Doing Portland Right
If you're drinking coffee at Starbucks or beer at Rock Bottom, you're doing it wrong. :-)
There's a saying that no matter where you're at in Portland, you're always within walking distance of a microbrew pub, a coffee shop, and a bookstore. (... and also a strip bar, but let's not get into that right now) There also a good chance that those pubs, coffee shops, and bookstores have free WiFi. Do yourself a favor, skip the chains and check out some of what makes Portland, Portland. Here are just a sprinkling of the dozens and dozens we have to offer. Check 'em out, or pick a neighborhood, wander a bit and see what you find.
Luke Kanies has also provided a map of great places to go in Portland.
Coffee
Stumptown
128 SW 3rd Ave. (Downtown)
Stumptown are Portland's biggest roaster. The coffee is good, though a bit on the heavy side for some people. They have several coffee shops around town. The closest one is downtown just off the MAX line (Red, Yellow or Blue). If you're not in the mood for coffee they also serve beer and wine.
A lot of the other coffee shops around town also serve Stumptown coffee.
World Cup
http://www.worldcupcoffee.com/
721 9th Ave, inside the EcoTrust building (Pearl District)
NW 18th & Glisan (Northwest District)
World Cup is a local roaster with a few shops downtown. The coffee is good, albeit mellow as is the ambiance. Unlike a lot of the other local coffee shops there is virtually no hipster vibe. Some folks might appreciate the clean, quiet atmosphere. Others might find it a bit sterile. World Cup also run the cafe inside Powell's City of Books (NW 10th & Burnside, Downtown).
Albina Press
4637 N. Albina Ave (Mississippi Area)
5012 SE Hawthorne Blvd (Hawthorne District)
"Albina Press is as close to coffee nirvana as you will come in Portland"(http://www.portlandfoodanddrink.com/?p=49) or so says one local reviewer. They take their coffee seriously at The Albina Press, sometimes overly so. Even with all the earnestness, however, these are my favorite coffee spots in town. Stumptown coffee. Of course, they have free WiFi.
Backspace
115 NW 5th Ave (Old Town)
Backspace is a gamer focused, café, gallery and "techno playground" located in Old Town, just across the river from the convention center. Coffee isn't their main focus (and it shows), but the WiFi is free and Ground Kontrol is right around the corner. They use Stumptown coffee.
Beer & Other Libations
Bridgeport
http://www.bridgeportbrew.com/#/brewpub/
NW 13th & Marshall (Pearl District)
Located in the Pearl district, just across the river from the convention center, the pub has adopted a bit of a yuppie vibe as the neighborhood around it evolved from abandoned-industrial to übertrendy. The beer is still great, though. In my opinion, Bridgeport brew some of the best beer in Portland (or anywhere for that matter). Bridgeport also run an ale house in the Hawthorne district.
Rogue
http://www.rogue.com/locations-portland.html
NW 13th & Flanders (Pearl District)
Another of Oregon's great brewers (and now distillers), Rogue have several great brews and spirits to check out.
Tugboat
http://www.d2m.com/Tugwebsite/
711 SW Ankeny St. (Downtown)
Tugboat puts the "micro" in microbrewery, but they have some damn tasty brews. They're tucked away downtown just off Broadway.
Full Sail
http://www.fullsailbrewing.com
307 SW Montgomery (Downtown)
Yet another long-time Oregon brewer, this pub is downtown, just a short walk from the MAX.
The Lucky Lab
915 SE Hawthorne (Southeast)
1945 NW Quimby (Northwest)
Good beer. No attitude. Free WiFi. A geek favorite and host to the monthly werewolf gathering.
Green Dragon
http://www.pdxgreendragon.com/home
928 SE 9th St. (Southeast)
The Green Dragon is another geek favorite. They have lots of beer selections, very tasty homemade gin & vodka, and good grub. Of course, they also have free WiFi. Within easy walking distance of FreeGeek and FOSCON (CubeSpace).
Widmer
http://www.widmer.com/gasthaus.aspx
929 N. Russell (Just north of the Rose Garden)
Widmer brew a very popular hefeweisen and several other brews. The pub is located just off the MAX yellow line, just one stop ("Albina/Mississippi") north of the Rose Garden.
Good Eats
The Farm Café
10 SE 7th Ave. (7th & E. Burnside)
(503)736-FARM
If you like your food wholesome, organic, and gourmet, this is your restaurant. Located just a couple blocks down the street from the Jupiter Hotel (site of the SourceForge Awards) and the Bossanova (Beerforge).
Pambiche
2811 NE Glisan (Northeast)
(503) 233-0495
Excellent Cuban food. The plato cubano is so good it could spark a revolución. When you're done with dinner stroll down 28th and enjoy some gelato and donuts at Staccato Gelato, then grab a pint and a movie at the Laurelwood Pub Theater.
Bombay Cricket Club
http://www.bombaycricketclubrestaurant.com/
1925 SE Hawthorne Blvd. (Southeast)
(503) 231-0740
The tastiest Indian food in town, period. Can be very busy. Reservations are a good idea.
Café Mingo
807 NW 21st Ave. (Northwest District)
(503) 226-4646
Amazingly good Italian food with an eclectic flair.
Milo's City Cafe
http://miloscitycafe.com/default.aspx
1325 NE Broadway (Irvington District)
503 288 MILO
Just a short walk from the Double Tree, Milos's is a great place for breakfast. Try one of their varieties of eggs benedict.
The Tin Shed
http://www.yelp.com/biz/tin-shed-portland
1438 NE Alberta St (Alberta District)
503 288 6966
Yummy! Possibly the best breakfast in town. Expect a wait of 30 minutes or more on the weekends, unless you get there early. Alberta is a bit of a hike from the convention center, but worth it! Take a cab or hitch a ride with a local.
Karam Lebanese Cuisine
http://www.karamrestaurant.com/
316 SW Stark St. (Downtownish), close to Stark MAX stop
503 223-0830
There are lots of Lebanese restaurants in Portland: this one's very good.
Nightlife
see Nightlife
