Wilf’s, at Union Station, is a jazz bar and restaurant that employs plenty of throwback flourishes. There aren’t many white tablecloth places left in Portland where diners can sit in crimson velvet wingback chairs and order old-school dishes like steak Diane and cherries jubilee prepared tableside over an open flame. For a more casual experience, try the lounge, where favorites like gooey cheese-topped French onion soup can be enjoyed with a glass of wine.

De Noche, one of the myriad restaurant concepts launched by República & Co., serves modern Mexican fare in the former La Fondita space. Expect beautifully plated renditions of classics like nopales salad, twists like the strawberry aguachile, and an ever-changing mole of the day. Visitors can dine al fresco on a patio along the north park blocks or at a rustic wooden table in the brick-walled dining room.

With its serene atmosphere overlooking a courtyard, Lan Su Chinese Garden Tea House is an Old Town oasis. A ticket to the Chinese gardens is the price of entry and visitors can choose among herbal, oolong, and black teas (or even wine and sake) to accompany vegetarian light bites like dumplings, buns, and braised tofu, as well as mooncakes and almond cookies. It’s the ideal finish to an afternoon watching the garden’s koi.

Republic Cafe, which celebrated its 100th birthday in 2022, is one of the few operational vestiges of Portland’s Chinatown, decked out in murals and red-and-gold regalia. And there’s no better place to soak up some nostalgia and dig into Chinese American classics like chop suey and almond chicken than in a brown vinyl banquette (ignore the duct tape) bathed in red lights. Bonus: It’s open until midnight every day of the week, and often hosts cool under-the-radar concerts and DJs.

This tile-clad Moroccan cafe serves b’stilla, a traditional powder sugar-dusted pastry filled with chicken, as well as numerous tagines and Merguez lamb sausage made onsite. The sausage can be enjoyed in sandwich form, though the tagine with couscous and green olives is a lovely expression of the halal meat. There’s no going wrong by starting a meal with one of the earthy dips, accompanied by fluffy flatbread.

This new snack bar and market is, in many ways, a return to the building’s origins: Goodies Snack Shop sits in the space once home to Teikoku Co., a market in the heart of Portland’s Nihonmachi (Japantown). These days, it’s a fun spot to stock up on snacks, candies, and noodles ahead of a riverside picnic.

This minimalist tea shop isn’t just stylish in its aesthetics — hiding in the back, owner Amir Morgan shows off his bespoke jumpsuits and vests in a showroom and studio, which customers peruse while he brews cups of jasmine and oolong in the front. If a tray of baklava is sitting by the counter, it’s best to order a slice with your tea.

Local coffee shops have shaken off the outdated rigid stereotypes, which is exemplified in sneaker-themed Deadstock Coffee. The small storefront that also sells fun merch serves house roasts with names like Dark Jawn and Slow Jamz. Customers can order photo-worthy lattes adorned with a matcha powder Nike hightop or grab-and-go offerings like the LeBronald Palmer, a blend of coffee, lemonade, and sweet tea.

Lovely Rita, the ground floor restaurant in the Hoxton, is worth a stop for a morning latte or an after-work martini, even if not staying at the hotel. Currently, the rambling space, lit by big picture windows, serves as a cafe during the day (laptops welcome) then turns more bar-like during the evening, with live music and small bites like charcuterie plates and panini. The hotel is also home to a sneaky speakeasy-like bar and a rooftop taqueria.

Helmed by chef and owner Job Martinez, who perfected his craft at notable sushi bars around the city, Kaizen is a notch above most neighborhood options. Take a seat inside the airy bilevel space — or at the counter — and try some of the traditional nigiri made from fish flown from Japan or sample one of the more creative rolls with names like Keep Portland Weird. Don’t miss one of dishes that bear the chef’s personal stamp, like the mixed seafood ceviche that uses heirloom tomatoes and jalapeño ponzu, garnished with cilantro.

Popular ramen chain Afuri is the place for a bowl of yuzu shio ramen, but don’t miss out on the dumplings and small plates like the soft shell crab bun, crisp karaage, and seasonal specials like a watermelon salad seasoned with shichimi pepper and nori. Pair the Japanese food with one of nuanced sakes from an extensive list — or even try a flight of two-ounce pours.

This eye-catching waterfront restaurant with a menu that hopscotches around South America is a popular choice for its happy hour, featuring snacks like brisket empanadas or spicy tuna tiradito, as well as grilled mains like Nikkei-style kalbi beef short ribs and Peruvian roasted chicken with sweet potatoes and salsa criolla. Lechon also has a full vegetarian menu, a rarity for this generally meat-centric cuisine.