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Walkable Downtown Dining Map for Icon8 Attendees

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Hey there, ICON attendees: In less than a month, Portland will be thrilled to welcome you artists, illustrators, and creative folks to our fair city, which (as you may have heard) happens to be really, really into its food and drink. So for those looking to walk their way through the festival, here are Eater PDX's recommended downtown dining options, from morning coffee through late-night, all curated around the official ICON 8 hotel (the Benson #1) and PNCA (map point #2). Need more dining suggestions for elsewhere around Portland? Click through and scroll down for those, too.


Need more dining suggestions? May we humbly suggest perusing:
· Eater's 38 Essential Portland Restaurants
· The Eater PDX HeatMap: What's Hot Now
· The Eater PDX Booze Map: Where to Drink Now
· 21 of Portland's Must-Have Food Cart Dishes
· A Guide to Portland's 20 Best Coffeehouses and Roasters

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The Benson Hotel

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PNCA (Pacific Northwest College of Art)

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COFFEE: Courier Coffee

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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]

COFFEE: Barista

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Portland's Barista has been credited with spearheading the "multi-roaster" cafe model: Instead of remaining loyal to one roaster, Billy Wilson's shop highlights a menu of constantly changing, lovely curated roasts from different purveyors. And the pastry case is stocked with treats from the east side's buzzy Roman Candle Baking Co. (owned by Stumptown founder Duane Sorenson); if the lemonseed poppy cake is on offer, grab one. [Photo]

COFFEE: Stumptown Coffee Roasters

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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]

LUNCH: Nong's Khao Man Gai

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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]

LUNCH: Lardo West

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Rick Gencarelli's Lardo joins an impressive local tradition of quality sandwich-making. In the vein of the Bunks and Meat Cheese Breads before, the spot elevates what can be accomplished between two slices of bread, resulting in dripping, satisfying pork meatball banh mis, grilled mortadella sandwiches, and arguably one of the city's best plate of "dirty" French fries.

LUNCH: Lovejoy Bakers

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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]

LUNCH: Grassa

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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.

BRUNCH: Clyde Common

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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.

HAPPY HOUR: Imperial

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The bar at downtown's Imperial is always worth making a trip for Brandon Wise's on-tap craft cocktails. But during happy hour, they're an unbeatable deal: $5 each, best paired with a $3 basket of fries.

HAPPY HOUR: The Parish

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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.

HAPPY HOUR: Bailey's Taproom

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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]

DINNER: Boxer Ramen

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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.

DINNER: Tasty 'N Alder

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John Gorham's downtown Tasty N Alder riffs on his super-popular brunch spot Tasty N Sons, and it provides a heavier focus on "steakhouse fare" in the evenings. But it's a steakhouse done Gorham-style, meaning global influences expertly collide: you can get a strip steak done bulgogi-style with a side of plancha duck breast and/or Brazilian fish stew.

DINNER: Oven & Shaker

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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.

LATE NIGHT: Little Bird Bistro

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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.

LATE NIGHT: Low Brow Lounge

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The Lowbrow is the closest thing the tony Pearl District has to a "dive," with a decent taplist, great deep-fried snacks, and a $3 gem that's affectionately known as a "crack pretzel" (it's a soft pretzel stuffed with jalepeno cheese, and it's indeed addictive). [Photo]

LATE NIGHT: Cassidy's

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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]

The Benson Hotel

PNCA (Pacific Northwest College of Art)

COFFEE: Courier Coffee

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]

COFFEE: Barista

Portland's Barista has been credited with spearheading the "multi-roaster" cafe model: Instead of remaining loyal to one roaster, Billy Wilson's shop highlights a menu of constantly changing, lovely curated roasts from different purveyors. And the pastry case is stocked with treats from the east side's buzzy Roman Candle Baking Co. (owned by Stumptown founder Duane Sorenson); if the lemonseed poppy cake is on offer, grab one. [Photo]

COFFEE: Stumptown Coffee Roasters

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]

LUNCH: Nong's Khao Man Gai

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]

LUNCH: Lardo West

Rick Gencarelli's Lardo joins an impressive local tradition of quality sandwich-making. In the vein of the Bunks and Meat Cheese Breads before, the spot elevates what can be accomplished between two slices of bread, resulting in dripping, satisfying pork meatball banh mis, grilled mortadella sandwiches, and arguably one of the city's best plate of "dirty" French fries.

LUNCH: Lovejoy Bakers

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]

LUNCH: Grassa

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.

BRUNCH: Clyde Common

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.

HAPPY HOUR: Imperial

The bar at downtown's Imperial is always worth making a trip for Brandon Wise's on-tap craft cocktails. But during happy hour, they're an unbeatable deal: $5 each, best paired with a $3 basket of fries.

HAPPY HOUR: The Parish

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.

HAPPY HOUR: Bailey's Taproom

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]

DINNER: Boxer Ramen

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.

DINNER: Tasty 'N Alder

John Gorham's downtown Tasty N Alder riffs on his super-popular brunch spot Tasty N Sons, and it provides a heavier focus on "steakhouse fare" in the evenings. But it's a steakhouse done Gorham-style, meaning global influences expertly collide: you can get a strip steak done bulgogi-style with a side of plancha duck breast and/or Brazilian fish stew.

Related Maps

DINNER: Oven & Shaker

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.

LATE NIGHT: Little Bird Bistro

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.

LATE NIGHT: Low Brow Lounge

The Lowbrow is the closest thing the tony Pearl District has to a "dive," with a decent taplist, great deep-fried snacks, and a $3 gem that's affectionately known as a "crack pretzel" (it's a soft pretzel stuffed with jalepeno cheese, and it's indeed addictive). [Photo]

LATE NIGHT: Cassidy's

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]

Related Maps