Portland In The News
From women leading in sports and food to new developments promoting art, sophistication and sustainability, Portland's good news continues to get noticed.
While we enjoy Portland every day, it is always a treat to see what great stories capture the headlines. As the clips and quotes that follow show, there are many great stories unfolding here—from our incredible culinary scene to our neighborhoods, entrepreneurs and innovative airport. This city is ours—and yours—to share.
Portland is Better Than Ever
7 Gardens So Serene, You Won’t Believe They’re in the City
New York Times – July 20, 2026
The iconic Portland Japanese Garden continues to garner praise for its serenity and variety of landscapes in this feature, alongside gardens in Miami, Austin, New York and elsewhere.
Earthly Reset: The Bucket List Geothermal Resorts Where Ancient Wellness Traditions Meet Modern Luxury
Los Angeles Times – May 14, 2026
Wellness and Portland are bonded together thanks to destinations like Cascada, which continues to earn national and international recognition for its reimagined hot springs experience and luxurious accommodations.
Food aside, Portland’s reliable transportation, great parks, and community vibe make this city an easy choice for people traveling alone.
Travel + Leisure
29 Best Places in the U.S. for Solo Travelers to Visit
Travel + Leisure – May 2, 2026
Citing reliable transportation, community vibes and an expansive food cart scene as a welcome alternative to solo dining at restaurants, Travel + Leisure recently named Portland a top destination for solo travelers.
Enduringly Quirky Portland, Oregon Is Better Than Ever
Condé Nast Traveler – April 30, 2026
Portland is “crushing it,” according to Condé Nast Traveler. With stunning natural beauty, talented makers, iconic institutions like Powell’s City of Books, and incredible new restaurants in evidence, it’s pretty hard to argue with.
Credit: Celeste Noche, Travel Portland
10 Cheapest U.S. Cities for a Solo Trip, According to Flight and Hotel Data
Travel + Leisure – April 21, 2026
Travel + Leisure’s data-backed assessment ranks Portland as the seventh-cheapest U.S. city for a solo trip.
A Time of Growth for Museums for Children
New York Times – April 19, 2026
Often under the radar as a kid-friendly destination, Portland’s reputation is growing, thanks to fun new attractions like Mike Bennett’s Portland Aquarium.
A New Black-Owned Sports Bar Just Opened In Portland And Pays Homage To Black Athletes
Travel Noire – April 14, 2026
“Dame Time” returned to Portland with NBA star player, Damian Lillard, who is to thank in part for the arrival of Honorable Mention at the Benson Hotel, the Black-owned sports bar and lounge honoring Black athletes who were excluded, overlooked, or banned in sports for generations.
The Best New Hotels in the World 2026
Esquire – April 7, 2026
Esquire encourages its readers to “treat yourself to a wellness bender of steaming, schvitzing, shivering, and soaking in an array of hot rooms, whirling thermal pools, and the de rigueur cold plunge” at “Best New Hotel” winning Cascada Thermal Springs + Hotel.
Credit: Diego Diaz
The Best U.S. Road Trips for Every Decade of Your Life
Travel + Leisure – March 1, 2026
Travel + Leisure has named the Pacific Northwest route from Seattle to the Oregon Coast as its best roadtrip for your 20’s.
52 Places to Go in 2026
New York Times – Jan. 6, 2026
Citing “momentum with significant arts, sports and culinary openings that cement its standing as one of the most culturally dynamic cities in the country,” the New York Times named Portland one of 52 places in the world to visit in 2026.
The Best Places to Go in the US in 2026
Condé Nast Traveler – Dec. 19, 2025
With a host of art, architecture and culinary projects coming to full fruition in 2026, Portland is again buzzing with travel-worthy mentions such as this one from CN Traveler.
…in 2026 a series of major art, architecture, and culinary projects conspire to tell a fresh story about the City of Roses. Travelers will sense the city’s plot twist the moment they disembark at Portland International Airport…
Condé Nast Traveler
A Great City for Food, with the James Beard Awards to Prove It
The Full List of James Beard Awards 2026 Restaurant and Chef Winners
Eater – June 15, 2026
Portland’s James Beard Award winners now include Scotch Lodge, just named Outstanding Bar, and Nodoguro’s Ryan Roadhouse, named Best Chef for the Northwest & Pacific Region.
From Ghee-Washed Mezcal to Fish Sauce Margaritas, Asian American–Owned Bars Are Changing How America Drinks – Afar May 13
Afar – May 13, 2026
Vietnamese-owned After Ours earns praise from Afar for its community orientation and inventive cocktails, including a house margarita shaken with a tamarind–fish sauce shrub.
Credit: Amy Lam
Hunting for the Rare Thrills of Northern Vietnamese Food? Try Portland.
New York Times – May 5, 2026
Vietnamese restaurant, The Paper Bridge, earned this two-star (Very Good) review in the New York Times with its authentic northern Vietnamese cuisine.
The Future of These Legacy Restaurants Is in the Hands of a New Generation
Food & Wine – March 11, 2026
Portland’s 20-year-old Le Pigeon has earned legacy status, and the leadership transition that comes with it. “Executive chef and partner Dana Francisco balances the tension between the restaurant’s history and future in two dishes: a foie gras profiterole and a delicate turnip carpaccio.”
French Technique, Korean Flavor, One Impressive Salmon
Wall Street Journal – Jan. 22, 2026
Chef Peter Cho of Han Oak and Jeju fame, is profiled for his inventive South Korean dishes made with Pacific Northwest ingredients and wood fire.
The Best New Restaurants in America, 2025
Esquire – Dec. 1, 2025
Portland’s Javelina has arrived with praise. Reviewer Jeff Gordinier, says “chef Alexa Numkena-Anderson, who grew up cooking with her grandmother on the Yakama Reservation in Washington State, understands the importance of radical joy. Her menu educates and enthralls in equal measure.”
This Is the Best City for Vegans and Vegetarians in the U.S.—and It Has Plant-based Festivals, Bakeries, and Fine Dining
Travel + Leisure – Dec. 3, 2025
A new study ranked Portland ahead of Los Angeles and Austin, among all others, as the best U.S. city for vegans and vegetarians. The top cited reasons included Portland’s thriving vegan community, abundance of organic farms and diverse plant-based restaurants.
Becoming a Global Leader in Women’s Sports
Planned Parenthood, ’70s glam rock, community: The Cherry Bombs burst into Portland’s soccer scene
New York Times – May 21, 2026
Portland’s booming women’s sports scene got even bigger and louder with the arrival of the Portland Cherry Bombs semi-pro soccer club.
Portland has quietly become a pilgrimage site for women’s sports fans, anchored by the Portland Thorns FC and one of the most electric atmospheres in the National Women’s Soccer League.
HuffPost
If You’re A Women’s Sports Fan, This Is Where You Need To Take Your Next Vacation
HuffPost – April 22, 2026
The HuffPost has officially named Portland a global tourist destination for women’s sports fans.
What makes a great women’s sports city? We ranked the top 10 in the U.S.
The Athletic / New York Times – Nov. 19, 2025
Citing the energy around the Portland Thorns, The Sports Bra, and other factors, The Athletic ranked Portland as the fourth-best city for women’s sports in the U.S.
Portland International Airport is a Triumph
From its ceiling of Northwest-sourced timber to its 120-foot-long video walls, Portland International Airport continues to up the ante with its latest renovation. To say the media took notice is an understatement.
The World’s Most Beautiful Airports for 2025
Condé Nast Traveler – July 15, 2025
“The terminal follows the concept of biophilia, or the tendency for humans to seek out nature. Main walkways … are filled with sunlight and greenery: There are 72 large trees … as well as 5,000 other green plants sprouting throughout the space. The timber roof slats diffuse light in a similar manner as a forest canopy, and 60% of the terminal is bathed by natural light.”
The best airport in America? You guessed it
The Oregonian/OregonLive – June 26, 2025
The Washington Post has officially ranked the top 50 airports in the U.S. using a combination of passenger recommendations and data analysis. Portland International Airport topped the list, beating out more than 450 airports nationwide.
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