$150–200

The Hotel deLuxe (729 SW 15th Ave., 503/219-2094 or 866/895-2094, www.hoteldeluxeportland.com [1], $159 and up, parking $21) used to be the Mallory, a beloved budget spot. After a thorough rejuvenation the prices have gone up, but the place has retained its character and regained its art deco glamour. A Hollywood theme prevails throughout, with hundreds of movie stills and other photos celebrating the golden age of film in guest rooms, hallways, and on a screen that dominates the lobby. Accommodations are sumptuously appointed, and service is strong on details.

In a city loaded with gracious historic hotels that fairly ooze old-fashioned charm, Hotel Lucia (400 SW Broadway, 503/228-7221 or 800/225-1717, www.hotellucia.com [2], $150 and up, valet parking $27) stands out. Chic and conveniently located, Hotel Lucia is a top choice for travelers looking for high-design comfort and a frisson of cool urban style. Edgy noncorporate art fills the lobby along with sleek moderne leather furniture that bespeaks cool elegance. Standard guest rooms aren’t vast but are very comfortable and beautifully furnished; consider stepping up to a Superior or Deluxe room if you need space. Amenities include two restaurants, including top-rated Typhoon [3], a fitness center, and a business center.

Sleek and stylish, Hotel Modera (515 SW Clay St., 503/484-1084 or 877/484-1084, www.hotelmodera.com [4], $159 and up, valet parking $27) is newly renovated and redesigned to show off the hotel’s original mid-century aesthetic. The large art-draped lobby, lined with marble and dark woods, opens onto a very spacious courtyard with lots of outdoor seating, three fire pits, and a “living wall” of greenery. Guest rooms carry forward the Euro-chic look, with a streamlined aesthetic that’s both bold and whimsical: Faux fur throws drape triple-sheeted beds, and deep-orange bathroom walls play off against white marble-tiled showers. Hotel Modera is at the center of downtown and right on the MAX Green line.

The conveniently located Hotel Monaco (506 SW Washington St., 503/222-0001 or 800/711-2971, www.monaco-portland.com [5], $179 and up, valet parking $29) was formerly one of Portland [6]’s landmark department stores (converting undervalued historic buildings into hotels is a hallmark of this chain), but there’s little to remind you of its retail past: The hotel is a showcase of vivid color, oversized art, and unconventional furnishings. The zippy decor continues into the large stylish guest rooms, which are designed with a sense of humor, using color and fabric to create a mood of relaxed whimsy. Pets are welcome—there’s even a resident dog in the lobby—and room service will bring you a goldfish if you’re in need of company. Amenities include a day spa, fitness and business centers, and the Red Star Tavern restaurant.

The interior of the historic and luxurious Heathman Hotel (1009 SW Broadway, 800/551-0011, www.heathmanhotel.com [7], $169 and up, parking $29), built in 1927, offers a tantalizing balance between old and new, between its old-fashioned opulence and the refreshing brio of the hotel’s vast collection of modern art—there’s even a free iPod tour of the hotel’s art collection available. This is truly a hotel dedicated to the arts: The Heathman connects directly to the Schnitzer Concert Hall (the Center for Performing Arts is in the next block), and it frequently plays host to traveling celebrities and artists. The entry-level Deluxe rooms aren’t huge but offer every luxury and very refined furnishings. For more room, ask for an Executive King or a Symphony Suite. Service throughout is exemplary: The Heathman offers personal concierge service, twice-daily maid service, a bed menu, 24-hour room service, a lending library—the list goes on and on. Facilities include the Heathman Restaurant [8], one of Portland’s finest; a wonderful two-story wood-paneled tea room with daily high tea and live jazz music Wednesday–Saturday; the see-and-be-seen Marble Bar; and a hot chocolate–coffee lounge.

A historic hotel with a stunning Romanesque facade, Hotel Vintage Plaza (422 SW Broadway, 503/228-1212 or 800/243-0555, www.vintageplaza.com [9], $159 and up, valet parking $29) is a temple of discreet luxury, perfect for a romantic weekend or a highly civilized business stay. Frequently ranked as one of the top U.S. hotels, the Hotel Vintage Plaza is a true boutique hotel, from the 10-story interior atrium to the 57 different guest-room floor plans and individually decorated rooms (most with a wine theme) filled with rich jewel-like colors, lush fabrics, and regal furnishings. Standard rooms are sumptuous, but if you’re here for a special occasion, the hotel’s many unique suites make this a top choice—check out the two-story townhouse suites and the Garden Spa rooms, with a flower-decked rooftop patio and outdoor hot tub. Amenities include the Pazzo Ristorante and bar, a manager’s wine reception, an honor bar, fitness and business centers, and free Wi-Fi. Pets are welcome.

Don’t let the corporate moniker mislead you. Embassy Suites Portland (319 SW Pine St., 503/279-9000, www.embassyportland.com [10], $169 and up, valet parking $23, self-parking $15) is in fact the palatial Multnomah Hotel, built in 1912 as the largest and grandest hotel in the Pacific Northwest. When Embassy Suites remodeled this aging beauty in the late 1990s, the company reduced the number of guest rooms from 700 to just 276 suites. These are the largest standard rooms in Portland [6] and come with a microwave, a refrigerator, two flat-screen TVs, and a large desk. The hotel’s original grandeur is retained in the large opulent lobby. Complimentary to all guests is an evening manager’s reception with local beer and wine and an imposing breakfast buffet complete with an omelet station. Amenities include an indoor pool and fitness center that resembles a Roman bath, the Salon Nyla day spa, and Kincaid’s restaurant.

The Benson Hotel (309 SW Broadway, 503/228-2000 or 800/663-1144, www.bensonhotel.com [11], $159 and up, valet parking $28) was built in 1913 as the city’s most luxurious hotel, and thankfully this grande dame retains nearly all of its spectacular early-20th-century fittings, particularly the grand lobby with its walnut paneling, Belgian chandeliers, Italian marble floors, and massive oriental carpets. Standard guest rooms are large for a hotel of this vintage and sumptuously furnished, although the real deal is the suites; spacious junior suites are just a $50 upgrade and worth every penny. Or, if you’re feeling important, go for the Presidential Suite: Every U.S. president since Wilson has stayed here. Facilities include two fine-dining restaurants, a cozy lobby bar, evening complimentary wine tastings in a secret wine room, and every other luxury you’d expect in a hotel of this distinction.

Opened in 2008, The Nines (525 SW Morrison St., 877/229-9995, www.thenines.com [12], $189 and up, parking $29) was one of Portland’s most anticipated hotel debuts in many years. Occupying the top nine floors of the Meier & Frank department store, a magnificent glazed terra-cotta landmark from 1908 (now Macy’s), The Nines features a dramatic nine-story interior atrium along with large and very graciously appointed guest rooms. Local artists were commissioned to create new paintings and sculptures, and guest rooms feature original art from students at the Pacific Northwest College of Art [13]. Facilities include fitness and business centers and two restaurants: the organic steakhouse Urban Farmer and the rooftop Departures, which has cocktails and lighter fare.

If you’re familiar with Westins as large corporate hotels, then the Portland Westin (750 SW Alder St., 503/294-9000 or 800/937-8461, www.westin.com/portland [14], $189 and up, valet parking $29) is a pleasant surprise. More a small boutique getaway, this contemporary upscale high-rise is a haven of discrete good taste whether you’re here for business or pleasure. Guest rooms have large work desks, an unfussy, slightly restrained aesthetic, and all the “heavenly” extras you expect with Westin. Ask for a Deluxe King corner room, which gives you extra room and three windows for light and views. Facilities include a fine dining restaurant, a bar, 24-hour room service, a complimentary business center, and a workout room.