"Set the stage—where are we?When Marriott designed Hi-Lo, a 120-room boutique hotel, it brought in some of Portland’s most creative minds to reshape downtown’s striking turn-of-the-century Oregon Pioneer Building, the city's first concrete structure. Credit for the sleek, sensual lobby goes to interior designer Jessica Helgerson, also a former green-building activist, whose playful, contemporary style is evident in gently curved forest-green velvet loungers, live-edge Oregon walnut slab tables, delicate gold track lighting, macrame wall hangings, and hand-painted linen drapes. Perhaps most mesmeric, particularly for the Instagram set: the plush swinging settee that's suspended in the center of the room. What’s the crowd like?Business folks, young trendy types, and fitness buffs who like the well-equipped gym and close proximity to Tom McCall Waterfront Park. And what do the rooms look like?The clean, modern design mixes raw materials (like the building’s original concrete beams and reclaimed local barn-wood paneling) with luxurious accents like radiant heated floors, Netflix-equipped 49-inch flat-screen TVs, and Oregon-made Pendleton Woolen Mills throw pillows. Book a sixth-floor Premium King room—the soaring ceilings and oversized original arched windows alone are worth it, but the street noise muffling loft is a bonus too. Minimalist closets may present a challenge for non-minimalist packers; consider thinning out your wardrobe before leaving home, or preemptively request luggage racks at check-in. Are there any little details that really stood out to you?In the bathrooms, lather up under the rain shower with custom bath products by Maak Lab, made exclusively with sustainable, locally sourced ingredients; if you fall hard for the plant-based soaps and shampoo, pick up your own at The Merchant shop downstairs, or visit Maak’s West Burnside mothership (just six blocks away). What's the dining situation?Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, Craft PDX, the hotel restaurant, offers an inclusive menu rife with regional influences; try the toasted-hazelnut topped chia morning power bowl, beef brisket burger painted with peppercorn aioli on a Grand Central Bakery potato bun, Oregon bay shrimp cocktail, tender slow-braised Pacific Northwest elk over creamy polenta, and for dessert, warm cobbler made with juicy local blackberries. In the lovely lobby bar, sip a seasonal margarita or Mother's Daughter cocktail, mixed with Crater Lake gin, fresh lime, and hibiscus syrup, while you plot your food cart crawl. Speaking of which, many of downtown’s remaining food carts are within a one-block walk; seek out wonton wonderland Mama Chow’s and off-the-radar Stretch the Noodle, where you can watch chef-owner Xuemei Simard at work in the front window. Any other tips for us?Grab a nightcap at the adjoining Huber’s, Portland’s oldest bar, which serves Spanish coffee in dramatic fashion—yes, there are flames involved." - Jen Stevenson
