Portland Spirit is planning to open a full-service restaurant at 1020 SW Naito Pkwy inside Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Owner and co-founder Dan Yates confirmed to What Now Portland he is in talks with the city about the location. The company has filed an early assistance application with Portland Parks & Recreation to convert the park’s historic Rose Building into a casual, family-friendly restaurant, with a target of being up and running by spring 2027.
The proposed restaurant is a city-owned building near Salmon Street Springs, a location that has been viewed as an underutilized asset within the waterfront park. If approved, the project would introduce a permanent food-and-drink destination to a section of downtown that attracts thousands of visitors, eventgoers and commuters throughout the year.
Beyond the restaurant itself, the proposal outlines $2 million in renovations, including a walk-up food window directly off Salmon Springs Plaza and the overhaul of approximately 5,000 square feet of outdoor seating across the existing courtyard, pergola, and river-facing patio, it will turn a quiet office into one of the most coveted dining terraces in the city.
For Portland Spirit, the move is a natural extension of its waterfront presence. The company’s main cruise dock sits just steps from the Rose Building, and a restaurant in the space would allow it to host pre- and post-cruise events in addition to welcoming everyday diners.
