Hotel Eastlund
"So, where are we?Portland’s up-and-coming Lloyd District has a lot going for it: It's just across the river from downtown, it’s well positioned for exploring the east side’s fun, funky little neighborhoods and exceptional restaurant (and beer) scene, and it affords excellent access to public transportation and major venues like the Oregon Convention Center and the Moda Center, home the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. The area’s seemingly ceaseless development has brought with it a crop of new neighborhood hotels, and the Eastlund—a nicely renovated former Red Lion motor inn with 168 rooms—is the best and brightest of the lot; literally, if you take into consideration the lobby’s modern mid-century design with bold orange, blue, and yellow accents. Rooms are comfortable and the WiFi is speedy, but the property's finest feature is the spacious rooftop restaurant and bar; come happy hour, curl up by the fire pit with a burger and beer from nearby Upright Brewing, and enjoy the panoramic Portland views from the terrace. Nice. What’s the crowd like?Conventioneers, Moda Center basketball fans, and concertgoers, businesspeople, families, and budget-conscious travelers sidestepping steep downtown hotels. Thoughts about the rooms?The 390-square-feet west-facing Junior Downtown Suites are your best bet for a city view (provided a half-built condominium tower isn’t blocking it). Design is clean and modern; comfy king-size beds are backed with lovely modern murals; spacious bathrooms have double sinks and glassed-walled walk-in showers; and the velvety faux fur throw tossed across the foot of the bed is the coziest thing since your well-worn Snuggie. As the surrounding neighborhood grows at a breakneck clip, the early-morning construction coupled with the hotel’s convenient—albeit noisy—positioning (right where the MAX light rail and Portland Streetcar tracks cross) make those ear plugs on the nightstand a necessity. In other words, light sleepers should request the quietest room possible. How's the tech in the hotel?WiFi is free and fast throughout the hotel, and rooms have smart refrigerators and Keurigs (although if you’d rather not make your own, there’s a cute cafe in the lobby). If you drove your Tesla, they’ve got a charging station waiting for you. What are our food and drink options?Longtime Portland chef and restaurateur David Machado’s Altabira City Tavern would have been a hit right out of the gate simply for its breathtaking downtown Portland views from its top-floor perch, rare on this side of the river. But the strong tap selection—16 local craft beers—solid specialty cocktails featuring locally distilled spirits, easygoing menu, laid-back vibes, and fire pits have made it a local destination. In the lobby, Machado’s Citizen Baker cafe starts pouring cups of Ristretto Roasters coffee and slinging Red Flannel hash and fresh-baked almond poppy-seed croissants as early as 6:30 am on weekdays; lunch includes grilled tomato and cheese sandwiches and tuna salad melts on fresh house-baked breads. Come evening, the space morphs into a lovely little late-afternoon wine bar, just the spot to put your feet up with a glass of local Pinot Noir or an IPA from Bend-based Crux Fermentation Project. Anything else we should know?If you’re deliberating about whether to take an Uber or the train from the airport, take the advice of Portland’s Union Station’s iconic neon-lit “Go By Train” sign. The Red Line will drop you right across the street from the hotel in about a half an hour, no transfers necessary. For the return journey, or to ride the light rail or streetcar downtown or south toward the brewery-packed inner southeast industrial district, consult the convenient digital schedule in the lobby." - Jen Stevenson
