In the old days we had corporate chain hotels and boutique hotels and the two worlds seldom crossed. Eventually though, the big corporations realized that if they wanted to attract the young, the stylish, and those who thought of themselves as creative, they were going to have to turn up the cool factor. So we now have hip hotels like The Porter Hotel in Portland that are part of Hilton’s Curio Collection.
In the public areas especially, these Curio Collection properties have personality to spare and are designed to be different from each other, with a real sense of place. The Porter Portland is no exception, with plenty of reminders of where you are, an interesting lobby, and a great rooftop place to gather and enjoy the view.
This downtown Portland hotel gives a great first impression, with a giant clock over the reception desk and a lobby area with computers, sitting areas, and an open staircase up to the mezzanine. This being the city it is, of course there’s a coffee shop and of course it’s serving quality coffee in multiple forms. It’s a cheerful spot to grab a light meal or enjoy a beverage throughout the day. The food options are much better than you will find at the world’s largest coffee chain founded up the road and there are plenty of to-go items you could take back to your room.
In a trend I’ve been finding in more than a few hotels lately, the former restaurant on the lobby level closed during the pandemic lockdown period and never reopened. When I asked the front desk if they had any news about when it would be operating again, they had no idea, which doesn’t sound promising.
There is a food and beverage outlet though and it’s a great one. Head to the top floor of this glass and steel high-rise for Xport Bar, a dramatic space surrounded by glass walls that looks out on the Portland skyline. In cool and rainy times, which is a lot of times here, you enjoy drinks and small plates inside, under lights that change color as the hours go on. In clear times there’s an expansive outdoor terrace with sofas and gas fire pits.
There are plenty of other places to eat within walking distance and you could even walk or bike across a bridge to get to real neighborhoods where more locals live.
Rooms at The Porter are stylish and comfortable, with quality bedding, a padded headboard lit from behind, and a good range of pillows with the duvet. The artwork depicts scenes of Portland; in our room one was an artistic city map and the other was a mixed-media piece of artwork. Brown patterned carpet kind of looks like a topographic map.
The wood and leather desk chair will do for a short work session and there’s a leather-topped table with wheels that moves around for dining or to set drinks on. The wide desk has ample outlets (more are bedside) and there’s a good range of lighting, including separate bedside reading lights. There’s a low marble counter for the suitcase and drawers underneath that. The closet is a bit shallow, but with good hangers.
Amenities include an electronic safe, capsule coffee maker, a fridge, and a standard Hilton alarm clock with music player. A large cable TV is mounted on the wall. Regular curtains and blackout curtains ensure a peaceful sleep in the dark.
Bathrooms aren’t large but are well-designed, with a lighted mirror above the single sink with make-up mirror, then frosted glass walls with doors for the WC area and clear glass for the shower on the opposite side.
The main difference between the levels of standard rooms is the view, with some having a clearer downtown view, especially on the upper levels. The corner king room has a sofa instead of an armchair. The king suite is also on the corner of different floors and adds a lot more room and furniture, while there’s also a presidential suite for splashing out.
The fitness center at The Porter Portland is one of the best I’ve seen in a hotel of this size, with five treadmills, five ellipticals, dumbells, and a variety of weight machines.
An outdoor pool doesn’t make much sense in this climate so there’s a nice indoor one here that’s open all year. It is long enough to get some laps in if you’re a swimmer.
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While the competition is stiff in Portland, especially for boutique hotels, this Hilton family property provides some consistency and a level of training expectation in the staffers. Plus you can use or cash in your Hilton Honors points. There’s a spa on site if you need some extra pampering, but unfortunately you won’t find any info about it on their website linked below. Call them to make an appointment.
Rates at The Porter from Curio Collection start at $165 for a standard on weekends before taxes. This is not a great place to stay with a car though: parking is a whopping $49 per night plus taxes. The fee to bring a pet is $75. For more information and to make a booking, see the official Hilton site or check for deals at Hotels.com.
Review and photos by editor Tim Leffel who was hosted at the property for purposes of review. As always, all opinions are his own.
