Stylish, practical and affordable accommodation for digital nomads

With its ever-growing coffee culture and thriving arts scene, Portland is quickly establishing itself as a hub for digital nomads and remote workers.

If you want to keep your costs down, mix with an international community of travellers, and have everything you need to work and relax at your fingertips, you might consider staying in one of the city’s best hostels.

You can book a comfortable bunk bed in a shared dorm equipped with secure lockers for as little as $35 per night at Portland’s top-rated hostels. Private rooms are available from just $77, ideal for those who want the perfect blend of community and seclusion.

Facilities usually include communal kitchens, lounge areas and laundry facilities, allowing you to minimise your travel costs across the board. Other facilities just for guests can include terraces and even art galleries. Most hostels have onsite cafés where you can soak up the local culture.

If you need a dedicated workspace for a few days to a few weeks while you’re here, you might want to check out some of Portland’s best coworking spaces. Day passes at some incredibly stylish and centrally located workspaces are available for as little as $15.

Our roundup of Portland’s best hostels for work and leisure

In no order of preference, here our are favourite hostels in Portland that have excellent facilities for work and play, a community-focused atmosphere, and budget-friendly nightly rates.

1. The Society Hotel – Portland

Located in Portland’s Old Town Chinatown not far from the Lan Su Chinese Garden, The Society Hotel occupies a former sailor’s hostel with a warm colour scheme and an inviting atmosphere. The onsite Society Café serves an extensive selection of hot drinks, alcoholic beverages, and fresh pastries. Hotel guests can also mingle on the rooftop terrace, which offers sprawling views of Portland’s cityscape.

Open from 7 am to 9 pm, the dark green-coloured, lounge-style Society Café is a popular spot for local remote workers. You can either set up your laptop on a comfortable coffee table or relax by the fireplace on the vintage sofas. If you prefer to work and socialise outside, head to the rooftop, where you’ll find shaded and open-air seating, a street art-covered piano, and plenty of fellow travellers.

When you want to get out and about, you’ll be within walking distance of attractions such as the Japanese American Historical Plaza, the Steel Bridge and the Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnels Tour. Being situated in Old Town Chinatown also means you’ll be in the heart of one of Portland’s premier nightlife and entertainment districts.

Nightly rates for a bunk in a dorm at The Society Hotel start at just $39. Standard Rooms are available from $79, Suites from $122 and Premium Suites from $129. You can also reserve a parking space for $15 per day on weekdays and $20 per day over the weekend.

• Location: 203 NW 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97209, United States
• Phone: +1 503-445-0444
• Nearest light rail station: Old Town/Chinatown MAX Station

2. NW Portland Hostel

Situated between the Pearl District and the Northwest District, the independently operated NW Portland Hotel now occupies a village of five 19^th-century buildings in the same block, each one boasting a mix of budget-friendly dorms and private rooms. Facilities include common areas, two fully equipped kitchens, outdoor gardens, a courtyard with a barbecue, and an onsite café.

At the Hostel Café, you can choose from indoor and outdoor seating, locally roasted hot drinks, and 12 beers on tap, not to mention a range of tasty local bites. In the afternoons and evenings, this homely café hosts live entertainment ranging from trivia nights to Irish jam sessions. Throughout the day, you’ll see lots of fellow guests and locals using the café as a place to work.

Of all the sleeping arrangements offered by NW Portland Hostel, a bed in a mixed, male-only or female-only dorm is the most economical option, with prices starting at just $39 per night. Private rooms are available for as little as $77 per night; $94 if you want a private bathroom. You can also get a family room for up to four people from just $117.

• Location: 479 NW 18th Ave, Portland, OR 97209, United States
• Phone: +1 503-241-2783
• Nearest light rail station: NW 10th & Glisan

3. KEX Portland

Located in the artsy Kerns district just a couple of blocks from the Willamette River is KEX Portland, a sophisticated, boutique-style hostel and hotel with facilities that include communal areas just for guests and a ground-floor lobby, café and bar that’s open to the public.

Guest-only facilities include the likes of a 24-hour reception desk and messaging app, free Wi-Fi, complimentary tea and coffee from 7 am to 11 am, and exclusive lounges on the hotel’s upper floors. You’ll also have access to special offers on yoga classes and spa treatments thanks to KEX’s wellness partnerships. You can mingle with Portland’s locals in the bar while surrounded by works of art and distinctive design features.

Within walking distance of KEX in the Central Eastside neighbourhood are top-rated restaurants and bars such as Ranger Chocolate Co., Dimo’s Apizza, Dirty Pretty, and J & M Cafe. For live music, try nearby venues like The Coffin Club, Doug Fir Lounge or the Lollipop Shoppe. A short walk across the Willamette River gets you to Downtown in just a few minutes.

Nightly rates for a bunk in a dorm at KEX Portland start at just $50. If you book direct in advance, you can get a private room for as little as $104 per night.

• Location: 100 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97232, United States
• Phone: +1 971-346-2992
• Nearest Streetcar station: Ne Mlk & Burnside

4. Lolo Pass

Straddling the district border of Buckman and Kerns is the bold and contemporary Lolo Pass, home to facilities that include an art gallery and a dedicated computer room as well as a shared terrace, lounge and kitchen. There’s also a café and restaurant serving local delights. Nearby public transit stops make exploring Portland a breeze, and the hotel runs a busy calendar of events and tours for its international community of travellers.

On top of being a delicious venue for breakfast and lunch, the Lolo Pass Café doubles as a laid-back and social environment to work from 7 am to 4 pm. From then until 10 pm, the action moves to the rooftop, where you can enjoy drinks and dinner with a view.

Shared facilities just for guests at Lolo Pass include the likes of a laundry room and a shared kitchen that make it ideal for both quick visits and long-term stays. When you need some screen time in peace and quiet, there’s a computer room with comfortable desks, communal desktops, and amenities including printers.

From the bus stop right outside Lolo Pass, you can reach Portland’s Downtown area in around ten minutes. If you want to explore the city with other guests, you can join tours of art galleries, urban landmarks and street food hotspots. You can also attend salsa parties, movie nights, quizzes, yoga sessions, and much more.

Nightly rates for a dorm bunk at Lolo Pass start at around $35. Accessible, mixed, male-only, and female-only dorm rooms are available. If you’re travelling with a group, you can rent out entire dorm rooms for up to eight people. Private rooms for one or two people with ensuite bathrooms start from around $120 per night.

• Location: 1616 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214, United States
• Phone: +1 503-908-3074
• Nearest bus stop: E Burnside & SE 16th

Where are your favourite places to stay in Portland?

We’ll be keeping a close eye on Portland’s hostel landscape so that we can keep you up to date with the best places to meet and stay with likeminded globetrotters. Do you know any hostels here that deserve a shout in this article? We’d love to hear from you. Let us know in the comments below.