Alberta Arts District
Stroll Alberta's main street to discover local art, live music and a wide range of bars and restaurants.
Alberta Street is bursting with things to do any day of the year. If you’re having difficulty narrowing down where to go, use this guide to plan a perfect day filled with food, drink and local culture in Northeast Portland’s Alberta Arts District.
Learn More About Alberta Street
Where are the best places to eat on Alberta Street?
What are some quintessentially Portland things to do on Alberta Street?
- Choose from inventive ice cream at hyper-popular Salt & Straw
- Look for Mike Bennett’s yard zoo
- Browse tiny (and regular-sized) survival and camping tools at Cord
- See a show at The Alberta Rose Theater or Alberta Street Pub
What’s the history of Alberta Street?
What other neighborhoods are near Alberta Arts District?
Where to Eat and Drink on Alberta Street
Wake up with a cup of direct trade coffee at hip local roaster Case Study Coffee, which serves seasonal java in an inviting café filled with warm wood beams, leafy potted plants, and ample natural light.
Case Study shares a patio with one of Portland’s most popular (and most dog-friendly) brunch destinations, Tin Shed. Chow down on the “Everything Nice,” a sampler platter piled with potato cakes, sausage, French toast, and scrambled eggs or a hearty breakfast bowl.
When lunchtime rolls around, kick back with a mason jar of boozy peach lemonade at the Bye and Bye, a vegan restaurant and watering hole where locals chow down on bowls of brown rice, Brussels sprouts, and barbecue tofu on a sun-dappled patio.
Comfort Food on Alberta
Enjoy elevated Spanish tapas at Urdaneta. Served in a casual environment, the visually striking plates play host to bold flavors. Each dish is complementary to the house craft cocktails, Spanish wines and sherries. Dining at Urdaneta is meant to be an experience. The open kitchen and dining areas help make eating dinner and dessert at the restaurant a communal affair. While the menu is always changing, seafood and meat dishes share space with plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Chef for the recently shuttered Beast restaurant (and 2014 James Beard Award-winner) Naomi Pomeroy’s latest venture, Expatriate, offers a diverse array of culture-bridging and Burmese-inspired fare. Vinyl beats and vintage film projections set the vibe for meticulous cocktails from Pomeroy’s husband Kyle Linden Webster, and drinking snacks like Chinese-sausage corn dogs complement the standout libations.
Don’t let the name fool you; the Bollywood Theater doesn’t charge admission. Feast on Indian small plates of street food such as lamb samosas, pork vindaloo, or fried sweet and sour cauliflower while watching a Bollywood movie projected on the wall.
Get an education in saké at Zilla Saké House, where the 70+ varieties of saké include offerings from SakéOne, located in Forest Grove, west of Portland. Let the experienced staff pour you a flight; they can also recommend the best pairings from the sushi menu.
Alberta Sipping Spots
Get a taste of Alberta at these recommended watering holes.
Alberta Street Art and Murals
In addition to dedicated gallery spaces like Alberta Street Gallery, murals and galleries of all sizes line Alberta Street. Monograph Bookwerks focuses on art books, but it’s also a stylish gallery with prints, paintings and midcentury ceramics. At Flight 64 you can see art by local printmakers, or attend a workshop.
Guardino Gallery — one of the founders of the Last Thursday art/street fair — specializes in contemporary Northwest art and highlights fine crafts in its gift shop. Enjoy all kinds of art with several galleries on the street, like Nucleus or Antler, both showcasing contemporary art and handmade craft, or the local artist collective and gallery, Alberta Street Gallery.
Alberta Main Street collaborated with local Black artists and storytellers to teach visitors about the neighborhood’s history. Look for Black Heritage Markers on the sidewalk between 11th Avenue and 24th Avenue.
Live Events on Alberta
When summertime arrives, Alberta welcomes back its iconic monthly street fair, Last Thursday. The traditionally more artist-based neighborhood’s response to the Pearl District’s more upscale First Thursday. During the Last Thursday art walk, more than 150 local vendors, artists, and musicians line Alberta Street, which is closed to vehicle traffic.
Anchoring the neighborhood’s east end, the Alberta Rose Theatre offers live music, comedy nights, art house films, and other events year-round, meaning there’s never a bad time to stop in.
Alberta Street Pub hosts live music almost every day of the week, with multiple acts throughout the day during weekends. The massive outdoor patio is a great place to hang out with friends and family or simply soak it all in.
The Alberta Street Fair, held in August, features live music on multiple stages, more than 150 local vendors, kids’ activities, a beer garden and more.
Alberta Shopping
With its many boutiques, galleries and indie shops, Alberta Street is made for leisurely shopping strolls.
For casual but beautiful locally-made fashion, pop next door to Tumbleweed for a selection of dresses and accessories by indie designers. Frock offers an eclectic mix of vintage and locally designed fashions and accessories.
Underneath it all, nothing beats a bra that fits perfectly. Portland ladies sing the praises of The Pencil Test, a friendly shop whose small stock is almost guaranteed to include the best-fitting bra you’ve ever worn.
Fashion for Any Body
Shopping for Kids
At Grasshopper you’ll find organic, American-made children’s clothing and non-toxic toys. For families, Green Bean Books makes a great rainy-day escape thanks to colorful walls, plush couches, weekly storytimes and frequent author readings.
Get Crafty
Feeling inspired? Stop by Collage to fulfill your creative urge. The well-stocked art supply store has everything you need for drawing, painting, jewelry-making, stamping, mixed-media or card-making.
Close-Knit sells yarn, knitting and crochet supplies and offers online classes for beginning and intermediate sweater makers. Browse their extensive yard selection online before you visit, or ask their friendly staff for recommendations.
Aspiring to join Portland’s numerous successful Project Runway contestants — or just wanting to sew yourself some new duds? Visit Modern Domestic for sewing classes and open sewing hours on their fleet of Bernina machines; a few blocks east, you’ll find a wide range of materials at Bolt Fabric Boutique. Next door to Bolt, yarn shop Close-Knit wins fans with its inspiring sample projects, great yarn selection and friendly staff.
Self Care Shopping and Soaks
Blendily is a handmade skincare kitchen where you can watch owner Ivy Chuang craft all-natural skincare, bath products and herbal remedies with fresh, organic wild ingredients. Indulge in the “Glow Up” facial steam for some sweet-smelling self-care. For added relaxation, head to the outdoor soaking pool at nearby McMenamins Kennedy School.
More Alberta Arts Events
Get to know the Alberta Arts neighborhood at these upcoming events.
Alberta Street Gallery: The Paper Invitational
Paper Takes Center Stage: Annual Paper Invitational at Alberta Street Gallery. Immerse yourself in the world of paper art at the Alberta Street Gallery's Annual Paper Invitational. Curated by resident paper artists David Friedman and Kim Nickens, this exhibition showcases the incredible versatility of a familiar material. David Friedman, a founding member of Portland Open…
tu-NER
Trey Gunn – Warr guitar (ex King Crimson, David Sylvian) Pat Mastelotto – drums, electronics (Stick Men, King Crimson, Mr. Mister) Markus Reuter – touch guitar (Stick Men, Devin Townsend) From the kitchen of the original King Crimson R&D fraKctal units, please welcome the new incarnation of tu:NER. tu:NER will perform their original music, improvs and honor as well…
J.A.W. Cooper: Carapace
J.A.W. Cooper was born in England, grew up in Kenya, Sweden, Ireland, and Southern California, and currently lives in Portland, OR. Raised by two freshwater ecologists, it is no surprise that an interest in the natural world is central to their work. Cooper works commercially as an illustrator and art director for TV and movie…
SAW The Musical
One of the most thought-provoking horror films of all time now is…a musical. SAW The Musical hilariously captures the events of the first movie parodying the Saw that started it all following from where Lawrence Gordon and Adam Stanheight find each other for the first time in the bathroom trap. Will they follow ''the rules''…
Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Portland. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Adele under the gentle glow of candlelight. Performers: Listeso String Quartet
David Le & Kane Kokaris
David Le & Kane Kokaris: 2-Person Show at the Nucleus House Gallery David Le (Australia) Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, David Le Goon is a tattooist at Anderson St. Tattoo. While Australia is largely known for being a multicultural society, David has always felt the disconnect between himself and the world he was raised in. Being…
Alberta Street Gallery: Full Spectrum and Making Paradise
Immerse yourself in a vibrant rainbow of color and light at the Full Spectrum art show. Maquette Reeverts, a master of light and color, presents captivating abstract paintings from her "Surface" collection. Prepare to be mesmerized by her unique visual creations that dance with light and ignite the imagination. June Martin, a renowned mosaic jewelry artist, plays with color and…
Jet Black Pearl
Hailing from the Netherlands, the untamed and inimitable Jet Black Pearl spent many years in the south of France before settling in Portland in 2014. She has performed on more than a thousand stages all over the world. Smartly wacky, her songs are a mad hatter's European party with a funky attitude. With her loop…
MēAgan Sky
Join Alberta Street Pub for an inspired evening filled with empowering music and soulful vibes. Mēagan Sky will take you on a journey of self-love through her unique blend of indie pop and soul music. Get ready to feel empowered and uplifted. Mēagan Sky is joined by an amazing band of some of Portland's finest…
Salut! 9 Coaster Show
In conjunction with the Drink and Draw Society, the annual group show, Salut, will feature 1000+ artworks in the drink coaster format. This is a rare opportunity to affordably own original work by incredible artists. The artwork will be available to purchase In person during the opening reception at Nucleus Portland on June 2 from 3 p.m.-6…
Main Stage Open Mic
Come out and support local musicians and the non-profit venue Alberta Abbey. Happy hour is from 5:00 to 6:00, and live music starts at 6:00. Pizza and a full bar are available.
Liberace & Liza: A Tribute “After Hourz”
What do you get when you combine Portland's Liberace & Liza: A Tribute with The Carol Burnett Show, Saturday Night Live and Stephen Colbert? A brand new series of spicy shows from the madhouse minds of David Saffert, Jillian Snow and Jason Rouse. Liberace’s dizzying piano skills and Liza’s powerhouse belt join forces with…
Dungeons & Drag Queens
Watch Drag Queens play the tabletop sensation Dungeons and Dragons live. Prepare to immerse yourself in a world where high-fantasy meets high-fashion, where audacious audacity rolls higher than a natural twenty, where laughter echoes in the halls of enchanted castles and forbidden forests. Theydies, gentlethem, and all fabulous beings in between, brace yourself for the…
The Variety Society
The Variety Society is an eclectic comedy variety show featuring some of the best local talent from the greater Portland area. Performers are given a single theme and the freedom to create whatever their hearts desire, celebrating new acts in live comedy through storytelling, stand-up, sketch, improv and music.
The MéLANGE Show
The MéLANGE Show is an array or variety of phenomenal, talented creatives sharing their gifts with each other and the world. This inaugural MéLANGE features a range of talent and genres within R&B/Soul. Featured artists include: This special Juneteenth presentation comes from the creative efforts of three extraordinary talents. Super smooth Neo-Soul vocalist and influencer…
Dapperlesque: A Gender Bending Burlesque Cabaret
Experience a stylishly seductive, decidedly debonair gender-bending medley of burlesque and drag as Lacy Productions and The Alberta Rose Theatre present Dapperlesque: A Gender Bending Burlesque Cabaret. Bringing you the most smartly-dressed, dashingly sultry, and dare we say, rakish performance artists from burlesque, boylesque, draglesque, and drag king communities around the world- here to cut a…
A Night of Blues
Join an incredible night featuring the NW Queen of Blues, Soul, Funk, and Gospel. The Legend "LADY A" + Pdx Blues Allstar percussionist Brian Foxworth, on keys Nick Rolfe, bass Ben Jones, and AG Donnaloia on guitar with Oregon vocal favorite Marilyn Keller and Blues Vocalist of the year Rae Gordon. Don't forget, opening up…
Soft Machine
Since their arrival on the music scene in the first wave of 1960s psychedelia, the name Soft Machine has become synonymous with musical experimentation, instrumental virtuosity, and inspired creativity all animated by a truly adventurous, progressive spirit. Although the personnel may have changed over the years, the commitment of those playing in Soft Machine today…
[WP-Coder id=”13″]
Was this page helpful?