Are you planning a trip to Portland with your partner? Excellent decision! Portland may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of romantic cities, but I guarantee you that it offers more than its fair share of fascinating, romantic things to do. Whether you’re a long-time resident or visiting for the first time, Portland offers a plethora of romantic things to do, from scenic hikes to cozy cafes, to help you create unforgettable memories with your significant other
Portland is a wonderful city where people value simple pleasures and want to fill their lives with fragrant roses, delicious food, fine wine, and coffee. Any walk along the river in Portland may be turned into a great date.
However, this does not mean that your romantic moments should be limited to simply strolling. If you know where to look, Portland has a variety of places to go on a date, so planning a date night in Portland is super-easy
To help you we have compiled a list of Best Date Spots in Portland that go beyond dinner or drinks and allow you to explore this lovely city in fresh and innovative ways.
Date Night Ideas in Portland:
Portland date night restaurants offer a wide variety of options to satisfy any craving, from cozy and intimate to trendy and upscale, making it the perfect destination for a romantic evening out. We provide date night restaurants, fun date night ideas, romantic ideas, and unique nighttime date ideas for you!
For Nature Loving Couple:
Take a Stroll to Lan Su Chinese Garden:
Dates don’t have to be stressful. Far from it, especially if you and your spouse opt to stroll around the Lan Su Chinese Garden, a gorgeous and soothing outdoor fantasy that is much more than a botanical garden (though it is an outstanding one).
The garden, which opened in 2000, was a collaboration between Portland and its Chinese sister city Suzhou. The garden, hidden behind a wall, is a calm urban sanctuary that spans one whole city block.
The garden features a balance of the five classic garden elements: rocks, water, plants, architecture, and literary inscriptions, much like a living work of art. Paths weave their way through the courtyards, pavilions, and bridges. The Tao of Tea provides visitors with the opportunity to participate in a traditional tea service in a recreated Ming Dynasty tea house.
Peninsula Park and Rose Gardens:
Rose Gardens, with its lovely colors and flavors, is an ideal setting for a romantic occasion. It’s difficult to be sad or bored here, so a cheerful smile from your sweetheart will be the nicest gift you could receive.
The garden is free to explore and features hundreds of beautiful roses, a babbling fountain, and shady picnic spaces. So, pack a picnic basket with a romantic lunch and invite your significant other for a leisurely stroll along the flower-filled grounds.
Visit Sauvie Island:
Sauvie Island, a wildlife reserve and rural farming village 10 miles northwest of town offer beaches, farm stands, and beautiful pathways for visitors to explore.
Relax on the beach and watch the boats pass by, or have a picnic along the Wapato Access Greenway walk. Finish the day with a visit to the lovely Cistus plant nursery.
History and Architecture Date Ideas:
Visit Pittock Mansion:
Take a tour of the Pittock Mansion if you’re looking for new ideas for enjoyable dates in Portland. It can be a guided tour, a self-directed tour, or a behind-the-scenes tour.
This stunning historical structure transports you to 1914 and impresses you with a variety of unique details. The excellent architecture, interior design, and latest technology of the time look spectacular and portray the lives of one of Portland’s most influential families.
You can also walk through the beautiful grounds that surround the mansion and enjoy the spectacular view of the city from the hill.
Check Out the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
A date might be an opportunity to learn something new and share this experience with someone you care about. So, discovering new facts about science, history, or culture at a hands-on museum can be one of your date ideas in Portland.
Their list of activities is lengthy. The following sections can be found here:
- Technology
- Paleontology
- Geology
- Chemistry \science
- Visit a planetarium
- Take a submarine tour
- Try a motion simulator
- See rotating exhibits,
You can cap off your fantastic OMSI date at their enormous cafeteria.
Portland Art Museum:
If you love history and architecture to do in Portland, the Art Museum is a great place to start with your partner. There are numerous masterpieces, paintings, and sculptures from various styles and epochs on display here:
- Art of European impressionists
- Modern art
- Contemporary art
- Native American art
- Photography
You can go to not only permanent galleries, but also special events, rotating exhibits, and a gift shop with a variety of items.
It’s worth noting that they offer free admission on the first Thursday of every month, so there may be more people than usual.
Sports – Fun activities for a date night in Portland
NBA – Catch a Portland Blazers game
If you’re in Portland between October and April, you can see some NBA basketball at the Moda Center by attending a Blazers game. The enthusiasm from the fans around you will undoubtedly lend a spark to your date night.
Do you want to add even more Blazer spirit into the evening? Head to Spirit of 77 before or after the game it’s a Blazers-themed pub that will undoubtedly enhance your night!
Go Ice Skating!
Ice skating is one of the more romantic things you can do on a date. If you’re good at skating, you can impress your date by performing daring jumps, leaps, and spins.
You can hold their hand while they struggle to stay alive! If you or both of you are inexperienced skaters, you can have fun while helping each other stay balanced.
Fortunately, ice skating rinks are being built in Portland for a fun date night. Outdoor rinks for a romantic winter feel will necessitate some travel.
Indoor rinks for all-year ice skating include the Lloyd Center Ice Rink, which also has the added perk of being surrounded by mall shopping (ideal for some extra flirting while you peruse the stores! ), the Sherwood Ice Arena (30 minutes outside of Portland), and the Winterhawks Skating Center (15 outside of Portland).
Throw yourself into some Disc Golf!
Disc Golf is a lot of fun and much easier to learn than traditional golf. You can play disc golf if you can toss a frisbee even 5 feet!
It’s a unique and exciting way to spend your date night, competing as future disc golf pros, only to have your frisbee land in a tree or on someone else’s fairway! Blue Lake Disc Golf, Rockwood Central Park Disc Golf, and Pier Park Disc Golf are all worth a look.
Foodies – Best Date Night Restaurants in Portland
Les Caves & Le Clos:
The actual cave at Les Caves, Alberta’s subterranean wine bar, is maybe the best dating place in Portland — cut into the wall, this little perch above the bar is the ideal quiet area for out-of-the-box couples.
When it comes to cold, off-the-beaten-path wines, there isn’t a bad seat in the house at this winemaker-owned bar. Those who prefer to drink outside can go to Le Clos, the open-air sibling to Les Caves.
Check Out the Radar Restaurant:
North Portlanders go to the long, brick-lined Radar on date nights for platters of beef tartare, bowls of escargot, and swordfish with black garlic and olive tapenade.
The wine list is frequently stocked with under-the-radar (get it?) hits, and the bartenders know their way around a bottle of whiskey. Visit for either indoor or outdoor meals, with the former requiring evidence of vaccination.
Visit Huber’s Café:
Huber’s Cafe is Portland’s oldest restaurant, having opened in 1879. This antique restaurant serves upmarket American meals in a magnificent dining area with arched glass ceilings and warm wood paneling. Don’t miss out on Spanish coffee, a magnificent drink made with flames, spirits, and, of course, coffee.
Check out the Food Carts:
If you enjoy trying new dishes, you’ll enjoy exploring Portland’s diverse food carts. The only issue with food carts is that it might be difficult to decide what to eat because there are generally so many delicious options!
There are several food cart places strewn about Portland, and a fun way to visit them is to go on a bike tour, such as this Eastside food cart cycling tour. If you don’t want to ride a bike for your food, perhaps this walking tour of the food carts is for you!
Hiking and Camping Date Ideas:
Columbia Gorge Trails:
Hike your pick of Columbia Gorge routes, ranging from easy to tough, for $5 or less, depending on whether a day-use fee is required. The Multnomah/Wahkeena Falls loop path, which includes a vista of Fairy Falls (above), is classified as moderate, making it suitable for first-timers.
Hike Macleay Park:
Macleay Park, located at the southernmost extremity of Forest Park, is a woodland oasis just outside the city.
With deep ravines and large shaded firs and cedars, you and your date will get lost (not literally) in the park’s grandeur while you enjoy a hiking trip together.
Go Chasing Waterfalls:
Hike the Trail of Ten Falls via Silver Falls State Park, a nationally famous hiking trail that winds through forested terrain. Along a rocky canyon, the walk crosses a sequence of ten beautiful waterfalls. After admiring the natural splendor, stop by Silverton’s Milltown Pub for a drink.
Other Unique Date Ideas in Portland
Swing Dance at Norse Hall:
Norse Hall, a Portland dancing venue since 1928, is the ideal location to transport your date back in time for a traditional dance class.
Beginner swing dancing lessons are only $10 per person on Sundays. After class, you and your partner can practice your new dancing moves until 11 p.m.
Square Dance at the Village Ballroom:
The Village Ballroom conducts weekly square dancing for people of all ages and ability levels. Bring your companion for an evening of dancing, music, and drinks, which are available in the hall or downstairs in the bar. This unique Portland date idea costs $7 to $15 per person.
Attend a Trivia Night:
If you and your date are masters of the “random fact,” go to one of Portland’s many trivia nights for an evening of triumph, defeat, and fantastic beverages.
The Bar Exam, Quizissippi, Quizzy, Rain Brain, and ShanRock’s Triviology are among the local trivia establishments.
Get Your Game Face on at Ground Kontrol:
This arcade bar is excellent for a gamer couple’s date night. This adult arcade’s two stories are lined with vintage video games and pinball equipment, while a beer and wine bar serves refreshments. On weekends, there is also live music and DJs, making Ground Kontrol a one-stop shop for date night.
Date Night Ideas in Portland – FAQs
Conclusion:
Get ready to experience the most magical weekend of your life with your partner! All of these activities are charming, daring, and exciting experiences to enjoy with your partner, and you’ll have an immensely romantic time exploring Portland’s hidden treasure.
However, Portland isn’t just about crafting sweet memories with the one you love. It’s also a terrific city for spending time with friends and family, so if you start missing the lush trees and killer beer, know that when you return, you’ll have lots to do and enjoy with people.
