House of Welcome: Inside The Newly-Opened Woodlark Hotel In The Heart Of Downtown Portland

Located on Alder Street in the heart of downtown Portland, the newly opened Woodlark hotel is an oasis in the busy city. The property is a fusion of two buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Cornelius Hotel, nicknamed the “House of Welcome,” and the Woodlark Building, one of the city’s earliest skyscrapers. A 2018 renovation merged the two into a 150-room hotel designed to be iconically Portland. Curated collaborations with local artisans are interwoven throughout the property’s amenities, from botanical wallpaper inspired by the Oregon forests to a flower shop in the lobby. The sophisticated lobby is awash in natural light, welcoming guests with an inviting coffee bar during the day. In the evening, relax in the 40-seat living-room-style bar, with its fireplace, chandelier and historic design elements. More than 2,000 square feet of meeting space, with a street-level entrance on the hotel’s lower level, can accommodate intimate celebrations of as many as 60 seated guests. On-site catering is led by chef Doug Adams of Woodlark’s restaurant, Bullard, who was a finalist on Bravo’s Top Chef Goes to Boston.