, but indecisive diners can let their server curate a meal in omakase fashion, beginning with a crudo and sushi platter, followed by hot items like wagyu gyoza, pork sticky ribs, charred broccolini with housemade barley miso, and grilled branzino with yuzu kosho and green apple chimichurri. The weekday happy hour is a steal, with discounted snacks like caviar latkes and soft-shell crab bao on offer. Even if you’re stuffed, the fluffy bingsu is a light, airy dessert that’s perfect for sharing.
Photography provided by First Nature Tours
Do
Explore beyond the city limits for a day or two with a bespoke private itinerary arranged by First Nature Tours. Dedicated to highlighting the local ecology and community, this sustainable travel company offers popular trips like wine tasting adventures in the Willamette Valley and loop tours around Mt. Hood that include the Columbia River Gorge and Hood River Valley. The area is best known for its epic skiing, snowboarding and mountain biking trails, but the dining is excellent, too.
First Nature’s friendly expert guides go above and beyond to ensure everyone has an enjoyable experience. Whether it’s picking your own apples, cherries and pears at Kiyokawa Family Orchards (which grows 150+ fruit varieties) or foraging for morels, chanterelles and matsutake mushrooms deep in a fairytale forest straight out of a Tolkien novel, you’ll develop a deeper appreciation for nature’s bounty before the outing is over. Afterward, why not celebrate by sitting down to a family-style feast at Hiyu Wine Farm?
