New Portland Hotel Blends Wellness, Art, and Sustainability Beneath the City

A new kind of urban retreat has arrived in Portland’s Alberta Arts District.

Cascada Thermal Springs + Hotel, which opened its doors this spring, is drawing national attention for its unique mix of design, wellness, and community spirit — even earning a glowing feature from Travel + Leisure magazine.

A Wellness Escape in the Heart of Portland

Cascada stands out not just for its architecture but for what lies below it: a hydrothermal spa with five underground pools, steam rooms, saunas, and cold plunges.

Above ground, guests can unwind in the 82-degree Conservatory — a light-filled oasis lined with tropical plants and a 25-foot living wall created by the Portland Botanical Garden.

The 100-room hotel caters to travelers and locals seeking both relaxation and connection. Each suite includes a king-sized bed, kitchen or kitchenette, balcony, and in-unit laundry.

Visitors aged 21 and older can access the spa, while non-guests can book day passes for a few hours of retreat from city life.

Dining at Terra Mae

Inside the hotel, Terra Mae restaurant merges Japanese and Portuguese influences with Pacific Northwest ingredients.

The rotating menu features dishes such as Mentaiko Udon, Wagyu Beef Tartare, Fisherman’s Stew, and Garlic Confit Duck Legs, blended with herbs and vegetables grown on the hotel’s rooftop garden.

What Travel + Leisure Loved

In a recent feature titled “There’s an Incredible Spa With 5 Pools Underneath Portland, Oregon, at This New Hotel,” writer John Wogan praised Cascada as “a wellness destination that feels both urban and serene.”

He highlighted the hotel’s quiet “Sanctuary,” where conversation and cellphones are off-limits, and described the underground pools as “an otherworldly series of therapeutic baths.”

Wogan also noted Cascada’s setting — surrounded by independent galleries, cafés, and shops — as part of what makes the stay feel authentically Portland.

“You leave understanding the city better,” he wrote, calling Cascada “a hotel that embraces its neighbors.”

Sustainability at Its Core

Environmental design is central to Cascada’s philosophy. The hotel recently became one of two hotels on the West Coast to earn a LEED Platinum certification.

Its limestone plaster walls and timber ceilings are entirely paint-free, and a rainwater harvesting system supplies about 15 percent of its annual water use.

Additionally, solar glass panels power parts of the building, while the rooftop garden supports the kitchen below.

Planning a Visit

Room rates start at $299 per night, with limited day passes for the thermal spa beginning at $100 per person.

The Spa includes programs like yoga, pilates, meditation, and sound healing, which are available daily, along with massages and small-group wellness classes.

For travelers, Cascada offers a rare kind of Portland stay that blends the energy of the city with the calm of the Pacific Northwest.