Guidebook for Portland
Drinks & Nightlife
Lovely cocktails with some of the friendliest, well-informed bartenders in the city. Our go-to.
64 locals recommend
Vintage Cocktail Lounge
7907 SE Stark StLovely cocktails with some of the friendliest, well-informed bartenders in the city. Our go-to.
An array of local beer brewed by Michael Kora on tap right in the heart of our neighborhood. They've got a great patio and an intimate indoor spot for sipping pints. You're welcome to bring food with you, too (Flying Pie Pizzeria is right across the street).
42 locals recommend
Montavilla Brew Works
7805 Southeast Stark StreetAn array of local beer brewed by Michael Kora on tap right in the heart of our neighborhood. They've got a great patio and an intimate indoor spot for sipping pints. You're welcome to bring food with you, too (Flying Pie Pizzeria is right across the street).
Bellwether Bar
Our favorite neighborhood bar. We love to walk there for dinner and cocktails.
Food Scene
Classic Portland coffee shop with good coffee, sandwiches, pies, and walls lined with fascinating political memorabilia from the past 200 years.
111 locals recommend
Bipartisan Cafe
7901 SE Stark StClassic Portland coffee shop with good coffee, sandwiches, pies, and walls lined with fascinating political memorabilia from the past 200 years.
Ya Hala Lebanese Cuisine
8005 SE Stark StPita and mezza platter. Yummmmm.
Wonderful food and great cocktails. Busy, lively, and fun. (If The Observatory is full, just walk through the restaurant to the back where there's another secret bar called Over & Out.)
171 locals recommend
The Observatory
8115 SE Stark StWonderful food and great cocktails. Busy, lively, and fun. (If The Observatory is full, just walk through the restaurant to the back where there's another secret bar called Over & Out.)
Our favorite neighborhood cafe and market, plus a very special place to have dinner (you’ll need advanced reservations).
101 locals recommend
Coquine
6839 SE Belmont StOur favorite neighborhood cafe and market, plus a very special place to have dinner (you’ll need advanced reservations).
Excellent pizza, great salads, and fine cocktails about five minutes from our house by car. Yes, they also deliver through Caviar.
65 locals recommend
East Glisan Pizza Lounge
8001 NE Glisan StExcellent pizza, great salads, and fine cocktails about five minutes from our house by car. Yes, they also deliver through Caviar.
Delicious Vietnamese food, including awesome Pho. Great for take-out (bring it back and enjoy your meal on our back deck).
11 locals recommend
Hanoi Kitchen
7925 NE Glisan StDelicious Vietnamese food, including awesome Pho. Great for take-out (bring it back and enjoy your meal on our back deck).
Great Thai food, and only five minutes from our house. The owners really care about the quality of the food they serve.
6 locals recommend
Thai Fresh
8409 SE Division StGreat Thai food, and only five minutes from our house. The owners really care about the quality of the food they serve.
Harlow
3632 SE Hawthorne BlvdIntentionally-prepared, healthy food/smoothies/juices with great flavors.
The tacos! The ceviche! The chips! The margaritas! It's all worth waiting in line for (and you'll definitely be waiting in line).
318 locals recommend
¿Por Qué No?
4635 Southeast Hawthorne BoulevardThe tacos! The ceviche! The chips! The margaritas! It's all worth waiting in line for (and you'll definitely be waiting in line).
Lots of great local restaurants and bars, all under one hip roof.
115 locals recommend
Pine Street Market
126 SW 2nd AveLots of great local restaurants and bars, all under one hip roof.
Amazing Swedish brunch spot with favorites like baked eggs, Lefse (potato crepes), aebleskivers (Danish pancakes), breakfast bords, and Spanish coffee!
156 locals recommend
Broder Café
2508 SE Clinton StAmazing Swedish brunch spot with favorites like baked eggs, Lefse (potato crepes), aebleskivers (Danish pancakes), breakfast bords, and Spanish coffee!
Never Coffee
4243 SE Belmont StKiller Banh Mi
Hungry Heart Bakery
414 SE Stark StBreakfast burritos!
Parks & Nature
Mount Tabor is one of our favorite places in Portland, and only about a 10-15 minute walk from our house. We take a walk there almost every day in the spring, summer, and fall to clear our minds and enjoy nature.
420 locals recommend
Mount Tabor
Mount Tabor is one of our favorite places in Portland, and only about a 10-15 minute walk from our house. We take a walk there almost every day in the spring, summer, and fall to clear our minds and enjoy nature.
Beautiful expansive stretches of green grass, lush tall trees, a large pond, and surrounded by historical homes.
437 locals recommend
Laurelhurst Park
SE Cesar E Chavez Blvd & Stark StBeautiful expansive stretches of green grass, lush tall trees, a large pond, and surrounded by historical homes.
Reed Lake is a charming place to take a short hike and enjoy nature right inside the city. In the springtime, you're sure to see adorable ducklings swimming around, and in summer there are wild berries to snack on. Take a book and read on one of the hidden benches, or just meander. (You'll want to some rubber boots for the mud in the wintertime.)
79 locals recommend
Reed College
3203 SE Woodstock BlvdReed Lake is a charming place to take a short hike and enjoy nature right inside the city. In the springtime, you're sure to see adorable ducklings swimming around, and in summer there are wild berries to snack on. Take a book and read on one of the hidden benches, or just meander. (You'll want to some rubber boots for the mud in the wintertime.)
Incredible selection of roses. A perfect place to picnic or take a long, peaceful walk.
627 locals recommend
International Rose Test Garden
400 SW Kingston AveIncredible selection of roses. A perfect place to picnic or take a long, peaceful walk.
One of the country's largest urban forest reserves. Features miles of hiking trails right in the city (and feels like you're deep in nature without needing to drive for hours).
940 locals recommend
Forest Park
One of the country's largest urban forest reserves. Features miles of hiking trails right in the city (and feels like you're deep in nature without needing to drive for hours).
10 miles north of Portland, Sauvie Island's many natural areas are great for hiking, exploring, and even swimming, and its friendly farms are fun for picking produce, hanging out with some livestock, and enjoying some *super* local food.
181 locals recommend
Sauvies Island
38799 NW Reeder Rd10 miles north of Portland, Sauvie Island's many natural areas are great for hiking, exploring, and even swimming, and its friendly farms are fun for picking produce, hanging out with some livestock, and enjoying some *super* local food.
One of the most beautiful places in the city, bar none.
1015 locals recommend
Portland Japanese Garden
611 SW Kingston AveOne of the most beautiful places in the city, bar none.
Shopping
Great place to get lost in time. Within walking distance of our house.
20 locals recommend
Monticello Antique Marketplace
8600 SE Stark StGreat place to get lost in time. Within walking distance of our house.
Well made products from around the world for the home, work, and life. We love to get gifts from this shop.
44 locals recommend
Canoe
1233 SW 10th AveWell made products from around the world for the home, work, and life. We love to get gifts from this shop.
Not as big or grand as Powell's flagship store downtown, this location still has the same vibe and a great selection of new and used books. Swing in and grab a latte or Americano at The Fresh Pot (just inside the bookstore) then browse the aisles.
230 locals recommend
Powell's Books on Hawthorne
3723 SE Hawthorne BlvdNot as big or grand as Powell's flagship store downtown, this location still has the same vibe and a great selection of new and used books. Swing in and grab a latte or Americano at The Fresh Pot (just inside the bookstore) then browse the aisles.
Not to be missed! The best independent bookstore in the country is right here in PDX. Newly renovated, you can easily spend a half day roaming the shelves. Grab a hot coffee at World Cup on the first floor (try the Puddle Jumper blend—our favorite), then let your literary imagination run wild.
976 locals recommend
Powell's City of Books
1005 W Burnside StNot to be missed! The best independent bookstore in the country is right here in PDX. Newly renovated, you can easily spend a half day roaming the shelves. Grab a hot coffee at World Cup on the first floor (try the Puddle Jumper blend—our favorite), then let your literary imagination run wild.
Essentials
Wonderful natural grocery store with lots of organic produce and meat to choose from, and a great selection of cheese and wine.
1022 locals recommend
New Seasons Market
5320 NE 33rd AveWonderful natural grocery store with lots of organic produce and meat to choose from, and a great selection of cheese and wine.
United States Postal Service
630 NE Killingsworth StThis is the closest post office to our house.
A favorite place for us to stock up on fresh, local produce. Surely one of the first, and finest, co-ops in Portland.
113 locals recommend
People's Food Co-op
3029 SE 21st AveA favorite place for us to stock up on fresh, local produce. Surely one of the first, and finest, co-ops in Portland.
The mission of the Montavilla Farmers Market is to provide a vibrant marketplace where our diverse community has access to high quality, local, healthy food. Sundays, 10am-2pm, May-Oct. Check out the vendor roster at montavillamarket.org.
39 locals recommend
Montavilla Farmers Market
7700 SE Stark StThe mission of the Montavilla Farmers Market is to provide a vibrant marketplace where our diverse community has access to high quality, local, healthy food. Sundays, 10am-2pm, May-Oct. Check out the vendor roster at montavillamarket.org.
Entertainment & Activities
Second run theater within walking distance from our house. Serves pizza, beer, and wine (and lots of other movie theater treats).
159 locals recommend
Academy Theater
7818 SE Stark StSecond run theater within walking distance from our house. Serves pizza, beer, and wine (and lots of other movie theater treats).
Iconic second run theater in a hip PDX neighborhood. They serve pizza and beer, so don't feel obligated to eat before your film.
329 locals recommend
Laurelhurst Theatre
2735 E Burnside StIconic second run theater in a hip PDX neighborhood. They serve pizza and beer, so don't feel obligated to eat before your film.
Fascinating scientific exhibits of all kinds. A fun inside activity for kids and adults alike.
646 locals recommend
OMSI
1945 SE Water AveFascinating scientific exhibits of all kinds. A fun inside activity for kids and adults alike.
Getting Around
Gateway/NE 99th station
Catch a train downtown or to the airport from here.
Closest stop to our house that will take you through the lovely Belmont district, all the way downtown, and finally over into NW Portland. You can get bus tickets on your phone by downloading the TriMet Tickets App (http://trimet.org/app/index.htm).
SE 76th & Yamhill station
Closest stop to our house that will take you through the lovely Belmont district, all the way downtown, and finally over into NW Portland. You can get bus tickets on your phone by downloading the TriMet Tickets App (http://trimet.org/app/index.htm).
Closest Biketown Hub to our house. Get a single ride for $2.50, or pay $12/day. Learn more at: https://www.biketownpdx.com/how-it-works
36 locals recommend
Biketown Hub
Closest Biketown Hub to our house. Get a single ride for $2.50, or pay $12/day. Learn more at: https://www.biketownpdx.com/how-it-works