Food Scene
Best Mexican food in Portland and great outdoor seating. I bring all my visitors here. Five kinds of great homemade salsa, house-made chips, and margaritas with chile salt. There's always a line during lunch and dinner, but it moves fast.
318 locals recommend
¿Por Qué No?
4635 Southeast Hawthorne BoulevardBest Mexican food in Portland and great outdoor seating. I bring all my visitors here. Five kinds of great homemade salsa, house-made chips, and margaritas with chile salt. There's always a line during lunch and dinner, but it moves fast.
Simple and rustic Italian Roman inspired food, with an emphasis on local produce, it's been on several of the country's top ten lists for Italian food. Great date night restaurant. Reservations are often difficult to get, but eating at the bar is also a good option. http://avagenes.com/
236 locals recommend
Ava Gene's
3377 SE Division StSimple and rustic Italian Roman inspired food, with an emphasis on local produce, it's been on several of the country's top ten lists for Italian food. Great date night restaurant. Reservations are often difficult to get, but eating at the bar is also a good option. http://avagenes.com/
Bollywood Theater
2039 NE Alberta StOne of the best pizza's in Portland. There can often be a long wait at busy times, but there's somewhere to sit and have a beer while you wait.
221 locals recommend
Apizza Scholls
4741 SE Hawthorne BlvdOne of the best pizza's in Portland. There can often be a long wait at busy times, but there's somewhere to sit and have a beer while you wait.
Expensive but amazing sushi. And the world's first sustainable sushi restaurant.
471 locals recommend
Bamboo Sushi
310 SE 28th AveExpensive but amazing sushi. And the world's first sustainable sushi restaurant.
Jam On Hawthorne
2239 SE Hawthorne BlvdFun place to go for brunch - often long lines on the weekend.
Biscuits, gravy, and delicious fried chicken. Order the Reggie.
145 locals recommend
Pine State Biscuits Division
1100 SE Division StBiscuits, gravy, and delicious fried chicken. Order the Reggie.
Harlow
3632 SE Hawthorne BlvdVegan and gluten free.
The Country Cat Dinner House and Bar
7937 SE Stark StFarm to table southern fare.
Blue Star Donuts
3325 SE Division StWorld famous Thai street food joint. Prepare for a wait! You can always go across the street to Whiskey Soda Lounge, a whiskey connoisseur's dream that features Pok Pok appetizers.
460 locals recommend
Pok Pok
3226 SE Division StWorld famous Thai street food joint. Prepare for a wait! You can always go across the street to Whiskey Soda Lounge, a whiskey connoisseur's dream that features Pok Pok appetizers.
Best brunch spot in Portland, but lunch and dinner menus are great too. Small plates for sharing. Come early to avoid a line. Get coffee next door at Ristretto Roasters while waiting for your table.
482 locals recommend
Tasty n Daughters
4537 SE Division StBest brunch spot in Portland, but lunch and dinner menus are great too. Small plates for sharing. Come early to avoid a line. Get coffee next door at Ristretto Roasters while waiting for your table.
Portland’s renowned small batch “farm to cone” ice cream shop with flavors such as “honey balsamic strawberry with cracked pepper”. Long lines and well worth it. Joe Biden had a cone here.
1078 locals recommend
Salt & Straw
2035 NE Alberta StPortland’s renowned small batch “farm to cone” ice cream shop with flavors such as “honey balsamic strawberry with cracked pepper”. Long lines and well worth it. Joe Biden had a cone here.
Locally-owned phenomenal bakery for both breads and sweets, as well as great french country brunch & dinner fare. Affordable & delicious.
385 locals recommend
Petite Provence Boulangerie & Patisserie
3420 NE Sandy BlvdLocally-owned phenomenal bakery for both breads and sweets, as well as great french country brunch & dinner fare. Affordable & delicious.
The joy of walking into your neighborhood bakery and picking up a still warm loaf of prefect bread.
81 locals recommend
Tabor Bread
4438 SE Hawthorne BlvdThe joy of walking into your neighborhood bakery and picking up a still warm loaf of prefect bread.
This is my new favorite Portland restaurant. Make sure you do the $25 per person Zakuski experience. Every dish is amazing and it's plenty of food. And the best vodka is Square One.
119 locals recommend
Kachka
960 SE 11th AveThis is my new favorite Portland restaurant. Make sure you do the $25 per person Zakuski experience. Every dish is amazing and it's plenty of food. And the best vodka is Square One.
Serving local Roseline Coffee. Try one of their signature drinks, such as TURMERIC • GINGER • ORANGE BLOSSOM WATER
TOPPED WITH: BEE LOCAL CHERRY WOOD SMOKED HONEY • JACOBSEN SEA SALT & TELLICHERRY PEPPER
32 locals recommend
Never Coffee
4243 SE Belmont StServing local Roseline Coffee. Try one of their signature drinks, such as TURMERIC • GINGER • ORANGE BLOSSOM WATER
TOPPED WITH: BEE LOCAL CHERRY WOOD SMOKED HONEY • JACOBSEN SEA SALT & TELLICHERRY PEPPER
Small batch ice-cream - scoops, sundaes and delicious Ice Cream Sandwiches. 15 flavors - simple and perfect. Nice outdoor seating.
125 locals recommend
Ruby Jewel Ice Cream
3713 N Mississippi AveSmall batch ice-cream - scoops, sundaes and delicious Ice Cream Sandwiches. 15 flavors - simple and perfect. Nice outdoor seating.
Entertainment & Activities
Watch a movie in a theatre reminiscent of Hollywood's golden age, as you enjoy a beer and pizza. Go early to enjoy dinner or a drink in the casual pub that fronts the theater – but beware, outdoor tables in the summertime may be hard to come by! It's some of the best people-watching among pubs in Portland.
351 locals recommend
McMenamins Bagdad Theater and Pub
3702 SE Hawthorne BlvdWatch a movie in a theatre reminiscent of Hollywood's golden age, as you enjoy a beer and pizza. Go early to enjoy dinner or a drink in the casual pub that fronts the theater – but beware, outdoor tables in the summertime may be hard to come by! It's some of the best people-watching among pubs in Portland.
Legendary McMenamins location - old school comverted to a huge entertainment space and hotel. Cheap 2nd run movie theater with food/alcohol, multiple bars, live music indoor/outdoor, restaurant, hotel and soaking pool open to public.
538 locals recommend
McMenamins Kennedy School
5736 NE 33rd AveLegendary McMenamins location - old school comverted to a huge entertainment space and hotel. Cheap 2nd run movie theater with food/alcohol, multiple bars, live music indoor/outdoor, restaurant, hotel and soaking pool open to public.
Shopping
New Seasons Market
5320 NE 33rd AveGrocery store a couple of blocks away.
Powell's Books on Hawthorne
3723 SE Hawthorne Blvdcoffee and browsing.
Powell's City of Books
1005 W Burnside StAn entire city block of books.
Parks & Nature
The country's first park to be placed on the national registry of historic places. Laurelhurst Park includes a basketball court, soccer field, tennis court, volleyball court, playground, dog off-leash area, historical site, horseshoe pit, paved and unpaved paths, picnic site with tables, public art, stage, lakes, and so many trees!
437 locals recommend
Laurelhurst Park
SE Cesar E Chavez Blvd & Stark StThe country's first park to be placed on the national registry of historic places. Laurelhurst Park includes a basketball court, soccer field, tennis court, volleyball court, playground, dog off-leash area, historical site, horseshoe pit, paved and unpaved paths, picnic site with tables, public art, stage, lakes, and so many trees!
A serene and beautiful park built on an extinct volcano. Hike to the top (not too difficult) and you'll be rewarded with incredible views.
405 locals recommend
Mt Tabor Dog Park
2219 SE Lincoln StA serene and beautiful park built on an extinct volcano. Hike to the top (not too difficult) and you'll be rewarded with incredible views.
Stretching for 8 miles it is the country's largest urban forest reserve. Head out to the 10+ mile(one way) Leif Erickson Trail for a wide, easily walkable trail w/ trail markers for distance. The Wildwood Trail - 12+ miles long (one way) begins near the Oregon Zoo and weaves gently North through Forest Park Hoyt Arboretum - 6+ Orchards of cherry, manzanita, walnut and more trees scatt along various trails in Forest Park and a lovely visitor center to learn more about trees and nature.
940 locals recommend
Forest Park
Stretching for 8 miles it is the country's largest urban forest reserve. Head out to the 10+ mile(one way) Leif Erickson Trail for a wide, easily walkable trail w/ trail markers for distance. The Wildwood Trail - 12+ miles long (one way) begins near the Oregon Zoo and weaves gently North through Forest Park Hoyt Arboretum - 6+ Orchards of cherry, manzanita, walnut and more trees scatt along various trails in Forest Park and a lovely visitor center to learn more about trees and nature.
Portland Japanese Garden ranks 2nd in the nation for the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan. It is 5.5 acres and has five distinct garden styles which include: strolling pond, the flat garden, tea garden, the natural garden and the sand and stone garden. One of the most peaceful places in town.
1015 locals recommend
Portland Japanese Garden
611 SW Kingston AvePortland Japanese Garden ranks 2nd in the nation for the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan. It is 5.5 acres and has five distinct garden styles which include: strolling pond, the flat garden, tea garden, the natural garden and the sand and stone garden. One of the most peaceful places in town.
Drinks & Nightlife
In the early 1900’s, the Sapphire was inhabited by sailors, travelers and ladies of the night, lending it to be known as a shady hotel and brothel in southeast Portland. These days it's a sexy cocktail lounge in the former hotel lobby serving American small plates, platters & craft cocktails by candlelight. Happy hour 4-6 and Sunday's 10 til close. Live jazz 8-10 on Sunday's.
161 locals recommend
Sapphire Hotel Bar
5008 SE Hawthorne BlvdIn the early 1900’s, the Sapphire was inhabited by sailors, travelers and ladies of the night, lending it to be known as a shady hotel and brothel in southeast Portland. These days it's a sexy cocktail lounge in the former hotel lobby serving American small plates, platters & craft cocktails by candlelight. Happy hour 4-6 and Sunday's 10 til close. Live jazz 8-10 on Sunday's.
Essentials
Fancy grocery store carrying wine, beer, cheese, flowers and anything else you might need.
72 locals recommend
Zupan's Markets - Burnside Store
2340 W Burnside StFancy grocery store carrying wine, beer, cheese, flowers and anything else you might need.