Portland's White House   

1914 NE 22nd Ave
Portland, OR 97212
503-287-7131
www.portlandswhitehouse.com

Directions   Email   Send to Cell  

Few neighborhoods are more romantic than Irvington, whose wide, tree-shaded streets are lined with turn-of-the-century Victorian mansions, and the quietude of which belies this area's proximity to the Lloyd Center and upscale shopping along NE Broadway. Naturally, then, the B&Bs which are poised among Irvington's most desirable addresses are excellent romantic getaway spots, and perhaps none are more so than Portland's White House, so named for its resemblance to Washington's famous Greek-revival mansion at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Here is true luxury: a circular drive, manicured gardens and fountains welcome guests to this palatial B&B, whose distance from the street gives it a privacy unique in residential Portland. This was a fabulously wealthy lumber baron's home, and you can tell right when you walk through the door -- oak floors, mahogany doors, French windows and hand-painted murals grace its grand foyer. A full gourmet breakfast is served in the North Wing dining room, decked with fine crystal and porcelain. Upstairs are six guest rooms, each appointed with unique luxuries: the canopy suite includes a feather bed and a large claw foot tub; the balcony room's private balcony overlooks the private gardens and fountain; and you need steps to climb into the rose suite's giant, mahogany four-poster bed. When you've had enough pampering, Irvington's beautiful streets make for a lovely walk, and the diversity of fine restaurants along nearby Broadway makes finding a nice dinner out a snap. If you're planning a night in the White House, be sure and make reservations in advance; rooms here disappear quickly, especially in the summer. -- Randy Riggs