Hasta La Ideas

Where to find a flannel, eat a slaw burger and cheer on the home teams in the beautiful City of Roses

Nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Portland might be best known for its incredible number of rainy days. That hasn’t stopped creative types—Wieden & Kennedy and Nike employees to the many independent artists and entrepreneurs—from flocking. Even worthy of parody in the miniseries Portlandia, there’s perhaps no U.S. city that has embraced progressive “eco-chic” values, turning the challenges of sustainable living into opportunities to innovate, more than the City of Roses. To get the real Portland experience from an insider perspective, check out our all-new Portland installment of CH Local—highlights from the guide below.

The Woodlands

On a side street in Old Town, The Woodlands is the ultimate purveyor of Northwest style, a one-stop shop for the finest menswear and accessories from a number of companies such as Pendleton, Danner, Archival Clothing and Tanner Goods and Field Notes, all homegrown in Oregon. Even if shopping isn’t on your agenda, stop by for a free cup of Sisters Coffee (roasted in Central Oregon), best enjoyed while perusing the rotating gallery in the back.

Little Bird

New to the Portland landscape, the friendly French bistro Little Bird has caused a big stir amongst the city’s thriving foodie community. Under the guise of award-winning chef Gabriel Rucker, Little Bird offers a simple mix of classic and contemporary French cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. Go for the famous Le Pigeon burger, a slaw-covered natural beef patty borrowed from their sister restaurant Le Pigeon, another local favorite.

Spirit of 77

Named for the one and only time the Trailblazers won an NBA championship title, Spirit of 77 is a great place to enjoy a local craft beer while cheering on the Oregon Ducks or checking out Portland’s new MLS team, The Timbers. Owners Jack Baron (co-owner of the Ace Hotel) and Nate Tilden (owner of the restaurant Clyde Common, as well as NYC’s The Beagle) have created another go-to locale with this retro-designed sports bar. Decorated with Northwest-centric athletic memorabilia, there’s also plenty of ways to have a friendly game of your own with their array of dartboards, foosball tables and basketball hoops. As an added bonus, the massive space is just a short walk from the Rose Garden, the Blazers’ home court, making it perfect for a pre- or post-game rendezvous.