You don't need hipster credentials to stay at Portland's Ace Hotel--the mere act of spending a night here will magically transform even the dweebiest dweeb into a righteous indie rocker. For starters, there's the downtown block it sits on, with
Clyde Common and its communal tables anchoring one corner and pastrami palace
Kenny & Zuke's anchoring the other. A branch of
Stumptown Coffee adjacent to the Ace's lobby completes the food-forward trifecta. Then there are the Ace's guestrooms, which range from singles with shared bathrooms to spacious suites with private clawfoot baths. Furnishings in all rooms could best be described as nouveau Spartan, and original artworks abound, dripping irony. In a nod to the vinyl revival, some rooms feature turntables. If you actually intend to spend any time sleeping, your best bet is a "Standard Back," away from noisy Stark Street. If any part of the Ace retains a loving hint of pre-hipster Portland, it's the comfortable lobby. Relax and enjoy the parade.
