McMenamins - Kennedy School

Since its 1915 opening, this historic elementary school has been a beloved fixture of its Northeast Portland neighborhood. McMenamins renovated the once-abandoned scholastic gem and turned it into Portland’s most unique hotel. Here you’ll find 57 comfy guestrooms with private baths and telephones (some fashioned from former classrooms complete with original chalkboards and cloakrooms – others with an author’s theme), a restaurant, multiple small bars, a movie theater, soaking pool, gift shop and a brewery (just wait until the principal hears about this!). Extensive original artwork and historical photographs cover the walls, ceilings, doorways and hallways.

Wedding Weekend

Had a great time at the Kennedy School for a family wedding. Many out of town family stayed the weekend. Ate, drank and celebrated all weekend long. So much is there, we never had to leave the property. Great pub with varied selection of beers. Courtyard restaurant was good not great. Staff was very friendly and accommodating to large groups. Didn't get to check out the theater or pool, but both were available.

Fun stop, but beds are miserable.

Love McMenamins places! Finally actually stayed at Kennedy School. Loved everything about it except the miserably hard and uncomfortable bed. We both woke up several times during the night lamenting the bed. Room itself was quaint, no frills, but beautiful artwork, light fixtures and clean. Great place to explore. Favorite bar by far was the Boiler Room.

"Back-to-School-Time" Has Never Been This Fun!

I got to "start school" this fall by spending the night at Kennedy School! What a blast! I wandered the halls, absorbing all the nostalgic details, from old water fountains to radiators. I soaked in the history, as I studied the art and photographs that helped me imagine the school 100 years ago. Then I acted up in the Detention Bar, but not too much. I ordered the "wee old-fashioned" which was no Shirley Temple. My husband and I tried out the Boiler Room Bar, then dined on the courtyard patio, with burgers and salad. Breakfast was peaceful and yummy in the Courtyard Restaurant, where I counted the unusual chandeliers and chuckled over the flaming torch/fork near the bar. But really, my favorite part was our classroom/guestroom, #104 Cherry Blossom Room. There was a touching story about the Japanese family that donated cherry trees to the school, after their 7 children attended. I will never forget their story... The chalkboard was a total hoot and I gave it my all. For most travelers, a spa package or a champagne bucket makes theme giddy. For me a big blank slate and an eraser filled with dust, totally makes my trip! Teachers never let me do anything besides arithmetic on our boards! Thank you McMenamin Brothers and entire team! I love what you do with old buildings!

You're a Kid Again at McMenamins Kennedy School

I cannot tell you how much I love this place. I am so grateful to the McMenamin brothers for saving this school from destruction and turning it into a hotel. As a rule, the classrooms in the original building have been divided into two rooms each. I was in the front half of the closest classroom to the office, and my room had chalkboards on the front and sides. (The next room appeared to have the original coat closets in the back.) Being a former elementary teacher with handwriting that looked just like those charts, I had to write all over the chalkboards. Other rooms have been repurposed into something along the lines of their original use: The cafeteria is now a restaurant; the auditorium is now a movie theater, and the gym is rented out for receptions and special events. (There is no correlation for rooms that were turned into bars.) Blown-up photographs of years gone by are everywhere. The atmosphere -- for adults and kids alike -- is pure joy.

The Most Fun Stay You'll Have in Portland

I've stayed at the stuffy places downtown before and just thought The Kennedy School was the bee's knees...loved the nice-and-naughty "honors" and "detention" bars, the artistic vibe, and ample cafe-style seating out for lazy mornings reading (ok, swiping) the newspaper. I had a small bedroom in the School Wing. Clean, cute. I was concerned about it being noisy as I was right in the middle of things but after the restaurant closed the entire hotel was hush, hush, hush. If quiet is a priority, book a room in the English Wing which as I understand is further away from the action. This place is popular with locals! Expect lots of people during normal business hours, expect to wait for dinner (even on a week night), etc.

McMenamins – Kennedy School

Virtual reality is almost as good as being there.

TripAdvisor Ratings & Reviews

Wedding Weekend

Fun stop, but beds are miserable.

"Back-to-School-Time" Has Never Been This Fun!

You're a Kid Again at McMenamins Kennedy School

The Most Fun Stay You'll Have in Portland