A Taste for Design

Your guide to beautiful spaces around Portland

Portland is known not only for its fantastic food scene, but also for the strong creative spirit that runs through it. We’re a city of makers, entrepreneurs, and creatives. Here, a deli will take on a Wes Anderson vibe, and a bar can become famous for its wallpaper. This is a guide to some of the most vibrant and inspiring spaces around town.

Come for the coffee, stay for the location. Located inside the Woodlark Hotel in SW Portland, Good Coffee serves up locally roasted coffee and espresso drinks alongside pastries, breakfast burritos, and light lunch fare. The location is lobby-meets-café with a mix of comfy armchairs and mid-century modern inspired tables and chairs—plus plenty of outlets. The Woodlark is known for its decor, with an impressive collection of art from female artists and custom wallpaper designed by OMFGCO, a local creative studio.

This charming Central Eastside deli is incredibly Instagrammable, with thoughtful design touches throughout to make your visit as pleasant as it is tasty. Sign painting inspired lettering is paired with fun, cheeky illustrations throughout Grand Stark Deli, and sandwiches are served on classy enamelware with custom branded parchment. The menu offers local, seasonal takes on classic deli offerings and a vast selection of drinks, from coffee to wine to “deli bubs” (aka seltzer).

It’s hard to leave Montelupo empty-handed. This stylish Italian market is located on the bustling corner of NE 28th & Flanders, look for the hand-painted sign above their welcoming front door. You can dine there, in one of their covered outdoor pods, or grab a take-and-bake pasta to enjoy at home. The hidden gem here is their market, which stocks fresh pasta, house-made desserts, and hard-to-find grocery items, imported from Italy.

This beloved Eastside cocktail bar is known for its design sensibility as much as its creative bartenders, who whip up libations based on visitors’ requests. (They operate without a cocktail list.) A sleek round bar with a marble top anchors Angelface, but the wallpaper is the real star of the show. Inspired by an ancient Indian print, it’s hand painted by artist Michael Paulus and features 490 flowers on a vibrant pink background.