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    McMenamins Crystal Hotel

    4.0 (268 reviews)
    ModerateHotels
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    Cajun tots
    Pea P.

    Mcmenamins is a classic. You have to go! You must get a Ruby, the Cajun tots, and the vegan quinoa black bean burger. The burger is not always on their menu but if you ask they'll let you know if they have it. A great place for dinner or drinks! I crave mcmenamins all the time now that I live in California and we don't have them there.

    The poet: Allen Ginsberg.
    Yolanda R.

    We had an event at the Crystal Ballroom and thought we'd make it extra convenient and fun by staying at the Crystal Hotel, too. We opted for the the king suite with a private bathroom. The room had two small balconies that had cool views, and the room we stayed in was the room called the "Howl" hence the poet Allen Ginsberg: ~ "I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked, dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix, angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night,". ~ The poem above is written around the entire space in beautiful writing on the stunning Sapphire colored walls. A few less enthusiastic things were: no room service and a less attentive front desk staff that teetered on the spectrum of prickly. Ouch!! The king size bed was deliciously comfy as were the linens and they smelled amazing too!! It wasn't a surprise, but downtown Portland is a tad noisy in the wee hours. They do provide ear plugs which we forgot to use. The noise was sporadic and didn't interrupt my sleep too much. My daughter slept like a baby. I was more curious about what was going on but I never bothered to get up to look. Lastly, the hotel sits above the Zeus Cafe, so meals and beverages are only a phone call away and 4 flights down. We called the restaurant directly and they had our order ready in 20 minutes.

    I dig this view.
    Dan F.

    I'm just learning McMenamins. This is only my second stay at any McMenamins. So I'm comparing it to the Edgefield, which probably isn't fair. I will say my room was awesome. My view was cool and I even found the sounds of Portland to be relaxing. The soaking pool was 101° and exactly what you would think- relaxing. Not nearly as adventurous as the edgefield was, but again I'm learning and I will be back. The passport is in my very near future.

    Blackberry cider
    Gabrielle B.

    What a great dinning experience! I can here for dinner after the Portland Saturday Market and I was seated promptly and the restaurant wasn't crowded. Stevie was my server and she was great! She offered good feedback and checked in with our table regularly. I ordered Cajun tots (although I think they gave me regular), the margarita pizza and market salad all from the happy hour menu. I had a blackberry cider which is one of my all time favorites from McMenamins-it's sweet, not too tart but refreshing. I always love the ambiance at McMennamins, it's just a fun go to and never disappoints! The tater tots are incredible, the lighting and decor is very cozy and the food is phenomenal.

    Music themed.
    Natalie R.

    It's quaint. It's quirky. It's clean. Safe. Great location and quiet. I was pretty skeptical about the shared bathrooms but it absolutely wasn't a problem. I felt safe and everything was very clean with a gentleman on our floor who was cleaning and checking throughout the evening. We loved to soak pool and took advantage again the next morning before check out. There is a dedicated towel and robe in your room in addition to a bath towel and sink in the room. Would love to return.

    Art
    Kristen W.

    Umm Yes and hell Yes for my sister's and brothers in the back. #Gem #GetTheJar. #MackRules Super Cute Place, Super Cute Staff, With a long Hot tub Water fall dipping. Mai Thai sippin with the high class bougie bar in the back. Drink Up Love It up! I'll be back Thank you for treating me Nice.

    Our room on 2nd floor at fire escape.
    Paul K.

    My wife and I stayed here over Memorial Day weekend and during the pandemic. We went for an early short anniversary getaway. The hotel was like a ghost town with less people and no open bars or dance areas but the restaurant was open for room service and we found they only book the rooms to 50% capacity due to the pandemic. We really love the McMenamins themed hotels in Oregon & Washington and the Crystal Hotel didn't disappoint. We had a very friendly check in host and but everyone we encountered was so nice. The hotel has a very colorful background from the turn of last century and gangsters and politicians, etc all came to the dance areas and restaurants over the years. There is plenty of history on the walls among the 4 floors of hallways. Our check in host gave us a $25 gift card for their restaurants in recognition of our anniversary stay. We used it to get some dinner room service that night. Our music themed room was small but very nicely decorated with a band that had played there years ago. Each room had a different song/band theme. Our bathroom & shower was separate down the hall and only for our use via our room key. We had a great time albeit our short visit but want to return when the nearby Ballroom is open and the small basement bars are humming. Thanks McMenamins for a very memorable stay!

    There wasn't anyone in the pool the entire time we were using it. Very warm and relaxing
    Abbie T.

    The staff were all helpful, friendly, and seemed genuinely happy to be there. I mixed up my booking, and they offered to fix it instead of turning me away. Saved my anniversary! Rooms are clean, and shared bathrooms are huge and very private. Never had to wait.

    Jason V.

    As many times as I have been to Ringlers, Lola's Room or the Crystal Ballroom over the years, I have never stayed in the Crystal Hotel itself, until this weekend. Being a local boy, there never was much impetus to do so, but my wife and I, on the hunt for our passport stamps, and in search of a much needed respite from both kids and dogs this weekend, booked a room not too far from home, for a quick weekend getaway. This hotel is cool. Some might call it claustrophobic; I prefer "dense" or "economical" when it comes to use of the space. This wedge-shaped hotel crams a surprising number of rooms into its four floors, including a restaurant, a couple bars, and a subterranean soaking pool, the existence of which I only just learned about. We checked in around 3pm, dropped off our stuff, and met up with some friends at a nearby pub. Our downtown crawl through various drinking establishments kept us busy throughout the day until around 10pm, until we returned to the Crystal for our scheduled hour in the soaking pool. Having a hotel in downtown, right in the heart of everywhere we wanted to be, was super convenient, and the warm waters below street level were exactly what we needed for our sore muscles, and to clear our heads. We both slept quite well on the comfy beds (among the best of those we've encountered at a McMenamins)! As mentioned above, the rooms themselves are somewhat compact (I would compare them to the size of an economy room anywhere in Tokyo), with shared bathrooms scattered throughout the floor on which you are staying ( counted at least three on the 4th floor). Despite the close proximity to other rooms (and the hotel being 100% booked, as our out-of-town friends discovered), I didn't hear a peep from any other rooms, or loud noises in the hallway, all night. Didn't notice any secret rooms in this one, but we were pretty tired from our adventures, so we definitely could have missed them. The service desk staff were efficient, attentive and helpful, and managed to keep traffic socially distanced and moving through the tiny lobby at a good clip. Room service was prompt (my wife booked the breakfast package) and got everything right; the food was tasty with sizeable portions, but nothing to write home about - McMenamins entrees tend to vary from stellar to passable: my wife raved about her Mt. Hood scramble, while my Huevos Rancheros were decent, if a little heavy on the beans and light on the cheese and crema - things I could have easily corrected if we were in the restaurant. Overall, for locals like us, the Crystal Hotel has a lot of things going for it. I've always been a huge fan of the McMenamins interior aesthetics, and the Crystal's decor jives with its legacy floorplan. It's also situated in a fantastic downtown location, even if finding adequate parking can be a bit of an Odyssey. The Crystal is going to be my go-to recommendation for any friends or family coming in from out of town. Sure, there are more "glamorous" hotels in the area (The Benson, Lucia, etc), with valets and tiled vestibules, but those sort of hotels are a dime a dozen. You will remember your stay at the Crystal, long after you would have forgotten the name of wherever else you could have bunked in Portland.

    Edward G.

    The Crystal Hotel put us in the downtown scene. The staff was always helpful and the room was spacious and very funky. Downstairs, Al's Den has a speakeasy feel, serving McMenamins' signature brews (the Ramblin' Amber Rye was my favorite), wines and ciders. We had the Tiki themed soaking pool to ourselves and could relax in the warm water as long as we wanted. The neighborhood was a hub of quirky fun, and it was not far from the art and history museums or numerous local food trucks. Zeus' Cafe has a simple menu packed with creative locally-sourced selections like the truffle tatter tots with black garlic aioli and pecorino romano. We could have used some more light in our room, especially late night and pre-dawn, but overall we loved staying in a historic hotel that has been so loved by it's owners.

    This is what you get for $160 per night
    Adrion A.

    Bath tub in room? No. Shower in room? No. Tv in room? No. No mini fridge either. Hard to imagine lol. Oddly there's a sink. Tell me it's a hostel without telling me it's a hostel . You get a 10x10 dem lit cell with a old firm queen sized mattress. Maybe I missed the fine print, I read soaking pool and signed up. I mean even that was like a social cesspool. Not one person showered before entering. Also they allow you to drink alcohol while using it so people are just in there getting befuddled, sweating and chatting loudly. Not as relaxing as I had hoped. I give it two stars for the benefit of the doubt because maybe I should have read up or asked questions but at that price point I figured I was getting 21st century amenities. I feel like for all things the room didn't come with someone should have said something. Paid $160 & won't be back ya got me

    Blackberry Cider (right) + Spring Forward (left)
    Caitlin E.

    This review is specifically for Al's Den, which is a speakeasy in the basement of the hotel (p.s. Al's Den needs it's own Yelp location). I loved both my drinks I got here, and the vibes were nice as well. When I walked in I saw someone drinking a beautiful purple drink, and I knew I had to have it (that was "The Butterfly Effect"). I ordered a blackberry cider after that, and it was SO good! Delightfully tart, I wish I could order it here in Kansas City. The service wasn't great, though the bartender was still nice.

    This is Brennan the incredible bartender

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    Always great to see shows here. Splurge for the balcony - you won't regret it. Private bar.

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    Dametris H.

    Thank you Owen.

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    Scott M.

    Hi Lynn. Thanks for the kind words. Scott

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - McMenamins Crystal Hotel

    Can you get into the pool if you're not staying or is it exclusive to hotel guests?

    This location is for hotel guests exclusively. The Kennedy School allows the public to use the pool for a modest fee. Scott

    Fridges in rooms?

    Hello Arielle, Unfortunately, we do not. Thanks for checking.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - McMenamins Crystal Hotel

    We had dinner and breakfast at the Zeus Cafe and the staff was maybe the nicest I've ever met in Portland.

    Mentioned in 30 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    I did a quick little trip to Portland and need a place downtown near the Roseland Theater. The…read moreSociety Hotel is within 5 minutes walking from there so it was perfect. Its hotel style BUT they also have private rooms you can book with it's own bathroom and super affordable. I didn't the private suite and it was perfect for the one night. The felt desk staff was super friendly both when I checked in and out, the room was clean, super comfy bed and overall loved my stay. The area this hotel is in is a bit sketchy but that's no fault of the hotel, just be aware when walking around especially at night.

    I would recommend any other hotel unless you have no other options. The lobby is aesthetic but…read moreeverything else is below expectations. Location: next to a safe injection site and the entry way smelled like pee. You essentially have to step over people sleeping on the street. Rooms: the toilet had mold growing in it. The duvet cover was missing and the insert had sharpie on it. The sheets were dirty. The furnace will keep you up all night long. The pictures do not show how small the suite we booked was and the "upgraded view" was of a wall about two feet away. There is nowhere to put your stuff other than the ground. the patio: half was closed and what was there were just a few tables and chairs. The staff: friendly but cannot compensate for the state of the rooms. We survived one night with the worst sleep while still wearing earplugs. We abandoned the rest of our stay and are eating the cost even though we did ask for a refund. We asked both the front desk and were instructed to email the generic line. We have not gotten a response.

    Hotel deLuxe

    Hotel deLuxe

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    I've stayed at the Hotel Deluxe a few times now and every visit reminds me why I keep coming back…read more Check-in is so easy it almost feels suspicious. No drama, no confusion, just keys in hand and off you go. The building itself has that great old Portland movie-era charm. It feels like the kind of place where a film star from the 1940s might walk around the corner at any moment looking for a martini. Instead it's usually just me looking for the elevator, but still... the vibe is excellent. Parking is on the next block over and surprisingly easy, which in Portland counts as a minor miracle. I've spent more time looking for parking at grocery stores. Now let's talk about the Driftwood Bar. Do not skip it. Curt the bartender is the kind of guy who makes you want to cancel your plans and just sit there all evening solving the world's problems over a well-made drink. Friendly, funny, and he actually knows how to make a proper cocktail. I wish I had more time to just saddle up to the bar and chat with him. Breakfast at Gracie's was also great. Our waitress Erin took care of us Wednesday morning when the place was mostly empty. Service was friendly, the food looked like someone actually cared when they put it on the plate, and the prices were totally reasonable. No $38 "artisanal avocado toast with existential despair." Just good breakfast done right. So what more do you want? Comfortable clean bed, reasonable prices, great bar, solid breakfast, and you're right in the heart of Portland. If you're staying in the city and want a hotel with character instead of a bland corporate sleep box, Hotel Deluxe is the move. I'll definitely be back...

    Home base for 3 nights while I was in town for a friend's wedding…read more I've been coming to PDX for nearly 9 years now, but this was my first time staying downtown. I've always stayed with a friend who lives outside of town. My stay here was enjoyable. Most notably, the bed was super comfortable and soft. I slept so well. The blackout curtains was a nice touch. The weather didn't permit for early morning activities so I always slept in. I took one star for a couple of reasons. First being that I tried to check in about an hour before the 4pm checkin time thinking it would be accommodated, but alas that was not the case. I checked in my luggage and walked across the bridge and got a much needed caffeinated beverage. I got back under an hour and was finally able to get in my room. The room was clean, but not even 5 mins into me unpacking, housekeeping was at my front door asking if I had found anything in the drawer. There was in fact the previous guest's clothing in 2 of the drawers. So yeah, that was off putting. The second thing is that there was in fact no tea in my room. It would've been nice to have it at night when it was colder. Pros: I appreciated that the bathroom had all the products needed which was perfect since I forgot to bring shampoo. Also not a fan of the daily charge for the amenities. Personally, I think only the guests who use the fitness facilities should be charged said fees. It feels like highway robbery to be charged $29 daily when you don't use the gym. What if I was here a full week? That's bonkers. I got to use the gym the day I checked out. This area was dramatically quieter than the other side of the bridge. That's where the riff raffery was. It always felt so relaxing as soon as I entered the front door. As soon as I got to my room, it was silence. The Providence Park tram stop is just 2 mins away on foot. This means you can take the red line to the airport ins of taking an uber. I made sure to have breakfast at Gracie's and a nightcap at Driftwood, both on the opposite side of reception.

    The Duniway Portland, a Hilton Hotel

    The Duniway Portland, a Hilton Hotel

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    This is a great location downtown. I flew in so I don't know about the parking situation. I came…read morefor a conference at the Hilton and it was sold out. I am glad it was cause otherwise I wouldn't have discovered this hotel and I really liked it. My room is spacious and the view is great. Staff is friendly and helpful. I liked the central location of it. The restroom is also spacious and clean. They have a bar and restaurant down in the lobby. They also have a workout room available 24 hours.

    The Nines, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Portland

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    Located in downtown Portland right next to Pioneer Square. If you're planning on driving in, it can…read morebe a little annoying. You can valet right in front of the hotel or there are some public parking garages nearby. The actual lobby is on the eighth floor, and depending on how busy it is the elevators can be a little slow. No issues with the service. Everyone was friendly. They even spent the time trying to figure out what email I had linked to my Marriott account. The room itself was beautiful. I did enjoy having the nice couch, though there were some stains on it. The view wasn't anything too special, it overlooked the next-door building. The bathroom was clean, well lit, and I enjoy not having the little bottles of shampoo and conditioner, and instead the larger containers for less waste. It was generally quiet in the room, though you could hear the light rail go by. Wasn't a huge fan of the fact that the mini fridge was full of things that if I touched it would charged my room. If you wanted to bring leftovers from nearby restaurant, you can't because there's no space in the fridge to put things. Overall it was a good place to stay while in Portland.

    This hotel is within walking distance of many shops, which is nice…read more The hotel lobby is located on the 8th floor. So when you come in, pass the valet riveters to the left, and take the elevator up. The check-in process was fast, but the elevators took longer than they did. To access the elevators to the room floors, you need a key unless you're going down to the 1st floor or lobby. There's a restaurant on the 15th floor that had a line at the elevator because they wanted to access it without a key, and I think that's what kept the elevator area busy. The rooms are pretty big and spacious, with your usual amenities and mini-bar items. The couch was a good size. However, the TV does not move, so if you are on the couch and watching TV, the angle is sideways. The in-room dining menu is limited, with little selection, and even the restaurant/bar behind the lobby has a limited food menu. The bed was comfortable, but the pillows were very flat when you lay on them. The housekeeping staff was very friendly and nice

    McMenamins Crystal Hotel - hotels - Updated July 2026

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