Portland, Oregon, is a hipster's heaven. Dive bars and quirky restaurants abound in this Northwest hub, as do indie films, offbeat art and vintage clothing shops. Plus, you'll be among friends here: Portland is home base for hipsters galore. To see the best of hipster Portland, visit the city's happening neighborhoods, where skinny jeans, mustaches, fixed-gear bicycles and asymmetrical haircuts are common sightings.
Pack for the weather. Portland is rainy and chilly much of the year, except in summer, when the sun comes out. You'll need to dress in layers any time of year, as a warm sunny day can quickly turn chilly if the skies become overcast. Nights are almost always cool, so bring a jacket. Comfortable, sturdy walking shoes and a rain jacket will make touring the city much more pleasant.
Book a stay at an independent hotel. Steer clear of downtown's chains and opt for a room at a neighborhood hotel such as Jupiter Hotel on Burnside Street or the Ace Hotel on Stark Street. Spots such as these are ideal base camps for exploring Portand's neighborhood breweries, galleries, vintage clothing shops and, of course, dive bars.
Drink local beer. Portland is home to an overwhelming number of microbreweries, most of which have become popular neighborhood watering holes. Burnside Brewing Company serves excellent beer to pair with tasty cheese curds, and Cascade Brewing Barrel House specializes in offbeat sour beer. Drinking at these breweries can make for great people-watching, too, as a wide cross-section of Portland's population comes to enjoy a beverage or two.
Explore the neighborhoods. Portland is a city of small enclaves, with bustling neighborhood cores like Southeast Division and East Burnside as hubs of activity. You'll find: Scores of dive bars; outstanding, and generally unpretentious, restaurants; independent movie theaters, many of which offer food and drinks; and eclectic shops selling handmade goods, quirky souvenirs and vintage clothing to improve your hipster uniform.
