Emilly Prado

Emilly Prado is a writer, award-winning journalist and consultant living in Portland. Read More

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Portland Bloem in Northeast Portland’s Cully neighborhood sells plants, flowers and pottery and offers regular workshops. ​

Credit: Photo by Ashley Anderson

Cully

Portland’s largest neighborhood offers ethnic diversity, urban farming and a growing culinary reputation.

Updated Dec. 28, 2021 2 min read Cully

Emilly Prado

Emilly Prado is a writer, award-winning journalist and consultant living in Portland. Read More

Long before Portland’s largest neighborhood was incorporated into Multnomah County in 1985, it was Neerchokikoo village — home to Chinook peoples. Beyond ranking largest in terms of landmass and population, Cully is also the most ethnically and racially diverse Census tract in Oregon.

Today, this Northeast neighborhood supports community members, embraces its rural topography as the perfect site for urban farming and has a growing reputation as the city’s next major culinary hot spot.

Where to Eat in Cully

Bringing the kids and/or dog along? Stop by Cully Central, a local beer haven with a kid’s corner, spacious patio and an incredible Laos menu with options like the rice noodle soup khao piek and pork-and-rice-laden nam khao.

Stop by Portland’s only Native-owned coffee shop, Bison Coffeehouse, where fresh pastries (like flaky bacon-and-green chili biscuits and lemon olive oil cake) are made every morning by owner Loretta Guzman, a Shoshone-Bannock tribal member.

If you’re in the mood for a gourmet burger try Dick’s Primal Burger. While researching healthy options for himself, founder Richard Satnick began the local chain in hopes of cutting down the use of processed food, sugars, and industrial oils. They also serve non-beef or veggie options.

Hankering for a sweet treat but don’t want to brave the crowds downtown at Voodoo Doughnuts? Try the fresh-to-order mini doughnuts from Pip’s Original Doughnuts & Chai. These small-scale creations may bring back nostalgic memories of state fairs. Try them paired with one of their house-made chai teas, guaranteed to bring home the blue ribbon.

What to Do in Cully

Kʰunamokwst Park (pronounced KAHN-ah-mockst), opened in 2015 just a few blocks west of the Cully neighborhood, is a great place to read about and peruse Native plants. This park is also an especially good spot for kiddos, thanks to its newly constructed playground, interactive water feature play area, picnic benches and a skate park designed just for beginners.

Open Thursdays from 4–8 p.m., June–September, Cully Farmers Market offers not only locally grown produce, but also music, a pop-up library and family-friendly activities.

Credit: Ashley Anderson

Wind down at Working Class Acupuncture, a grassroots cooperative offering acupuncture services at a sliding scale ($15–35) to heal community members at all incomes.

Where to Shop in Cully

Pick up gorgeous bouquets, new pots and baby plants at Portland Bloem. With luck, you may also snag a coveted spot at one of the shop’s many workshops, such as DIY centerpieces and flower crown making.

Credit: Ashley Anderson

Pop into Jump Jump Music, a crate-diggers delight located in a cozy residential-looking shop, reveled for its excellent R&B and Soul treasures. Drool at the gorgeous decks and racks of skater attire at Daddies Board Shop.