Hi-Lo Hotel, Autograph Collection

Before entering the Hi-Lo, take a minute to appreciate the beauty and history of its building. This reinforced-concrete structure -- the first in Portland -- went up in 1910 as the Railway Exchange Block. Designed by Portland-born architect David C. Lewis, the building is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The exterior retains its original detailing, with galvanized iron pilasters, decorative cornices, and arched windows along the top floor. It notably houses Portland's oldest restaurant, Huber's, which began as a saloon in 1879, one block away from this present site. Huber's gained major popularity in the late 1800s for its 10-cent beer-and-turkey-sandwich combos, and relocated into the building following its 1910 opening. Though it's not affiliated with the hotel, the venue is worth visiting for a sense of the property's earliest state -- Huber's mahogany wall panels and vaulted stained-glass skylights are original to the building's design. 

It's against this early-20th-century framework that the Hi-Lo's chic interiors shine. The design in the lobby and bar sparingly uses contemporary and restored mid-century furnishings, light fixtures, and art to create cool, uncluttered spaces that look like an Instagram feed come to life. These common areas are framed by white brick and rough concrete walls, gray double herringbone flooring, and nearly floor-to-ceiling windows with transom lights that provide an up-close of the street scene outside. Amorphous sectional sofas, upholstered in a rich forest-green velvet, make up most of the seating in the lobby. Their texture, shape, and color contrast beautifully with the room's raw-edge wood-slab coffee tables, animal-hide throw rugs, marble tables with gold trim, and large leafy plants. A few chairs in "millennial pink," a hanging bench, and wood side-tables-slash-stools provide more seating (and visual appeal). On the walls are serene abstract paintings and an ombre woven tapestry. All together, it's quite curated and lovely, though the restraint might feel a little cold to some travelers.

The Hi-Lo is located in downtown Portland, a short stroll from the Pine Street Market, Voodoo Doughnut, the waterfront, and the riverside Portland Saturday Market. Head away from the river up Stark Street, and you'll hit the famous bookstore Powell's City of Books in about eight minutes. All around are some of Portland's most popular food and drink establishments: Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Blue Star Donuts, Tasty n Alder...the list goes on. Pioneer Courthouse Square is about a seven-minute walk south of the hotel. The 5,000-acre Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country, is located in the northwest hills of Downtown Portland, about a 13-minute drive from the hotel. It's a 23-minute drive or a 44-minute ride on the MAX light rail to Portland's airport. (The light rail stop is a four-minute walk away.)

None of the lobby's chic style is lost in the hotel's 120 rooms and suites. Bare concrete columns, salvaged local wood accent walls, and hand-painted wallpaper in the entryways add texture to the white walls, and the simple gray-tile radiant heated floors are accented with earthy area rugs. All rooms but the entry-level Standard King have sitting areas with chic gray sofas (some are sectionals) topped with silky amber pillows and round black coffee tables. Rothko-inspired black-and-gold block paintings hang over the couches. Metal pendant floor or wall lamps and mod ceramic table lamps with burlap shades provide additional lighting. 

Room amenities are as meticulously well-thought-out as the design. The 49-inch smart LED TVs offer a traditional channel guide, but can also sync with guests' personal Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime accounts -- a helpful, modern touch. All rooms have robes, 24-hour pillow menus, safes, and coffeemakers with free Starbucks coffee and Tazo tea. Wi-Fi is free as well.

Most rooms have king beds (the Deluxe Double/Double and Premium Double/Double categories have two double beds). All beds are plush and low-profile, and topped with tri-tone wool Pendleton pillows. Bathrooms feature walk-in rainfall showers, hairdryers, and spa-worthy toiletries in full-size bottles on the wall and counter. The shampoo, shower gel, and lotion are specially made for the Hi-Lo by the Portland-based Maak Lab (take-home versions are available for purchase in the lobby mini shop). The Corner King and One Bedroom Suite rooms have separate deep jetted tubs in addition to a rainfall shower, plus extra-long vanities.  

Be aware that rooms facing the streets can pick up a good bit of outside noise, especially late weekend nights, when revelers and drag racers are out.

As is typical for a boutique property in a historic building, common features are somewhat limited. Hi-Lo's airy bar, called Lo Bar, is open daily. By day, it's a great place for claiming a velvet chair (in "millennial pink," of course), nursing a coffee, or watching the street activity outside. A long wood table in the center serves as a communal workspace. At night, the vibe picks up with coworkers, friend groups, and dates meeting for cocktails and Portland beer and wine.

Adjacent to Lo Bar is Alto Bajo, Hi-Lo's modern Mexican restaurant. Alto Bajo serves breakfast and lunch during the week, brunch on the weekends, and dinner Monday through Saturday. Its menu focuses on cuisine from the Mexican state of Oaxaca, made with ingredients available in the Pacific Northwest. Menu highlights include a garlicky Mayan pumpkin dip with habaneros and Yucatan-style pork with pickled onions. Breakfast features Mexican-influenced options, like tortilla-wrapped scrambled eggs, as well as smoked Oregon salmon with rye bread and avocado toast with poached eggs.

The hotel's basement-level fitness center is free to access and open 24 hours. It has ellipticals and treadmills with personal TVs (there is also a large flat-screen TV mounted on the wall), as well as a multi-functional cable machine. Yoga mats, exercise balls, and a set of free weights are available. An impressively long ballet barre runs along one mirrored wall, and fruit, water, and towels are placed by the entrance. The fitness center shares the basement level with the Commons, Hi-Lo's meeting and event space. 

A mini shop by the front desk sells Portland goods, like Steven Smith teas, Bee Local honey, Quin candy, and Maak Lab's custom Hi-Lo toiletries. Hotel services include concierge, shoeshine, laundry, same-day dry cleaning, and room service. The hotel allows two dogs up to 50 pounds for a non-refundable fee per stay. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.