Guidebook for Portland
Drinks & Nightlife
Cozy dark environment serves a sexy casual crowd. Really great affordable food. Pool table, pinball, shuffleboard, almost always a good DJ and a free Juke box. Also a great summer patio.
33 locals recommend
Conquistador Lounge
2045 SE Belmont StCozy dark environment serves a sexy casual crowd. Really great affordable food. Pool table, pinball, shuffleboard, almost always a good DJ and a free Juke box. Also a great summer patio.
Free pool! A dive-y bar serving mostly casual locals. Fun to play a few games of pool and crank up the Juke box. Only a couple blocks away.
8 locals recommend
Hawthorne Hideaway
2221 SE Hawthorne BlvdFree pool! A dive-y bar serving mostly casual locals. Fun to play a few games of pool and crank up the Juke box. Only a couple blocks away.
Sports bar with over 25 TVs playing any game you want to watch. Take a seat at the bar in one of the high-backed Captain's chairs or get involved in a high-stakes Poker game any night of the week.
7 locals recommend
CLAUDIA'S Sports Pub and Grill
3006 Southeast Hawthorne BoulevardSports bar with over 25 TVs playing any game you want to watch. Take a seat at the bar in one of the high-backed Captain's chairs or get involved in a high-stakes Poker game any night of the week.
Beautifully decorated lounge at the end of Hawthorne. Too far to walk but a perfect place for dessert, hot chocolate or a Spanish Coffee on a chilly night.
161 locals recommend
Sapphire Hotel Bar
5008 SE Hawthorne BlvdBeautifully decorated lounge at the end of Hawthorne. Too far to walk but a perfect place for dessert, hot chocolate or a Spanish Coffee on a chilly night.
Dark hipster chic ambiance. Happy hour 4-7pm everyday. Great cocktails & people watching. Very good vegan food - Jamaican Bowl & Buffalo Sub are divine. Many nightlife options on this block.
146 locals recommend
The Sweet Hereafter
3326 SE Belmont StDark hipster chic ambiance. Happy hour 4-7pm everyday. Great cocktails & people watching. Very good vegan food - Jamaican Bowl & Buffalo Sub are divine. Many nightlife options on this block.
Swanky, low-key nook on Belmont street. I've heard good things about the food and I've had always had a fine time here.
76 locals recommend
Aalto Lounge
3356 SE Belmont StSwanky, low-key nook on Belmont street. I've heard good things about the food and I've had always had a fine time here.
Prohibition-era inspired ambiance.Last I heard they were working on a secret pathway to an exclusive speak easy. Tall ceilings, a beautiful wall of spirits, good service. I love their Moscow Mule.
69 locals recommend
Circa 33
3348 SE Belmont StProhibition-era inspired ambiance.Last I heard they were working on a secret pathway to an exclusive speak easy. Tall ceilings, a beautiful wall of spirits, good service. I love their Moscow Mule.
Sports Bar . A few pool tables, big TVs, and good crowds on big game/cage fight nights.
20 locals recommend
The Belmont Inn
3357 SE Belmont StSports Bar . A few pool tables, big TVs, and good crowds on big game/cage fight nights.
Very popular among the hip & attractive. Usually a great deal of eye-candy, esp the bartenders. The babe factor sometimes magnetizes the bro-dudes, but it's still a fun bar. I love the big windows.
66 locals recommend
Dig A Pony
736 SE Grand AveVery popular among the hip & attractive. Usually a great deal of eye-candy, esp the bartenders. The babe factor sometimes magnetizes the bro-dudes, but it's still a fun bar. I love the big windows.
Retro-fabulous decor, indoor & outdoor fires, live music downstairs, good food, good mix of people. I recommend looking into the bands playing and go to the show even if you've never heard of them!
249 locals recommend
Doug Fir Lounge
301 E Burnside StRetro-fabulous decor, indoor & outdoor fires, live music downstairs, good food, good mix of people. I recommend looking into the bands playing and go to the show even if you've never heard of them!
Portland Oregon allegedly has the most strip clubs per capita (contrast to Siloam Springs Arkansas' most churches). Visit this one with "alternative" tattooed dancers doing interesting pole tricks!
12 locals recommend
Sassy's
927 SE Morrison StPortland Oregon allegedly has the most strip clubs per capita (contrast to Siloam Springs Arkansas' most churches). Visit this one with "alternative" tattooed dancers doing interesting pole tricks!
A true saloon ambiance, often with good live music and down-home country boys
91 locals recommend
Landmark Saloon
4847 SE Division StA true saloon ambiance, often with good live music and down-home country boys
Food Scene
Another nearby favorite moody bar with delicious food and Happy Hour til 8pm! Fave food: Gourmet grilled cheese, garlic green beans, sweet potato ravioli, crab cakes Fave drink: Marionberry Blade, etc
66 locals recommend
Gold Dust Meridian
3267 SE Hawthorne BlvdAnother nearby favorite moody bar with delicious food and Happy Hour til 8pm! Fave food: Gourmet grilled cheese, garlic green beans, sweet potato ravioli, crab cakes Fave drink: Marionberry Blade, etc
For big and small appetites. Quick, cheap, tasty. My favorite bowl is the Quinoa Bowl with avocado. Frikkin good. Makes for great left-overs, too.
RICE JUNKIES
3545 SE Hawthorne BlvdFor big and small appetites. Quick, cheap, tasty. My favorite bowl is the Quinoa Bowl with avocado. Frikkin good. Makes for great left-overs, too.
Raving reviews for this cute French Creperie. It's an oft forgotten brunch spot, so no waiting! Lunch and dinner serves the best French Onion Soup in town, hearty savory crepes, escargots, etc.
17 locals recommend
Chez Machin
3553 SE Hawthorne BlvdRaving reviews for this cute French Creperie. It's an oft forgotten brunch spot, so no waiting! Lunch and dinner serves the best French Onion Soup in town, hearty savory crepes, escargots, etc.
Extensive Breakfast menu, right around the corner! Very popular so there is usually a pretty long wait on the weekends, but you can get coffee or Mimosas at the bar while you wait.
165 locals recommend
Jam On Hawthorne
2239 SE Hawthorne BlvdExtensive Breakfast menu, right around the corner! Very popular so there is usually a pretty long wait on the weekends, but you can get coffee or Mimosas at the bar while you wait.
Verrrrrrrry popular Taqueria. The line is almost always out the door but goes quickly, and they'll often take your drink order while you wait in line!
318 locals recommend
¿Por Qué No?
4635 Southeast Hawthorne BoulevardVerrrrrrrry popular Taqueria. The line is almost always out the door but goes quickly, and they'll often take your drink order while you wait in line!
My 2nd favorite Sushi joint in town. Perfect for a very fresh, yummy, inexpensive sushi lunch! Must try: Mt. Rainier Roll & Salmon teriyaki plate. It's only second to Bamboo Sushi (see review).
97 locals recommend
Mio Sushi
2735 N Killingsworth StMy 2nd favorite Sushi joint in town. Perfect for a very fresh, yummy, inexpensive sushi lunch! Must try: Mt. Rainier Roll & Salmon teriyaki plate. It's only second to Bamboo Sushi (see review).
Absolute best sushi spot in town. You'll spend a little more for a bright posh atmosphere and the environmentally sustainable sushi choices available. Definitely make reservations for weekend dinners
471 locals recommend
Bamboo Sushi
310 SE 28th AveAbsolute best sushi spot in town. You'll spend a little more for a bright posh atmosphere and the environmentally sustainable sushi choices available. Definitely make reservations for weekend dinners
Huge portions of fast, delicious Thai food. Very close to house! Sometimes I'll call in an order, walk down, pick it up and go back home to get fat on their Pumpkin Curry, Pad Thai and spring rolls!
29 locals recommend
Pad Thai Kitchen
2309 SE Belmont StHuge portions of fast, delicious Thai food. Very close to house! Sometimes I'll call in an order, walk down, pick it up and go back home to get fat on their Pumpkin Curry, Pad Thai and spring rolls!
Great lunch spot. Healthy, filling bowls, burritos and deluxe quesadillas. Fun atmosphere, pretty quick service. Other food options on this block.
176 locals recommend
Laughing Planet
3765 N Mississippi AveGreat lunch spot. Healthy, filling bowls, burritos and deluxe quesadillas. Fun atmosphere, pretty quick service. Other food options on this block.
Great for lunch or casual dinner. Good sustainable meat options. Burgers, soups, salads. I love the Ruben and their yam "not-fries" with various dipping sauce choices are soo good.
42 locals recommend
Dick's Kitchen SE
Great for lunch or casual dinner. Good sustainable meat options. Burgers, soups, salads. I love the Ruben and their yam "not-fries" with various dipping sauce choices are soo good.
A lovely quiet place serving pure leaf teas with artistry and soul. An extensive list of fair trade teas and their stories. Also delicious small plates to enjoy.
48 locals recommend
The Tao of Tea
3430 SE Belmont StA lovely quiet place serving pure leaf teas with artistry and soul. An extensive list of fair trade teas and their stories. Also delicious small plates to enjoy.
If you can ignore the cheesy name, you'll find a home-y crackling fire and a floor-to-ceiling library of eclectic and classic novels in this coffee shop. Fresh donuts $1 ea made the old fashioned way.
19 locals recommend
Rocking Frog Cafe
2511 SE Belmont StIf you can ignore the cheesy name, you'll find a home-y crackling fire and a floor-to-ceiling library of eclectic and classic novels in this coffee shop. Fresh donuts $1 ea made the old fashioned way.
Wildly popular independent coffee roasters. If you're into coffee, this is a Portland must-do. The Stumptown Annex (2 doors down) has a wall full of coffee bean varieties from all over the world.
13 locals recommend
Stumptown Coffee Roasters Tasting Bar
100 Southeast Salmon StreetWildly popular independent coffee roasters. If you're into coffee, this is a Portland must-do. The Stumptown Annex (2 doors down) has a wall full of coffee bean varieties from all over the world.
Another breakfast joint. Pretty good food, usually a long-ish wait. A variety of Bloody Mary's and big hot cakes. Their bagel breakfast sandwich is really good, messy & filling.
43 locals recommend
Cricket Cafe
3159 SE Belmont StAnother breakfast joint. Pretty good food, usually a long-ish wait. A variety of Bloody Mary's and big hot cakes. Their bagel breakfast sandwich is really good, messy & filling.
Award-winning bar & restaurant with unsurpassed views of the city and the Cascade Mountains from atop the 30th floor. Look up their excellent Happy Hours! Or splurge for a special occasion. A must-do.
283 locals recommend
Portland City Grill
111 SW 5th AveAward-winning bar & restaurant with unsurpassed views of the city and the Cascade Mountains from atop the 30th floor. Look up their excellent Happy Hours! Or splurge for a special occasion. A must-do.
Divine array of specialty gourmet desserts! Make a special trip after a movie or after a light dinner. There is sometimes a waiting list on the weekends, and you will see why.
189 locals recommend
Papa Haydn
701 NW 23rd AveDivine array of specialty gourmet desserts! Make a special trip after a movie or after a light dinner. There is sometimes a waiting list on the weekends, and you will see why.
Everything Else
Good for desert, a snack, or a quick breakfast on the go. Many yummy waffles to chose from , but my favorite is the plain powered sugar one with a side of coffee.
135 locals recommend
The Waffle Window
3610 SE Hawthorne BlvdGood for desert, a snack, or a quick breakfast on the go. Many yummy waffles to chose from , but my favorite is the plain powered sugar one with a side of coffee.
Absolute BEST spot for divine smoothies & freshly squeezed juices. This healthy food cart serves my absolute favorite parfait ever: Bowl of the Gods - a parfait on steroids... minus the steroids :)
60 locals recommend
Kure Juice Bar
4380 SE Hawthorne BlvdAbsolute BEST spot for divine smoothies & freshly squeezed juices. This healthy food cart serves my absolute favorite parfait ever: Bowl of the Gods - a parfait on steroids... minus the steroids :)
Closest convenient store! Independently owned by young hipsters and i love supporting it. Perfect for walking-distance beer runs, has most essentials. Throws a BIG art party first Thurs of the month!
Belmont Bodega
Closest convenient store! Independently owned by young hipsters and i love supporting it. Perfect for walking-distance beer runs, has most essentials. Throws a BIG art party first Thurs of the month!
Popular summer park! Dead during winter, but the sun brings out all the young beautiful & weird, doing all their weird beautiful things- Monday Funday, tall-bike jousting, tandem yoga, sun-bathing..
45 locals recommend
Colonel Summers Park
Popular summer park! Dead during winter, but the sun brings out all the young beautiful & weird, doing all their weird beautiful things- Monday Funday, tall-bike jousting, tandem yoga, sun-bathing..
More retro-fabulous goods within walking distance. A lot of great 50s - 80s furniture and decor.
Deco To Disco
1960 SE Hawthorne BlvdMore retro-fabulous goods within walking distance. A lot of great 50s - 80s furniture and decor.
Shopping
Largest independent bookstore in the world - several stories and several blocks, coffee shop too.Novelty items for gift buying. There is a small Powell's annex near the house if you just need a book!
72 locals recommend
Powell's NW Warehouse
Largest independent bookstore in the world - several stories and several blocks, coffee shop too.Novelty items for gift buying. There is a small Powell's annex near the house if you just need a book!
It's hard to find reasonably priced vintage in this town due to its popularity. This is your spot for fairly inexpensive, quirky, ironic vintage clothing or a really good Halloween costume. Fun place
51 locals recommend
Red Light Clothing Exchange
3590 SE Hawthorne BlvdIt's hard to find reasonably priced vintage in this town due to its popularity. This is your spot for fairly inexpensive, quirky, ironic vintage clothing or a really good Halloween costume. Fun place
Several vintage vendors in one spot. Definitely some clothing but more focused on great furniture, novelty items, & decor. Walking distance from the house.
32 locals recommend
Vintage Pink
2500 SE Hawthorne BlvdSeveral vintage vendors in one spot. Definitely some clothing but more focused on great furniture, novelty items, & decor. Walking distance from the house.
If you only have time to hit up one vintage store, this is the one you'll want to see! Its a warehouse-sized maze, housing several different vintage vendor nooks with tons of great vintage items.
61 locals recommend
House of Vintage
3315 SE Hawthorne BlvdIf you only have time to hit up one vintage store, this is the one you'll want to see! Its a warehouse-sized maze, housing several different vintage vendor nooks with tons of great vintage items.
An independent boutique that isn't second hand? In Portland? There are a few, but I really like the quality/price factor of Sloan. Well-made, current fashions for the young stylish woman.
16 locals recommend
Sloan
3526 SE Hawthorne BlvdAn independent boutique that isn't second hand? In Portland? There are a few, but I really like the quality/price factor of Sloan. Well-made, current fashions for the young stylish woman.
Naked City Clothing
2701 SE Belmont StThis store has a Rockabilly vibe and has some great accessories & shoes.
80% of my closet is from Crossroads. A second-hand boutique minus the ironic, quirky factor that is rife in Portland. Affordable, current trends for men & women. Color coded for easy shopping.
17 locals recommend
Crossroads Trading
3736 SE Hawthorne Blvd80% of my closet is from Crossroads. A second-hand boutique minus the ironic, quirky factor that is rife in Portland. Affordable, current trends for men & women. Color coded for easy shopping.
There are Buffalo Exchanges everywhere and this is a decent one, but I would suggest spending time supporting other local vintage shops while you're in town.
43 locals recommend
Buffalo Exchange
1420 SE 37th AveThere are Buffalo Exchanges everywhere and this is a decent one, but I would suggest spending time supporting other local vintage shops while you're in town.
Great for gift shopping! Lots of quality, stylish "Portland" t-shirts, locally designed jewelry, novelty gifts, baby items, cards & stationary, etc.
51 locals recommend
Presents of Mind
3633 SE Hawthorne BlvdGreat for gift shopping! Lots of quality, stylish "Portland" t-shirts, locally designed jewelry, novelty gifts, baby items, cards & stationary, etc.
My main grocery store. They have all you need at affordable prices. A good natural foods section, household decor items, electronics section, and coffee shop upstairs. Better quality than Safeway.
616 locals recommend
Fred Meyer
3805 SE Hawthorne BlvdMy main grocery store. They have all you need at affordable prices. A good natural foods section, household decor items, electronics section, and coffee shop upstairs. Better quality than Safeway.
Local natural foods store. Spendier, but my favorite place to buy organic meats & seafood to cook at home. Its also closer than Fred Meyer and good for a few items needed for a specific recipe.
61 locals recommend
Zupan's Markets
3301 Southeast Belmont StreetLocal natural foods store. Spendier, but my favorite place to buy organic meats & seafood to cook at home. Its also closer than Fred Meyer and good for a few items needed for a specific recipe.
Safeway is not my favorite place for meat & produce (low quality), but if you need dry goods, toiletries or beer, its very close. I've supplied Safeway cards b/c you cant get the low prices w/o one.
279 locals recommend
Safeway
6901 NE Sandy BlvdSafeway is not my favorite place for meat & produce (low quality), but if you need dry goods, toiletries or beer, its very close. I've supplied Safeway cards b/c you cant get the low prices w/o one.
This shop is fun to walk through. Tons of antique knick-knacks and shelves of old photos, military pins, hats, paintings, instruments & jewelry. "Stuff" is definitely the right word.
6 locals recommend
Really Good Stuff
3629 Southeast Division StreetThis shop is fun to walk through. Tons of antique knick-knacks and shelves of old photos, military pins, hats, paintings, instruments & jewelry. "Stuff" is definitely the right word.
Arts & Culture
Music venue almost always hosting great local & visiting indy bands. Look up the bands playing and go to the show even if you haven't heard of them.
436 locals recommend
Mississippi Studios
3939 N Mississippi AveMusic venue almost always hosting great local & visiting indy bands. Look up the bands playing and go to the show even if you haven't heard of them.
A brew n' view, like most movie theaters in this town. Order some beer or wine with your popcorn and enjoy a feature flick. Walking distance from the house!
64 locals recommend
Cinemagic
2021 Southeast Hawthorne BoulevardA brew n' view, like most movie theaters in this town. Order some beer or wine with your popcorn and enjoy a feature flick. Walking distance from the house!
Another brew n' view movie theater that plays great movies for $4. Look up special events - they've comedy month, cult classics month, 1970s month, horror movies month, etc!
329 locals recommend
Laurelhurst Theatre
2735 E Burnside StAnother brew n' view movie theater that plays great movies for $4. Look up special events - they've comedy month, cult classics month, 1970s month, horror movies month, etc!
Rent movies nearby! This movie rental spot is special because it is also a museum displaying original costumes worn by the actors in all of your favorite classic movies. A must-do for a night in!
27 locals recommend
Movie Madness Video and More
4320 SE Belmont StRent movies nearby! This movie rental spot is special because it is also a museum displaying original costumes worn by the actors in all of your favorite classic movies. A must-do for a night in!