Doughnuts are an American favorite and Portland’s selection does not disappoint! My favorite’s are Blue Star Donuts, Voodoo Doughnuts, Pip’s Original Doughnuts, and Coco Donuts.  At Blue Star Donuts, you will find fresh ingredients and unique, gourmet flavors. Voodoo Doughnuts is known for wild toppings and crazy shapes. Pip’s has the most heavenly mini doughnuts and Coco Donuts offers tons of classic flavors. First off is Blue Star!

Blue Star Donuts

Blue Star has been serving gourmet donuts to the Portland area since 2012. The French brioche dough and frosting are made fresh everyday with high quality ingredients. You can really taste the quality with each bite! With three locations on 23rd Ave, Washington St, and Hawthorne St, they are definitely a local favorite.

Blue Star has a wide array of unique flavors. To name a few, there’s the Blueberry Bourbon Basil, the Sweet Potato Frittata, and the Matcha Latte. My favorite flavors are the Horchata and the Chocolate Ganache; I’m a sucker for anything chocolate or glazed! The donut pictured below is the Blueberry Bourbon basil, a must try. Their donuts have been endearingly nick-named “donuts for grownups” by local Portlandians.

Need something to wash that donut down with? Blue Star Donuts serves coffee from local roasters Coava! I also have to mention that every Blue Star location is dreamy with white subway tile, concrete floors, and charcoal painted walls. The aesthetic is clean, bright, and modern. What a great place to enjoy some delicious donuts!

Voodoo Doughnuts

Ask any random person on the street what comes to mind when they hear “Portland doughnuts” and their answer is probably Voodoo. Voodoo Doughnuts is one of the iconic locations that gives Portland so much character. Take one step inside their doughnut shop and you will see why! From humble beginnings in Portland in 2003, the popular Voodoo Doughnuts has gone on to open locations in Eugene, Denver, and Austin.

Their décor is wild, crazy and over the top just like the toppings on their doughnuts. The bright pink and lime green walls are covered in framed art, merchandise, and vinyl records from Voodoo’s own label. The windows are made out of stained glass and depict some interesting characters. A giant donut hangs from the ceiling along with some funky chandeliers. Even the exterior is flashy with gold spray painted brick. You can’t miss the giant neon Voodoo Doughnut sign!

Voodoo makes delicious cake doughnuts, raised yeast donuts, and fried doughnuts. They are known for their fun toppings which include cereal, Oreos, M&Ms, and bubblegum. My favorite is the “Dirt”, a doughnut covered in vanilla frosting and crushed Oreos. If I am craving something even sweeter, I will opt for the “Dirt” covered with peanut butter. Talk about a sugar rush!

Pip’s Original Donuts

These are my favorite donuts in Portland! Pip’s is a casual coffee cafe specializing in (to die for) mini donuts, which are made fresh as you watch. While you wait, you can enjoy some coffee or espresso made by local roasters Extracto Coffee. If you are a chai lover, like myself, they have an amazing Chai Flight that comes with six different flavors. I haven’t had it myself, but I have heard it’s amazing! The portions are generous and well priced. I’m dying to try them the next time I visit!

With flavors like honey sea salt, cinnamon sugar, and Nutella sea salt, you can’t go wrong. My favorite flavor is the Dirty Wu which is cinnamon and sugar drizzled with raw honey, warm Nutella, and dusted with sea salt.  It’s sinfully delicious! We are talking about “melt in your mouth”, “dream about that donut for days” delicious! Added bonus: head to Pip’s on your birthday and you’ll get a dozen donuts for free!

The atmosphere at Pip’s is very casual and laid back with an eclectic mix of seating and décor, so you will feel right at home! They’ve hung old American flags and the Oregon state flag proudly. I love the calming effect of the walls that have been painted to look like clouds. Be sure to walk around to the right side of the building to see their iconic “You Belong at Pip’s Original” sign!

Coco Donuts

Coco Donuts has been in the game since 2013. They have four locations; Uptown, Downtown, Broadway, and Williams. My favorite is the Williams location. This Coco Donuts location is really cute with marble round tables, white hexagon tile floors, wood shelves, and pink accents. Their modern gold accent lighting is amazing as well!

Coco offers classic donuts like the Sugar Glazed Only, the Chocolate Bar, and the Cinnamon Sugar. They also offer some unique flavors like the Lavender Glazed and the Signature Coco. The donuts pictured below are the Vanilla Cake with Coconut and the Vanilla Cake with Sprinkles; both were delicious! Coco Donuts also roasts their own coffee, which is super cool! They have a rotating selection throughout the week.

The day that I took these shots, the garage doors were open to let the sun in and I was loving it! The Williams location is bright, cheery, and open with plenty of seating to lounge and catch up with friends and family. All while enjoying the perfect combo; coffee and donuts. If you weren’t charmed already, the adorable donut bike stand outside the front door should do it!