Guidebook for Portland
Food Scene
Popular Thai restaurant, good food and good service - a favorite with locals for many years.
14 locals recommend
Thanh Thao Restaurant
4005 SE Hawthorne BlvdPopular Thai restaurant, good food and good service - a favorite with locals for many years.
Very popular taqueria with excellent food and drink options. There's often a line but it moves quickly. Some outdoor space.
318 locals recommend
¿Por Qué No?
4635 Southeast Hawthorne BoulevardVery popular taqueria with excellent food and drink options. There's often a line but it moves quickly. Some outdoor space.
Wonderful intimate cafe with small plates and a wide selection of teas. Next door you can purchase teas by the ounce or in lovely tins.
48 locals recommend
The Tao of Tea
3430 SE Belmont StWonderful intimate cafe with small plates and a wide selection of teas. Next door you can purchase teas by the ounce or in lovely tins.
CLOSED A favorite Thai restaurant with an American chef who researched Thai cooking and turned it into an art form in his restaurants - this is his first of several now in Portland.
460 locals recommend
Pok Pok
3226 SE Division StCLOSED A favorite Thai restaurant with an American chef who researched Thai cooking and turned it into an art form in his restaurants - this is his first of several now in Portland.
One of our newer bakeries, with a huge wood-fired oven that makes bread from flour ground on the premises. Unusual and delicious breads and pastries. Now on Belmont at 45th. They used to be a 5-minute walk from home! Now it’s about 15 minutes.
81 locals recommend
Tabor Bread
4438 SE Hawthorne BlvdOne of our newer bakeries, with a huge wood-fired oven that makes bread from flour ground on the premises. Unusual and delicious breads and pastries. Now on Belmont at 45th. They used to be a 5-minute walk from home! Now it’s about 15 minutes.
Excellent sushi and small plates - great options for all, meat, fish, vegetarian, vegan. Fun and interesting ambience. Good service.
45 locals recommend
Yataimura Maru
3810 SE Division StExcellent sushi and small plates - great options for all, meat, fish, vegetarian, vegan. Fun and interesting ambience. Good service.
Great coffee, good food options, good service and very relaxed ambience with good music and good vibes. A popular neighborhood spot. Unpretentious.
40 locals recommend
Common Grounds Coffeehouse
4321 SE Hawthorne BlvdGreat coffee, good food options, good service and very relaxed ambience with good music and good vibes. A popular neighborhood spot. Unpretentious.
This is a local ice cream shop that serves amazingly creative ice cream with ingredients from many local artisans. You'll probably have to wait at least 30 minutes but that's part of the fun!
1078 locals recommend
Salt & Straw
2035 NE Alberta StThis is a local ice cream shop that serves amazingly creative ice cream with ingredients from many local artisans. You'll probably have to wait at least 30 minutes but that's part of the fun!
The biggest farmers market is downtown - with incredible choices for produce, flowers, and prepared food. Live music. Saturdays only, 9-2. Bring your bag!
87 locals recommend
Portland Farmers Market - Office Location
240 N BroadwayThe biggest farmers market is downtown - with incredible choices for produce, flowers, and prepared food. Live music. Saturdays only, 9-2. Bring your bag!
Genie's new 2nd location is in our neighborhood, right next to the Space Room on Hawthorne/48th. Great breakfast at good prices with good service!
38 locals recommend
Space Room & Genie's
4800 SE Hawthorne BlvdGenie's new 2nd location is in our neighborhood, right next to the Space Room on Hawthorne/48th. Great breakfast at good prices with good service!
Excellent French bakery that also offers a full sit-down menu, open all day. Beautiful pastries. Less than a half-mile away!
385 locals recommend
Petite Provence Boulangerie & Patisserie
3420 NE Sandy BlvdExcellent French bakery that also offers a full sit-down menu, open all day. Beautiful pastries. Less than a half-mile away!
Wonderful French bakery (yes, there are two on Division St) - this one is about a mile and a half from the house, so a bit more of a commitment but worth it!
104 locals recommend
St. Honoré Bakery SE Division
3333 SE Division StWonderful French bakery (yes, there are two on Division St) - this one is about a mile and a half from the house, so a bit more of a commitment but worth it!
Full pie pizzas, thick crust, wonderful. Expect to wait unless you happen to get really lucky! Less than 1/2 mile from home.
221 locals recommend
Apizza Scholls
4741 SE Hawthorne BlvdFull pie pizzas, thick crust, wonderful. Expect to wait unless you happen to get really lucky! Less than 1/2 mile from home.
Excellent and authentic Mexican dinners and creative cocktails, great service, always busy. It's about 2 miles down Division St from here, but worth the hike!
101 locals recommend
Nuestra Cocina
2135 SE Division StExcellent and authentic Mexican dinners and creative cocktails, great service, always busy. It's about 2 miles down Division St from here, but worth the hike!
Excellent pho! And it’s less than 10 minutes walk away! Small pho cafe with simple seating and counter service. Asian beers. Rich, delicious broths and a nice variety of pho options. It’s always a pleasure.
Baka Umai
Excellent pho! And it’s less than 10 minutes walk away! Small pho cafe with simple seating and counter service. Asian beers. Rich, delicious broths and a nice variety of pho options. It’s always a pleasure.
Drinks & Nightlife
Small intimate venue with wine and cocktails and interesting small plate food options. Only a 5-minute walk from our house.
161 locals recommend
Sapphire Hotel Bar
5008 SE Hawthorne BlvdSmall intimate venue with wine and cocktails and interesting small plate food options. Only a 5-minute walk from our house.
Essentials
Excellent natural food store with lots of local produce and most things you might want or need. They make soups daily, and offer lots of deli and ready-made items to eat there or bring home.
1022 locals recommend
New Seasons Market
5320 NE 33rd AveExcellent natural food store with lots of local produce and most things you might want or need. They make soups daily, and offer lots of deli and ready-made items to eat there or bring home.
Shopping
You can find anything you need at Freddie's. They also have a seating area where you can eat food you get from the deli. They have lots of travel-size items in case you forgot something.
616 locals recommend
Fred Meyer
3805 SE Hawthorne BlvdYou can find anything you need at Freddie's. They also have a seating area where you can eat food you get from the deli. They have lots of travel-size items in case you forgot something.
A fun shop with excellent gifts, cards for every occasion, and lots of locally-made items. Locally owned.
51 locals recommend
Presents of Mind
3633 SE Hawthorne BlvdA fun shop with excellent gifts, cards for every occasion, and lots of locally-made items. Locally owned.
If you don't have time to get to the huge downtown Powell's, be sure to stop here on Hawthorne where you'll find many aisles for hours of browsing.
230 locals recommend
Powell's Books on Hawthorne
3723 SE Hawthorne BlvdIf you don't have time to get to the huge downtown Powell's, be sure to stop here on Hawthorne where you'll find many aisles for hours of browsing.
Excellent record shop for those looking for hard to find vinyl and CDs.
14 locals recommend
Jackpot Records
3574 SE Hawthorne BlvdExcellent record shop for those looking for hard to find vinyl and CDs.
This is about 2 miles from our house, but is an easy walk on a nice day, and comparable to Powell's Books but for music lovers. You'll find many CDs you'll have to take home.
45 locals recommend
Music Millennium
3158 E Burnside StThis is about 2 miles from our house, but is an easy walk on a nice day, and comparable to Powell's Books but for music lovers. You'll find many CDs you'll have to take home.
Women's clothing shop for those of us with eclectic tastes and desire for US-made options. Lots of accessories including locally made leather purses and bags, and jewelry.
Fyberworks Boutique
4300 SE Hawthorne BlvdWomen's clothing shop for those of us with eclectic tastes and desire for US-made options. Lots of accessories including locally made leather purses and bags, and jewelry.
Really good resale shop for women and men - always busy, lots of inventory turnover.
43 locals recommend
Buffalo Exchange
1420 SE 37th AveReally good resale shop for women and men - always busy, lots of inventory turnover.
From 50th to about 30th Ave you'll find lots of unique and interesting shops, good food, cafes, bars, bakeries, donuts, ice cream, antiques and collectibles, clothing, art supplies, growlers, herbs, gifts, books.
46 locals recommend
Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard
Southeast Hawthorne BoulevardFrom 50th to about 30th Ave you'll find lots of unique and interesting shops, good food, cafes, bars, bakeries, donuts, ice cream, antiques and collectibles, clothing, art supplies, growlers, herbs, gifts, books.
From 49th to 20th Ave you'll find eclectic shops with interesting offerings from vintage to modern clothing, furniture, art, and embellishments. Amazing restaurants well known around the city including Pok Pok, Whiskey Bar, Nuestra Cocina, Xico, Ava Gene's.
28 locals recommend
Southeast Division Street
Southeast Division StreetFrom 49th to 20th Ave you'll find eclectic shops with interesting offerings from vintage to modern clothing, furniture, art, and embellishments. Amazing restaurants well known around the city including Pok Pok, Whiskey Bar, Nuestra Cocina, Xico, Ava Gene's.
Everything Else
If you haven't tried it, you should see what it's like to be sensory deprived for 90 minutes. You float in salt water and wait for your mind to escape to nowhere.
19 locals recommend
Float On
4530 SE Hawthorne BlvdIf you haven't tried it, you should see what it's like to be sensory deprived for 90 minutes. You float in salt water and wait for your mind to escape to nowhere.
Parks & Nature
Beautiful park 6 blocks east with three 100-year old reservoirs. Walk to the 2nd reservoir up 98 steps to see views of downtown and a beautiful sunset. Great for walking, running and contemplating.
405 locals recommend
Mt Tabor Dog Park
2219 SE Lincoln StBeautiful park 6 blocks east with three 100-year old reservoirs. Walk to the 2nd reservoir up 98 steps to see views of downtown and a beautiful sunset. Great for walking, running and contemplating.
Sightseeing
You don't have to like roses to love this place. Views, test roses, walking, smelling the roses, it's a wonderful place!
71 locals recommend
International Rose Test Garden station
You don't have to like roses to love this place. Views, test roses, walking, smelling the roses, it's a wonderful place!
This park runs along the river downtown for over a mile. A great place to walk or ride bikes, see the river and several bridges, and go downtown from there. The Japanese memorial is at the north end of the park - a meditative walk with rocks inscribed with quotes. On weekends, Saturday Market is in the park at the Burnside bridge.
212 locals recommend
Tom McCall Waterfront Park
98 SW Naito PkwyThis park runs along the river downtown for over a mile. A great place to walk or ride bikes, see the river and several bridges, and go downtown from there. The Japanese memorial is at the north end of the park - a meditative walk with rocks inscribed with quotes. On weekends, Saturday Market is in the park at the Burnside bridge.
This outdoor crafts market has been around for about 40 years and offers a wide range of locally made arts and crafts at reasonable prices. Good food carts too.
425 locals recommend
Portland Saturday Market
2 SW Naito PkwyThis outdoor crafts market has been around for about 40 years and offers a wide range of locally made arts and crafts at reasonable prices. Good food carts too.