Residence Inn Portland Downtown/Pearl District

This Residence Inn that opened in 2014 has a quiet, ultra-modern ambiance that’s highlighted by striking contemporary art, modular furniture, wood paneling, and a gas fireplace. Its beautiful courtyard feels like an urban park, with meticulous landscaping, lots of benches, and even a fire pit surrounded by chairs. Some of the courtyard’s exterior walls are bright yellow, adding a cheerful, festive touch. A set of comfy outdoor furniture rests underneath a covered space, providing a restful place to relax with a drink or sandwich. The hotel attracts a mix of leisure and business travelers.  

The Residence Inn is located in Portland’s Pearl District north of downtown’s Central Business District (CBD) and near to Union Station (five minutes on foot). It’s a safe and vibrant area, with several restaurants within a five-minute walk or less, but it's a 20-minute walk downtown. A Portland Streetcar stop is two minutes on foot from the hotel. Pioneer Courthouse Square in the heart of the CBD is 17 minutes via public transit. The Oregon Convention Center and Moda Center across the Willamette River are about six minutes away by car or 15 minutes by streetcar. Old Town/Chinatown is a 14-minute walk, and Portland International Airport is approximately 30 minutes by car or 55 minutes via public transit. 

These attractive suites remain fresh from their 2014 debut. They have a modern decor that features modular-style furniture and soft earth tones accented by bright colors, like fuchsia padded headboards and bed skirts, bright yellow bar stools, and silvery drapes. The beds are covered by white duvets, and desks have leather office chairs. 

Standard Kings and Double Queens are studio-style. Two-bedroom, two-bathroom suites also are available. All of the suites have sleeper sofas and fully equipped kitchens with stainless steel appliances that include full-size fridges, dishwashers, and microwaves. Wet bars, coffeemakers, cooktops, and utensils are included as well. Free Wi-Fi and 32-inch flat-screen TVs are standard amenities.

Bathrooms also are spacious, with roomy, white ceramic vanities and bright, backlit mirrors. The Standard King we saw had a walk-in shower with glass doors and white tiling, but some suites have shower/tub combos. Some units overlook the lovely courtyard area, while others offer general city views. Rooms facing the courtyard also tend to hear less ambient noise than those nearest to the train station. White noise machines are provided. 

This Residence Inn is packed with amenities for a comfortable stay. It has a restaurant and lounge, something that’s not typically found in most of the chain's other hotels. Lot 4 Restaurant & Lounge offers daily happy hour specials and serves dinner nightly, with a menu that includes salads, sandwiches, flatbreads, and regional entrees like salmon. A free breakfast also is served daily that includes eggs and other hot items. Free coffee is available in the lobby, where a pantry sells snacks, frozen entrees, beer, and wine. The courtyard has a gas grill that guests can use, and the hotel offers a free grocery shopping service. 

For wellness, the fitness center has everything for a good workout, including free weights, a weight-training machine, and several pieces of Life Fitness cardio machines. There's also an indoor pool, but it's small and lap-style, and it doesn’t have a whirlpool. The lobby has a computer and printer for guests, and the hotel’s five meeting spaces can accommodate up to 200 people. Valet parking is the only on-site parking option. It’s expensive but secure, and cars are accessible 24/7. Valet dry cleaning and laundry are among the concierge services. Wi-Fi is free throughout. Pets are welcome with a surcharge.