Downtown Uplift

Four new boutique hotels in the heart of downtown Portland for guests who want to experience local flare in intimate, luxurious spaces

March 27, 2018

The AC Hotel Portland
888 SW Third Ave.

Vibe: Within walking distance to Portland’s Waterfront, the AC Hotel Portland is sleek and European. Minimalist decor and a neutral gray color palette create a spare, modern space that is punctuated with artwork by Oregon artists. Standout features: A “library” features a rotating selection of Portland-inspired books for you and your guests to peruse. Beer, wine and cocktails are served on draft, and coffee is brewed in a Steampunk brewing machine, the signature creation of Brooklyn-based Alpha Dominche. Event space: The AC Hotel’s largest meeting room is a bit small for most weddings at 670 square feet, but spokesperson Amber Evans says they could accommodate small wedding parties of 25–40 with an hour to flip the space from ceremony to reception. The AC Kitchen is the perfect spot for rehearsal dinners and morning-after brunches. Suites and guest rooms: The 13-story hotel offers 204 rooms, with blocks available at a 25–30 percent discount, depending on the number of rooms and the season. Each of the 12 corner king rooms can be connected to a queen/queen room to accommodate bridal parties. Food, drink and socializing: The hotel’s bar, the AC Lounge, serves Spanish-influenced small plates and offers a local Bull Run bourbon–based signature cocktail called The Rose City. AC’s coffee shop, The Slab, features blends curated by Portland-based Water Avenue Coffee. Breakfast is European style, with a spread that includes Spanish egg tarts, Iberico ham, French croissants and Nespresso coffee.

Dossier
750 SW Alder St.

Vibe: At Dossier, in the heart of downtown Portland, the goal is Old World luxury. The colors are lush, the materials are rich, and the art—by avant-garde artists Chris Levine, Tony Oursler and Slim Aarons—is provocative and sumptuous. The lobby’s herringbone marble tile floor is topped with antique Turkish rugs, and guests can relax on floral open armchairs, distressed leather club chairs or a sapphire-blue velvet couch. Standout features: Bridal parties staying at Dossier can take advantage of member rates at the spa and health club at Knot Springs, Portland’s social club for health and wellness. Brides can use the hotel’s house Range Rover to travel to an off-site venue and guests can borrow a Shinola bike for a ride around the city. Event space: Dossier’s largest event space is 1,252 square feet, making it a better fit for rehearsal dinners and post-wedding brunches than the main event, according to director of sales Michelle Navarro. The spaces seat 20–70 people, the chef will customize a menu, and wine is served on tap. Suites and guest rooms: The 19-story hotel offers 205 rooms that feature artwork by Slim Aarons, known for his iconic photographs of sun-splashed celebrities. Block-rate discounts are 10–20 percent, depending on the season. Food, drink and socializing: Opal, the hotel’s bar, has a cocktail menu curated by the popular Lightning Bar Collective (the group of bar managers behind a bevy of Portland’s hot spots for good eats and drink) and offers light, sharable food options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dossier’s restaurant, Omertà, offers fine Italian dining. Back in their rooms, guests can indulge in late-night munchies with Portland’s famous Salt & Straw ice cream delivered to their door.

Vibe: Located in the artistic Fountain District of downtown Portland, The Porter, one of Hilton’s Curio Collection hotels, offers a cozy, urban experience, great for couples looking for a venue with a modern aesthetic and plenty of personalized service. Standout features: The number of outdoor space offerings, both for events and socializing, set The Porter apart. The hotel also offers an on-site sauna, saline pool, steam room and open-air meditation spa. Event space: The Porter can accommodate weddings of 100-170 guests with more than 4,800 square feet of indoor event space. The versatile space offers floor to ceiling windows and opens to a 5,200-square foot outdoor terrace with plenty of lounge space, perfect for a ceremony or cocktail hour. Suites and guest rooms: The 16-story hotel offers 297 guest rooms and three suites, with blocks discounted at a rate of 5–20 percent, depending on the season. Guest rooms feature warm Calico walnut headboard with rich leather and sleek, modern furniture offering an inviting atmosphere with a modern, rustic appeal. Food, drink and socializing: Xport bar & lounge, the hotel’s rooftop experience, features small plates and craft cocktails and two outdoor dining decks with fire features. The restaurant, Terrane Italian Kitchen + Bar, has an open kitchen and grill and serves Italian-inspired American food.

Vibe: Housed in the historic 1910 Oregon Pioneer Building, the Hi-Lo blends highbrow service with “lowbrow,” laid-back vibes to create an “organic modern” style. The lobby—with its whimsical green velvet couches, tree-slab coffee tables and a swinging bench—draws on Oregon’s lush natural environment for inspiration. Standout features: Pioneer Millworks, out of McMinnville, Oregon, contributed reclaimed, 100-year-old barnwood paneling, which is used throughout the hotel. For a fee, a bartender will bring the hotel’s custom beverage cart to your room to make the hotel’s signature cocktail, Project Cinderella, or pour cider, wine or beer. Event space: The hotel’s largest event space is 1,191 square feet and can accommodate as many as 70 guests for a wedding ceremony and 60 for a reception, according to Julie Carreira, director of sales and marketing. Suites and guest rooms: The seven-story hotel offers 120 guest rooms, and block-rate discounts are 15 percent. Portland-based companies Pendleton Woolen Mills and Maak Lab created accent pillows and bath products,