In the heart of downtown Portland, two historic buildings combine to create a sleek, modern hotel.
The Rose City’s hotel industry is booming—about 9,000 rooms were available in 2018, according to the tourism bureau, with another 1,500 estimated for 2020—and Woodlark is the recent hotel to land in an area with more foot traffic. But it stands out even further from the crowd with a lively interior, cozy, minimalist rooms, and a convenient downtown address that draws an attractive, young crowd.
History
Woodlark is comprised of two charming buildings, the Cornelius Hotel, built in French Renaissance style around 1908, and the Woodlark Building, built in 1912, a former dispensary in the Beaux-Arts style, both of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Provenance Hotels acquired the properties in 2015 and hired architecture and design firms to renovate and combine the two landmark buildings into one cohesive unit. The hotel opened in December 2018.
Neighborhood
The apartments are spread across two buildings, and throughout the 150 rooms, you’ll find botanical prints by renowned photographer Imogen Cunningham, custom wallpaper featuring urban plants, clothing stems, hardware: luxe industrial brass, marble-topped console tables, velvet chairs, and hand-crafted wool rugs. At 230 square feet for a standard king room and 665 square feet for a suite, the Woodlark’s spaces are smaller but still allow for plenty of wiggle room. You probably didn’t come to Portland to hang out in your hotel room, but the amenities are there when you need them: flat-screen LCD TVs, self-serve bars stocked with a variety of local specialties like Union Wine and Greenleaf trail mix, Bluetooth speakers, and incredibly comfortable down mattresses with no worries.
Neighborhood
Located downtown, Woodlark is within walking distance of attractions like the Portland Art Museum, the Oregon Historical Society, the Lansu Chinese Garden and Powell’s City of Books, the flagship of the local chain that spans a city block and houses about a million new and used books. The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall is just a few blocks away and features everything from stand-up comedy to symphony; for a little more noise, try the Star Theater or the Crystal Ballroom, both of which offer a good mix of contemporary performances. Shows aside, downtown gets a little quieter at night, but you’re just a short ride by light rail, bus or Lyft from Willamette’s most exciting neighborhood.
Restoration
There are three restaurants on-site: Bullard, a meat-focused restaurant with an internationally-inflected menu from Texas transplant and former chef Doug Adams; Abigail Hall, a cocktail bar with upscale bites; and great coffee, the bustling lobby coffee, espresso drinks, fancy lattes, breakfast plates and kolaches inspired by Adam’s original state. On the next block is Alder Street Food Trolley Pod, a collection of vendors selling various dishes, and a few blocks north, Mauritius serves sweet, Instagram-worthy French-Nordic “lunchettes,” quiche and clafoutis with smørrebrød and Norwegian meatballs. Some of our favorite happy hours are also within walking distance: Try Little Bird Bistro for discounted drinks and a spectacular brie-laden double-patty burger, or wrangle friends and head to Luc See Vietnamese Kitchen, where the professional gesture is to order every single little burger you choose from a plate on the menu and wash it down with a cocktail of the vendor’s choice.
Everything else
Woodlark offers Provenance-branded items, including a selection of pillows, a library of spiritual tomes, and fitness kits with yoga mats, weights, and iPads with programmed exercise videos. The property also offers an on-site gym with interactive workout mirrors and Peloton bikes, as well as a standard selection of treadmills and ellipticals. The property is pet-friendly, and four-legged friends are given a warm welcome and treats upon check-in.
