Top Portland Dining Experiences

Enjoy lunch along the Willamette River on a 2-hour cruise in Portland. Great for newcomers and locals alike, the leisurely cruise presents an expansive vista of Portland from the water. In addition to exceptional views and food, the afternoon tour also includes commentary from your captain and live entertainment. Prepared with local ingredients, your meal can be upgraded to include an appetizer and dessert.

Start your day off right with a 2-hour brunch cruise along the Willamette River. Board the boat in the late morning and soak in the scenery of northern Oregon as your boat glides away from Portland. When you’re ready, help yourself to a buffet brunch accompanied by sparkling wine or apple cider. You can walk around the deck or sit near the cabin windows to view the stunning landscape.

Portland has long been known for its donuts, and with this tour, you'll get to visit some of the city's best donut shops. Your tour guide will take you not only to the most famous of them all, Voodoo Donuts, but also to lesser-known, but no less delicious spots that locals love.

Forget complicated pasta projects—gnocchi is about to become your new comfort-food obsession. At a casual Portland venue, you’ll follow Chef Jesse through the process of making tender gnocchi from potatoes, flour, salt and eggs, learning how to mix, shape, roll and cut the dough for that soft, satisfying texture. You’ll also prepare a classic marinara using tomatoes, onion, garlic, basil and red wine, picking up useful tips for building layers of flavor and getting the sauce just right. Along the way, you’ll cook, taste and laugh while Chef Jesse shares practical kitchen shortcuts and techniques you can actually use later. By the end, store-bought gnocchi may have some explaining to do.

If folding dumplings while surrounded by good food and good vibes sounds like your kind of evening, this cooking class with Chef Jimmy belongs on your Portland bucket list. Hosted at a trendy local venue, this interactive dim sum experience teaches you how to make authentic dumplings from scratch without the stress or intimidation. You’ll start by preparing fresh hot water dough before learning how to shape delicate dumpling wrappers by hand. Then, Chef Jimmy will walk you through two flavorful fillings: a hearty pork and chicken mixture with green onions and a savory vegetarian option featuring cabbage, shiitake mushrooms and parsley. Once your dumplings are folded and ready, you’ll make a simple but addictive dipping sauce with soy sauce, sesame oil and chili crunch for the perfect finishing touch. This beginner-friendly class includes all ingredients and cooking tools, plus step-by-step guidance that makes every part of the process approachable, fun and surprisingly therapeutic.