Heathman Hotel Review Portland Oregon: The Best Book Hotel
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As a local resident to Portland, my one information gap when people ask for Portland travel advice is the hotel scene. But I’m trying to change that, and thankfully a few hotels have been down to help make my research a bit easier. This Heathman Hotel review is coming to you in large part because I love books (more on that later) and also the hotel graciously offered to host a one night stay and dinner so I could give them a test run.
While they were no strings attached to my stay, no requirement to post about them on social media or even write this blog post, I want to be transparent and try to note things that may be different for a non-hosted stay.
Table of Contents
About the Heathman Hotel
Opened in 1927, The (New) Heathman Hotel stands as one of the oldest hotels in Portland, Oregon. Historic – CHECK. We’re already on a good start to this Heathman Hotel review.
I like to think of Portland’s downtown blocks as having their own personalities. Where the Heathman Hotel is located, I’d say it’s in the more fine-arts/theater area of downtown Portland, sandwiched between the beautiful Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, the exuberant Center for Youth Arts, and multiple theaters. It’s also just down the block from the Portland Art Museum.
It really doesn’t get more artsy than that!
In its earlier days, the Heathman Hotel was home to the Portland radio station KOIN and also has its own entrance to a connected theater. All of the stars that have passed through the entrance have signed the wall. It’s really cool to visually see the history in that way.
While the Heathman Hotel is historic, it’s also renovated for the modern times, including restoration of the original exterior and contemporary decor.
Now that you’ve got the basic gist of the hotel’s vibe, let’s move into the nitty gritty of this Heathman Hotel review!
Room Rates
The bit we all care about right? At the end of the day, a hotel can be as xyz as it wants, but it still has to fit your budget and your non-negotiables.
Prices for the room range about $150-$200 USD (with added amenity fee) for the cheaper rooms, depending on how far in advance you book. Honestly as far as nice hotels go, that’s a really solid price. Since my room was comped, I didn’t know how much the rooms were and had predicted they START at $250 at least.
So color me surprised when I looked up the same room after I checked out and the price was $121 USD!!
These days, that’s Holiday Inn/Hampton Inn pricing (no shade to them, that’s where I usually stay lol) so the pricing does fall in my price range if I’m looking for a nicer stay that’s really convenient with a great location. The second good sign for this Heathman Hotel review.
Amenity Fee
Tacked onto the room rate is the guest amenity fee of $29 USD a day. Since you can’t opt out of the fee, I’m not sure why it’s a separate thing. Probably something to do with the financial coding or something idk, but thought I would include that bit in this Heathman Hotel review.
Anyways, what does this fee entail?
- Daily morning coffee station from 6 AM-9 AM | standard
- Complimentary Streaming WiFi | standard
- In-room tea and French press coffee featuring Stumptown Coffee & Smith Tea | standard, but I do like Smith Tea good shout
- 24/7 fitness center featuring Peloton Bikes & Lululemon MIRROR | the gym is NICE, more on that later
- Complimentary bike rentals | lovely perk!
- $15 food & beverage credit at The Tavern | love a food discount! that’s like a free drink or app
- In-room pet amenities and dog treats at the reception | cute, tho you also pay a pet fee so
- Farmer’s market-curated list of vendors for the local market | a nice touch i suppose
- Access to library with over 3000 books | THIS IS FUN!!
- Discounted tickets to the White Bird Ballet | good shout
- Discounted tickets to the Oregon Symphony | also a nice touch!
All in all, while some of the items are pretty standard for hotels in this range, things like their amazing gym and perks like bike rentals and local discounts is a nice touch.
Parking
One thing I want to note in this Heathman Hotel review is that parking is not free. Street parking is a little more challenging to find since a lot of it is blocked by the nearby theaters and whatnot, but there is street parking a street over next to the “South Park Blocks.”
That said, I’ll be honest, it can be a slightly rougher area to leave your car overnight. Nothing has happened to my car, because it’s old and looks like there’s nothing in it (and they’d be right). But rental cars are usually nicer and more prone to break-ins, even if they’re empty.
Meanwhile, valet parking with the hotel is $55 USD a night and available 7am – 11pm. You car will be in a secure garage, but it’s ONLY available during those hours. Perhaps not a dealbreaker, and less annoying than a potential broken window for sure. Alternatively, you can park at one of the nearby garages yourself which hover around $20 USD for overnight (don’t quote me though).
Alternatively, if you don’t have a car, the hotel is about a 5 minute walk away from two separate MAX lines (our transit system) and since it’s downtown rideshares are readily available.
Pets
I also want to include in this Heathman Hotel review that the hotel is dog-friendly with a $50 Pet fee. Along with that fee includes a dog pet bed, bowls for food and water, and a list of local pet contacts for groomers, dog walkers, veterinarians, etc etc. Plus, the hotel is ACTUALLY dog-friendly in that there’s a park literally a block away, so ample green spaces for your pups.
Arrival
Okay, whew now with the numbers part of the Heathman Hotel review out of the way, here’s my personal experience. I arrived a little after check-in time, around 4 or 5pm, I don’t remember exactly, but I left my car with the valet. If it wasn’t a comped stay and I needed a hotel downtown, I probably would have taken the MAX and not have to worry about my car at all.
When I checked in, the attendant though I was a writer since they get a lot of reservations for authors/writers made on behalf of the hotel or their agent. It wasn’t my situation (YET!!!), but maybe someday in the future I will be paying a visit as a best-selling fiction author!
Any agents out there on the lookout for a historical fantasy about the fall of the Han empire?? I can send the first three chapters TODAY.
Anyways, the fact that the hotel is such a hot spot for visiting authors got me excited from the jump. I stayed mid-week, so I wouldn’t say the lobby was bustling, but there was a sort of creative energy radiating from the other guests. I quickly spotted the library, and my mouth DROPPED, but that would have to wait until after I dropped my bags off.
The Room
I don’t remember what floor I was on, something in one of the mid-floors. More surprising is that they put me up in one of the suite rooms! Basically, the bedroom had those farmhouse doors so you could close it off into its own room while the sofa could transform into another bed.
If I were traveling with an agent or another author, this would be great. I didn’t end up using the divider or even the sofa area, so if I were booking for myself I’d definitely opt for a smaller room, but I love that the suite rooms are an option if extra space/privacy is needed. Would make for a great workspace as well.
The rooms are well decorated and I appreciate that they have a lot of local art throughout the hotel, both in the rooms and in the public spaces. All in all, the room is fantastic. One thing to note for this Heathman Hotel review is that the bath products all smell amazing. They also supply local products like chocolates from Azar Indulgences which is a nice touch.
Personally I don’t like chocolates, but I have heard good things!
The Tavern
By the time I got settled into the room, checked my email, and spent a good chunk of my two-brain cell energy on Duolingo, it was time for dinner. The restaurant downstairs at the Heathman Hotel review is called The Tavern, and WOW. It’s a good one.
Sorry to spoil.
They also didn’t know I was an invited guest at first, and since I’m painfully awkward, I just paced around wondering if I should say something or when the right time to bring it up would be. Eventually, the host did ask to confirm and we laughed about it as he led me to a table with the best lighting haha.
The restaurant is currently at the helm of Executive Chef Alex Diestra who was born in Lima, Peru. Now, I know I’m a sucker for Peruvian food, but The Tavern’s menu is very Pacific Northwest, meaning fresh, seasonal, and farm-to-table. I’m thinking salmon, probably some roasted carrots, and maybe a strawberry shortcake if I’m lucky.
I ordered a pretty standard burger with parm fries with a flatbread appetizer. THEY BLEW ME OUT OF THE WATER. I don’t know if there’s something in the water in Lima, but the cooks coming out of Peru are NEXT LEVEL. How do you make FLATBREAD a 5-star meal??? I was truly baffled at how good it all was!!! Also, there was strawberry-matcha shortcake.
The drinks were delicious and also beautiful, so full kudos to their bartender as well. So far, my experience at the hotel were lovely, but it was truly dinner that was the turning point for my Heathman Hotel review. Food must be the FASTEST way to my heart because The Tavern really sealed the deal. Hands down one of the best hotel restaurants in Portland.
Even if I’m not staying at the hotel, I’d love to stop in for a bite before a show downtown.
Public Spaces
And now for the rest of the hotel. I’d say the showstopper is definitely the library.
Holding over 2,700 books in floor-to-two-story-ceiling bookcases, the Heathman Hotel Library is a destination in itself. There’s a mix of classics, contemporary literature, poetry, and non-fiction to suit every guest’s literary tastes. To top it all off – the books are signed by the authors.
It really is a one-of-a-kind collection.
Fun fact, E. L. James, the author of Fifty Shades of Grey, stayed at the hotel and fans of the book knows the Heathman makes an appearance! I picked up a book to read and snagged myself a cozy corner. There are long tables available if you have work or school (or both) with ample room to spread out. I feel like the library makes a great workspace in Portland.
You can even snack on your bites from The Tavern while nestled in the library.
The second spot I want to highlight in this Heathman Hotel review is the gym. It’s a really good hotel gym!! As a loyal Pelotonist, I am always tickled when hotels have Peloton bikes. It makes keeping up with my fitness routine so much easier. They also have the Lululemon mirror which I’ve never used but looks really nice! There’s a bunching bag and a good number of weights as well as floor space for mat exercises.
Cool Events
The Heathman Hotel isn’t just a regular hotel, it’s a cool hotel. This Heathman Hotel review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning some of the extracurricular activities the hotel has going on that really sets it apart in the city.
One of the biggest events to keep an eye on is the Portland Book Festival, and the Heathman Hotel is a featured sponsored. You can probably guess why most attendees love choosing the Heathman. The hotel also hosts high tea services for Mother’s Day, Halloween (I’ve got that one bookmarked!), and other holidays throughout the year.
Sign up for their newlestter and follow them on social media to keep up to date on the upcomings at the Heathman Hotel!
Conclusion: Heathman Hotel Review
So there’s my full Heathman Hotel review! If it wasn’t completely obvious, then I highly recommend this hotel, especially if you are in the area to attend one of the many incredible shows at a Portland theater. While the hotel is very arts-focused, I think it’s a great option for any traveler or staycationer.
From check-in to check-out, the staff was incredibly helpful, even when they didn’t know I was invited by the hotel. Again, when I was invited there were no strings attached, but I had such a good experience that I wanted to write this Heathman Hotel review. And YES, there have been hotels in Portland I did not write a review for….
But I digress.
My Heathman Hotel review was overwhelmingly positive, but let me know if this hotel is up your alley. Personally, I highly recommend it if you’re into the arts, especially because you get discounts to many of the shows nearby. It’s a win win win. My favorite type of win, haha. If you’ve stayed here, let me know in the comments below! I would love to hear about your experiences!
