Skip to content

The Official Guide to Portland

  • Attractions
    • AttractionsView All Attractions
    • Attractions Open Now
    • Museums & History
    • Parks & Gardens
    • Family Friendly
    • Shopping
    • On a Budget
    • EVEN MORE THINGS TO DO
  • Culture
    • CultureView All Culture
    • Arts
    • Beer
    • Biking
    • Cannabis
    • Cultural Communities
    • Craft Spirits
    • Food
    • Makers
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Outdoors
    • Sports
    • Weird
    • Wine
    • MORE CULTURE
  • Neighborhoods
    • NeighborhoodsView All Neighborhoods
    • Alberta Arts District
    • Belmont
    • Central Eastside
    • Division/Clinton
    • Downtown
    • Hawthorne
    • Lloyd
    • Mississippi
    • Northwest / Nob Hill
    • Old Town Chinatown
    • Pearl District
    • St. Johns
    • Sellwood-Moreland
    • Williams
    • ALL NEIGHBORHOODS
  • Region
    • RegionView All Region
    • Near the City
    • Columbia River Gorge
    • Mount Hood
    • Oregon Coast
    • Willamette Valley
    • ALL REGIONS
  • Plan
    • PlanView All Plan
    • Maps
    • Where to Stay
    • Tours & Itineraries
    • Transportation
    • When to Visit
    • International Resources
    • Portland Weather
    • COVID-19 FAQ
    • Plan a Meeting
  • Events
  • Search
Primary Menu 31 Events Near Me Search
  • Attractions
    • AttractionsView All Attractions
    • Attractions Open Now
    • Museums & History
    • Parks & Gardens
    • Family Friendly
    • Shopping
    • On a Budget
    • EVEN MORE THINGS TO DO
  • Culture
    • CultureView All Culture
    • Arts
    • Beer
    • Biking
    • Cannabis
    • Cultural Communities
    • Craft Spirits
    • Food
    • Makers
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Outdoors
    • Sports
    • Weird
    • Wine
    • MORE CULTURE
  • Neighborhoods
    • NeighborhoodsView All Neighborhoods
    • Alberta Arts District
    • Belmont
    • Central Eastside
    • Division/Clinton
    • Downtown
    • Hawthorne
    • Lloyd
    • Mississippi
    • Northwest / Nob Hill
    • Old Town Chinatown
    • Pearl District
    • St. Johns
    • Sellwood-Moreland
    • Williams
    • ALL NEIGHBORHOODS
  • Region
    • RegionView All Region
    • Near the City
    • Columbia River Gorge
    • Mount Hood
    • Oregon Coast
    • Willamette Valley
    • ALL REGIONS
  • Plan
    • PlanView All Plan
    • Maps
    • Where to Stay
    • Tours & Itineraries
    • Transportation
    • When to Visit
    • International Resources
    • Portland Weather
    • COVID-19 FAQ
    • Plan a Meeting
  • Events
  • Search
Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock has been writing and editing content for Travel Portland since 2014. Read More

Enjoy a locally made picnic spread and a scenic view of the city. Enjoy a locally made picnic spread and a scenic view of the city.
i
Enjoy a locally made picnic spread and a scenic view of the city.
Credit: Judd Hall via Flickr
Culture / Food

Portland Picnic Guide

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

Updated Feb. 3, 2021 3 min read
Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock has been writing and editing content for Travel Portland since 2014. 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 st\uffed 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, are all only a few blocks away.

Related

Portland’s Public Fountains

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

Read more

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 Market makes it easy to stock up on quality wines, fresh fruit and cold juices, as well as fresh-made deli options and plenty of pre-packaged sandwiches and snacks.

Treat yourself to a handcrafted truffle from Moonstruck Chocolate, where whimsical treats come in colorful shapes and creative flavors like sea salt toffee clownfish. (Yes, it’s shaped like a fish!)

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 big trees and picnic tables, Washington Park offers a zoo, two museums, gardens and more.

Read more

Dinner in Southeast

Specialty shop Pastaworks 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.

For Kids, Outdoors, Parks & Gardens, Summer
GO TO MOUNT TABOR
Related

Portland’s Best Bakeries

Nibble a Danish or slice of rustic bread with our expert guide to Portland’s best bakeries, including gluten-free and dairy-free options plus award-winners galore.

Read more

Was this page helpful?

Visitor’s Guide

cover of Travel Portland's visitor guide, 2019-'20, featuring a woman walking through Portland Japanese Garden

Get the Guide

 

Newsletter Signup

Get your monthly guide to Portland's events, attractions and news.

Follow Us

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Information For

Local Businesses
Media
Meeting Planners
Travel Industry Professionals
Event Organizers

Brought to you by

Travel Portland Logo

We are a promoter and steward of this evolving city and its progressive values, which have the power to transform the travelers who visit us.

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Español
  • Français
  • Deutsch
  • 日本語
  • 汉语
  • 漢語
  • 한국어
Copyright © 2021 Travel Portland
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Copyright Policy
Visit The USA Logo