13 Cool Hotels in Portland Oregon in 2025 (By a Local)
LOOKING FOR COOL AND UNIQUE HOTELS IN PORTLAND OREGON?
You’ve come to the right place—I promise. Having grown up just outside Portland and lived in the city for over six years, I’ve been to all the best hotels.
Whether you’re visiting for a foodie adventure, an art-filled weekend, work, or to soak up the city’s unique vibe, where you stay can enhance your experience. That’s why I’ve curated this list of cool hotels in Portland, Oregon.
Every hotel on this list stands out for its unique amenities, design, or Portland-style quirkiness. Most also feature fantastic on-site restaurants and bars, making them not just places to sleep but destinations in themselves.
CASCADA Thermal Springs & Spa
✔️ Underground thermal springs & sauna
✔️ Sustainable luxury, healthy dining
What Makes a Hotel “Cool” in Portland?
When I say a hotel is “cool” in Portland, I mean it has something unique—whether it’s a quirky vibe, memorable design, or a distinctive feature.
Every hotel I recommend is nice (I’m picky), but the ones on this list are both nice and cool. In other words, they have personality and character and offer something beyond the typical hotel experience.
13 Cool Hotels in Portland, Oregon
From bold designs and playful themes to unexpected amenities, these are the best hotels in Portland, Oregon that offer a truly unique stay.
To make it easy to find the perfect spot, I’ve organized my recommendations by Portland’s four quadrants—NE, SE, SW, and NW—so you can easily choose a hotel based on your preferred location. The Willamette is the east and west divide and Burnside Street is the north and south divide.
Cool Hotels in Northeast Portland, Oregon
I lived in northeast Portland for four years; it was my favorite place I lived in Portland. It’s a mix of charming neighborhoods, parks, and eclectic boutiques, and it’s easily walkable with a high concentration of restaurants and cafes.
Home to the Alberta Arts District and Mississippi Avenue—two of the best streets for shopping, dining, and socializing—NE Portland offers a distinctly local vibe.
Until recently, hotel options were limited, but now there are a few great choices that put you right in the heart of Portland’s creative scene.
1. CASCADA Thermal Springs and Spa [NEW!]
⭐ REVIEWS: 8/10 | 📍 LOCATION: 1150 NE Alberta St. | 💳 BOOK NOW
Best For: This hotel is perfect for anyone traveling (for work or pleasure) who values daily wellness activities, nourishing food, and sustainable luxury.
Unique Amenity or Feature: Underground thermal springs and secret garden
CASCADA is a wonderful hotel on its own. It’s brand new and, in my opinion, is in one of the best areas of Portland. But the BEST PART of this hotel is hands down the underground thermal springs.
I spent 2.5 hours in the underground wellness space, bopping between the 20-person sauna, the cold plunge, and various vitality pools. It was heaven.
Every room at CASCADA has a balcony, natural bedding, a kitchenette, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, a washer/dryer, dedicated workspaces, and automated blackout curtains.
If you are looking for the perfect place to recharge between adventures, or treat yourself to a wellness staycation, CASCADA is your place.
2. McMenamins Kennedy School
⭐ REVIEWS: 8.9/10 | 📍 LOCATION: 5736 NE 33rd Ave. | 💳 BOOK NOW
Best For: Quirky stays and history enthusiasts.
Unique Amenity or Feature: A soaking pool, multiple bars, and a movie theater.
The Kennedy School used to be an elementary school and McMenamins honors its roots by decorating rooms like classrooms or themed around different authors.
Each room is spacious with an eclectic, vintage vibe and features original artwork and historical photos of Portland.
I lived just a few blocks from this hotel and the area is nice. It is neighborhoody and close to a great grocery store, and just a few blocks away from historic Alberta Street – bumping with shops, restaurants, and cafes.
4. KEX Hotel
⭐ REVIEWS: 8.4/10 | 📍 LOCATION: 100 NE MLK Jr. Blvd. | 💳 BOOK NOW
Best For: Social travelers and design lovers.
Unique Amenity or Feature: Hostel and hotel, Scandinavian-inspired design, sauna, and 15% off to Knot Springs (wellness social club across the street)
KEX Hotel is a stylish hybrid of hostel and boutique hotel in Portland offering several different room options; all of which are beautiful. I’ve paid many visits to their restaurant/bar and their neighboring wellness partner.
KEX has one other location (the original location) in Iceland and has a cool startup story. Both spaces are design-focused and aim to create social spaces where people can meet, hang, and enjoy good food and music.
Bathing culture is big in Iceland so KEX has a sauna for all guests to enjoy AND they partner with Knot Springs to offer 15% off your visit. Enjoying the springs (tubs, cold plunges, sauna, etc.) is the perfect way to end a day of exploring.
The other great thing about KEX is that it has another fabulous bar in Portland: Pacific Standard. The bartender who runs the place is a Portland legend. If you are there during the holidays you have to try the world-famous egg nog!
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Cool Hotels in Central/Southeast Portland Oregon
Central Eastside is a dynamic mix of industrial grit and creative energy, packed with restaurants, breweries, and indie shops. This area offers a cool, urban vibe with easy access to downtown and the waterfront.
Southeast Portland is laid-back and eclectic, known for its vintage shops, food carts, and artsy neighborhoods like Hawthorne and Division. It’s the perfect spot for a more local and offbeat Portland experience.
3. Jupiter NEXT – Boutique Hotel in Central Eastside
⭐ REVIEWS: 8.4/10 | 📍 LOCATION: 900 E Burnside St. | 💳 BOOK NOW
Best For: Nightlife, art enthusiasts, and proximity to everything
Unique Amenity or Feature: One of Portland’s best bars!
Jupiter NEXT has an elevated urban vibe and is one of Portland’s coolest hotels. It’s located in the central eastside and has easy access to downtown, the convention center, and many many restaurants, bars, and shops.
My favorite thing about Jupiter NEXT is its hotel bar; it’s one of the best bars in Portland (and that’s saying a lot!). Hey Love is a cocktail lounge with great food (esp. brunch) and ambiance. It’s covered in plants and has DJs in the evening.
Jupiter NEXT also used to be attached to my favorite music venue in Portland (Doug Fir) which was sadly closed this past year. Cie la vie.
The hotel is fairly new and the rooms are modern and artsy. This is a great hotel selection if you want to be in the heart of what’s happening.
I lived just a few blocks from this hotel and the area is nice. It is neighborhoody and close to a great grocery store, and just a few blocks away from historic Alberta Street – bumping with shops, restaurants, and cafes.
5. Hotel Grand Stark
⭐ REVIEWS: 8.4/10 | 📍 LOCATION: 1509 SE Grand Ave. | 💳 BOOK NOW
Best For: Design enthusiasts, solo travelers, and couples seeking a unique stay in a trendy neighborhood
Unique Amenity or Feature: Beautifully restored interiors with mid-century design elements, a cozy lobby bar (hidden gem)
Hotel Grand Stark is a boutique hotel that puts forward a more elevated version of Portland’s quirky and vintage charm. The building is a restored historic building and its design pays homage to the neighborhood’s history.
Its proximity to eclectic shops, craft breweries, and art galleries makes it ideal for anyone looking to immerse themselves in Portland’s creative scene.
The hotel restaurant (Grand Amari) and bar (Little Bitter Bar) offer spaces to connect and enjoy local cuisine (inspired by Italy). In my opinion, Little Bitter Bar is one of the city’s hidden gems serving craft cocktails and aperitifs.
Cool Hotels in Southwest Portland
Southwest Portland encompasses a diverse area that offers a mix of urban attractions and green spaces. It’s home to landmarks like the Portland Art Museum, the International Rose Test Garden, and Washington Park.
Downtown Portland is split between NW and SW, so it encompasses a lot of what typically comes with proximity to downtowns (the good and the bad).
You’ll have easy access to boutique shops, amazing dining, and famous landmarks if you stay in central SW, and quieter, more residential vibes in some neighborhoods in southern SW.
6. The Nines
⭐ REVIEWS: 8.4/10 | 📍 LOCATION: 525 SW Morrison St. | 💳 BOOK NOW
Best For: Luxury seekers, city lovers
Unique Amenity or Feature: Rooftop terrace and impeccable interior design
This Nines is located in the heart of downtown Portland. It’s one of the nicest hotels in Portland and often accommodates high-profile speakers, athletes, artists, and several of my friends on their wedding nights – haha!
Aside from its luxurious rooms and top-tier service, its most unique feature is its rooftop terrace. Departure is an elegant lounge serving Pan Asian cuisine with panoramic views of the city from the deck.
The Nines is also home to Urban Farmer, a modern steakhouse with locations in Denver, Philadelphia, and Portland. If you want luxury with a city feel this is the place for you!
7. The Woodlark
⭐ REVIEWS: 8.6/10 | 📍 LOCATION: 813 SW Alder St. | 💳 BOOK NOW
Best For: Travelers seeking an upscale boutique hotel experience, couples, solo travelers, and professionals
Unique Amenity or Feature: Unique dining and coffee experiences (Abigail Hall, Bullard Tavern, and Roseline Coffee)
I used to work at this hotel! I was the event manager running conferences and dinner events and I can tell you this hotel is beautiful. It maintains its old charm and nods to its history but had a glamorous renovation.
With a green and white color palette, its botanical-inspired decor is warm and inviting. The rooms are well-designed and offer a hint of luxury.
The best part about this hotel is its downtown location and its dining options. You could spend your entire stay on-site, enjoying coffee and pastries from Roseline, lunch and dinner at Bullard, and craft cocktails at Abigail Hall.
Abigail Hall is housed in the original Ladies’ Reception Hall of the former Cornelius Hotel of 1908. The new design honors its feminine history with a chic design and some of the city’s best cocktails.
8. Sentinel Hotel
⭐ REVIEWS: 8.4/10 | 📍 LOCATION: 614 SW 11th Ave. | 💳 BOOK NOW
Best For: Travelers seeking historic grandeur and good food
Unique Amenity or Feature: Luxurious rooms in a historic building with modern amenities and a trendy restaurant and bar
This iconic downtown hotel is a favorite for upscale stays. It was named one of the top 10 best hotels in the Pacific Northwest by Conde Nast Traveler! We stayed here on NYE a couple of years ago.
The hotel building and rooms are truly beautiful and the fitness facility has Peloton bikes. Aside from being fancy, this hotel falls on the “cool” list for its bar – Fortune. On weekend nights you’ll likely find a line out the door.
It has great cocktails, vegan food, a large lounge, a dance floor, and sometimes live music. It’s super fun for a pre-dinner drink, a catch-up with friends, or a night on the dance floor. Sentinel is also home the Jake’s Grill – an iconic Portland staple restaurant.
9. Kimpton Hotel Vintage
⭐ REVIEWS: 8.4/10 | 📍 LOCATION: 422 SW Broadway | 💳 BOOK NOW
Best For: Wine lovers, couples, city lovers
Unique Amenity or Feature: Daily wine receptions and adult game lounge
The Kimpton Hotel Vintage is a super fun stay. It’s in a great location downtown, it’s design is rich and eclectic, and the staff are really nice.
I stayed here for my mom’s birthday one year and we had a great time. The rooms are cozy and sophisticated. The restaurant is cozy Italian and each night there is a wine reception for all guests.
Yoga mats and plants are provided in the rooms for a dose of wellness.
10. Hotel Zags
⭐ REVIEWS: 8.2/10 | 📍 LOCATION: 515 SW Clay St | 💳 BOOK NOW
Best For: Travelers who value a mix of urban adventure and outdoor fun; active travelers, families and groups, young professionals
Unique Amenity or Feature: Outdoor gear rentals and a courtyard oasis
Hotel Zags is nothing if not unique and FUN. Urban adventurerers and outdoor enthusiasts will love this hotel for it’s gear rental program and outdoor spaces.
The most unique thing about Hotel Zags is its gear shed – you can reserve anything from bikes and skateboards to cameras and outdoor backpacks. Equipment for urban and forest exploring.
Their on-site dining has an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients and they are super pet-friendly.
11. The Royal Sonesta (Previously Hotel Monaco)
⭐ REVIEWS: 8.5/10 | 📍 LOCATION: 506 SW Washington St. | 💳 BOOK NOW
Best For: Elegant stays, Portland first-timers
Unique Amenity or Feature: One of the most pet-friendly hotels, unique design
One weekend, my husband surprised me with a little staycation at The Royal Sonesta. He chose this hotel because of its incredible pet policy and service. They welcome dogs with open arms and even put beds and water bowls in your room!
This is a quintessential Portland hotel with its eclectic design (it feels like I walked into a mega-rich aunt’s house or something) and super friendly staff – and its proximity to so many downtown landmarks and activities.
One of my favorite things about this hotel is the wallpaper in the rooms 🙂
Cool Hotels in Northwest Portland
Northwest Portland encompasses several neighborhoods that offer very different experiences. The main ones are:
- Alphabet District & Slabtown: Picture old Victorian houses, bakeries, boutiques, European cafe vibes, and trees creating archways over the streets mixing with trendy restaurants and wellness centers.
- Pearl District: Picture industrial buildings housing marketing agencies, upscale cocktail lounges, art galleries, and expensive furniture stores and boutiques. It’s urban and artsy.
- Chinatown: This is where NW meets downtown. It’s a mix of historic buildings, restaurants, and nightlife venues that collide with Portland’s unhoused community and prominent drug-related issues.
Unfortunately, there are not a lot of hotels in northwest Portland that I would recommend in a post about “cool” hotels. That being said I do have two suggestions below.
12. The Hoxton
⭐ REVIEWS: 8.2/10 | 📍 LOCATION: 15 NW 4th Ave. | 💳 BOOK NOW
Best For: Perfect for those who value a central location, stylish accommodations, and access to Portland’s cultural and nightlife scenes; creative professionals, couples
Unique Amenity or Feature: Speakeasy and excellent dining
Like The Hoxton’s other locations (Williamsburg, Chicago, London, etc.) it features chic design (mid-century vibes) and prime food and bev. It has a speakeasy (2NW5) in the basement, and a bright industrial rooftop restaurant (Tope) serving food inspired by Mexico City. SO GOOD!
This area overlaps with Portland’s resources for the unhoused population so be prepared to encounter visible signs of the city’s struggles. If this does not concern you then this is a great hotel option.
13. Stay Portland Collection – The Charmante Suite
⭐ REVIEWS: 9.5/10 | 📍 LOCATION: 2309 NW Raleigh St. | 💳 BOOK NOW
There truly are no [good] hotels in the Alphabet/Slabtown areas (which is such a shame because it’s the most charming area in the city). But, there are a handful of more boutique-type stays like the Charmante Suite.
This luxury loft is located on 23rd Street – arguably the most iconic and charming street in Portland. Just outside your door, you will find boutique after boutique mixed with trendy restaurants and bars, pizza windows, and shops.
This would be an excellent home base for any type of visit to Portland, Oregon.
FAQ
For convenience and sightseeing, stay in Downtown or the Pearl District.
If you want a more local experience, opt for Central Eastside/Northeast. For charm and greenery, stay in Northwest Portland.
It can be! Downtown is very convenient and great for first-time visitors, business travelers, and those who like to walk everywhere.
2-3 days to see the highlights, 4-7 days to soak up different areas and the surrounding nature destinations (like the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood, remote Eastern Oregon, and the Oregon Coast).
The ideal time to visit is during the late spring through early fall (May to October).
Popular spots include Powell’s Books, the International Rose Test Garden, the Japanese Garden, Washington Park, Multnomah Falls/Columbia River Gorge, and the many amazing breweries, cafes, and restaurants.
Portland is known for its coffee culture, craft breweries, food trucks, quirky vibe, outdoor activities, and if I’m being honest…strip clubs.
Portland is generally safe, but like any city, it’s good to be mindful of your surroundings. Downtown and Old Town/Chinatown can have visible homelessness and drug use; exercise caution and situational awareness.
Downtown or the Pearl District is ideal for first-time visitors. For a local feel, try neighborhoods like Alberta, Hawthorne, or Northwest Portland.
Wrap-Up!
Portland is a city that thrives on individuality, and its hotels reflect that spirit.
There are so many unique places to stay in Portland from historic landmarks turned into boutique accommodations to more modern stays featuring local businesses, local artists, iconic restaurants or bars, or state-of-the-art wellness experiences.
The options are as diverse as the neighborhoods they’re in.
As a local, I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve stayed at any of these spots. Or do you have a favorite Portland hotel to recommend that isn’t on this list? Send me an email I’d love to hear about it!
