Hotel deLuxe

What, you weren’t expecting opulent old-world Hollywood glamour among the recycled wood cottages and artisanal coffee shops of Portland? You’re not alone — and we hope you packed something other than hiking boots. At the Hotel deLuxe, indeed, less isn’t more: more is more. This 100-year-old hotel is a rare symbol of over-the-top grandeur in a city known for its pared-down style and earthy simplicity. Just step into the lobby — the deLuxe retains the art deco mirrors, twinkling chandeliers made of Czech glass, and gold-leaf ceilings of yesteryear.

Upstairs, the 130 guest rooms are almost as romantic, with rich floor-to-ceiling drapery and vintage glass light fixtures befitting the boudoir of a forties-era starlet. That’s the idea, in fact, to make the guest feel like a movie star. Each room features a “Make It So” button, a pillow menu, and an honor bar with a short list of recommended food and wine pairings; the hallways are lined with old film stills. At the top of the line, the Marlene Dietrich Suite is as whimsically extravagant as you’d expect, with an eight-foot circular bed and panoramic city views.

An elegant breakfast is served to guests seated at velvet banquettes at Gracie’s, the deLuxe’s restaurant. Elsewhere in the hotel, the gilded architecture is preserved, even if some of the rooms’ original functions have changed to accommodate a modern clientele. The Crystal Room, once containing an orchestra pit and grand piano, now serves as a screening room for the deLuxe’s pop-up cinema series. The Driftwood Room cocktail bar, on the other hand, has hardly changed since its heyday: with dramatic beamed ceilings and a dark, curving bar, the seductive 1950s-style lounge is a fixture on Portland’s craft cocktail circuit. And you know, in this town, of course, they’re not kidding around when they talk about craft cocktails — get in the spirit of the glamorous environs and sample from the Manhattan menu, or try a fizzy champagne concoction, the house special.