Portland, Oregon has quickly become known for its thriving culinary scene, which includes of lots of delicious desserts. While everyone’s idea of what makes a perfect dessert is different, I’ve compiled a list of what I think are the top 5 places to find the best desserts in Portland.
Voodoo Doughnuts
Likely the most famous on this list, Voodoo Doughnuts is a Portland staple, due to their wacky doughnuts that include everything from miniature voodoo dolls to doughnut coffins.
If you’re planning to stop and grab a doughnut (or 20) at Voodoo, make sure to bring change, since they only accept cash. You should also be prepared to wait in line – you can find dozens of people waiting for their doughnut at virtually any time of day.
In terms of what doughnuts to order, that’s entirely up to you. For kids, there are captain crunch or Oreo-covered doughnuts. If you have allergies or alternative eating styles, there are also vegan donuts. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also go for the classic voodoo-man doughnut, which is always a crowd favorite.
Presso Coffee
You may be wondering why a coffee shop made the list of best desserts, but trust me – there’s good reason. Presso is an up-and-coming coffee shop in Portland, and there are a few things that set it apart.
First of all, if you love to appreciate design while you eat, Presso is the place to be. The establishment is already instagram famous for its flower wall and coffee art, which you can customize to include anything from your name to your dog’s face using a phone app called Ripple.
Presso also has incredible dessert drinks, especially around the holidays. If you’re looking for a sweet way to start your morning, this is the place to be.
Salt & Straw
Specialty ice cream parlors have taken off in Portland in the last few years, and Salt and Straw leads the pack. They have several different branches, and at most of them you should be prepared to wait in line.
However, in this case there is a great reason for the line – customers are able to taste as many flavors as they like before placing their order. Salt and Straw is known for featuring unusual flavors, like cinnamon swirl or blue cheese and pear – both of which I’ve tried and 100% recommend.
Salt and Straw comes up with incredibly weird ice cream combos, so if you’re up for a culinary adventure, this is the place to be. Fortunately, they’re also great at what they do – meaning what sounds strange to you is likely delicious.
Pip’s Doughnuts
Another doughnuts shop! Pip’s doughnuts are smaller than what you would normally dream up when you think of doughnuts, but they pack a lot of flavor into a small package.
Pip’s has both a storefront and a mobile van that makes doughnuts and chai while on the move.
Because the doughnuts are on the smaller size (and totally irresistible), I recommend ordering a dozen and planning to share. I would recommend a certain flavor, but to be honest they’re all good – just grab a few different kinds and get ready to be amazed!
Tea Bar
The last place on our list is Tea Bar, my personal favorite in Portland.
Tea Bar serves a wide variety of drinks – from coffee, to boba, to tea – as well as frozen yogurt and pastries. While virtually anything on the menu will be tasty, one of my personal favorites is the Mint Majik latte, which is a bright blue drink that includes peppermint tea, green algae and milk.
Tea Bar also features a rotating menu of frozen yogurts, which are often made from someone unusual flavors like tumeric, pumpkin and chai. They almost always serve 2 flavors, with at least one dairy-free option.
The decor in Tea Bar is also very minimalistic and bright, giving the entire place a clean and happy feel. You can often find a mix of people in there, including students working on their laptops and friends stopping by for a drink and frozen yogurt.
That wraps it up for my list of the top 5 desserts in Portland, have you tried any of them? If so, comment and tell me what you think!
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Author Bio:
Denise is a blogger and entrepreneur who runs The Navy Blonde blog and you can also find her on Instagram. Before she began blogging, Denise was an international television news anchor and worked for major media outlets, creating and editing viral multi-media for audiences all over the world. Having traveled to dozens of countries, she currently resides in Portland, OR and is passionate about style, travel, and helping others live their best life.
