Last summer, I was headed to Portland to cover Feast Portland for Seattle Foodie Podcast. I wanted to find a hotel within walking distance of Tom McCall Waterfront Park. A friend connected me with Radisson RED and it was perfect!

I love the decor of this hotel! I’m a fan of red, black and white so this was a great fit for me. The furniture is modern and sleek. Instead of a stuffy counter, the check-in is at a podium right next to the entry. My check-in experience was very easy which makes traveling a pleasure!

When you arrive, be sure to take a selfie (camera on the wall) and they’ll post it to Twitter. My friend Stephanie Forrer of Eat, Drink, Travel Y’all was also in town for Feast Portland and stopped by my hotel for a bit.

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The hotel is full of bright, unique accents like murals created by local artists. Aside from making great photo ops, it’s refreshing to be greeted by so much color after a long day of exploring!

I loved the friendly, laid back, yet responsive service I received from the staff. I felt like I was free to be myself but if I needed anything, I was confident I could get what I needed. Of all the things – I remembered toothpaste but forgot a toothbrush. Who does that? This girl. Staff made sure I had a toothbrush so I could get on with my day.

Generally, I’m not a fan of hotel furniture and I don’t like hanging out in common areas. One of the many things I love about this hotel is the modern pieces that are actually comfortable. I almost fell asleep on the couch in the lobby one day. It was like being wrapped in a warm hug!

The simple act of walking down a hallway is more interesting with bold patterns and splashes of red. I love the large, red room numbers on each door. It’s more readable and breaks up the plain white doors I’m used to.

My room overlooked a portion of the Park blocks. It was full of beautiful trees in full bloom at the height of summer. The room highlighted more red, black, and white. Parts of it had concrete showing and I love the combination of modern style with industrial chic. They had very practical desk furniture which was a welcome addition since I had a bunch of social media work to do and a recording of Seattle Foodie Podcast with my co-host Nelson Lau. Radisson RED features local artwork in their design. Very stylish!

The bathroom is perhaps one of the best known features you’ll find on Instagram. The tile in the shower is eye-catching and such a welcome change from plain walls. Overall, the bathroom was very minimal and left me with plenty of space for everything I needed.

During my stay, I was able to grab a late lunch at OUIBar + KTCHN in the hotel. They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and a happy hour. I had the Express Lunch Special where you get a half sandwich, soup or salad, and a cookie. I had the B.L.A.T.T. (bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato and turkey) and a salad. I like that everything comes on one plate. During lunch, I’m often responding to emails as I absently put food in my mouth so I didn’t have to worry about three different dishes taking up valuable table space. The sandwich was very hearty and I was kind of full before I even finished it. I always like to eat some salad while I’m traveling because I tend to eat less than healthy on trips. The cookie was pretty standard fare but hey, cookies make me smile! I got the doughnuts, ate a few and saved the rest for later. They would make a great breakfast the next day (don’t judge me). The chocolate clung to the sturdy dough. Each one was perfect for a little treat.

I’ve stayed in my share of hotels that don’t have common spaces to chill or meet people. The Radisson RED has my favorite common area! It’s located on the 2nd floor and is decorated with super fun furniture! It’s a great place to read a book, respond to emails, or watch TV. My favorite place was the arcade games – no quarters needed here – just start playing! If old school games are more your style, they have giant Connect 4 and Jenga set up. I was there at off times and it was a nice place to relax and have a drink.

I was headed back to Seattle on Sunday. While I was getting ready to leave, I heard Recovery at the Red Drag Brunch was happening at OUIBar + KTCHN on the main floor of the hotel. Unfortunately, I was checking out and catching a ride to the train station but I was immediately struck by magic. The room was full of singing, dancing and community feels. I’ll have to go next time I’m in Portland!

The Radisson RED is a fantastic place to stay! The rates are reasonable, it’s centrally located, and let’s face it – it’s gorgeous! It’s perfect for the way I travel and is both beautiful and practical. Thank you Radisson RED for hosting my stay!