More about Clyde Hotel Downtown Portland
Ace is the place.
by happyfarmr about Ace Hotel
You may have heard from the mentions in the NYT, Elle decor, Travel & Leisure...that Ace is the place to be - a surprisingly affordable and ultra-hip hotel bordering the Pearl District in the city-of-the-moment, Portland. The room I had was small, but comfortable, with all the basics and just a little bit funky. The staff was friendly and helpful.
The restaurant on premises, Clyde Common, is pretty tasty as well. Portland has taken local, sustainable eating to the extreme and this restaurant is no exception. The menu is completely a la carte (meaning you must order and pay for side dishes separately), and can get a little pricey, but the food is divine. (NB that although you can still have ketchup for your fries, you must ask for it).
While there I developed a serious addiction to Stumptown Coffee...they make each cup (yes, even the drip stuff) to order. It's caffeinated heaven.
1133 NW Glisan
by IncogNeat-0
1133 NW Glisan is a nondescript olive green building. A year or two ago it might have been better described as a scruffy looking nondescript yellow/beige building, but this is the new-fangled Pearl District still in the process of being recycled out of an old, no-name warehouse district. Maybe that's why 1133 recently got a new paint job, to keep up with the neighbors.
There is no nameplate over the nondescript door, nothing to indicate what might be hidden behind it, only a doorbell to the left mounted on the door jamb, as unobtrusive & noncommittal as everything else. Like the newly popular Ace Hotel, you have to know its there to know its there.
No, it is not a speakeasy left over from the Roaring 20's, let alone a house of ill repute. This is the newly minted high class Pearl District after all. Smith-Western is a distribution center for post cards, calendars, souvenirs, knick-knacks, etc of the sort you see in airports, tourists traps, and novelty shops all over the world - and it is BIG business.
Ring the bell & you will be ushered into the inner sanctum by whomever has a free moment. The wholesale showroom is off to the right, although you will, of course, be paying retail prices. I'm sorry to say their gorgeous address books are no longer available, no doubt a victim of internet email.
Great Location, Comfortable Room, Customer Service?
by TripAdvisor Member bs5549
We picked the Ace Hotel because of its location and boutique qualities. The location was stellar (esp the local coffee shop in the lobby), so it completely delivered there. The room was small (it's in the city) but the bed was quite comfortable. The disappointments were the amenities (or lack there-of) and the staff. The staff seems just a little too cool to be helpful or welcome you. This was hit or miss--the two ladies who checked us out and and got our cab to the airport were great, but previous encounters were lack-luster. No ironing board, iron, or hair dryer in the bathroom. The tiny sliver of soap on the sink wasn't adequate to wash your hands--much less use in the shower. Make sure you follow the "rules" about towel replacement. I didn't put my hand towel in the tub and so they took it off the bathroom floor but did not replace it.
I would recommend this hotel to a friend who wanted to stay in the area, but you just have to be ready!
I would have given it a 4 if it had had the amenities above and the towel situation was more consistent with hospitality norms.
Trendy
by TripAdvisor Member WKHouston
The Ace Hotel is a nice trendy property. There is free wi-fi and a few apple macs at the hotel, however, many of the people loitering around the lobby didn't appear to be guests. The room was nearly fully taken up by the bed. There was no closet with doors from which to hang a suit in. Instead, some shelves had been installed above a desk and one of them had a tall, slender, cubby hole that clothes could be hung in. The sink was out in the room with the bed. It had no counter space. There was barely room for a toothbrush, razor, and shaving cream. It was low, there was no stool and when you run the water, it splashes over the edge on to the carpet (don't put your suitcase too close if it's open!!!) The bathroom had a very nice ball and claw iron tub, but it was slippery and had a high edge which could be a problem for children or the elderly. Luckily, there was a door on the bathroon. The staff was helpful and courteous and the room was clean with a nice flat screen in it (there was no room for a dresser.) The price was reasonable. I don't think this is the kind of place of business, family, or elderly travelers.
Fire Danger!!!!!
by A TripAdvisor Member
It was the worst motel that I have ever stayed in, and probably one of the most expensive. If it hadnt been so late when we arrived, I would have gone someplace else. The breakers in our rooms kept blowing, and made me fear for our safety. I went so far as to show my kids the escape routes in case of fire. Needless to say, I did not sleep well at all on their tiny, overpriced beds. I wil never stay there again, and would never recommend it to anyone in my organization. To top it off, the "continental breakfast" was awful.
I miss this hotel
by A TripAdvisor Member
Boy what a bunch of whiners - I really miss this place. My husband and I stayed here after 3 STP's and we always liked the place. Yes - it totally had the feel of an old residence hotel, but I really liked the ambiance. It was never noisy or smelly to my recollection and it was really inexpensive - we used to be able to get a regular double with one of those gorgeous claw foot tubs for around $60. Go stay in your big box all the same bland boring throughout the known world hotels if you care so much about air conditioning and hair dryers!
Cool is not always accommodating
by TripAdvisor Member JulesBend
This is definitely a very cool hotel, but for the price (which is only slightly less than other downtown hotels for a room with a bath) some basic amenities are missing. First, the front desk staff were distantly polite, but asking a question seemed to be very distracting for them and a bit of a bother. We had a room with a street view, but at night we had to wear earplugs, the bar across the street sounded like it was in the room. Maybe internal rooms are better. Also, I guess they are still in the process of decorating, but our walls were blank, dark gray, and a little bleak. I had to ask for soap at the front desk, and it's handmade and, again, cool, but really tiny. I did miss an ironing board in the room, and really count on that as being a standard hotel accoutrement. Likewise, no newspapers downstairs, you have to go outside and buy one from the box. No (free) coffee anywhere, which is fine as Stumptown is next door, but still, it's a basic hotel amenity. Needless to say, no bellhop, no offer of assistance with luggage, but that wasn't a big deal to me.
Relying in coolness is great, and it's wonderful that the hotel offers a price less than $100 if you share a bath, as that option isn't available downtown, but, if you are looking for customer service and an amenity or two, check out Northrup Station, which has lower prices, attentive customer service, good location, morning breakfast and coffee, and a newspaper in the morning.
Photos
Having tea at the Lan Su garden's teahouse
Entrance to The Melting Pot in downtown Portland
Lost Bird Project visits Portland
SW 12th at Alder
Forum Posts
Fun things in portland for an action/sports lover
by thedude21
Hey I will be in portland for the rest of the summer. I am at a loss for fun stuff to kill my time. If anyone could help me out that would be glorious.
RE: Fun things in portland for an action/sports lover
by Shaft28
I'm sure you can find a bunch of web sites for things to do but I'd suggest
hiking near the falls (Multnomah falls), trips to the coast are great, as are to nearby Mt Hood or even Mt St Helens.
In Portland you can find softballs, kickball (that's right kickball), biking, hiking and many other organized sports to join. Portland during the summer has tons to do, just depends what you are looking for specifically.