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Enjoy a locally made picnic spread and a scenic view of the city.

Credit: Judd Hall via Flickr

Portland Picnic Guide

Here’s where to stock up on local goodies and find a perfect park to spread out your blanket.

Updated Nov. 30, 2022 3 min read

Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock wrote and edited content for Travel Portland from 2014–2020. Read More

Portland is home to an abundance of patio bars and outdoor dining destinations, but nothing beats spreading out a picnic blanket on a sunny day. And with more than 200 parks within city limits, there’s no shortage of spots to stake out and feast on local eats. Need help narrowing it down? Here’s our cheat sheet for three perfect Portland picnics:

Breakfast in the Pearl

Wake up with a cup of artisanal coffee from the champion bean-slingers at Barista, whose expert espresso pulls and latte art have earned national awards. Follow the sweet smells wafting from nearby Nuvrei to find flaky almond croissants, chewy chocolate macarons and other authentic French pastries. At sunny Lovejoy Bakers, eggy breakfast dishes star alongside warm loaves of bread and picnic-perfect sandwiches — think grilled eggplant and fresh mozzarella served with scoops of potato salad.

With more than 200 parks within city limits, there’s no shortage of spots to stake out and feast on local eats.

Beloved by local chefs for its deep selection of Mediterranean imports and gourmet deli dishes, World Foods is a great place to pick up global snacks, from kumquats and olives to cheese and charcuterie. Better yet, create your own lavish Lebanese meze plate with items like house-made hummus, spinach pies and stuffed grape leaves.

When you’ve gathered your goods, take your pick from three prime Pearl District parks: The Fields, which features an off-leash dog area; Jamison Square, home to a cascading water feature and kid-friendly splash pool; and Tanner Springs, a lush square of native wetlands. All three options are just a few blocks apart.

More Places to Picnic

Find perfect spots for a picnic in every part of town.

• Cathedral Park

  Once a fishing and seasonal living site for Native American tribes (and a landing site of Lewis and Clark), this park offers fishing, a boat ramp and canoe launch, an off-leash dog area, paved paths and picnic tables.

• Laurelhurst Park

  Surrounding a scenic lake, Laurelhurst Park was the first city park named to the National Register of Historic Places. It offers picnic and play areas, a dog off-leash area and a horseshoe pit, plus basketball, tennis and volleyball courts.

• Westmoreland Park

  Westmoreland Park features wide-open lawn areas — great for a picnic — surrounding several tranquil ponds. There are also sports fields, a tennis court, walking paths and a nature-based play area.

• Wilshire Park

  Wilshire Park is a 14.4-acre park in Northeast Portland. The park was acquired in 1940 and is maintained by Portland Parks & Recreation.

• Peninsula Park Rose Garden

  Opened in 1909, this formal French garden was the city’s first public rose garden. The verdant park is home to an iconic fountain, a bandstand and a public pool.

Lunch on the West Side

Classic grab-and-go lunch fare has made Elephants Delicatessen a longtime local favorite. Pick from club sandwiches, pasta salads, vegan wraps, granola parfaits and even hot soups. Zupan’s makes it easy to stock up on quality wines, fresh fruit and cold juices, as well as fresh-made deli options and plenty of prepackaged sandwiches and snacks.

Treat yourself to tempting rolled ice cream to go at 22 Below — they offer over 30 flavors and a huge selection of mix-ins. If frozen yogurt is more your speed, plan a stop at Eb & Bean for ever-rotating flavors, creative toppings and scrumptious sauces. (They have plant-based, dairy-free options too.)

Accessed from Southwest Skyline Boulevard, Washington Park makes an ideal destination for a meal surrounded by lush greenery and towering trees. Just steps away, the 10,000 blooming rose bushes perfume the air at the gorgeous International Rose Test Garden, which promises picturesque views of downtown Portland.

Washington Park

Beyond picnics and verdant strolls, Washington Park offers up a zoo, two museums, a spectacular rose garden, an arboretum, one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in the world, all lined by one of the largest urban forests, Forest Park.

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Dinner in Southeast

Specialty shop Pastaworks at Providore Fine Foods boasts an unsurpassed selection of Italian wines and European imports; stop by the meat counter for house-made pastrami and Parisian-style baguette sandwiches. Local grocery New Seasons Market is a safe bet for anything left on your shopping list, be it organic produce, bulk trail mix or healthy, seasonal deli salads.

Lest you forget dessert, Petite Provence Patisserie stays open into the evening, serving decadent French chocolate cakes layered with luscious mousse, meringue and ganache.

For a memorable romantic evening, hike (or drive) to the top of leafy Mt. Tabor Park, which occupies the slopes of an extinct volcanic cinder cone in the heart of Southeast Portland. Uncork that bottle of wine and watch pinks and oranges streak the sky as the sun dips behind the city skyline and the West Hills.

Portland’s Public Fountains

Cool off with free fun at these kid-friendly fountains in Portland.

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