We turn our backs for 5 minutes and Portland conjures up a whole new coolness. Recently, we re-familiarized ourselves with the Land of Ports and have returned to saturate the BUILDblog with a handful of pleasant surprises. Not only is good design ubiquitous in Portland, but there’s a new aesthetic coming into being. It’s modern and gritty; it re-uses the timeless elements from the past and combines them with innovations of the present. It’s designed and unique but not self-conscious or exclusive. Check these joints out and let us know what we missed. Many more on The Modern List Portland.
HOTELS
Ace Hotel, 1022 SW Stark Str, 503.228.2277
The recent remodel by Atelier Ace (Ace Hotel’s design studio) turned the previous Clyde hotel into bohemian aesthetic that makes modern use of found objects. The individual rooms do a nice job of displaying the work of many northwest artists.
Photo by labutle and neighborhood notes pdx
Nines Hotel, The, 525 Southwest Morrison St, 877.229.9995
More refined, but still edgy and eclectic is the Nines Hotel.
Photo courtesy of The Nines
COFFEE SHOPS
Crema Coffee & Bakery, 2728 SE Ankeny St, 503.234.0206
We like uncluttered, light filled coffee shops and Crema takes it to the next level with huge garage doors that are opened up for nice weather.
Photo by Raymond Brigleb
Extracto Coffee House, 2921 NE Killingsworth St, 503.281.1764
Clean and simple with a focus on good beans.
Photo by Gridplane
Stumptown Coffee Roasters, 1026 SW Stark, 503.224.9060
Conveniently located in the Ace Hotel building, Stumptown carries the shabby chic aesthetic seamlessly from the Ace’s lobby into the cafe.
Photo courtesy of Stumptown
BRUNCH | LUNCH
Kenny & Zukes, 1038 SW Stark St, 503.222.3354
Also located in the Ace Hotel building, Kenny & Zukes serves up a phenomenal brunch and makes it all the more difficult to leave the building.
Photo by vj_pdx
DINNER
Carlyle, 1632 NW Thurman, 503.595.1782
The glowing bar attracted us like moths to a flame…
Photo by Alphabetofrestaurants
Bluehour, 250 NW 13th Ave, 503.226.3394
Located in the uber cool Wieden & Kennedy building designed by Allied Works this restaurant is a mecca for the design conscious.
Photo by Basil Childers, Courtesy of Bluehour
Clyde Common, 1014 SW Stark St, 503.228.3333
Well designed, warm and familiar this restaurant and bar has its big city on. We found the staff to be sharp and the clientelle to be friendly and approachable – strangers actually talk to one another at the bar. The bar tenders are professionals here and we were served a stellar Old Fashioned – even the ice cubes were well designed.
Photo by neighborhood notes pdx
Navarre, 10 NE 28th, 503.232.3555
This is the little French farmhouse we all want in our neighborhood. Big family style tables who’s stains and chips tell the stories of previous gatherings. Earthy, well prepared food and a staff who knows what they’re talking about.
Photo by cafemama
Silk Vietnamese Restaurant & Bar, 1012 NW Glisan, 503.248.2172
Photo by drburtoni
DRINKS
Living Room Theaters, 341 SW 10th Ave, 971.222.2010
A good concept in a updated space next to the theater makes for classy pre and post show drinks.
Photo by joeywan
Nines Hotel Lounge, The 525 Southwest Morrison St, 877.229.9995
Photo courtesy of The Nines
BUILDINGS
937 Condominiums, 937 NW Glisan, by Holst Architecture
Keep your eyes on Holst Architecture – they’re doing some nice work and we have a feeling they’ll be popping up on the radar more often.
Photos courtesy of Holst Architecture
SunRose Condominiums, SE 28th Ave & Burnside, by Holst Architecture
Still under construction this project looks to be shaping up nicely. A modest scale, this modern condominium project is located in a fantastic neighborhood.
Rendering courtesy of Holst Architecture
OTHER
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, 3685 NE Three Mile Ln, McMinnville, 503.434.4185
If you’re half the design geek that we are you’ll feel a chill up your spine when you see the Hughes H-4 Hercules with your own eyes. With the largest wingspan and height of any aircraft ever built the “Spruce Goose” is the largest sea-plane in history. The nickname is derived from its wood construction (both frame and skin) due to wartime restrictions on the use of aluminum. The Museum houses the Goose along with dozens of other important aircraft that, unfortunately, all seem insignificant and muddled in the presence of one of the most phenomenal design-build projects on the planet.
Photo by BUILD LLC