Explore the Vibrant Alberta Arts District and Book Your Vacation with MWR LIFE!
Colorful murals splash across the Alberta Arts District, decorating bicycle shops, parking lots, and bar patios. This lively Portland neighborhood bursts with eclectic charm, blending bookstores, galleries, cozy cafes, and a diverse array of global cuisines. You’ll even spot a marijuana shop adding to the mix.
At the heart of it all lies Eem, a standout restaurant fusing Thai flavors with BBQ flair, capturing Portland’s unique culinary spirit. Stroll down Alberta Street, the district’s main artery, and soak in its funky, vibrant vibe—perfect for adventurers seeking creativity and flavor.
Book your vacation with MWR LIFE today and dive into the unforgettable energy of Portland’s Alberta Arts District!
The exterior of CASCADA Thermal Springs + Hotel.
On the western edge of the street, the corner of 11th and Alberta, a very serious, very modern building opened in March: CASCADA Thermal Springs + Hotel. The first hospitality project by Solterra, a company specializing in sustainable buildings, it might be an outlier in the neighborhood’s style with its sleek, contemporary look but its spirit is definitely in sync.
CASCADA Thermal Springs + Hotel’s Wellness Facilities
The swimming pool at the tropically heated Conservatory at CASCADA Thermal Springs + Hotel.
Key to the hotel is that sustainability; every aspect of it is of cutting edge, environmentally friendly composition and function, earning it status as LEED Platinum (solar power, rainwater harvesting, energy efficient lighting and much more.) What is more visible to guests, though, are the cossetting setting and the extensive wellness facilities starting with a 32 foot long pool in the Conservatory bordered by a 25 foot wall of rare plants and maintained at 82 degrees. Not surprisingly, it invites socializing while draped poolside on loungers.
The lower level Sanctuary with four thermal pools at CASCADA Thermal Springs + Hotel.
A floor below is the dark, atmospheric Sanctuary with its centerpiece the hydrotherapy circuit comprised of four thermal pools of varying temperatures (one enhanced with trace minerals and magnesium) with water emanating from the pristine rivers and streams of the Bull Run Watershed east of Portland, then heated and purified with state of the art technology. Around the pools are a hammam, steam room, ice fountain and treatment rooms for rituals combining European, Mayan and Middle Eastern elements with botanicals and advanced techniques. There’s also an outdoor Secret Garden with another pool, cold shower and café as well as a daily roster of fitness and wellness options such as sound healing, breathwork, pilates and infrared, flow, and power yoga.
Sustainable, Well Equipped Hotel Rooms
A suite living room with sustainable upholstery at CASCADA Thermal Springs + Hotel.
Upstairs, the 100 black/white/grey rooms in contemporary, minimalist style also mirror the sustainable focus with materials such as recycled cork furniture upholstery (which is smooth and comfortable) and wool, fire-retardant mattresses. There are also features such as kitchens and washer-dryers which encourage long stays and balconies for hanging out and watching the goings on in the neighborhood.
Portuguese/Japanese Cuisine At Terra Mae
Oregon Black Cod with a red palm coconut seafood broth at Terra Mae.
The restaurant, Terra Mae, a fusion of Portuguese and Japanese cuisine, is already a Portland favorite and one unusually open on a Tuesday night; some top restaurants in town are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. The room is buzzing and the menu creative without being crazy: really delicious dishes such as Dumplings with the Portuguese pork sausage Linguiça, leeks, cabbage, peri-peri chili crisp, curry, scallion and black garlic; Mentaiko Udon, the chewy Japanese wheat noodles with spicy pollock roe, garlic, cream, soy cured egg yolk and garlic furikake, a salty Japanese seasoning; Wasabi Salad of King neighborhood pea tendrils, edible blossom, tempura flakes and creamy wasabi dressing and a Fisherman’s Stew with Black Cod, miso, tiger prawns and clams in a rich seafood broth.
The Lobby Coffee Bar
The lobby of CASCADA Thermal Springs + Hotel.
The hotel also has a lobby level café Alberta Street Coffee for coffee and croissants or muffins in the morning along with a grab and go case of sandwiches, salads, prepared foods and cheeses; the restaurant Forbidden Fruit is due to open in October for breakfast and brunch. In the meantime, Alberta Street is studded with other options as is Portland, overall, regarded as the top culinary center of the Pacific Northwest.
Alberta Street Breakfast Spots
Three blocks away, Mèmoire Cà Phê, the Vietnamese brunch café started by three friends as an homage to their parents celebrates the food they shared with them when they were growing up such as Đặc Biệt Waffle, a waffle with fish sauce, bacon, fried egg, arugula, crunchy stuff, scallion, and spicy syrup and pastries such as matcha cinnamon rolls. The Australian Proud Mary Café veers from spins on breakfast classics such as Ricotta Hotcakes (in theirs: lemon chamomile syrup, blueberries &raspberries, yogurt & white chocolate namelaka, poppyseeds, pistachio cookie crumble plus flowers) to sausage rolls and a pulled pork sando with gochujang & fish sauce braised pork, daikon,cilantro, carrot, red cabbage, pickled onion, miso aioli, sesame seed bun, and chili cukes.
The Tin Shed Garden Café patio, setting for dogs accompanying their humans for lunch or dinner
For more traditional choices, The Tin Shed Garden Café is popular for breakfast dishes such as Fetch, a bacon, tomato and green onion scramble over potato cakes or cheese grits served with a homemade buttermilk biscuit and sandwiches such as Salmon & Spice: Blackened Alaskan Sockeye with pepperjack, roasted red peppers, arugula, red onion and chipotle aioli on a grilled potato bun. Guests’ dogs are encouraged to accompany their humans on the patio; they have their own dish on the menu, Fido Food: free range chicken thighs and sweet potatoes.
Italian and Hawaiian Cuisine on Alberta Street
Salmon poke, Kalua pig and Mac salad at Kau Kau.
Two popular restaurants also settled on the street after stints as a pop up and food cart. Gumba, a handmade pasta specialist moved in after four years as a food cart five years ago. Oahu raised couple Brandon and Tracee Hirahara opened Kau Kau on the street in February serving family recipes for Hawaiian specialties such as Loco Moco, Kalua Pig, Lomi Salmon and an elevated crunchy, sweet and spicy mac salad.
Locals favorite: Cafe Olli
A few blocks away but still in the neighborhood, Café Olli, recently anointed one of the 25 best Portland restaurants by the New York Times, is a locals’ favorite not just for what they serve but for the overall spirit of the place due to their employee-owned, generous benefit laden democracy. (A 20% health and wellness fee is added to checks in order to pay employees a living wage and offer health care coverage.) Open all day, it’s known for house made baguettes, ricotta toast, crisp pizzas, particularly the Pomodoro, and in the evening, pastas such as chitarra with sungold sauce, garlic, basil, chili and Parmigiano.
Eem: A Successful Thai/BBQ Fusion
Sweet & Sour Fried Chicken at Eem.
Down the street, Eem, open for lunch and dinner every day, is the result of three major Portland chefs joining forces: Chef Earl Ninsom (Langbaan, Paadee), Matt Vicedomini (Matt’s BBQ) and Eric Nelson (Shipwreck) with the result a mix of Thai and BBQ that produces deeply flavored, exciting food. Among the choices: Green Curry with Crispy Pulled Pork, roasted cauliflower, lime leaf, oyster mushroom, coconut cream, green onion and fried shallot and Smoked Pork Krapao with pork belly burnt ends, Thai basil and fried egg. But the dish that regulars order again and again, for good reason, is White Curry with Brisket Burnt-ends with roasted cauliflower, coconut cream and green onion. It is that delicious.
A New Wine Spa
Discover Relaxation at Portland’s Wine Spa
Nestled near the Willamette Valley, Portland’s Wine Spa offers a unique way to enjoy the region’s renowned Pinot Noirs. Instead of a day trip, you can soak in local wine and sip a glass right in town. Owner Kelly Lewis launched the spa after exploring vinotherapy in Eastern Europe, inspired by its anti-aging and anti-inflammatory benefits.
The spa partners with local vineyards, using unsaleable wine from bottling errors or overproduction. Each soak includes at least a bottle and a half of wine, plus a glass to enjoy. Add a massage, and you’ll feel instantly relaxed—the perfect way to unwind after a busy day.
Book your vacation with MWR LIFE today and experience the soothing luxury of Portland’s Wine Spa!