When it debuted in 1995, the Rose Garden Arena was pitched to Portlanders as a sports and entertainment hub, its developers — including former Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen — envisioning a nightlife district packed with restaurants and bars.
Reality has looked a little different. Though the project originally included a pilot brewery and a flashy Italian restaurant with an Italian bicycle racing theme, the area immediately around the arena — now called the Moda Center — has been a dining desert for the better part of two decades.
But this being Portland, you don’t have to venture far to find good food. Fans visiting the Moda Center for this week’s men’s NCAA basketball tournament can find some of Portland’s very best restaurants just a short walk or public transit ride away. And you might even be able to park for free…