Hotel Reynard, a Beautiful Tavern and Inn, Opens Today in Troutdale

A new 8-room boutique hotel and tavern opens today in Troutdale: Hotel Reynard, from the folks behind The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse in Sisters, Oregon. Located on Historic Columbia Highway, they’re just a few blocks from Via Tinto Wine Bar, coffee shops and restaurants, situated along the evolving commercial strip in Historic Downtown Troutdale—the Gateway to the Gorge.

And it’s only about 20 minutes east from PDX (and, depending on the time of day, just 15 minutes from East Portland). Here’s what we know.

Who’s Behind Hotel Reynard?

As I mentioned above, Hotel Reynard is a project by the same people who are behind The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse. That would be co-owners Donald Kenney and Sean Hoard, who also created Pal’s on Hayden Island. Sean has also been with the Teardrop Lounge, which will celebrate 20 years next year.

Sean also serves as beverage director at Hotel Reynard, and Chef Bill Wallender (Ava Gene’s, Quaintrelle) oversees the tavern menu. Anna-Lisa Chacón is the GM. Eric Cheong of North 45 Projects (Ace Hotel, Captain Whidbey) led the design.

Hotel Reynard: What’s in a Name?

I’m told that Hotel Reynard is named for the Reynard the Fox, a fable and literary cycle that has origins in Medieval Europe. In these stories, he is depicted as an anthropomorphic talking fox—originally with red fur, but sometimes with yellow or white—and a trickster. He has been the subject of storytelling from the 12th century to modern times. On that last point, for instance, in Disney’s 1973 animated feature, “Robin Hood,” the Robin Hood character is essentially portrayed by a family-friendly version of Reynard the Fox.

One of the characters in the Reynard cycle is Chanticleer the rooster, which figures into backstory of the naming of Hotel Reynard. “The name [of the hotel] was inspired by the old Chanticleer Inn, a hotel here in Troutdale at the turn of the previous century,” said Donald Kenney. “From the old fables, the rooster was the antihero to Reynard, the fox. We thought it was a tribute to origin and the rebirth of this place.”

From another angle, they describe Hotel Reynard as a place that evokes that great feeling you get when you are taking some time off, going on a road trip, traveling to a beautiful place. “Hotel Reynard pulls inspiration from the open road, English countryside inns, and Oregon’s natural beauty to create a destination for travelers and locals alike.”

The Hotel

The building itself is 100 years old and started out as a hotel, built after a major fire in 1925 that burned down much of Troutdale’s commercial district. More recently, this building served as the home to Taste of Village Chinese restaurant, which closed in 2022 after operating for over 20 years.

This location is especially sweet for those who are looking to spend some time in the Gorge. Troutdale is positioned just as you enter the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, an incredible natural gem and a place Oregon is understandably proud of.

“Troutdale sits on the edge of the Gorge, and the opportunity to build something here was really appealing,” said Daniel. “I’m excited about what we can do to bring more people to Troutdale, spend even more time out here on their way to the Gorge, sure—but stay awhile.”

What’s Going on Inside Hotel Reynard

The hotel’s eight rooms are all on the second floor and the designers say it was “conceived as a contemporary interpretation of warm Americana” and in a “European restaurant-with-rooms tradition.”

With a mix of traditional and modern styles, the guest rooms—which have varying sizes and configurations, but always with comfort in mind—serve as a quiet retreat, with each room having its own style. When I stopped by the other day, the rooms definitely exuded calm and chill. It smelled nice up there, too.

My favorite detail is that each room owns a distinct palette inspired by local plant species and the nearby Sandy River.

With American Shaker–inspired furnishings, rooms have king beds, writing desks, window benches, locally made ceramic lamps, upholstery and custom millwork, and refreshment nooks (coffee maker/beverage station/wet bar).

Local art is featured throughout the hotel. Artists include: Emily Wise, Gabi Villaseñor, Jesse Kamerzell, Tylor Rogers, Jess Ackerman, Galen Ballinger, Carly Mick, and Jeremy Okai Davis. 

I took a look at all the rooms and the bathrooms had nice products in them. Beautiful tile work, too. One person I spoke with had heard a rumor that the rooms had shared bathrooms, but that is not the case; each room has its own bathroom.

The Tavern

There’s a 60-seat restaurant and bar and a 40-seat patio as part of the tavern side of Hotel Reynard.

The Bar

In the tavern space, the bar is not far from the entrance; it anchors the room but does not block you from accessing the dining room, and there is a nice sense of flow. As you enter, the stairs going up to the hotel rooms is right there, too.

Sean Hoard has designed a cocktail program with drinks that incorporate seasonal ingredients—“a bit of a love letter to bartending in the early aughts with simple, timeless, and well-executed drinks.” Some examples of the opening cocktail menu include a Bramble (gin, lemon, crème de mûre), a vodka Martini with a pickled green tomato, and a Fox River (Tennessee whiskey, cacao, peach bitters.)

For wine, they will heavily feature local producers, as well as wines from France, Italy, and Spain.

Beer includes stalwarts like Guinness on draft, which apparently “flows from a traditional European-style ceramic beer tower.” They’ve also collabed with Commensal Fermentation for the Reynard Premium, a European pale lager brewed with German hops; and Volpes, a classic, West Coast-style IPA brewed with Simcoe and Mosaic hops.”

They also have some NA options, including non-alcoholic beer and Casmara Club botanical soda; they also have The Pathfinder on hand for creating NA mixed drinks.

“Sean Hoard, our beverage director, designed something for everyone from tavern beers to good wines to NA,” remarked Daniel.

The Tavern

Along with this being a convenient place for a meal for hotel guests, the tavern is also a neighborhood restaurant in the area. Everyone is welcome and they are excited to get to know their Troutdale neighbors better.

The dining room is decked out in natural woods, pressed anaglypta ceiling panels, unlacquered brass, custom design millwork, and leather upholstery. Their aim is to offer a timeless and approachable character, “handsome and feminine, unfussy, and grounded in
authenticity.” There’s a mix of booths, large tables, and two tops. The banquettes and booth seating are very comfortable to sit on.

Sourcing the Tavern Menu

The tavern menu from Chef Bill Wallender features cuisine that is seasonal, “ingredient-driven” and made with locally grown produce and nearby fisheries. As a result, the menus are seasonal, drawing inspiration from the Pacific Northwest, but also from the Mediterranean, and Southern Europe.

“Something that’s really great about our location is we are on the edge of some verdant farming land,” explained Daniel. “Just beyond the banks of the Sandy River in Corbett is home to dozens of farms, we’re excited to work with local folks from Fiddlehead, Katie and Montana. They specialize in winter crops which is a rarity. From them we’ll be cooking with a lot of braising greens, squash, and early winter products.”

He added, “We’re also big fans of Katharine at Mora Mora—she grows a lot of specialty veggies beyond the standard typical celery, like the Black Futsu squash.”

Some Specifics on the Menu

Some of the initial menu items include small plates like oysters, bread & herb butter, chanterelles & soft leeks on toast, and corn crumpets with deviled crab.

Vegetable dishes include Tomato-Braised Winter Squash, Crisp Greens & Roasted Almonds, and Lemon-Roasted Potatoes; more substantial dishes like Roast Chicken with Warm Bread Salad, Whole Trout over Charcoal, and Grilled Beef & Crisp Potatoes. Dessert includes an almond cake, warm Vermouth pears, and celery granita.

There are large storefront windows that connect guests to the outdoor patio, which will be used for alfresco dining and seasonal programming.

Reservations for Hotel Reynard Are Open

“Reynard is a great place for people who are coming to explore the region and not just Portland,” said Daniel. “It’s for those who are looking for a home base just outside of town that has great food, drinks, and incredible proximity to at the things in the Gorge. Same with folks who live in Portland who are looking for a weekend getaway that doesn’t take them too far to get out and relax—where they can have a great meal, comfortable stay, and a proper date night.”

Reservations for overnight lodging ($180/night) and dining are available now. The restaurant is open daily for lunch, dinner, and drinks from 11am to 9pm.

All the best to the Hotel Reynard team as they offer their sweet hospitality to the public.

Hotel Reynard [opened November 3, 2026]
302 Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale
Hotel Reynard website | Instagram