The unique culture of Portland, Oregon

Portland has a small town feel with big city offerings – located in the hops-growing region of Oregon, it’s an unassuming place but with a reputation for being wacky and creative (and, weirdly, for having the highest number of strip clubs per capita in the country). The growing affluent, millennial demographic here has been partly attributed to absurdist sketch comedy series, Portlandia. The show may have ended but its legacy lives on because – while lampooning Oregon’s ultra-progressive culture, organic movement and highly skilled baristas – it simultaneously attracted newfound interest in this Pacific Northwest city. Visitors will discover a place where artists and subcultures thrive, nearby forest hikes abound, small businesses are supported by the community and speciality coffee and craft beer can be found in both quality and quantity. For those interested in taking a holiday that is a little out of the ordinary, we highly recommend heading off to Portland.

Craft breweries

Portland is a city dedicated to the craft of brewing beer, often referred to as ‘Beervana’ by both locals and visitors. With more than 70 microbreweries in the city, it’s the go-to destination for anyone in search of well-made ales, saison, lager or barrel-aged beer. You can either go on a Portland brewpub crawl or choose one brewery to spend the evening sampling beers. Do try to squeeze in a visit to basement tasting room, Upright Brewing, to try their award-winning pilsner; it’s a small, hard-to-find space but worth the effort, welcoming guests with jazz music that crackles out off its classic stereo. After your tasting, walk home to the McMenamins White Eagle Rock & Roll Hotel.

Tiny homes

Many eclectic subcultures live alternative lifestyles here, and the wider community seems to pride itself on breaking the mould. So with house prices on the rise in recent years, it’s perhaps not surprising that locals looking for an affordable way to live bandied together. The result? A collection of ‘tiny home’ communities, which are shared blocks of land containing compact houses. For a unique experience, do as the Romans do and stay in one yourself – the Weidler Tiny House, Vera Tiny House or Henry Tiny House are all snug places to rest after a day of exploring.

Boutique businesses

The city’s strong focus on community makes it an ideal space for small businesses to thrive, with many unique and flourishing concepts. Shops such as the Tender Loving Empire, which is dedicated to supporting local, independent artists, switches between being a record label and music store, selling handmade products and even publishing comic books. Then there’s Walnut Studiolo (a shop that makes bespoke leather accessories for bicycles), an egg-sandwich-centric food truck called Egg I’m In Love, and the world’s largest independent bookstore, Powell’s City of Books (where maps are handed out at the entrance to help navigate the store). Stay at The Inn at Northrup Station, which is close to the city’s main shopping strip on Northwest 23rd Avenue.

Speciality coffee

Portland is widely considered as the coffee capital of Oregon, if not the USA. Coffee enthusiasts will find specialty coffee such as V60 filtered pour over, AeroPress, electric espressos and delicate latte art on nearly every block. One café that is not to be missed is Good Coffee; with four branches across the city, it’s a place where they roast fresh beans themselves so you’re guaranteed to be served a fine brew. The café also has a monthly bean subscription (they ship them worldwide), so you can enjoy one of their rich cups of coffee from home. Stay at Woodlark, a hotel with a branch of Good Coffee in its lobby.

Voodoo Doughnut

You can’t visit Portland without popping into Voodoo Doughnut. Even though it has a world-famous reputation, it still manages to stay a part of the local tapestry of the city. With over 50 varieties of doughnuts to try, their most famous doughnut is the Voodoo Doll©. This signature novelty doughnut is shaped like a ghost, filled with sweet, raspberry jam, dipped in chocolate icing, frosted, and has a small pretzel stake plunged into its heart. Another indulgent treat here is the Bacon Maple Bar©, generously covered in maple frosting and topped with crispy bacon. There are two branches of Voodoo in Portland but be warned – these doughnuts are so popular, the queue can reach around the block. Stay at Embassy Suites Portland – Downtown, which is close by the Old Town location.