Martha’s guidebook to SE Portland
Great food
Bad restaurants don't last long in Portland, so it's easy to make a good choice. The restaurants below are our favorites and are less than 10 minutes from our house.
If you're interested in some of the most popular restaurants in the city, check out these lists: https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/best-restaurants-portland and https://pdx.eater.com/maps/38-best-portland-oregon-restaurants
Top 10 breakfast sandwich in the United States according to USA today!
My favorite menu items are the veggie pesto polenta bowl, and the brisket. Even better, it's just right on the corner of our street. And they have great coffee! This is most accurately a breakfast spot, although they do have a surprisingly large and well curated collection of wines.
17 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Milwaukie Cafe and Bottle Shop
9401 SE 32nd AveTop 10 breakfast sandwich in the United States according to USA today!
My favorite menu items are the veggie pesto polenta bowl, and the brisket. Even better, it's just right on the corner of our street. And they have great coffee! This is most accurately a breakfast spot, although they do have a surprisingly large and well curated collection of wines.
This is our go-to local Mexican restaurant. I always get the pastor burrito mojado style with the green salsa. They are very quick for take-out orders (usually 20 minutes or less).
20 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Cha Cha Cha Mexican Taqueria
11008 SE Main StThis is our go-to local Mexican restaurant. I always get the pastor burrito mojado style with the green salsa. They are very quick for take-out orders (usually 20 minutes or less).
This restaurant has been a fixture in sellwood for at least 20 years. Yet it is still so popular, you should always expect a wait. The portions are enormous, and the specialty rolls are extravagant. It is absolutely worth a visit if you like sushi.
95 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Saburos | Sushi House Restaurant
1667 SE Bybee BlvdThis restaurant has been a fixture in sellwood for at least 20 years. Yet it is still so popular, you should always expect a wait. The portions are enormous, and the specialty rolls are extravagant. It is absolutely worth a visit if you like sushi.
This restaurant specializes in wine, but has an amazing beer and cider collection too. But we come here for the food. They have a good kids menu, and great burgers and sandwiches.
The location in Sellwood can't be beat--you can eat inside or outside at their comfortable, covered, curb side tables. It would be a great stop after exploring the Sellwood neighborhood shops.
31 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
The Portland Bottle Shop
7960 SE 13th AveThis restaurant specializes in wine, but has an amazing beer and cider collection too. But we come here for the food. They have a good kids menu, and great burgers and sandwiches.
The location in Sellwood can't be beat--you can eat inside or outside at their comfortable, covered, curb side tables. It would be a great stop after exploring the Sellwood neighborhood shops.
Taphouses, breweries, and bottle shops
Portland is absolutely full of amazing beer. There are so many breweries and bottle shops to pick from, it's hard to go wrong. Here are a few that are very close to our house that we enjoy.
Try the beer from the source! This a tasting room only, so no food, and no kids. Sometimes there is a food truck outside in the parking lot. It's hidden in an industrial park, but definitely worth a visit if you're interested in tasting some beers that you can't get from anywhere else.
15 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Breakside Brewery & Tasting Room
5821 SE International WayTry the beer from the source! This a tasting room only, so no food, and no kids. Sometimes there is a food truck outside in the parking lot. It's hidden in an industrial park, but definitely worth a visit if you're interested in tasting some beers that you can't get from anywhere else.
This restaurant has both fantastic beer (based in hood river), and great pizza from their wood fired oven. They get busy near dinner time on the weekend. But you can enjoy a beer while you wait for your table!
98 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Double Mountain Taproom
4336 SE Woodstock BlvdThis restaurant has both fantastic beer (based in hood river), and great pizza from their wood fired oven. They get busy near dinner time on the weekend. But you can enjoy a beer while you wait for your table!
Looking for a wide selection of local beer? You can stay and watch the game in their spacious seating area, or, take it home for later. Kids welcome. We've been known to bring a board game here to hang out as a family.
The Beer Store
10610 Southeast Main StreetLooking for a wide selection of local beer? You can stay and watch the game in their spacious seating area, or, take it home for later. Kids welcome. We've been known to bring a board game here to hang out as a family.
Live music
Portland loves live music, especially in the summer months!
Free live music on the outside patio most Fridays and Saturdays. Delicious cocktails. Well behaved pets welcome! 21+ only.
58 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Bible Club PDX
6716 SE 16th AveFree live music on the outside patio most Fridays and Saturdays. Delicious cocktails. Well behaved pets welcome! 21+ only.
Attend a concert at revolution hall! The historic Washington High School, abandoned and empty for decades, has been totally transformed into a music venue. There's also a great bar on the roof.
124 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Revolution Hall
1300 SE Stark StAttend a concert at revolution hall! The historic Washington High School, abandoned and empty for decades, has been totally transformed into a music venue. There's also a great bar on the roof.
Portland Parks and Recreation hosts free summer concerts around the city that are always very popular. Sellwood Park and Mt. Tabor Park are our two favorite locations. We suggest arriving early to spread out your picnic blanket. Check this website for the schedule: https://www.portland.gov/parks/arts-culture/sffa
44 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Sellwood Park
Southeast Miller StreetPortland Parks and Recreation hosts free summer concerts around the city that are always very popular. Sellwood Park and Mt. Tabor Park are our two favorite locations. We suggest arriving early to spread out your picnic blanket. Check this website for the schedule: https://www.portland.gov/parks/arts-culture/sffa
Fun for the whole family
We love it when our kids have fun... but only if we're having fun too. Here are our top picks for activities everyone enjoys!
Any train lovers in your family? This is a must do! It makes a great car free adventure from our house. First, walk down to the MAX stop at Johnson Creek (20 minute walk) and take the Orange Line towards Portland. Get off at the OMSI stop (10 minute ride). The Oregon Rail Heritage Center has some huge old trains to look at right up close, lots of information, and if you're lucky, you might even see some volunteers working to fix one of the old trains up. The museum is donation only, and a day pass on the MAX is $5.
17 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Oregon Rail Heritage Center
2250 SE Water AveAny train lovers in your family? This is a must do! It makes a great car free adventure from our house. First, walk down to the MAX stop at Johnson Creek (20 minute walk) and take the Orange Line towards Portland. Get off at the OMSI stop (10 minute ride). The Oregon Rail Heritage Center has some huge old trains to look at right up close, lots of information, and if you're lucky, you might even see some volunteers working to fix one of the old trains up. The museum is donation only, and a day pass on the MAX is $5.
This one isn't in SE, but it's impossible to skip. Portland has a great zoo! It's easy to get to by the MAX train (you transfer once), or a 20-30 minute car drive. We have a world class elephant habitat, and the "northwest" section is a great way to get a sense of the wildlife in our area. But pack a lunch--the food available is overpriced and not that great.
If you plan ahead, you can also get tickets to a Zoo Concert during the summer. Those are super fun and usually sell out!
524 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Oregon Zoo
4001 SW Canyon RdThis one isn't in SE, but it's impossible to skip. Portland has a great zoo! It's easy to get to by the MAX train (you transfer once), or a 20-30 minute car drive. We have a world class elephant habitat, and the "northwest" section is a great way to get a sense of the wildlife in our area. But pack a lunch--the food available is overpriced and not that great.
If you plan ahead, you can also get tickets to a Zoo Concert during the summer. Those are super fun and usually sell out!
You do have to cross the Willamette river into SW portland for this one, but it's still only 15 minutes away. You'll forget that you're in the middle of a city when you visit Tryon Creek State Park. We like going on a 1-2 mile loop with our kids (lots of different trails are available). It gets busy on the weekend--visit on a weekday if you can.
137 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Tryon Creek State Natural Area
11321 SW Terwilliger BlvdYou do have to cross the Willamette river into SW portland for this one, but it's still only 15 minutes away. You'll forget that you're in the middle of a city when you visit Tryon Creek State Park. We like going on a 1-2 mile loop with our kids (lots of different trails are available). It gets busy on the weekend--visit on a weekday if you can.
This is great either as a short easy loop hike around the island, or, a place to spend a hot afternoon near the water.
The island is more of a peninsula during the summer--in the winter months the water level rises enough so you can't easily walk across, but it's very accessible in the summer months.
When it's really hot out, we like to walk to the north side of the island down onto the sandy beach. It's shady in the afternoon, and the water is calm and drops gradually (great for kids playing). The Willamette is safe for swimming!
20 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Elk Rock Island
Southeast Sparrow StreetThis is great either as a short easy loop hike around the island, or, a place to spend a hot afternoon near the water.
The island is more of a peninsula during the summer--in the winter months the water level rises enough so you can't easily walk across, but it's very accessible in the summer months.
When it's really hot out, we like to walk to the north side of the island down onto the sandy beach. It's shady in the afternoon, and the water is calm and drops gradually (great for kids playing). The Willamette is safe for swimming!
This park is amazing! Logs for climbing, sand for playing, and no matter how many kids are there, it never feels too crowded. Crystal Springs (creek) runs through it, so there are always ducks to admire as well.
51 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Westmoreland Park Nature Playground
7530 SE 22nd AveThis park is amazing! Logs for climbing, sand for playing, and no matter how many kids are there, it never feels too crowded. Crystal Springs (creek) runs through it, so there are always ducks to admire as well.
Payo sa lungsod
Huwag palampasin
These great places to eat!
https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/best-restaurants-portland
https://pdx.eater.com/maps/38-best-portland-oregon-restaurants