Located in Portland’s Central Eastside, Hotel Grand Stark celebrates the history, independent spirit and eclectic nature of Portland and the Pacific Northwest. The 57-room historic property features a welcoming lobby (with a separate study hall), delicous food and libations (from onsite restaurant Grand Stark Deli and bar, Bar Chamberlain) and more.
About Hotel Grand Stark
Reviews & Ratings
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January 10, 2026Kasey BGood value stay with comfort caveats
I was a little hesitant about booking this hotel after reading some of the reviews, but overall we were satisfied with our stay, particularly given the price point. The location is admittedly not great. There is accommodation for unhoused people directly across the road, and we did witness open drug use nearby. We had a few interactions with people asking for money, but none that made us feel overtly unsafe. This felt very much like a broader Portland issue rather than a reflection of the hotel itself, though it did impact our willingness to be outside the hotel after dark. Parking was also less than ideal, though this seemed to be the case throughout the city. We parked at Diamond Parking Service, about 150 metres from the hotel, and had no issues at all. For context, the total cost for five days was only about $10 more than a single night of hotel valet parking. Customer service was pleasant overall and staff were polite, though we did find it a little odd that no assistance was offered while I (F/30) was clearly struggling to load several large bags onto a luggage trolley, into the lift, and down the hallway to our room - particularly as staff were not only present and observing, but trying to engage me in conversation while I was doing so. The lobby was comfortable, with plenty of seating, and umbrellas were available for guest use, which was appreciated. The coffee available in the mornings was genuinely excellent - easily the best hotel coffee we’ve had anywhere in the US. At check-in, we were given a choice between an internally facing room with less natural light but more quiet, or a brighter room with increased street noise. We opted for the internally facing room. The room itself was spacious, clean, and aesthetically one of the nicest we’ve stayed in during our travels. However, as warned, it was extremely dark. The bathroom layout, with the shower and toilet separate from the basin, was unusual but not an issue for us. Storage space was generous, with plenty of room for clothes and personal items. There was a fridge in the room, which was appreciated, though it was completely full of minibar food and drinks - leaving little to no space for guests to store their own items. The hair dryer was also impressively ineffective; it had about the same impact as an elderly person breathing gently in my direction. Unfortunately, the bed and pillows were a major downside. The mattress bowed noticeably in the middle, meaning we spent the night rolling inward, and the pillows were very soft and lumpy. Both my husband and I left with sore necks, backs, and hips - comfort-wise, this was easily the worst sleep we’ve had on our trip… Overall, this hotel may suit travellers prioritising space, aesthetics, and price over location and sleep comfort. I would not recommend this hotel for solo female travellers. We wouldn’t rule out staying again at the right rate, but improvements to the bedding would make a significant difference.
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January 5, 2026BONE YNot a safe neighborhood
I am writing to advise you not to stay at this hotel. I booked a room here but ultimately decided to stay elsewhere. Not only is this hotel in a very sketchy location, they also have an undisclosed $55 valet parking fee. For a room that's only $95 that's a pretty steep fee, and not only that the valet parking only runs from 7 AM till 11 PM meaning that if you wanna park your car after 11 PM you're not gonna be able to do that regardless of if you paid the fee. But more than that this area is just extremely sketchy. The building is surrounded by vagrants and homeless people, I feared for my safety and the safety of my car. Just in the few minutes I was parked out front I had several people checking me out, it was a very dodgy situation and ultimately I would advise anyone wanting to stay in Portland to avoid this location at all costs.
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January 4, 2026Virgil NLittle get away weekend.
The wife and I planned a little weekend together in Portland. The hotel was updated, but they also didn’t try to hide the age (in a good way). I’m glad they didn’t try to cover the wooden floors. The room was small, but they did use the space very well. The only complaint about the room that we had was tue mini fridge was a little too small and packed with drinks that we weren’t going to buy. There is a tone of good food and drink locations within walking distance. If you’re looking for the typical room (think chain hotels), this isn’t your place. It has more character than what you’ll find at those places.
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January 4, 2026David K
Be careful of fraudulent minibar charges!
Hotel is fine, but be careful of fraudulent minibar charges when you check out. They won't ask you if you used any minibar, but will charge you and send you an invoice hours after you check out so it's more difficult to dispute. I had to go back to the hotel (waste my time) to ask for a refund, which they did immediately. That just made the whole situation even sketchier. Find a different hotel.
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December 29, 2025Maria MWonderful staff, historic place, minor details with the room
The staff is incredible! All of them, Rally, Tiffany, Hope, Halen, Sky, and other staff whose name I did not get, were VERY NICE. Our first day our plane arrived early in the morning, and we arrived at the hotel around 10:30 am. We were told that check-in was at 3 pm. But Rally took our phone number and told us that she would call us if a room became ready sooner. We were very happy to received her call around 1 pm. Also, it was raining a lot during the time we were in Portland (December 18 to December 23, 2025). It was a nice surprise to know that they had umbrellas for the guests to use. It was a little disappointing that the restaurant was not open. But there is a very nice restaurant next to the hotel, My Father's Place, where we went to eat everyday. It reminded us of Cheers, the 80's tv show, very cozy. We also appreciated the coffee and tea they have every morning. During our last two days, they added sweet bread. I was a little concerned because I had read some reviews that some guests heard the noise from the street. But we were lucky to have our room away from the street; we did not hear any noise at all. Our room was dark enough, even in the mornings. There were a couple of 'minor' details that we did not like, but there's nothing the staff can do about: 1) The sink is outside the bathroom 2) The light from the bathroom is on a timer and is sensitive to movement. If we went to the toilet in the middle of the night, there was not way to avoid having the light shining into the bedroom. I was afraid to wake up my husband. One suggestion, it'd be nice to have a littler microwave in the bedroom. Other than that, as I said, you have a wonderful staff that make up for the minor things. One fun fact: we noticed that if you stay on one side of the room, you seem a lot taller from the person staying on the other side of the room. Another fun fact: the Hotel used to be the Chamberlain Hotel. It had been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Thank you all!!!!