Portland, OregonOld Town Chinatown
The Society Hotel - Portland
Restored sailors bunkhouse
Old Town Chinatown Portland, Oregon
Opened
2015
Price
$
Rated for
Design Heritage SocialOutside the door
The house
The Society HotelRestored sailors bunkhouse
The 1881 mariners boarding house runs as an unpretentious cross between a hotel and hostel, with private rooms, shared bunks, and a ground-floor cafe.
“The hotel’s cafe and lounge serves three simple meals a day starting at 7 a.m.”
What it’s good at
Notable
Minimalist bunkrooms and bright guest quarters set against preserved nineteenth-century brickwork.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
A 19th-century sailors’ hostel in Portland’s Chinatown finds new life as a low-frills, high-style boutique hotel, one that’s meant to fill a gap at the low-budget end of the market.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Music venues and food carts line the surrounding Old Town Chinatown streets, and downtown is a short walk away.
The rooms
Bunkrooms have curtained beds with built-in reading lights. Private standard rooms keep exposed brick walls and in-room sinks, with shared bathrooms down the hall.
The rooftop sauna
A Scandinavian-style cedar sauna sits on the roof deck, steps from outdoor hot and cold rinse stations.
Restaurant
The Society Cafe
The marble counter pours Caffè Vita espresso and draft beer, with breakfast sandwiches and pastries served throughout the day.
Make the Society Hotel in Portland your base: It’s located downtown in a building dating to the 19th century.
At the table
Upholstered banquettes sit beneath tall windows looking onto 3rd Avenue, next to communal tables and bookshelves.
How it began
Built in 1881 to keep sailors out of Portland's Shanghai Tunnels, the building's upper floors sat untouched for nearly seventy years.
Portland
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.