Located on the waterfront esplanade at the south end of Tom McCall Waterfront Park, RiverPlace is the only downtown Portland hotel right on the Willamette River. A low-rise building from the 1980s, it blends in well with the low-rise riverfront condos and businesses around it, and enjoys a unique view of the downtown marina (the Portland dragon boat teams launch from just below the hotel). When the weather opens up, so does the hotel—the lobby area flows through to the Willamette-facing side, and you get a real hit of the unique riverfront location. This is a fashionable and friendly Kimpton property, with Kimpton’s eclectic style. The decor has nautical hints here and there, but it is really a creature of the postmodern era, meaning it’s a pastiche of contemporary styles and patterns geared for comfort. The bed is always what counts most, and these are wonderful. By far the most inviting accommodations here are the suites, with wood-burning fireplaces and views right out over the river. The courtyard-facing rooms are quieter (the Marquam Bridge spans the river just north of the hotel) and some of them open out onto a garden; there are also self-contained condo units for longer stays. The bathrooms are nice and large, with enough counter space. Every evening there’s a complimentary wine hour featuring Northwest vintages. Three Degrees, the hotel’s restaurant, serves Pacific Northwest cuisine using locally sourced products, and the hotel’s outdoor bar area can be a fun mob scene during happy hour on a warm afternoon or evening. It’s lovely to stroll along the esplanade out front, or you can borrow one of the hotel’s bikes and do a bit of exploring along the riverside bike paths.