Guidebook for Salem
Food Scene
Great pizza (and I'm from the East Coast) and drinks! Occasionally they have live jazz in the lounge.
16 locals recommend
Christo's Pizzeria & Lounge
1108 Broadway St NEGreat pizza (and I'm from the East Coast) and drinks! Occasionally they have live jazz in the lounge.
Xichas is a brewery, but their delicious food is what makes it. Try the queso or ceviche. Warning: the outdoor seating gets hot in the evening (southern-facing).
10 locals recommend
Xicha Brewing Co.
576 Patterson St NWXichas is a brewery, but their delicious food is what makes it. Try the queso or ceviche. Warning: the outdoor seating gets hot in the evening (southern-facing).
Broadway coffee has great joe and tea with kombucha on tap and a sampling of pasteries. Just a couple blocks away!
16 locals recommend
Broadway Coffeehouse
1300 Broadway St NEBroadway coffee has great joe and tea with kombucha on tap and a sampling of pasteries. Just a couple blocks away!
Cheap tacos fast- not for the faint of heart. Get yours to go and enjoy them in the back yard.
Tony's Taco Shop
1412 Capitol St NECheap tacos fast- not for the faint of heart. Get yours to go and enjoy them in the back yard.
Though the staff move slowly, the food is great and on the healthier side (if you're into that). They have local beer, great drinks, and a full tea menu. Try the avocado milkshake and flash-fried brussel sprouts.
28 locals recommend
Taproot Lounge & Cafe
356 State StThough the staff move slowly, the food is great and on the healthier side (if you're into that). They have local beer, great drinks, and a full tea menu. Try the avocado milkshake and flash-fried brussel sprouts.
Best sushi in Salem. Get the potato head roll (vegetarian and delicious)!
Tiga Sushi Bar & Asian Bistro
260 Liberty St SEBest sushi in Salem. Get the potato head roll (vegetarian and delicious)!
Word Of Mouth Neighborhood Bistro
140 17th St NEMost decadent breakfasts!
Delicious vegan gluten free donuts downtown! Usually 3 gets me full with a good sugar buzz.
7 locals recommend
Bigwig Donuts
111 Liberty St NEDelicious vegan gluten free donuts downtown! Usually 3 gets me full with a good sugar buzz.
Salem's largest food cart pod! Complete with full coffee, beer, kombucha, and hard alcohol bar, indoor and outdoor seating, indoor bathrooms, and live music and events.
16 locals recommend
The Yard Food Park
4106 State StSalem's largest food cart pod! Complete with full coffee, beer, kombucha, and hard alcohol bar, indoor and outdoor seating, indoor bathrooms, and live music and events.
BEST date night meal. This place is home to Salem’s best chef- a two-time James Beard award nominee.
Epilogue Kitchen and Cocktails
BEST date night meal. This place is home to Salem’s best chef- a two-time James Beard award nominee.
This is a restaurant in a brand new hotel and it’s got great local-based food and cocktail menus.
Pacific Standard
This is a restaurant in a brand new hotel and it’s got great local-based food and cocktail menus.
Salem’s Mexican cheese factory! They’ve got a quesadilla bar AND house made ice creams. I sometimes run there before hosting a gathering because they’ve got a great variety of salsas, cheese, and chorizo for a real solid taco bar.
Don Froylan Creamery
Salem’s Mexican cheese factory! They’ve got a quesadilla bar AND house made ice creams. I sometimes run there before hosting a gathering because they’ve got a great variety of salsas, cheese, and chorizo for a real solid taco bar.
Drinks & Nightlife
Archive is the most Portland place to have a drink or coffee in Salem. Their beer selection, while small is among the best in town, especially if you're adventurous or into sour beers. Food is tasty but not inexpensive. There's a speakeasy with set menu in the basement on Fridays!
34 locals recommend
Archive Coffee & Bar
102 Liberty St NEArchive is the most Portland place to have a drink or coffee in Salem. Their beer selection, while small is among the best in town, especially if you're adventurous or into sour beers. Food is tasty but not inexpensive. There's a speakeasy with set menu in the basement on Fridays!
Best downtown spot for a good variety of local brews and kombucha. Something interesting is always on the TV and the food is decent.
Kraftworks Taphouse
241 Liberty St NEBest downtown spot for a good variety of local brews and kombucha. Something interesting is always on the TV and the food is decent.
One of Salem’s oldest breweries. They serve a blend of classic British beer styles plus some Northwest ales.
7 locals recommend
Santiam Brewing Co.
2544 19th St SEOne of Salem’s oldest breweries. They serve a blend of classic British beer styles plus some Northwest ales.
Sightseeing
Oregon State Capitol
900 Court St NEGreat offerings from March to October. I go for honey, donuts, paella, and people watching. It’s just 0.6 miles south on Winter Street on Saturdays until 2pm.
Salem Saturday Market
Great offerings from March to October. I go for honey, donuts, paella, and people watching. It’s just 0.6 miles south on Winter Street on Saturdays until 2pm.
Self-guided tour gives you a little glimpse into Salem’s wool mill history. The gift shop features local artists and there’s an art gallery on site as well.
29 locals recommend
Willamette Heritage Center
1313 Mill St SESelf-guided tour gives you a little glimpse into Salem’s wool mill history. The gift shop features local artists and there’s an art gallery on site as well.
Essentials
Safeway
1265 Center St NEAvoid rush hour- this place gets busy!
Not cheap, but great local produce selection and all of your other hippie food needs.
14 locals recommend
LifeSource Natural Foods
2649 Commercial St SENot cheap, but great local produce selection and all of your other hippie food needs.
Decent prices on meat, bulk foods, and eggs. Every kombucha flavor you could ever dream of and lots of natural body care products.
7 locals recommend
Natural Grocers
4250 Commercial St SEDecent prices on meat, bulk foods, and eggs. Every kombucha flavor you could ever dream of and lots of natural body care products.
Parks & Nature
Great place for walks by the water or a romp with your dog. The place is large enough you can find a quiet spot any day of the year.
60 locals recommend
Minto-Brown Island Park
2200 Minto Island Rd SWGreat place for walks by the water or a romp with your dog. The place is large enough you can find a quiet spot any day of the year.
Best place to see multiple waterfalls in the state. Try to Trail of 10 Falls for a 7 to 9 mile challenge (no dogs), or a 4 mile out-and-back on the Rim Trail which is pooch friendly. Best visited on weekdays, as this is the most popular state park in Oregon. $5 day pass unless you have a state parks pass. Large pavilion with snack concession including beer and wine.
293 locals recommend
Silver Falls State Park
20024 Silver Falls Highway SoutheastBest place to see multiple waterfalls in the state. Try to Trail of 10 Falls for a 7 to 9 mile challenge (no dogs), or a 4 mile out-and-back on the Rim Trail which is pooch friendly. Best visited on weekdays, as this is the most popular state park in Oregon. $5 day pass unless you have a state parks pass. Large pavilion with snack concession including beer and wine.
Beautiful site for botanizing! Acres of beautiful flowers and trees. Privately owned, so not a free destination, but Oregon Garden has a really nice cafe with wine and beer so its easy to make a day of it.
87 locals recommend
The Oregon Garden
879 W Main StBeautiful site for botanizing! Acres of beautiful flowers and trees. Privately owned, so not a free destination, but Oregon Garden has a really nice cafe with wine and beer so its easy to make a day of it.
Release your inner hippie and dip in a hot spring with some crunchy naked people! Buy a pass online before you go- its often booked for retreats and about an hour and a half drive. NOTE: The site was burned in the 2020 wildfires but is back up for business- bring sunscreen!
12 locals recommend
Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat and Conference Center
53000 Breitenbush Rd SERelease your inner hippie and dip in a hot spring with some crunchy naked people! Buy a pass online before you go- its often booked for retreats and about an hour and a half drive. NOTE: The site was burned in the 2020 wildfires but is back up for business- bring sunscreen!
Riverfront Park is a beautiful river-adjacent space that connects to Minto Brown park via a taco-shaped pedestrian and bike bridge. Explore the amphitheater, picnic area, or carousel.
Riverfront Park Loop
Riverfront Park LoopRiverfront Park is a beautiful river-adjacent space that connects to Minto Brown park via a taco-shaped pedestrian and bike bridge. Explore the amphitheater, picnic area, or carousel.
Getting Around
Downtown bus hub. If you take the bus from this listing, you will likely transfer here. Walkable (about a mile).
Salem Transit Center station
Downtown bus hub. If you take the bus from this listing, you will likely transfer here. Walkable (about a mile).
Entertainment & Activities
Willamette U is the only 4-year school in Salem. The campus features some lovely rose gardens and often hosts live music and plays. 1-1.5 miles away depending on where on campus you're going.
20 locals recommend
Willamette University
900 State StWillamette U is the only 4-year school in Salem. The campus features some lovely rose gardens and often hosts live music and plays. 1-1.5 miles away depending on where on campus you're going.
Salem Cinema
1127 Broadway St NEBest/only art film spot in Salem. Just a few blocks away!
Salem has a comedy club AND music venue! Enjoy the all vegan menu and a local beer while you take in come laughs or tunes. It's always a spectacle.
Infinity Room
210 Liberty Street SoutheastSalem has a comedy club AND music venue! Enjoy the all vegan menu and a local beer while you take in come laughs or tunes. It's always a spectacle.