"What's this place all about?Named for Portland suffragist Abigail Scott Duniway, this newly remodeled classy-cool central downtown Hilton has a few secrets up its sleeve—a beautiful guests-only rooftop patio on the 11th floor, a heated indoor pool, and Jackrabbit, from celebrity chef Chris Cosentino. The location, also great, is in the slightly quieter section of central downtown, a block southwest of Pioneer Courthouse Square and just a quick walk to the South Park Blocks, Portland Art Museum, and Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The luxurious lobby is warm and welcoming, with soft, swanky leather furniture, live plants, and Persian rugs. Just beyond, in Jackrabbit’s lively bar, engaging bartenders will mix you the perfect Manhattan or Martini. Or, try one of the house specials, like the City of Roses, a mix of rosé, amaro, and sweet vermouth that packs a punch . Who's checking in?Pool seekers, families, wedding parties, conference-goers, and well-traveled tourists. The good stuff: Tell us about the rooms.There’s nary a bad room in the bunch, especially the farther up the elevator panel you press, but the Top Floor Premier King rooms are the way to go. They’re sufficiently spacious at 350 square feet, and sit atop the 20th floor, which virtually eliminates the risk of bothersome street noise. Soaring ceilings add to that top-of-the-world feel, huge windows let in plenty of light, the soft-gray palette is modern and classy, and the supremely comfortable Waldorf Astoria beds are wrapped in 500-thread-count linens. There’s even an in-room Vittoria espresso maker, in case you’re having (justified) trouble leaving in the morning. How about the little things, like in-room tech?Rooms are stocked with 65-inch Samsung HDTVs with StayCast streaming and fast, free Wi-Fi. You can also use the Hilton app to lock and unlock your door and, best of all, you can text the front desk with any needs—from a malfunctioning mini-fridge to a forgotten toothbrush—and they’ll reply lickety split. You can even check out via text, a true joy for front-desk-line loathers or anyone averse to face-to-face-interaction. What's the deal with the dining scene?The hotel’s crown jewel is Cosentino's Jackrabbit, an energetic extension of the elegant leatherbound lobby. There is an unapologetically meaty menu, from a half pig’s head to a 28-day-aged four-pound pin-bone steak with bone marrow dip. Other standouts include buttermilk fried rabbit served with fresh local lettuces, radishes, baby carrots, and roasted carrot harissa. Lighter fare ranges from an avocado salad to housemade pasta with a vegetable-based sugo finto. Does the service impress?One of the hotel’s high points is the chipper, professional, up-for-anything staff that smoothly deals with everything from panicked last-minute room-reservation requests and pleas for early check-in to day-trip planning and late-night-dining recommendations. Any last tips for us?Don’t skip a trip to the gorgeous new 11th-floor terrace, one of the highlights of the hotel’s remodel. With its sleek, low-slung sofa loungers piled with cushy pillows and gingham wool throws, oversized Jenga set, giant chessboard, and helpful portable heaters (this is after all, Portland), it’s just the place to sip your evening G&T—which might take a while to order, since the bar has 60-plus gins to choose from. Rare for these parts is the adjacent heated indoor pool, which kids and early-morning lap swimmers will love." - Jen Stevenson
