The Best Boutique Hotel in Portland

High above Macy’s in Portland’s Pioneer Square lies a chic, luxurious dwelling, where those who appreciate art, design and Tiffany Blue can immerse themselves in this cultural epicenter.  We first visited The Nines in 2009, a year after it opened to great fanfare, debuting as the best hotel in Portland, putting the city on the map in the experiential hospitality scene.

We found The Nines was worthy of its name, but it has, after all, been twelve years. Is it still the best boutique hotel in Portland or is it now past its prime? Let’s dive in, shall we?

What I Loved: The hotel lobby, located on the 8th floor of a historic building, still creates a kaleidoscopic labyrinth of seating areas that blend into the restaurant, Urban Farmer. While it would likely look different if designed today, it still felt luxurious and was a great place for a pre-dinner cocktail.

What you Should Know about the Los Angeles Arts District in 2021

Update July 5, 2021: The DTLA Arts District has no doubt taken a massive hit due to the COVID pandemic. My old client Hammer and Spear closed their original location there in 2020 (they are still on La Cienega).

While it’s still worth visiting, just know that it’s definitely been set back. So many restaurants and stores have closed, but we hope to see a turnaround as we all make our way into a brighter future. I have updated my list below to reflect what is open and have removed those that are now closed indefinitely. R.I.P. so many gems that will be greatly missed.

Original Post from 2017: My client, Hammer and Spear, first introduced me to the Los Angeles Arts District four years ago, when they moved to the neighborhood, befriended everyone, and became a design destination and representation of what was to come.

They knew the owner of Bestia and could get a table any night of the week, when it was the hardest reservation to snag in town. They met a local photographer—who they later partnered with—to form a printing company that pays homage to the neighborhood. They launched Saint Rita Parlor, a hand-crafted eyewear company made in DTLA, and have since helped propel the careers of other artists and designers with unique perspectives and stories.

But this isn’t just a story about Hammer and Spear. It’s a story about why the Los Angeles Arts District has quickly become the most vibrant, creative neighborhood in the country right now. The foundation was built on community.

In a world full of big box retailers and cookie-cutter experiences, DTLA is full of talented individuals who had a vision for creating something local. Read on for a roundup of my favorite independent shops, bars, and restaurants that are all walkable in a city that rarely recommends walking anywhere.