The Ritz-Carlton, Portland

“Best hotel in downtown Portland, but pricey.”

I take at least two leisure trips a year to Portland and I've just stayed at just about every Marriott/Bonvoy property in the city. The Nines has been my favorite...until now. I'd been keeping my eye on the Ritz since it opened, and I've never seen rates below $400/night no matter the time of yea… more

I take at least two leisure trips a year to Portland and I've just stayed at just about every Marriott/Bonvoy property in the city. The Nines has been my favorite...until now. I'd been keeping my eye on the Ritz since it opened, and I've never seen rates below $400/night no matter the time of year or day of the week. I find it hard to justify spending that much on a hotel room. I had some credits to burn and a rate including daily breakfast and a $100 dining credit, so I decided to splurge. The rate was eligible for a room upgrade, and I have Bonvoy Titanium status. A few days before check-in I noticed I had been upgraded to a King Corner suite from a standard king room. The room was fantastic with wonderful views facing Mt. St. Helens. Everything about the room design was well-thought out. We ate 2 breakfasts and one lunch at Bellpine. We had Moira as a server for two meals and she was excellent, personable and attentive. She also gave us a couple recommendations of things to do that weren't on our radar even though we're Portland regulars. The food was good to great and the views from the restaurant are amazing. Beware that it can be bright in the mornings unless it's an overcast day, so you might want to bring sunglasses. It was no surprise that the food was pricey and portions small, which is to be expected for a Ritz. My only complaints about the stay were from breakfast. At breakfast the first morning I asked our server (not Moira) whether the Eggs Benedict came with two eggs/English muffins and was told "yes". This was wrong, and there was only one English Muffin/egg. I let it go and didn't say anything. Just charge me a few dollars extra and give me a second English muffin/egg. We really liked the breakfast potatoes. The next day we ordered potato "rostis" incorrectly assuming they'd be house made. They were pretty much identical to the storebought hasbrowns I east some weekends. The gym was spacious and had great views, but I didn't use it. The pool and jacuzzi are one of the best features of the hotel. Not many downtown Portland hotels have pools, and for the ones that do, they're always in a basement and kind of dreary. I went for a soak in the jacuzzi and swim both days, and it was great. I love that you can see the city from the jacuzzi and pool. The pool got a little crowded in the evenings. One night, there was no lounger when I arrived, but I was able to get one when someone left. Mid-days seem like a better time to go, if you want some solitude. It would be nice if there were adult hours. Location is good. Steps away from the streetcar and a few blocks from the light rail. A short walk to the Pearl District and many great restaurants close by. Bonvoy benefits were good. I don't know if it was because of my package rate or Titanium status, but we got some chocolates (beyond the ones offered for turndown service) and a hand-written welcome note in the room. We were given a 4PM checkout, which was part of the rate and the Bonvoy benefits. The verdict: The Ritz is now my favorite hotel in Portland. However, I can't bring myself to spending $400/night on most trips. I'll definitely be back, but less than yearly. I get a rate through my employer at the Nines that is less than half the price of the Ritz, and I've enjoyed all my stays there. Other Bonvoy properties in the city are often even less. If you don't want to spend the money, I suggest stopping into Bellpine for a drink to take in the views.

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“Absolutely Exceptional”

This was a fantastic stay and emblematic of exceptionalism - met and exceeded every standard I have come to expect at Ritz properties. This is not just a beautiful, newer property, it is also an example of world class service. From the valet, to door attendants, bellhops - basically every staff m… more

This was a fantastic stay and emblematic of exceptionalism - met and exceeded every standard I have come to expect at Ritz properties. This is not just a beautiful, newer property, it is also an example of world class service. From the valet, to door attendants, bellhops - basically every staff member I encountered was welcoming and inviting. Professionalism and formal, but with a welcoming warmth. Kevin and Jay at the front desk were extremely helpful and arranged a spectacular room for me. Matt at the bar prepared a great Mezcal Old Fashioned as my room was readied. Dinner at the onsite restaurant, Bellpine, on the 20th floor was outstanding. The chef and entire culinary team have curated a fantastic tapas style menu that is delicious and fun. Amanda, my server knew every single detail of the entire menu, was very attentive, offered great recommendations, and contributed greatly to an extremely delicious and enjoyable dinner experience. Returning to the room after dinner I found that the housekeeping team had, to my pleasant surprise, conducted a Ritz turndown service to prepare my room for the night - curtains drawn, sheets turned back as well as slippers, bottled water, and chocolates arranged at my bed. A perfect touch to follow an incredible meal. My only regret is that I didn’t book a longer stay. Cheers to the management of this property and the entire staff. Every detail was executed to perfection. Adding this property to my list of locations to frequent in my travels.

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