24 Hours of Drinking and Eating in Portland, Oregon

Whether you’re on the hunt for an unusual spot for craft brews, an oenophile passing through to the Willamette Valley, or a cocktail enthusiast checking off a bucket list of award-winning bars, Portland, Oregon, has much to offer. But for those passing through who may have just 24 hours to explore, here’s a guide to help you squeeze in a full day of top-tier food and drink experiences. 

Mémoire Cà Phê: Vietnamese Brunch and Coffee

For a memorable brunch experience, head to Northeast Alberta for shrimp omelets, black sesame cinnamon rolls, and, on the weekends, chicken and pandan waffles with Thai chili maple syrup. The dishes are the owners’ reinterpretation of the American fast food breakfast they grew up with. “Some dishes also stem directly from family recipes and carry that energy of feeling at home,” says founder and chef Richard Văn Lê. The beverage offerings extend well beyond drip coffee. Choose from matcha drinks like a salted pandan matcha or Vietnamese coffee, such as Cà Phê Muối and Cà Phê Trứng. Daily 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Portland Art Museum’s Coquelico Café: French Tea and a Rothko Cake

Pick up postcards at the Portland Art Museum gift shop, then grab a table across the room at Coquelico, the bistro-style café by local marketplace Providore Fine Foods. There you can write your notes while enjoying a cake inspired by Rothko’s color field paintings or tea by French tea company Mariage Frères Tea. The café debuted within the Mark Rothko Pavilion in November 2025 as part of the museum’s $111 million expansion, allowing museum-goers a stylish place to unwind after a day of strolling through the exhibits. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Japanese Tea Garden’s Umami Café: Japanese Tea and Sweets

The garden, which Homes & Gardens touts as one of the most beautiful in the world, is a must-visit for its peaceful paths and, if you’re lucky, a striking view of Mt. Hood in the distance or cherry blossoms in the spring. Complete your visit at the garden’s Umami Café for tea and treats like traditional Japanese wagashi (sweets) by Yume Confections or Takibi’s onigiri. Although the adored tea sets are no longer available, the café continues to serve a variety of traditional Japanese teas, including the rare mecha green tea and the roasted barley tea, mugicha. Matcha lovers can sip their expertly whisked green tea while ensconced in this treehouse-like setting. Hours: Wednesday-Monday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday 12 p.m.-6 p.m.

Division Winemaking Co.: Wine Tasting with Tinned Fish Board

As the gateway to the Willamette Valley, Portland has more than 30 wineries within city limits, making an urban winery tour on foot very feasible. But for those short on time, make a reservation (60 to 75 minutes) at Division Winemaking to taste through five of the Portland-produced wines with winemakers Thomas Monroe and Kate Norris. Snacks from Cafe Olli are included in the price of the tasting, but for a different kind of pairing, reserve the tinned fish board that features tins from Fishwife and bread by Little T Baker. If you want to explore Division even more, add a tour of the winery and/or a barrel tasting to the itinerary. Hours: Appointment only, Monday-Saturday 3 p.m.-9 p.m.

Unique Beer Bars

Any self-respecting beer town has its fair share of must-visit beer bars, but Portland is home to some truly one-of-a-kind spots. Join the fun at role-playing-game brewpub TPK Brewing; shop for vinyl records at the Record Pub; or snack on Asian-inspired bar bites like fish sauce wings and spicy cola-marinated pork belly skewers at Mosaic Taphouse. Watch a game at the Sports Bra, one of the first women’s sports bar in America, which boasts 21 taps with beer from BIPOC- and women-owned and -operated breweries, such as Little Beast Brewing and Threshold Brewing.

Hey Love: Cocktail Slushies and CDMX Bites

No matter the weather, you’ll always feel like you’re stepping into a tropical escape at this acclaimed hotel bar. The dozens of plants hanging overhead alongside rattan lanterns and the warm honeyed light will have you craving vacation libations. Fortunately, the bar serves up plenty, including cocktail slushies, such as mango Margaritas, strawberry Daiquiris, and frozen Irish coffees. To complement the frozen cocktails, order CDMX bites and machetes—elongated quesadillas popularized in Mexico City—from yearlong pop-up resident Machetes. Hours: Sunday-Thursday 3 p.m.-12 a.m., Friday-Saturday 3 p.m.-1 a.m.

Scotch Lodge: Blind Scotch Tasting

Scotch Lodge has been honored as a 2026 James Beard finalist for Outstanding Bar and a 2020 Imbibe 75er for its intriguing cocktails, but it’s also a must-visit for whiskey lovers. Owner and beverage director Tommy Klus, who helped open Multnomah Whiskey Library, curates the bar’s extensive whiskey collection. Every month they feature a “Mystery Pour” as a way to highlight smaller and lesser-known distilleries. “In the past we’ve featured a kombu seaweed-charred Irish whiskey and a mesquite-smoked American Single Malt from Arizona,” says Klus. The program aims to remove preconceptions and distill it down to simply tasting and appreciating. “The point isn’t to guess the right answer, but just enjoy the process,” he adds. Hours: Daily 4 p.m.-12 a.m.

Toasted S’mores Bar: Late Night S’mores and Hot Chocolate

While Portland isn’t the only city with a dedicated s’mores bar, it does feel like the place to be on a dreary day/night. Plus, there’s something about the city’s proximity to nature that makes a gooey treat reminiscent of campfire get-togethers a perfect fit. In addition to classic flavor combos, such as s’mores with sea salt caramel, they also offer seasonal flavors like s’mores with yuzu spread and white chocolate, or hot chocolate with Mexican spices. Located next door to Multnomah Whiskey Library and open til 11 p.m. on the weekends, it’s the perfect way to end the night. Hours: Monday-Thursday 3 p.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 3 p.m.-11 p.m.

Too Soon: Highballs and Filipino Food

Even though this celebrated bar professes that it has “the best vodka soda in town,” its other highballs are worth a visit for their fun variety of flavors, such as apricot and coffee with scotch, as well as the popular melon and pandan with rum. “We curate the highball menu to have a little something for everyone,” says co-owner Nick Flower. Complement the bubbles with savory dishes from Dear Lola, a pop-up residency specializing in food of the Filipino diaspora, from mushroom adobo to a smash burger with crispy cheese, roasted pineapple habanero barbecue sauce, and cabbage slaw. Hours: Monday-Saturday 5 p.m.-1 a.m.

Loyal Legion + Aurora speakeasy at Portland International Airport

Portland’s airport is a rarity: It will have you actually wanting to spend time there. Take in art exhibits or a quick movie at Hollywood Theater (Concourse C), and shop for souvenirs from local purveyors. Those who want to grab a drink before their flight can head to the airy Loyal Legion on the mezzanine level for Oregon craft brews and burgers. But if you want to get away from the chaos of travel, duck into the violet-tinted Aurora speakeasy just off Loyal Legion for a sky blue Painkiller or an apple-infused Manhattan. The bar operates every day as a lounge for Loyal Legion’s bar but has a dedicated bartender Monday through Friday 4 to 8 p.m. And since it’s located before security, it’s the perfect spot to grab good-bye drinks with those seeing you off. Hours: Daily 9 a.m.-11 p.m.

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