The Portland B&B Scene: It’s All Coming Up Roses

Ever wanted to stay in a quaint bed and breakfast during your travels?  Portland has many of these beautiful old homes to make your own during the duration of your stay.  Close to Downtown and Portland’s light rail, the Lion and the Rose is a great stay for those who want a beautiful hotel but are also on a budget.  And lucky me, I had the honor of speaking to the lovely concierge at the Lion and the Rose hotel, in order to find some local hot spots to visit while you’re in town!

1.  Where do you send visitors when they want to have a drink in the neighborhood of your hotel?

Once you’re settled in this beautiful B&B, there are an astounding amount of choices for dinner, drinks, and dancing within walking distance.  The Inn is located only one mile off the east side of the Willamette river, making it accessible to make great restaurants.  Milo’s City Cafe is where the locals hang- the menu offers great nightly specials and is ‘so friendly you’ll feel like you’re at a neighbors house for dinner.  As the locals will surely tell you-  the both the rueben and the mushroom soup are simply delicious.

*attribution to kmcneice

2.  Where to take a date?

For an evening with your special someone, Toro Bravo comes highly recommended.  Share tapas plates with your sweetie- these delicious dishes are meant to be split.  With culinary delights inspired by the local fare, this is a fantastic date spot.  Don’t forget to order a big pitcher of sangria!

3.  Girls night?

Girls do just wanna have fun; and there is fun to be had at 108 Bar and Grill.  Although the name doesn’t exactly induce visions of a girl’s night out, just give it a chance.  108 Bar and Grill is one of the best spots in town for Latin dancing and delicious cocktails.  And, for a mere $6, you can rent out one of the gorgeous Latin dance instructors for a lesson!  Unbeatable.

4.  Guy’s night?

For a night out with your boys, the concierge stresses going to Bernie’s Southern Bistro.  This comfort-food experience is all about quantity, quantity, quantity.  For big meals chocked full of home-cooked falvors, Bernie’s Southern Bistro will leave you full and satisfied.  Don’t skip out on the fried green tomatoes- the concierge says they’re the local favorite!

5.  Where can people go for a good local vibe?

Again, Milo City Cafe is the place to be according to the concierge at the Lion and the Rose!  Milo City Cafe is hands down the place where all the locals hang out, and since we already know how great the food is, the concierge felt that this was the best casual spot in town.

6.  Where do you like to go out?

After dinner, head to Aztec Willies for great Mexican food and salsa dancing on the weekends. Not only can you join the crowd on the dance floor, but you can also come for salsa lessons!  If you’re staying at the Lion and Rose and are in need of a girl’s night out- this is the place to do it!  Bring your friends, your flirty skirt, and dance the night away salsa-style!  At the end of the night, walk home to your beautiful B&B, get a good night’s sleep, and wake up to start the next day’s adventure!