The Best Places In Portland To Brunch Al Fresco
Portland, Oregon, is famous for an obsession with weekend brunch, and we boast more than a few great places for it, some of which are bars, and many of which have patios. As the summer months approach and the clouds abate there's nothing better than grabbing a lazy morning weekend brunch outdoors. Here are our favorite spots in Portland to brunch al fresco.
Coquine
Katy Millard, head chef and part owner of Coquine, worked her way through numerous Michelin-starred restaurants in France before working in San Francisco and finally moving to Portland. Now, she and her husband Ksandek Podbielski, serve some of the best Northwestern cuisine in the city at their restaurant Coquine. In the mornings, the restaurant is converted into a counter service café, complete with Millar's stunning baked goods. The street-side patio is only open during the warmer months, but offers a lovely view of the Mt. Tabor neighborhood.
Hazel Room
What started out as a smaller tea and cocktail shop has now become a wildly popular brunch spot, serving brunch every day of the week. The menu differentiates itself from the usual Portland brunch fare with rich skillet dishes and towering pulled pork sandwiches. Most items on the menu can be made gluten-free, vegan, or both. Don't miss grabbing a tea-based cocktail while you sit out on the porch or patio, which provide ample people-watching opportunity on the bustling Hawthorne Boulevard.
Night Light Lounge
A bar and lounge at night, and a brunch spot on the weekends, the Night Light has a beautiful back patio, complete with hanging trellises, stringed lights, and ivy. During weekend brunch it's the perfect place to get some eggs Benedict and a bottle of mimosas. Night Light no longer offers bottomless mimosas (something about the OLCC and it being highly illegal to do so), but at $3 a glass or $12 a bottle, they might as well be. You won't be getting much done the rest of the day.
Interurban
We reviewed Interurban's savory brunch menu before, and it remains a great place to skip the longer brunch lines and grab an excellent meal. Interurban just removed the cover for the summer months, so the beautiful wooden patio surrounded by tall bushes is now exposed to the morning light. Brunch is available only on the weekends.
Rae's Lakeview Lounge
There's no lake anywhere near Rae's Lakeview Lounge, but there is a great back patio, usually with a few dogs hanging out. If you're up in far northwest Portland it's the best place to grab brunch, with a surprisingly long menu of classic brunch dishes, including a variety of omelets, sandwiches, Benedicts, and more. Rae's even challenges Night Light by offering $1 mimosas. Like Interurban and Night Light, brunch is only offered on the weekend.
Burnside Brewing
Another overlooked spot for brunch that we're fans of, Burnside Brewing offers a special beer brunch on weekends. It includes some novel items, like a Hot Brown and chilaquiles, and each dish has a suggested paired beer. Burnside Brewing offers ample outside seating in front of the brewery, so you'll never have to wait long for a seat for brunch.
Wild Abandon
A Portland classic, Wild Abandon doesn't receive much publicity, but locals and longtime Portland residents continue to come here, especially for the cozy, hidden back patio. The brunch menu is fairly traditional but well executed, and only available on the weekends.
The Tin Shed Garden Cafe
One of the most popular spots for brunches in Portland, The Tin Shed is especially well known for its dog-friendly dining. The covered outdoor area not only allows doggy guests, but actively encourages them with a dog section on the menu. It's also open every day of the week for brunch, making it a hotspot for people without a pesky 9-5 job.
Veritable Quandary
Another Portland classic, Veritable Quandary is one of the oldest restaurants in town, and has a beautiful garden patio for whatever meal you are having. Sadly, this patio spot won't be available much longer, as Veritable Quandary is shuttering after 45 years of exceptional service to the city. A final outdoor brunch or two would be the perfect way to send this venerable place off.