Halloween turned out to be an auspicious day for the Rose City, when the Ritz-Carlton, Portland, opened its doors, the first of the brand in the Pacific Northwest. The new luxury hotel is a highlight among the many debuts and improvements that occurred in Oregon's largest city over the past year.
Accommodating guests
Offering 251 rooms and nearly 18,000 square feet of meeting space, the Ritz-Carlton pays homage to the state's noted wilderness with outdoor touches everywhere inside, starting with the lobby, called Forest Hall, and the cozy library next to it (above). The chefs at Bellpine, the signature restaurant, have partnered with local fishermen, purveyors and distillers to create a northwestern American menu. In the whimsically woodsy restaurant Meadowrue, small plates paired with local wines are served. Just opened in December is the Ritz-Carlton Spa, Portland, offering a dizzying number of treatment options.
Across the street from the Oregon Convention Center, the young, 600-room Hyatt Regency Portland got to open twice. Debuting in December 2019, it closed down immediately because of Covid, then reopened, essentially brand new, in 2021. The headquarters hotel features 39,000 square feet of meeting space, including the 11,800-square-foot Regency Ballroom and the 5,000-square-foot Deschutes Ballroom. Spoke & Fork, with its 55-foot granite bar, serves local brews and wines to pair with its menu of American fare.
Upgrades at the 331-room Nines, a Marriott Luxury Collection property, also bookended the pandemic. A full renovation was completed in 2018 at the hotel, which is housed in a building that originally opened in 1909. In the past couple of years, a number of refreshes have brought in new bedding and drapes, and upgraded the Wi-Fi. The rooftop Departure restaurant, serving modern Asian cuisine with a backdrop of city views, completed upgrades at the end of 2023. On the lobby level, the Nines offers another eatery, the Urban Farmer steak house, with menu and beverage programs featuring local and sustainable ingredients; the menu also is available in the hotel's Living Room lobby. For groups, there is 20,617 square feet of event space, including a 7,176-square-foot ballroom, 14 breakout rooms and the 1,450-square-foot Barrel Room, with a fireplace and a movable wine wall that divides the space into two smaller rooms.
Heading off-site
The Pearl District space that housed a super-popular eatery and bar called Bluehour has been taken over with panache by Janken, a Japanese and Korean fusion restaurant. Highly crafted cocktails start the evening (like the Pineapple Express: grilled pineapple–infused mezcal mixed with cointreau, cane syrup, cardamom bitters and lemon juice), and every dish on the extensive menu — described in minimalist language — is a treat. Among the many highlights are spicy edamame, salmon tacos and cripsy tofu salad, wagyu gyoza, Korean fried chicken, crispy prawns and more.
Another recently debuted establishment in Southeast Portland, Kann — where "Haitian cuisine meets Pacific Northwest bounty" — was named a James Beard best new restaurant for 2023. Chef Gregory Gourdet's mission for the spot is sustainability, from sourcing and the environmental impact of its operations to his team's quality of life. Recently on the winter menu were lightly cured kampachi (yellowtail) with pickled jicama and smoked coconut milk; Haitian Independence soup joumou, with squash, turnip, chicken, epis, potato and dumplings; and scallops with crunchy nut and chili oil in creamy pepper-plantain sauce.
In Portland's west hills, groups can get a fine wine tasting at the 12-acre Amaterra Winery, which brings the Willamette Valley vineyard experience into the city. The venue overlooks Portland, and features both indoor and outdoor options, from the intimate Treehouse, which is available seasonally and hosts 16 for dinner; to the 7,700-square-foot Skyline ballroom, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a built-in bar, access to a terrace, an outdoor fire table with lounge seating, and an outdoor fireplace with lounge seating.
A twist on the usual lounge option, and the first of its kind, the Sports Bra is dedicated solely to women's sports, particularly the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League. The bar holds up to 50 for an event (40 seated) and serves traditional pub fare alongside vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options. Beer isn't all that can quench a thirst: There's a menu of specialty cocktails, including the Title IX (bourbon, peach liqueur, simple syrup and mint) and zero-proof concoctions, such as the Point, Set, Match (Pathfinder hemp and root spirit, lime and balsamic strawberry with a cherry garnish).
Valley visiting
Outside of the city, more than 700 wineries speckle the map of the Willamette Valley, many with tasting rooms and event spaces for gatherings small and large. Pinot noirs are the most cultivated grapes in the region, making up 59 percent of the state's planted acres, according to the Oregon Wine Board.
On the intimate side, Durant Vineyards and Olive Mill welcomes groups of about 20 guests in its rustic tasting room, laying out smooth pinot noirs from various years and buttery chardonnays. As the name notes, oils from the property's own olive trees are for sale in nuovo, extra virgin and infused varieties, alongside vinegars, salts and herbs.
Set on a hillside that channels an Italian vineyard, Stoller Family Estate hosts groups of up to 250 people for a reception and 150 for a dinner in its airy, light-filled venues, with views out to the vines. The outdoor options welcome up to 400 people when the weather is right. The winery produces a host of vintages, from the Willamette Valley pinot noir to sparkling bruts, rosés, chardonnays, syrahs and more.
Easier airlift
A new terminal is coming to Portland International Airport in 2025, and the existing facility is being reimagined. Aiming to make the airport more environmentally friendly, the new main terminal is being designed to feel like a walk through the forest, overcanopied by a wood-lattice ceiling; the airy space will be full of leafy foliage and live trees. The ticketing and lobby areas will nearly double in size. Lots of natural light will flood in, through a host of skylights.
