If you’ve got the weekend to check out the town, here are a few places worth heading:
There are quite a few neighborhoods that have sprung up alongside streets designed as mixed-use live/work/eat/drink/relax areas. Here are a few of them:
Mississippi
- Head over to N Fremont and Mississippi Ave (near the MAX) and start walking up the street. Por Qué No is one of the best taquerias in town. You’ll pass several other places like The Rebuilding Center (a warehouse of donated / deconstructed homes filled with reclaimed material; take a walk through if you’re near; it’s an incredible place), Ruby Jewel is a great ice cream shop, there’s Sunlan (a lightbulb shop; the woman who owns it is a bit of a savant — stop in), Fresh Pot (coffee), Miss Delta (cafe/bar), a few food carts up toward Skidmore, a store for buying coffee beans for roasting, an itzakaya — lots of stuff. Albina Press is also great for enjoying an americano or iced coffee and has free wifi.
Alberta
- Or, head up a bit further to NE 15th and Alberta. Between 15th and 30th, Alberta St. is filled with little shops, restaurants, cafés, and bars (several with space outside) that are great for hanging out and enjoying the afternoon. Some favorite places: Barista (at NE 17th), Random Order (NE 18th), Pine State Biscuits, Zilla Sake, Townshend’s Tea, Branch (Whiskey), Tonalli’s Doughnuts, Forno al Feruzza (pizza place), Mash Tun (Brewpub with nice outdoor space).
Belmont / Hawthorne / Division
- If you’d like to check out SE, take a cab or bus over to SE 15th and Hawthorne, Belmont, or Division, all of which are filled with much of the same above through SE 30th or up to 50th, in Hawthorne’s case.
Northwest
If you prefer to stay on the west side of the river, walk down to NW 21st and Burnside (or NW 23rd and Burnside). NW 21st begins almost 20 blocks of restaurants, bars, and cafes. NW 23rd begins about 20 blocks of upscale shops and boutiques. Both are pretty popular areas where you’ll find people wandering at all hours of the day or night.
A quick brain dump on coffee, beer, and cocktails
Barista, Spella, Stumptown, Bailey’s, Apex, Migration, Teardrop, Central, Beaker and Flask, North 45, Saucebox, Mint/820, East Burn, Rontoms (patio++), Coalition, Crema, Green Dragon, Cartopia (a pod of food carts at SE 13th/Hawthorne), Produce Row.
Rad Sandwiches
Kenny and Zuke’s (downtown), Little Big Burger (Pearl), Meat Cheese Bread (SE), Bunk Sandwiches (Inner SE), Laurelhurst Market (E 33rd/Burnside)…