Food Northwest District, Northwest Portland
Besaw's
A place to eat in Northwest District, Northwest Portland, moderately priced ($$) and worth about 1.5 hours. Best time to go: Brunch.
Why go
Northwest Portland restaurant founded in 1903, now a brunch standby on NW 21st.
It is one of 6 curated places we feature in Northwest Portland, alongside 2 outdoor spots, 1 place to eat and 1 sight. The closest of our other picks is Ken's Artisan Bakery, 0.6 mi away as the crow flies.
- Type
- Food
- Neighborhood
- Northwest District
- Price
- $$
- Time needed
- 1.5 hr
- Best time
- Brunch
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 4 beyond Northwest Portland. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Ken's Artisan Bakery
Ken Forkish's bakery on NW 21st since 2001, known for croissants, canelés and country loaves.
Food · 0.6 mi straight-line - 2Andina
Family-run Peruvian restaurant in the Pearl District since 2003, with ceviches, small plates and pisco cocktails.
Food · Downtown Portland · 0.7 mi straight-line - 3Crystal Ballroom
McMenamins' 1914 ballroom with a sprung 'floating' dance floor, which books a ticketed NYE concert most years.
Drinks · Downtown Portland · 0.9 mi straight-line - 4Jake's Famous Crawfish
Seafood house dating to 1892, with dark wood, white tablecloths and Pacific Northwest oysters and salmon.
Food · Downtown Portland · 1.0 mi straight-line - 5Powell's City of Books
A full city block of new and used books, color-coded rooms and a rare book room, on the edge of the Pearl.
Shopping · 1.0 mi straight-line - 6Powell's City of Books
A full city block of new and used books across color-coded rooms.
Shopping · Portland · 1.0 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Besaw's is a stop on our Portland New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Northwest Portland
Besaw's is our only food pick in Northwest Portland; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Northwest Portland guide.
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Lower Macleay Trail and the Stone House
Creekside trail into Forest Park past the mossy 1930s WPA Stone House, known locally as the Witch's Castle.
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Wildwood Trail, Forest Park
The 30-mile spine of one of the largest urban forests in the US, under Douglas fir and bigleaf maple.
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Pittock Mansion
1914 French Renaissance mansion high in the West Hills; its lawn looks over downtown to Mount Hood.
When to go: weather by month, based on Portland
Our climate figures for Northwest Portland come from nearby Portland. Average daily highs in Portland run from 45°F in December to 84°F in August; December is usually the wettest month. For Besaw's itself, we suggest: Brunch.
Modelled monthly averages for Portland from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Portland weather by month (covers Northwest Portland).
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Besaw's, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 45.53392, -122.69493
- Destination
- Northwest Portland, Oregon
Besaw's: quick answers
How much time do you need at Besaw's?
Plan on about 1.5 hours at Besaw's. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Besaw's?
Our pick: Brunch. Insider tip: Expect a wait on Jan 1; put your name in and walk NW 21st.
Which TripsCircle routes include Besaw's?
Besaw's appears on Portland New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Besaw's to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Northwest Portland.
Plan Northwest Portland
- Northwest Portland travel guide 6 places
- Portland weather (covers Northwest Portland) weather by month
Lists & regions
Also in Northwest Portland
- Lower Macleay Trail and the Stone House Outdoors
- Pittock Mansion Sight
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.