Eat, Drink And Play In Portland

When you're visiting a city for the first time you’ve got to come armed with tips from a local on where to eat, where to get a good coffee, where to shop, and for genuine suggestions beyond the usual guide book fodder!
 
We caught up with Portland local, Scotty Iseri, startup founder and producer of The Digits, for his insider scoop on Portland’s Bad Ass Sandwiches, the best karaoke joint in town, where gaming nerds can go to appease their inner geek, and hot tips for not only doughnuts, but an underground lava tube on Mount St Helens too.
 

Food

Toast – Portland is a brunch town, so be prepared to line up. Toast’s Bad Ass Sandwich with eggs, bacon, goat’s milk cheese, greens and a potato rosti will keep you going for hours.

After Dark

Chopsticks III – This hole-in-the-wall bar is home to the best karaoke in town. Even on a weeknight you’ll find the regulars giving their all to Savage Garden’s ‘Truly Madly Deeply’.

Play

Ground Kontrol – If the words ‘Galaga’, ‘Rampage’ and ‘Tron’ mean anything to you, you’ll love Ground Kontrol. It’s retro gaming at its finest (picture the arcades of the ’80s).

Day Trip

Ape Cave – Hike through the underground lava tube on Mount St Helens; you need a headlamp and you need to be willing to climb. There are also bats – it’s all kinds of outdoor adventure.

Secret Tip

Insider info – Voodoo Doughnut always has a long line – and long lines are for chumps. Instead, head to Blue Star Donuts for better pastries and better coffee.