Portland Mercado, an innovative cultural hub in Southeast Portland, houses more than a dozen Latino-owned businesses. Portland Mercado, an innovative cultural hub in Southeast Portland, houses more than a dozen Latino-owned businesses.
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Portland Mercado, an innovative cultural hub in Southeast Portland, houses more than a dozen Latino-owned businesses.

Hispanic and Latinx Culture

Explore Portland's Hispanic and Latinx culture with these attractions and entertainment.

3 min read

Know Before You Go

This section was produced in collaboration with El Hispanic News, a monthly bilingual newspaper that is the oldest Hispanic publication in the Pacific Northwest and a leading source of information for the Hispanic community.

Latinx culture is alive and well in Portland. These markets, arts, attractions and restaurants display the best of the local Latinx community.

Latinx Attractions in Portland

Portland Mercado

Painted in vibrant shades of pink, yellow and turquoise, the Portland Mercado shines brightly as an innovative cultural hub for Portland. Opened in April 2015, the complex provides affordable launch space for local Latino-owned businesses. With more than a dozen enterprises — including a neighborhood grocery, meat market, coffee shop and food cart pod — in place, the Mercado has also become one of the city’s most delicious destinations.

Portland Mercado

With a neighborhood grocery, meat market, coffee shop, food cart pod and more, the Mercado is one of the city’s most delicious destinations.

Go To Portland Mercado

Alberta Arts District

The Alberta Arts District is a multicultural neighborhood with numerous Mexican groceries and taquerías, as well as galleries, boutiques and restaurants. The Last Thursday art walk turns the street into a spirited open-air party on the last Thursday evening of each month.

You’ll find good examples of muralists’ art at Northeast 20th Avenue and Alberta Street, where attractive paintings grace the interior and exterior of the grocery store and the two taquerías. The Diego Rivera-inspired mural of a reclining woman in La Bonita Taquería is especially beautiful.

The Grotto, The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

A peaceful oasis in the midst of the city, The Grotto is set among 62 acres of botanical gardens. As an internationally renowned Catholic sanctuary, The Grotto offers a place of quiet reflection for all people. More than 100 beautiful statues and shrines are nestled among flower-lined pathways winding under towering firs. Gardens and gift shop are open daily; group tours and daily Mass are also offered.

Miracle Theatre Group

The Miracle Theatre Group, which deservedly dubs itself “the Northwest’s premier Latino arts and culture organization,” is the heart of Oregon’s Hispanic arts scene. In addition to offering Spanish, English and bilingual plays, festivals and musical performances, Miracle also features a community space for art exhibits and other events. Among their yearly seasonal offerings are the Día de los Muertos festival and Posada Milagro.

Portland Art Museum

The permanent collections at the Portland Art Museum include pre-Columbian art from Meso and South America, modern Mexican drawings and Latin American art.

Latinx Cuisine in Portland

Portland’s many food carts and taquerías offer plentiful casual opportunities to sample Latin foods, but also not to be missed are the city’s innovative and acclaimed fine Latin restaurants. Here’s a sampling of Portland’s many wonderful Latinx-influenced restaurants:

Latinx Dining

Dig into flavors from around the world at these local eateries.

Go To food & drink
Revolución specializes in traditional Mexican beverages like atole and champurrado.

Portland’s Revolución Coffee House Serves Atole with a Side of Activism

Revolución Coffee House owner and community activist Maria Garcia pairs traditional Mexican recipes with social justice in downtown Portland.

Pepper up your morning with New Mexican breakfast tacos from Pepper Box Cafe.

Portland’s Top Taquerias

Local diners can order up a wealth of delicious taco variations, from meaty morsels to vegetarian creations made with mushrooms, cactus and scrambled egg.

Founder Alicia Cruz serves up tasty Mexican fare at food truck Los Gorditos.

7 Great Latinx-Owned Eateries in Portland

Portland is home to plenty of authentic eateries from every corner of Latin America. Read on for some of the best Latinx-owned restaurants and food carts in Portland.

Latinx Dance and Entertainment in Portland

Portland has a lively Flamenco scene (visit Experience Flamenco’s list of classes to find the right one for you). Other dance and entertainment venues include the annual Valen Tango festival (which returns every February), along with:

Aztec Willies

Aztec Willies is a restaurant and bar hosts salsa dancing every Saturday, as well as other culture-specific evenings such as Colombian Night, Brazilian Night and One Night in Cuba.

Santa Fe Taquería

Northwest Portland’s Santa Fe Taquería is a taquería and cantina that hosts salsa dancing every Thursday night.

Attractions, Cultural Communities

Latinx Events in Portland

Join Portland's Latinx community at these events throughout town.

Go To Latinx Portland
Portland has one of the best tango communities outside of Buenos Aires.

Tango in Portland

The City of Roses boasts one of the best tango communities outside of Buenos Aires, with dances and lessons available almost every night.

Portland\'s annual Cinco de Mayo festival features live dancing, music and performances.

Portland’s Cinco de Mayo Fiesta

Shop for handmade crafts, snack on traditional recipes and enjoy entertainment straight from Guadalajara at this popular Cinco de Mayo festival.

Dig into authentic Mexican eats at Portland\'s annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

Hispanic and Latinx Events

Enjoy Portland's Hispanic and Latinx culture year-round.