Radisson Red Hotel Downtown Portland, Review
Portland is a hip town with a great vibe. It’s full of great restaurants, music, nightlife, and just as strong a coffee culture as it’s cousin, Seattle.
One of the newer hotels on the block that doesn’t get much attention is the Radisson Red. There are plenty of Hyatt, Marriott, and Hilton properties in downtown, and Radisson usually doesn’t draw a lot of loyalty in the USA.
It’s about a 10 minute walk to the main downtown sights so it’s close to the action.
Radisson Red’s mission sums it up:
Our hotels are different. We put a twist on the normal to make it unforgettable. Our relaxed service style gives you permission to be yourself. Everyone is welcome here. Our statement design kickstarts the day or night with attitude. Business or pleasure, RED guests can dive into the vibe as easily as they can relax out of it. Get to the heart of the action.
The Hotel
When you drive up to the property you can see the red hues everywhere. The doors are red as well, very red-light-district feel.
The bar is just off to the right when you enter and painted by local artists. To the right of the bar is the restaurant where they serve breakfast and dinner. It was pretty empty when I arrived. Portland has a vibrant food truck scene and some amazing top-notch chefs just an 8-10 minute walk away.
Stairs will lead you to the second-floor game room. It’s an arcade with old-school games, free of charge. This place gets pretty busy on Friday and Saturday nights because, well, they don’t charge for the games. I assume because they want you to buy some drinks at the bar!
Air Hockey, Foosball, PacMan, old Atari Games, and a Pool Table. Let’s have some fun!
Drag Brunch
On Sunday the Red turns into Recovery at Red with a Drag Brunch at 11am. With a $10 pitcher of Mimosas, good food, and a show, it’s packed on Sunday mornings.
The hotel makes sure that you know… there’s a parental advisory. Drag isn’t for the faint of heart!
The Rooms
The best part of the hotel. Check in was quick and I found out I was upgraded to the top floor of the hotel and given a corner suite.
It’s like that old joke from when you were a kid… “what’s black, white, and red all over? The Newspaper! And also the Radisson Red’s color scheme.
In the corner suites you’ll find a kitchen table with 2 seats and a picnic bench. The mini fridge is hiding out along with the coffee maker and safe. Right next to that, the closet. Standard hotel amenities such as an ironing board, hangers, and extra blankets are inside.
The bathroom continues the red/white/black theme with a tiled red lobster. Gotta admit, I don’t like the shower. The pressure is fantastic but since it’s not a full door, the water gets all over the bathroom. Make sure to put down an extra towel down on the floor.
The view from the room isn’t that bad either.
Plugs next to the bed allow direct USB charging.
You can also stream your Hulu, Netflix, and more directly to the TV in the room.
Best Time to Stay
Rates are usually cheapest during the weekend as the hotel shares the same space as a large office building. During the week they cater to business travelers and on the weekend they try and attract the locals by lowering the prices.
Radisson often runs promotions for double or triple points so that’s the best time to take advantage.
Enjoy one of Portland’s coolest properties on your next visit to town! It’s a perfectly located hotel with clean, crisp rooms and a vibrant party scene on the weekends.
