written by Julie Lee | photo courtesy of Three Degrees
Fourth of July is peeking at us from around the corner, and, if you haven’t done so already, now is the time to plan where you’ll be when dusk hits and the skies light up with fireworks. Some of our favorite Portland establishments provide the ideal setting to take in the show.
Three Degrees
With the soulful blues filling the night air and a killer view of Portland’s waterfront, Three Degrees at the Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel offers front-row viewing of a stunning fireworks display, directly adjacent to the Waterfront Blues Festival. A special Fourth of July barbecue buffet menu includes house-smoked brisket, cedar plank salmon, and slow-cooked pork ribs, served from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations highly recommended.
1510 SW Harbor Way | threedegreesportland.com
Portland City Grill
Sit high enough in the sky and fireworks will be raining all around, while you sip a straight up dirty martini, extra olives. Portland City Grill boasts one of the finest indoor views of the downtown fireworks show, and the very best seats are from the bar. Get there early, stay late, enjoy some wild northwest salmon crudo with those martinis for a sophisticated take on the holiday celebration.
111 SW 5th Ave. | portlandcitygrill.com
Altabira City Tavern
Still new on the scene, Altabira City Tavern is debuting its first fireworks barbecue dinner event this year. A four-course menu will go for $65 per person, with arugula and strawberry salad, Oregon razor clams with lemon dill butter, smoked chicken with jalapeño cornbread panzanella salad and more delectable offerings. Bar manager Becca June has a patriotic cocktail up her sleeve topped off with pop rocks. The sixth-floor patio overlooks Downtown Portland, with direct views of the show starting at 10 p.m.
1021 NE Grand Ave. | altabira.com
Chart House
Up to four firework displays can be seen from the Chart House, which also happens to have one of our favorite happy hours in town. Go in for the long haul, starting with happy hour, taking your time with a leisurely dinner, and watching as majestic fireworks light up the sky.
5700 SW Terwilliger Blvd. | chart-house.com
Noble Rot
While Noble Rot would have at one time been first on our list for firework views, its vista-value has dropped due to urban growth. As the Portland region sprawls to more than 2.5 million residents, there is only one place for all the newbies to go, and that’s up. A sky-rise building now blocks the full view Noble Rot once had of Portland’s waterfront fireworks display, but there is still a solid partial view, great cocktails, and one of our favorite outside decks in the city to celebrate with compatriots.
1111 E. Burnside St. | noblerotpdx.com
