HIGH CITY GUIDE: Portland
By Tiara DarnellIn Portland, Oregon, there are more trees than people and (wink wink) we’re not just talking about the Douglas Firs.
Here’s a guide to exploring one of the greenest cities in the Pacific Northwest, divided up by its six biggest neighborhood districts for your convenience. Welcome to Portlandia, bb.
Southwest Portland
Where to buy:
Zion Cannabis (2331 SW 6th Ave.) Choose from a modest but well-curated selection of premium cannabis flower, edibles and glassware at this welcoming and close-in dispensary primarily serving the Portland State University college crowd. From reasonably priced to spendy, indoor to sungrown, know whatever the choice, it’s coming from some of Oregon’s most celebrated producers like Phantom Farms, Resin Ranchers, Yerba Buena and more.
Serra Downtown (220 SW 1st Ave.) The dank is in the details at this downtown (multiple locations) destination boasting “quality drugs” at locations throughout the city. Given the overall store presentation is nothing short of ornate and each gram of flower is meticulously measured by guilded-chopstick-wielding budtenders, it’s clear where the moniker “the Anthropologie of cannabis” comes from.
Where to chill:
Council Crest Park (1120 SW Council Crest Dr.) This is the highest point in the Portland city limits with a publicly accessible view of the Portland cityscape to the east and nearby Beaverton to the west. Make your way to the top by car, bus, or a moderate mile plus hike beginning at the Marquam Nature Center. From this point, sunrise and sunset are excellent. On a clear day, the vista of Cascade Range giants Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, and Mount Hood is exceptionally splendid.
Tom McCall Park (98 SW Naito Pkwy.) You won’t find restaurants and retail along the primmest piece of downtown waterfront real estate in Portland because it’s a gorgeous greenspace perfect for biking, jogging, skateboarding, or a chill, leisurely stroll along the Willamette River. In the summer, enjoy one of the many festivals and concerts like the annual Oregon Brewers Festival and more.
Where to satisfy the munchies:
Anchoi PDX (635 SW College St.) A mix of modern and traditional Vietnamese bites and plates, and cocktails in a hip atmosphere. Great for happy hour. Try the salty sweet tamarind-glazed wings, pho, or banh mi sandwiches.
Chiosco Pizza Window (1355 SW 2nd Ave.) A cheap-eat walk-up window in the bottom of a luxury hotel, this place is known for thin crust Romano-style signature pizza, like the "Porchetta and Tomatoes" made with Chiosco's red Sauce, house-roasted porchetta and cherry tomatoes, and provolone piccante.
Northwest Portland
Where to buy:
Cannabliss & Co. (2231 W Burnside St.) Thanks to dispensaries in Springfield and Eugene, in addition to three others in various spots around Portland including in northwest, Cannabliss has well-established connections with cannabis growers throughout the state and it shows on the shelf. Top shelf, middle of the road or otherwise, there’s usually something on sale. Flower, organized by descriptors like “Enlightenment Looks Good on You” or “Drift Away on a Cloud of Smoke”, is typically pretty affordable in the $6 to $10 range.
Rose City Wellness Co. (214 NW Couch St.) Judicious cannabis consumers understand astronomical THC levels don’t necessarily equal a crazy euphoric high, but if top double digits sounds appealing, this no-frills Old Town/Chinatown dispensary specializing in high-THC bud is for you. And it’s conveniently located smack dab in the middle of Portland’s late night club-scene.
Where to chill:
Lan Su Chinese Garden (239 NW Everett St.) Also known as the “Garden of Awakening Orchids,” this walled Chinese garden is inspired by the celebrated classical gardens in Suzhou in southeastern China and encompases an entire city block. Check the event schedule for summertime concerts and special tea-tasting events.
Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave.) Sometimes it’s nice to chill inside. In that case, catch an indie flick from a local filmmaker or something a little more mainstream at this vintage theater in the heart of the northwest Alphabet district.
Where to satisfy the munchies:
Salt & Straw (838 NW 23rd Ave.) No trip to Portland is complete without visiting the city’s top destination for ice cream. Handmade, small-batch seasonal flavors like Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, or Goat Cheese Marionberry Habanero rotate monthly. Classic flavors like ever-popular Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons, Cinnamon Snickerdoodle, and the vegan-friendly Cloudforest Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies and Cream stick around throughout the year.
Kim Jong Smokehouse (413 NW 21st Ave.) The second of two locations, this spot is a mashup of Korean and American BBQ comfort food. It’s the place to be if pulled pork steam buns, and bibimbap bowls, with choice fillings such as cured salmon, pulled pork, kalbi short rib, and flavorful oyster mushrooms sound appealing. Pick your poison from an expansive cocktail menu also inspired by Korean culinary sensibilities.
North Portland
Where to buy:
Satchel (6900 N Interstate Ave.) Whether it’s the pricey top tier flower or the budget bud, trust that the fine folks at Satchel are recommending and selling you only the weed only they themselves would smoke. They don’t have the widest selection, but what they do have is bountiful: Come through for five gram Fridays, where you can buy an eighth, and they’ll weigh it out at five grams.
Where to chill:
Cathedral City Park (6635 N Baltimore Ave.) Quiet and unassuming beneath the gothic arches that support the majestic St. John’s bridge, this charming park, flanked by the Willamette River is made for recreation: rent a kayak or stand-up paddle and explore the riverfront, join a pick-up game of soccer or frisbee, or bring a picnic blanket and enjoy the underrated pleasure of doing nothing at all.
Where to satisfy the munchies:
Tienda Santa Cruz (8630 N Lombard St.) Honestly, Portland isn’t heavy on delicious and authentic Mexican restaurants, but of the few, this cozy restaurant in the back of a Mexican market storefront doesn’t disappoint for tacos, flautas, horchata, and other south of the border staples.
North East Portland
Where to buy:
Green Hop (5515 NE 16th Ave) Portland’s first historical hip-hop themed dispensary is a black-owned enterprise in the heart of Albina, the area historically home to Portland’s small, vibrant African American community. Here, the art, the music and the aesthetic is black power. The cannabis varieties take their name from classic hip-hop artists and albums, like Illmatic and Grandmaster Flowers.
Where to chill:
Alberta Street (NE Portland) Walk the line from about NE 9th to NE 31st along Alberta Street, one of the areas most vibrant neighborhood strips with funky accessory and apparel shops, bars, restaurants, cafés, and a fun last Thursdays summertime arts walk and pop-up festival.
Where to satisfy the munchies:
Either/Or (4003 N Williams Ave.) Taiwaniese and American fare-inspired café serving brunch bites, local coffee, and house-made chai by day—coffee cocktails and signature drinks, bar fare, and live DJ by night.
Southeast Portland
Where to buy:
Farma PDX (916 SE Hawthorne Blvd.) Highly regarded as one of the best dispensaries in Portland, the “Apple store of cannabis,” is a go-to for the conscious cannabis consumer interested in learning as much about the medicinal and therapeutic benefits of cannabis as how high the buzz is going to be. Go for an expansive selection of pre-rolls, high-quality flower and edibles from the finest of Oregon canna-brands, and stylish weed-themed merchandise.
Where to chill:
Quarterworld (4811 SE Hawthorne Blvd.) Easily one of Portland’s largest arcades, this gamestop has two bars and an excellent happy hour to enhance fun with dozens of vintage pinball machines and other well-known arcade games, like ski ball, four-player Pac Man and more.
Where to satisfy the munchies:
Cartlandia (8145 SE 82nd Ave.) Unlike in other cities, the majority of Portland’s famous food carts aren’t mobile. They sit collectively in food pods like this one which offers about a half dozen carts serving everything from crepes and waffle sandwiches, wood-fired pizza, chicken and jojos, and more in addition to a beer and cider cart.
South Portland
Where to buy:
Little Amsterdam (7035 SW Macadam Ave.) Location, location, location! One of the last dispensaries in the city limits, this spot is a one stop shop for getting stocked up for a weekend away at the coast, or close-in down by the river. Prices are easy on the wallet and the tight selection doesn’t makes narrowing down the dank easy peasy.
Where to chill:
Willamette Park (6500 SW Macadam Ave.) This park is the yin to Tom McCall Park’s yang; it’s much quieter with less hustle and bustle than the greenspaces in the downtown area. It’s a perfect launching point for a tour of the south Willamette River area by kayak or stand-up paddle. Take advantage of outdoor films on weekend evenings in the summer, as well as tennis courts, soccer fields, and a brand spankin’ new dog park with waterfront views if you’re traveling with your pooch.