HotelLloyd District / Rose Quarter
Hotel Eastlund
💲💲💲💲 · $150-250/night
🏟️ 0.3 miles — 5 min walk
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Portland, OR
Moda Center
Craft everything — beer, coffee, food carts, and one of America's best food cities.
HotelDowntown
Dossier Hotel
💲💲💲💲 · $200-350/night
🏟️ 1.5 miles — 15 min via MAX
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HotelDowntown Portland
Moxy Portland Downtown
💲💲 · $140-220/night
🏟️ 1.5 miles — short ride or MAX Light Rail
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HotelLloyd District / Rose Quarter
Crowne Plaza Portland
💲💲 · $140-220/night
🏟️ 0.3 miles — 6 min walk
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HotelInner Southeast / Buckman
KEX Portland
💲 · $80-160/night
🏟️ 0.8 miles — 15 min walk or 1 MAX stop
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HotelLloyd District / Rose Quarter
Courtyard by Marriott Portland
💲 · $120-200/night
🏟️ 0.3 miles — 5 min walk
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Lloyd District / Rose Quarter
0 miles from Moda CenterThe arena district. Moda Center, the Rose Quarter Transit Center, and a cluster of hotels and restaurants all within walking distance. This is tournament HQ.
Areas: Rose Quarter, Lloyd Center, NE Grand Ave, NE Holladay St
Best For: Maximum convenience — walk to every game, pre-game bars steps from the arena.
💡 Pro Tip: Spirit of 77 is the pregame bar named after the '77 Blazers championship. It's the closest quality bar to the arena.
Inner Southeast / Buckman
0.5-1 mile from Moda CenterPortland's culinary epicenter. James Beard winners, creative cocktail bars, and the kind of neighborhood restaurants that put Portland on the food map. Walkable and buzzing.
Areas: E Burnside St, SE Ankeny, SE Ash St, Hawthorne Blvd
Best For: Portland's best dining and drinking — this is where the James Beard winners live.
Pearl District
1.5 miles from Moda CenterConverted warehouses, art galleries, and upscale dining. Portland's most polished neighborhood with great restaurants and cocktail bars. Easy MAX ride to the arena.
Areas: NW Everett, NW 23rd Ave, NW Couch St
Best For: Upscale cocktails, dinner before a game, and Portland's art scene.
💡 Pro Tip: Take the MAX Yellow or Green line from the Pearl to Rose Quarter Transit Center — it's a quick 15-minute ride straight to the arena.
Mississippi / Alberta Arts District
2-3 miles from Moda CenterPortland's creative soul. Colorful street art, independent shops, food carts, and neighborhood restaurants. Alberta hosts a monthly Last Thursday art walk that's legendary.
Areas: N Mississippi Ave, NE Alberta St, NE Killingsworth St
Best For: The 'real Portland' experience — food carts, local favorites, and neighborhood character.
💡 Pro Tip: Pine State Biscuits on Alberta is the breakfast move — the Reggie Deluxe is legendary. Get there early on weekends to avoid the line.
Night Before Games
Splurge: Le Pigeon for the $140 chef's tasting menu — James Beard-winning creativity at its best. Mid-range: Canard next door for steam burgers and natural wine. Casual: Hat Yai for Southern Thai fried chicken in a no-frills setting. Nightcap: Teardrop Lounge in the Pearl, Multnomah Whiskey Library (if you snagged a reservation), or Hale Pele for tiki drinks.
Day of — Morning
Power move: Pine State Biscuits for the Reggie Deluxe (fried chicken, bacon, egg, cheese, gravy on a biscuit). Brunch reservation: Screen Door for some of the best brunch in Portland. Coffee & pastries: Coquine Market for a lighter, European-style morning.
Pre-Game
Spirit of 77 — the sports bar named after the '77 Blazers championship, steps from the arena. Dr. Jack's right outside Moda Center for the closest possible pre-game drink. Hale Pele for a fun tiki detour if you have time before tip-off.
Post-Game
Canard for steam burgers (open late). Or Kann for James Beard-winning Haitian cuisine, Shalom Y'all for Israeli street food, or Nong's Khao Man Gai for the best chicken and rice in Portland. Late night: Scotch Lodge or Rum Club.
⏱️ If You Only Have Time for One Thing
🍽️ Food: The Reggie Deluxe at Pine State Biscuits — fried chicken, bacon, egg, cheese, and gravy on a fresh-baked biscuit. It's Portland's most iconic breakfast item and worth every calorie.
🍺 Bar: Multnomah Whiskey Library or Teardrop Lounge — the Whiskey Library has 1,000+ bottles in a stunning space, while Teardrop is a Pearl District cocktail institution. Both are world-class.
✨ Experience: Walk the Eastbank Esplanade at sunset — views of the Steel Bridge, downtown skyline reflecting on the Willamette River, then cross into the Pearl District for dinner. This is Portland at its most beautiful.
☕ Breakfast: Pine State Biscuits. The Reggie Deluxe. No explanation needed — just go.
🌙 Late Night: Hale Pele — one of the top tiki bars in America. Tropical drinks, volcanic decor, and the kind of weird-wonderful vibe that only Portland can deliver.
Getting There
- 🚗 From Seattle: ~3 hours via I-5 South. Straightforward drive.
- 🚗 From Eugene: ~2 hours via I-5 North.
- 🚗 From Bend: ~3.5 hours via US-97 North to US-26 West.
- ✈️ Portland International Airport (PDX): 12 miles from Moda Center — about 20 minutes by car. MAX Red Line runs direct to Rose Quarter Transit Center ($2.80, 35 minutes). PDX is consistently ranked one of America's best airports.
🅿️ Parking Strategy
Moda Center lots run $10-20. Rose Quarter Commons Garage has 1000+ spaces starting at $8. Oregon Convention Center parking is $10+. All lots fill up fast on game days — arrive early or take the MAX.
At the Arena
- 🚇 MAX Light Rail Yellow and Green lines stop at Rose Quarter Transit Center, steps from Moda Center. The MAX Red Line connects PDX airport directly. Download the TriMet app for tickets and schedules.
- 📱 Designated drop-off on N Center Court Street. Expect surge pricing 20-30 minutes after games end — walk a few blocks before requesting.
- 🏟️ Gates open 1.5-2 hours before the first game of each session.
- 👜 Clear bags only (12"x6"x12" maximum) or gallon-size Ziploc. Small clutch purses (4.5"x6.5") are allowed.
- ✓March in Portland: Expect rain. Mid-40s to mid-50s with overcast skies. Bring layers and a waterproof jacket — no umbrella needed, Portlanders just get wet.
- ✓MAX Light Rail is the easiest way to get to Moda Center. Yellow and Green lines stop at Rose Quarter Transit Center, right at the arena. Download the TriMet app.
- ✓Portland is a food cart city. There are pods (clusters of carts) all over town — explore them. It's some of the best cheap food in America.
- ✓Moda Center is cashless for concessions and merchandise. Bring a card or use Apple Pay.
- ✓Book Le Pigeon, Kann, and Coquine at least 2 weeks ahead — tournament weekends will be packed.
- ✓The MAX Red Line runs directly from PDX airport to Rose Quarter — no rideshare needed. $2.80 and 35 minutes.
- ✓Oregon has no sales tax. Everything you buy — food, drinks, souvenirs — is the listed price. Enjoy it.
- ✓Don't skip the Reggie Deluxe at Pine State Biscuits. It's Portland's most iconic breakfast for a reason.
- ✓Multnomah Whiskey Library is tough to get into — book through their website in advance. It's worth the effort.
- ✓Portland's craft beer scene is legendary — there are more breweries per capita than almost any city in America. Ask your bartender for a local recommendation.
What are the best restaurants near Moda Center?+
The Lloyd District and Inner Southeast are right next to the arena. Canard and Le Pigeon are about a mile away on E Burnside — walkable or a quick ride. Spirit of 77 has solid bar food steps from the arena. For the best food experience, head to Inner SE (Kann, Nong's Khao Man Gai) or the Pearl District (Screen Door) — both 10-15 minutes from Moda Center.
Where should I go before a game at Moda Center?+
Spirit of 77 is the classic pre-game spot — named after the '77 Blazers championship, steps from the arena. Dr. Jack's is literally right outside Moda Center (named after legendary coach Jack Ramsay). Both are within a 5-minute walk of the arena entrance.
How do I get to Moda Center without driving?+
MAX Light Rail is the move. Yellow and Green lines stop at Rose Quarter Transit Center, right at the arena. From PDX airport, the Red Line runs direct ($2.80, 35 min). From downtown or the Pearl District, it's a quick 10-15 minute ride. Download the TriMet app for tickets and real-time arrivals.
Is Moda Center cashless?+
Yes — Moda Center is cashless for concessions and merchandise inside the arena. Bring a credit/debit card or use Apple Pay/Google Pay.
What food is Portland known for?+
Portland is a James Beard Award powerhouse — Le Pigeon, Kann (Best New Restaurant 2023), and Coquine are all James Beard winners or finalists. The city is famous for its food carts (pods of carts all over town with incredible cheap eats), and dishes like Pine State Biscuits' Reggie Deluxe and Nong's Khao Man Gai are iconic. Portland consistently punches above its weight in the national food scene.
What drinks is Portland known for?+
Oregon Pinot Noir is world-class — Willamette Valley is just 45 minutes away and produces some of the best Pinot outside Burgundy. Portland's craft cocktail scene rivals any city: Teardrop Lounge and Multnomah Whiskey Library (1,000+ bottles) are nationally recognized. And Portland has more breweries per capita than almost anywhere in America — craft beer is in the city's DNA.
How far is the airport from Moda Center?+
Portland International Airport (PDX) is 12 miles from Moda Center — about 20 minutes by car or rideshare. The MAX Red Line runs direct from the airport to Rose Quarter Transit Center for $2.80 (35 minutes). PDX is one of the best airports in America — easy, efficient, and well-connected.
What's the parking situation at Moda Center?+
Moda Center lots run $10-20. The Rose Quarter Commons Garage has 1,000+ spaces starting at $8. Oregon Convention Center parking is $10+. Lots fill up fast on game days — arrive early or take the MAX Light Rail. If you're staying in the Lloyd District, just walk.
Got a Spot We Missed?
Know a restaurant, bar, or hidden gem in Portland? We're always looking for local recommendations.