Portland’s Diego A. Gutiérrez lets us know what’s good in the neighborhood

Best place to take a client: Urban Farmer. Located inside the Nines Hotel, it offers a bright, lively ambiance for lunch or dinner with a menu that features a variety of dishes using locally sourced ingredients.

Favorite lunch spot/food cart: La Real Taqueria, just outside Portland in Tigard, is a Mexican food cart that covers the staples—tacos, burritos and sopes—as well as unique creations like the “pizadilla,” a Mexican-style pizza that is the perfect mashup of comfort food.  

Favorite building: The Hollywood Theatre opened in 1926 as a vaudeville house and silent movie theater, and today hosts everything from the latest Hollywood blockbusters to independent and foreign films.

Weekend getaway: Anywhere on the Oregon coast. It’s an easy daytrip, but I find it best to stay over the weekend in one of many quaint coastal towns and explore new hiking spots and sights. Whether you drive through Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor or view Cannon Beach’s iconic Haystack Rock, you won’t be disappointed.  

Favorite city event: Catching a glimpse of Portland’s cherry blossoms in the spring. The trees at the Japanese American Historical Plaza in Tom McCall Waterfront Park, a gift from Japan, are truly special.

Favorite breakfast spot: Fat City Café in Multnomah Village—a great little diner open for breakfast and lunch. Be sure to try their baked cinnamon rolls.

Best view: Overlook Park near North Mississippi Avenue has stellar views of Fremont Bridge and the city’s skyline.

Favorite park: Washington Park is home to some of Portland’s most iconic landmarks: the Portland Japanese Garden, the International Rose Test Garden, the Hoyt Arboretum, and the zoo. The views of the city from the Rose Test Garden are stunning. 

Favorite local shop: MadeHere in Northwest Portland showcases a variety of locally made goods from artists, creators, and other local shops.

Favorite vegan spot: Mis Tacones, in Northeast Portland, is a queer-owned restaurant offering Mexican dishes that could convert almost any vegan skeptic. It also provides free meals to any trans person of color upon request.

Place to take out-of-town guests: Multnomah Falls is a must for anyone visiting for the first time.

Favorite lesser-known tourist attraction: The Oregon Historical Society Museum. You can see the Portland Penny, a copper penny that decided the city’s name through a coin toss.  

Local spirit: Wild Roots Spirits. Be sure to hit up its tasting room to sample a variety of its delicious fruit-infused vodkas. 

Favorite city quote: “The dream of the ’90s is alive in Portland” — Portlandia, Season 1.