Places to Sleep: Tiny Digs Portland

I love a nice hotel. I know some would rather save their money for other aspects of the travel experience, but there is just something I love about great design, the sense of getting away from my everyday surroundings, and feeling pampered with the various amenities. That's why I took advantage of a summer work trip to check out Tiny Digs in Portland. 

Located in the Kerns neighborhood, this "hotel" is really a collection of 8 unique tiny homes, each with a different theme. Although narrowing down the options was difficult, I ultimately could not resist the charms of The Cottage. At a mere 180 square feet, the cottage seemed to be just adorable. Tiny Digs seemed like a great concept and I looked forward to my stay, but would the execution live up to my expectations?

Spoiler alert: I loved it!

I arrived on a Tuesday night, a little too late for the in-person check in, so after parking in nearby street parking, I used the emailed codes to get into the outside gate and into my room. As anticipated, the cottage tiny home was absolutely charming.

The layout maximized the small footprint of the tiny house and even included a small kitchenette. The bed was located in the loft, which was reached by a somewhat steep set of stairs. 

I especially loved all the attention to detail - the "kerosene" lamp, the use of china and antique silverware in the kitchen, the sink made out of a tin tub, the stained glass windows, the fireplace. There were so many delightful little details. That evening, I made hot tea, heating water in the enamelware kettle on the induction cooktop, sipping out of a china cup while sitting near the "fire." I curled up with a good book and was perfectly content. 

There was even a book called "Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much," which felt oddly apropos and probably something I should have actually read.

At $175 a night (before taxes), the price was better than most hotels in Portland (as least the ones where I would be willing to stay), but I had a totally unique experience. It was, to put it simply, homey. 

Of course, that does not mean that it was perfect. Tiny Digs is designed to be a social space. The outdoor fire pit and games are great if you are wanting to hang out and make new friends. The noise created by those utilizing the common space is somewhat less appealing if you have to be awake early the next morning for a meeting. To be fair, ear plugs were provided and I was there on a weeknight when things were relatively quiet. The only other drawbacks were how much light came in the room overnight (which I think probably varies depending on which home you book) and the low ceiling clearance above the bed. I'm short and it took some creative maneuvering to avoid hitting my head as I crawled into and out of bed. As much as I loved the Cottage Tiny House, if you're concerned about light or height, you may want to consider a different house. Yes, there were a couple of drawbacks, but none of them would make me reconsider a stay here. 

The hotel itself is great, but it's also in a good location, within walking distance of some great restaurants. Tiny Digs provided a book of suggested restaurants and activities, organized into helpful categories. I narrowed it down to the "Walking Distance" restaurants and quickly settled on Pambiche, a colorful Cuban cafe near the hotel.

I was all about the food and the drinks. I had been on a random mint kick over the summer, so I happily began my meal with a mojito. I sipped the refreshing, minty goodness while I perused the menu. 

I'll be honest, I struggled to narrow down what I wanted. It's not often that I get to eat Cuban food and pretty much everything on the menu looked amazing. After painstakingly considering my choices, I eventually settled on a starter of a flavorful picadillo empanada followed by garlicky and delicious camarones al ajillo. 

Of course by then, my mojito was gone, so I changed things up and ordered the Mary Pickford - Carta Blanca rum, maraschino liqueur (one of my new favorite cocktail ingredients), and fresh pineapple and lime juices, shaken with a hint of homemade grenadine. Also delicious. 

And then there was dessert. I really was not going to order dessert. I certainly did not need it and the meal had already been decadent. I just wanted to look at the dessert menu, curious about the from scratch treats made at the in-house bakery. That was my mistake. Because when I read "white chocolate mocha cake, soaked with Kaluha coffee liqueur and cafe cubano, filled with chocolate cinnamon mousse and glazed with Oaxacan chocolate ganache; finished with a white chocolate domino and served with crema Chantilly" I literally could not say no. Like my brain said "Don't order the dessert," but my heart and my mouth said "I'll take a Domino and a cafe cubano, please." 

I was uncertain what they meant by "domino." I thought perhaps it was some fancy food term of which I was unaware. Turns out it was an actual domino. Made of chocolate.

I left this place full and happy.

After the quick walk back to my cottage, I settled in for a relaxing evening of being wonderfully alone in my cozy tiny house. A little solo time was just what I needed to help me put my best foot forward at my meeting the following day. I love being married, but sometimes a girls gotta stay in a quaint cottage, eat a quiet meal where the only conversation is with the waitress, and drink hot tea while reading a good book with no one around to disturb the peace. I loved my stay at Tiny Digs. It was a fun and unique place to stay in the heart of Portland. I would definitely stay there again; the only difficult part would be deciding which tiny home to book! I might even let Mr. Hart tag along next time. 

So what are your favorite places to stay in Portland? If you've been waiting to hear more about our amazing trip to South Africa, good news, our honeymoon is up next on the blog!