One of Portland's most fiercely independent coffee house famously roasts its own, plays records at the bar, and delivers to wholesale accounts by bicycle. Take your pick of pour-over from the daily menu before trekking further downtown (FYI: there's very limited seating, so grab that cup to-go). [Photo]

You already knew about Portland's Stumptown, and if a pilgrimage is in order, its location in the Ace Hotel is conveniently in between the Benson Hotel and PNCA. Take your cup to the lobby of the Ace and enjoy its comfortable couches and great people-watching. [Photo]

Count this one as a must-visit. Downtown's beloved Nong's Khao Man Gai cart serves only one dish (poached chicken with rice and a simple broth), but it's as deeply soul-satisfying as any dish in Portland. Bonus points for its simplicity and its supposed hangover-curing qualities. [Photo]

For breakfast or lunch close to the PNCA campus, Lovejoy Bakers makes a killer breakfast sandwich (the Lovejoy Deluxe, with fried egg, blue cheese, and bacon) and solid cafe sandwiches and soups. Lines can be long — it's a favorite among neighborhood worker bees — but if you have time to linger, grab a seat at the large outdoor patio and watch the Pearl walk by. [Photo]

This casual, counter-service restaurant is the cousin of next-door sandwich shop Lardo, swapping the sandwich-bread carbs to nod at chef Rick Gencarelli's Italian roots. All pastas are crafted in-house highlighting comforting combinations: radiatore with spicy braised chicken, cacio de pepe with grana padano, pepper, and truffle butter.

The versatile Clyde Common would also be a solid bet for lunch, dinner, happy hour, and late-night cocktails. But Clyde is best utilized as downtown's no-wait weekend brunch, offering a hearty and savory menu that's best described as an upscale lumberjack breakfast.

Oyster fans, take note: The Southern-influenced Parish shucks several Pacific Northwest oysters (Netarts, Kumamotos), serving them up three-for-$4 during happy hour (2p.m.-5p.m.). Pair your dozen with a $2 mini-pour of Trumer Pils.

Downtown's best taplist lives at Bailey's Taproom: its 24 rotating beers (mostly, but not all, from Oregon) are monitored via digital menu board. And though there are no specific happy hour specials per se, the bar opens at 2p.m. for daytime drinking at your own pace. [Photo]

Warning one: This is definitely not your authentic Japanese ramen. Boxer Ramen adds an unexpected edge to its bowls of noodle soup, going heavy on spice and umami (its spicy miso ramen features chilis and Parmesan), while sides playfully mash-up cultures (tater tots are topped with bonito and okonomiyaki sauce). Warning two: It's cash only.

This bustling restaurant — by six-time James Beard Award nominee Cathy Whims — fires up Neapolitan-style pizzas both traditional and experimental: from the simple Margherita to the spicy salami with provolone and a drizzle of honey. The Nostrana salad, borrowed from Whims' east side restaurant, is one of the city's best.

Open until midnight, the more traditional bistro by Le Pigeon's Gabe Rucker and chef Erik Van Kley offers a limited evening menu designed to appeal to every need. For light eaters, there are salads, smoked trout, and a Jambon de Paris and gruyère; the famished can indulge in chicken-fried trout AND hanger steak. Want just wine and dessert? There's that, too.

This casual "bartender's hangout" earns that designation for staying open until 2a.m. daily, serving a hearty late-night menu to help soak up all those classic cocktails. [Photo]