Unique Dining Nearby

Treat Your Sweetheart On Valentine’s Day

Portland, OR – Impress your valentine this year with dinner at a truly unique restaurant in Portland. Here are some of our favorites on the Eastside (okay, one is on the west side of the Willamette, but we still love it). These standout spots are all close to Hotel Eastlund and the Oregon Convention Center.

And, once the highly anticipated Hotel Eastlund opens in late-spring, you’ll definitely want to check out our rooftop restaurant Altabira City Tavern, with a spectacular view of the Portland skyline, and our lobby-level bakery/cafe/wine bar Citizen Baker. Until then, here are our suggestions to celebrate your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day:

Toro Bravo – 120 NE Russell – Toro Bravo specializes in Spanish small plates. Who doesn’t love tapas? If you forgot to make a Valentine’s Day reservation, we suggest you try your luck with Toro Bravo as they only accept reservations for parties of seven or more.

Nicholas Restaurant – 318 SE Grand – Enjoy exotic eats at a surprisingly affordable price from a Mediterranean menu that leans toward Lebanese influences. Nicholas restaurant also has a second location that’s not far away on NE Broadway near 33rd.

Acadia – 1303 NE Fremont – This intimate bistro conjures the distinct Cajun and Creole spirit of New Orleans. Take your tastebuds on a trip to the Big Easy. And, if you can’t make it on V-Day, you can always try Carnaval Mystique on Sunday, February 15.

Ox – 2225 NE Martin Luther King Jr. – The simple designation reflects this restaurant’s robust Argentinean menu, with a bounty of grilled meats flavored by a wood fire. You will also find delectable desserts, as well as seasonal fish and vegetables.

Laurelhurst Market – 3155 E Burnside – Located near Moda Center, this E. Burnside staple is a first-class butcher shop by day and fine steakhouse at night. Winner of Bon Appetit’s 10 Best New Restaurants in 2010, Laurelhurst Market continues to impress PDX.

Le Pigeon – 738 E Burnside – Farther down Burnside (closer to the Willamette River), this French-inspired establishment features a cool chef’s counter that wraps around the open kitchen. You can also visit their sister restaurant, Little Bird, at 215 SW 6th Ave.

Andina – 1314 NW Gilsan – We can’t resist mentioning a charming Peruvian place in the Pearl District, just across the Steel Bridge from Hotel Eastlund. Known as, “A Taste of Peru in the Pearl,” Andina takes traditional South American cuisine to the level of fine art.

And, for the morning after, we highly recommend breakfast at Doug Fir Lounge – 830 E. Burnside – The famed live-music venue offers a truly delicious breakfast menu every day until 3pm. Fire pits on the patio provide a soothing backdrop for you to wallow in the afterglow of a perfect Valentine’s Day.

So much romance, so little time…

Hotel Eastlund is the newest and finest luxury boutique hotel in downtown Portland’s Eastside, just across from the Oregon Convention Center. Whether you are in Portland for business or pleasure, Hotel Eastlund extends comfort and class with Northwest hospitality- opening May 2015.