Best Special Occasion Restaurants in Portland

Celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or other special occasion? Check out these restaurants that are some of the Best Special Occasion Restaurants in Portland, Oregon!

Portland, Oregon is a food lover's paradise, with an abundance of excellent restaurants to choose from. Whether you're looking for a romantic dinner for two, a celebratory meal with family and friends, or a special occasion restaurant that offers a unique dining experience, Portland has it all.

And while there are a lot of casual dining spots, food carts/food trucks, cafes, and breweries, there is a small list of restaurants that are the perfect place for special celebrations.

🌟 About these Portland restaurants

All of the restaurants listed here as the best special occasion restaurants in Portland are places I personally have dined in. I love them!

When you're looking for a restaurant to celebrate in with friends and family, consider these attributes:

• They take reservations. When you're making plans to celebrate something special, nobody wants to wait for an hour to be seated.
• The restaurant serves exquisite food, food that is above and beyond the everyday.
• The service is exceptional. A chef's talent only goes so far; it's the front of the house – the host and servers – who can make or break a fine dining experience in milliseconds.

Some of the restaurants below offer prix fixe meals, while others offer a full menu. Most are in the higher end of dining costs per person, which is another reason I suggest these restaurants for special occasions.

Best special cccasion restaurants in Portland

We're here to help you find the perfect place to celebrate your birthday, anniversary, graduation, holiday, or other special occasion.

Click on the restaurants below to jump ahead to their descriptions.

Quaintrelle

$$

Quaintrelle

2032 SE Clinton St, Portland, OR 97202
(503) 200-5787

Hours: Wednesday - Sunday, 5pm - close

Quaintrelle offers a Pacific Northwest-inspired menu with a focus on seasonal, local ingredients. The dishes are creative and beautifully presented, making for an elevated dining experience. The atmosphere is chic and cozy, with a modern interior design and soft lighting.

The restaurant also has a wine bar, and offers an extensive wine list, featuring both local and international wines. With excellent service and attention to detail, Quaintrelle is the perfect spot to celebrate a special occasion or enjoy a romantic dinner.

RingSide Steakhouse

RingSide Steakhouse
$$$-$$$$
2165 W. Burnside, Portland, OR 97210 
(503)223-1513
Valet parking available or street parking

For 75 years, RingSide Steakhouse has been Portland's premiere special occasion restaurant. Like most steakhouses, RingSide has an unassuming exterior that opens up to a dark, mysterious, intimate, and all at once cantankerous interior. Birthdays, proms, anniversaries, retirements -- Portlanders come to RingSide for every reason to celebrate.

Unlike other steakhouses, RingSide serves high quality, premium steak that is consistently expertly prepared. They also have delicious Pacific Northwest seafood dishes, hearty desserts, and stellar side dishes and starters. James Beard himself exclaimed that RingSide's onion rings were the best he had ever tasted, so be sure to order their famous onion rings when you dine here.

Sommelier Kristen Young overseas RingSide's extensive wine program, which includes more than 9,000 bottles of wine. If you're here to celebrate a special occasion, definitely let them know - they will help you select a special wine to celebrate!

Andina

Andina
$$-$$$$
1314 NW Glisan St
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 228-9535
HOURS: LUNCH: daily 11:30am - 2:30pm
DINNER: Sun - Thurs 5:00-9:30 pm, Fri - Sat 5:00 - 10:30pm
BAR: daily, happy hour 4:00-6:00 Sun-Thurs 4:00pm-Close Fri-Sat 4:00pm-Close
RESERVATIONS
Street parking

One of Portland's well-established Pearl District restaurants remains an incredible spot not just for lunch or dinner, but for special occasions. Andina serves stunning, mouthwatering Peruvian food in a warm, lively atmosphere. Whether you dine here for lunch with co-workers or reserve one of the private rooms for an event, the vibrant, colorful, playful dishes here make every occasion feel special.

Andina has several private dining options from which to choose. My husband threw a surprise dinner party in Andina's La Bodega room for my 40th birthday, and it remains my favorite private dining space in Portland to this day. La Bodega is an intimate space remniscent of a sophisticated wine cellar, and seats up to 14 people.

I've also attended many corporate work events and holiday parties in Andina's largest private event space, Tupai. Every event has been expertly executed and cared for by the staff.

A Cena

A Cena

$$-$$$
7742 SE 13th Avenue
Portland, OR 97202
Lunch Hours
Tuesday-Saturday 11:30am-2:30pm
Dinner Hours
Sunday-Thursday 5-9pm
Friday-Saturday 5-10pm
RESERVATIONS

Come for the lobster agnolotti, stay for the warm glow of happiness that floats through the restaurant and remains with you even as you leave.

A Cena is a lovely neighborhood Italian restaurant that just leaves you happy and satisfied. It is perhaps the most reasonably priced restaurant on this list, and you can certainly dine here for lunch or dinner just because. They have such great service, and offer the perfect balance of fine dining and cozy atmosphere. And, they do such a great job here of making celebrations truly special.

Chef Gabe Gabreski brings his family recipes to the table, and you can't go wrong with their signature lobster agnolotti, gnocchi, or tagliatelle. But also go beyond their pastas and you'll find hearty lamb, succulent scallops, and fresh trout.

This is a great restaurant for date night, nights out with friends, anniversaries, birthdays (I've celebrated mine here before!), and more.