Portland Travel Guide
Disclaimer: This piece was written in March of 2020, before the Black Lives Matter protests. At the time, these locations were chosen based on recommendations and broad research. We recognize that this piece does not include black-owned businesses, and we are providing resources and a couple examples of black-owned businesses in Portland, Oregon:
https://iloveblackfood.com/pdx-directory/
Akadi | 3601 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Portland, OR 97212
Donut Queen | 5842 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97215
Nana’s Ice Cream Scoop Shop | 5524 NE Garfield Ave, Portland, OR 97211
Spice of Africa | 722 SE 10th (at Alder), Portland, OR 97214
Portland, Oregon is eccentric. Constantly pushing, pulling, and twisting against the norm, it’s filled to the brim with idiosyncrasies. Leafy suburbs offer vibrant Victorian houses and yards that contain eclectic garden arrangements. The city is unabashedly weird, but each perfectly odd detail contributes to the city’s dreamlike atmosphere. Whether you’re looking for new wardrobe flair, thoughtfully-presented dishes, or just a comforting community presence, Portland invites all to experience its vibrancy and quirkiness.
Tusk
2448 E Burnside St
Labeled as a “creative Middle Eastern” restaurant, Tusk provides a light and airy dining experience complete with an abundance of natural light and intentional visual presentation of its dishes. A perfect spot for brunch, its minimalistic interior includes hanging plants and well-dressed visitors alike. The elegantly simple yet tastefully memorable breakfast and brunch dishes draw both one’s taste buds and eyes. The challah french toast is delicate, topped with a hefty dollop of creme fraiche, pistachios, oranges and tiny blue flowers. Each bite melts and lingers on the tongue. Another sweet addition—the pistachio melt cake—is gooey, sweet, with a pistachio flavor perfectly balanced between subtle and distinct. For a savory experience, order the deconstructed smoked trout. As an additional touch, the entire meal experience is tied together with colorblocked teal ceramic mugs for your coffee needs.
Artifact
3630 SE Division St
A vintage consignment shop, Artifact houses an incredible collection of eclectic furniture, clothes, trinkets, and more. Upon initial entry, it offers rows upon rows of tops and bottoms. Almost every inch of the building interior is covered with some sort of drapery — from rugs to fabric to neon lights. Side rooms to the right display more miscellaneous decorations, while a back room provides more furniture. If you take your time in this tucked-away room, you’ll find curations of old photos evoking a unique, faint nostalgia. With colors and patterns breathing life into the otherwise material objects within the space, intrigue is never lacking in Artifact. Though each item has an individual context and history, the store’s overall ambience reinforces its vibrant community of shoppers and sellers. A space that offers more than just purchases, Artifact embodies Portland’s distinct creativity and harmony.
Blue Star Donuts
1155 SW Morrison St
Outside the downtown flagship store, a large neon sign boldly invites customers to stop by for a bite. The bakery inside offers a revamped warehouse atmosphere with high ceilings and long white counters. The donuts present like still-life paintings draped with pastel frosting and unique toppings, with flavors ranging from classic chocolate to matcha tea and blueberry. With a donut and perhaps a hot cup of coffee, you can take a moment to simply sit and gaze out the floor-to-ceiling windows, relaxing to the calming pace of pedestrians outside. Here, Blue Star Donuts provides not only the perfect comfort food for anyone with a sweet tooth, but also a welcoming environment to pause amidst the downtown bustle.