Search Division/Clinton
This pair of close-in Southeast Portland streets features block after block of must-see — and must-eat — destinations.
Once a sleepy thoroughfare, Southeast Division Street is now one of Portland’s most dynamic and stylish neighborhoods. Spend a day wandering its many blocks, stopping along the way to snack, sip and shop. Read on for our favorite things to do in Division/Clinton.
Cafes and Coffee Shops
These cozy neighborhood bakeries and coffee shops are local favorites.
Where to Eat and Drink on Division/Clinton
You could plan a week’s worth of meals on Southeast Division Street, the city’s hottest dining corridor, and still not hit all of the must-try restaurants. But don’t let that stop you from trying.
Begin where Division Street’s heralded food scene got its start back in 1999: Stumptown Coffee Roasters. With brewers, grinders and beans by the bag, this neighborhood café is home to more than just expertly brewed joe.
Find foods from any cuisine and something to suit any desire as you eat your way down Division/Clinton. Here are some highlights: La Bonita is a family-owned and operated local chain, serving up Mexican fare with the best, local ingredients. At Olympia Provisions Public House find house-cured meats, and American-style frankfurters paired with local craft drinks, beer, and wine on a large outdoor patio. A local favorite and Division Street stalwart, Bete-Lukas, try authentic Ethiopian dishes with house-made injera.
If you’re in the mood for fine dining, Clinton Street has you covered with La Moule, an artsy brassiere serving up rich-Belgian-style dishes like mussels and other seafood, alongside amazing pommes frites. Find more Northwest seafood at Jacqueline, an upscale oyster bar.
Upscale restaurant Nuestra Cocina has been a neighborhood staple for years, thanks to nuanced Mexican cuisine such as authentic albóndigas (meatballs served in a hearty chipotle sauce) and spot-on margaritas. Xico (pronounced “chico”), challenges conventions with their sleek take on Oaxacan cuisine, through creative takes on regional preparations and with fresh flavors, and al fresco dining on their tree-covered patio.
For casual dining or lunch and dinners on the go, grab a vegan slice from Virtuous Pie, and be sure to sample their non-dairy ice cream treats. With a large, outdoor patio for sunny dining, Mestizo is a dedicated gluten-free (and soy-free) restaurant serving up tasty Latin American food with vegetarian and vegan options; try their chifles (plantains chips) and ceviche. For more vegan fare try DC Vegetarian, with vegan burgers and subs. Garden Monsters is a beloved food cart in Portland that caters to many food intolerances in its salad-focused menus.
Bike over to the Division Street beer garden, APEX, and sit outside on one of the many picnic tables. Home to a rotating menu of 50+ great beers from around the world and the Pacific Northwest, as well as an excellent pinball arcade, it’s a lovely place for people-watching.
At Bar Norman find a long list of local and natural wines and an outdoor patio on the quieter side of Clinton. Divison Wines is another bottle shop and a bar with great imports, with a knowledgeable staff to help you choose the right glass or bottle. Sit at the bar and enjoy a wine flight and a house-made charcuterie board. Or, for low-key cocktails head across the street and try cool-kid neighborhood bar Cat’s Paw Saloon.
What to Do on Division/Clinton
A walkable stretch in Portland, Division street’s transformation from modest homes to bustling urban streetscape offers boutique shopping and Portland landmarks.
Wild Cactus Boutique sells shoes and clothing from fashion-forward brands in a beautifully designed space. They also stock eye-catching accessories, body care products and tastefully chosen home goods. On the right day, you might be greeted at the door with hugs and kisses from their dedicated, furry sales staff, Finn, a floofy white labrador.
The area’s largest annual event, the Division Street Fair and Parade, held each August, pulls together sidewalk sales, artisan booths, live music and a parade together in a family-friendly event that lasts all day.
Places to Shop on Division/Clinton
Good Reads
Books with Pictures -as they say- is a “kid-friendly, woman-owned, aggressively inclusive” comic book store on Division Street. The staff is full of recommendations and ready to help you find the right comic. For the collectors, make your way to Clinton Street’s Cloud 9 Comics for a wide selection of vintage and rare comics.
Art, Film and Music
First opened in 1915, the Clinton Street Theater is a gathering place and a champion of Portland artists and activists. Showing cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show every Saturday night since 1978, this classic theater will keep you coming back for avante-garde cinema and fan favorites from the past.
Landmark Saloon is a great place to wet your whistle on Division Street. With a second bar outside, that includes a fire pit, corn hole courts and a food cart, this is a perfect place to spend an evening. The authentic country bar also hosts live music most nights, getting everyone inside and out to do some toe-tapping.
Retro style doesn’t get more authentic than the vinyl stocked at Clinton Street Record and Stereo, where customers can dig through rare records and pick up high-quality audio gear — including vintage headphones.
Equal parts clay studio and curio-laden gift shop, Carter & Rose, founded by a ceramicist and a florist, sells ceramic air plant wall planters and made-in-Portland bags, jewelry and home goods.
Sweet Treats
Division/Clinton offers an abundance of Portland-only cool treats, like Italian-style gelato and sorbetto from Pinolo Gelato made with local fruits and natural ingredients. With fun flavors, non-dairy options (try their vegan-staple coconut lemon saffron), and house-made gluten-free waffle cones Fifty Licks, tucked away on Clinton, is a must-try. Don’t let the lines scare you away; Salt & Straw delights experimenting with peculiar ingredients such as olive oil, blue cheese and spring flowers, but visitors can always play it safe with Double Fold Vanilla or Freckled Woodblock Chocolate. The pies at Lauretta Jean’s, with layer after layer of buttery, crispy crust, routinely lock customers in indecision over what slice to spring for. Rhubarb streusel? Chocolate cream? Apple? You can’t lose.
Food Scene
From Division Street and beyond, explore Portland's specialty offerings.
Portland’s Best Pies
Every season is pie season in Portland! Sit down to a delicious slice made with Oregon-grown seasonal fillings at these favorite local pie spots.
Ice Cream in Portland
Savor culinary creativity by the scoop at Portland's top ice cream spots, including regional chains, frozen yogurt shops and vegan options.
Gluten-Free Restaurants
As the demand for gluten-free options has grown, Portland’s forward-thinking chefs have set their tables for diners with dietary restrictions.
Rest and Relaxation
An entire bar devoted to the mildly psychoactive (and totally legal) root drink from the South Pacific, Bula Kava House can help ease any nerves. Served in coconut cup shells, the drink’s mood-altering effect can be euphoric, but it’s also consumed for relaxation.
But to truly unwind, treat yourself the Scandanavian way with relaxing steam at Löyly Sauna, which offers wet and dry saunas and full-body Swedish massages. Their packages bundle bodywork, steam treatments, facials and more.
Division Clinton Events
Get to know the Division/Clinton neighborhood at these upcoming events.
Discovering Psychedelics: An Intro and Community Forum
Perceptions of psychedelics are shifting as research continues to show their efficacy for improving mental health and facilitating healing and personal growth. The increase in public acceptance is especially true in Oregon, where we are treading uncharted territory with the passage of Measures 109 and 110 and psilocybin services launching this year. And while perceptions…
Smart Dumb Comedy Showcase
SMART DUMB is a comedy showcase featuring Portland’s funniest up-and-coming comedians. Join in for a night of foolery on April 1 and bring the funny to Clinton Street Theater. This month’s showcase includes Pedro Andrade, Meanroth Ny, Sabrena Contreras, Imani, Julia Corral, David Lopez, Tory Ward and Jaren Geroge.
Ceremonials: A Florence + The Machine Drag Show
A visually stunning, multimedia queer spectacle celebrating the siren herself… Florence + the Machine. Using the historic Clinton Street Theater film screen as a dynamic backdrop, Ceremonials: A Florence + The Machine Drag Show explores the English indie rock group’s impressive 15-year catalog through a lens of queer artistry. An inspiring evening of vulnerable queer…
Montana Fishing Film Festival
Now in its 10th season, the Montana Fishing Film Festival is a true grassroots event aimed to bring rocky mountain trout anglers the best display of home-grown content available. Their mission is to make fly fishing approachable and accessible to all. That means all anglers of all colors and all walks of life. Have fun,…
Trio Mediæval
The crystalline voices of Trio Mediæval have captivated audiences since the group was founded in Oslo in 1997. Mesmerizing performances are hallmarks of this Grammy-nominated threesome. Presented by Friends of Chamber Music. “Few vocal ensembles produce quite as beautiful and finely blended a sound as this Norwegian trio.” The New York Times Program: An Old…
Explore These Nearby Neighborhoods
Southeast Portland Has a Lot to Love
Hawthorne
Southeast Portland’s laidback, bohemian district is filled with local artisans and flare. Hawthorne Boulevard is a walkable street with block after block of vintage shops, boutiques, cafes, and historic venues.
Central Eastside
Criss-crossed with train tracks and lined with old industrial factories, some of Portland's favorite restaurants, microbreweries, boutiques and events call the Central Eastside home.
Belmont
Located a few blocks from Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, Belmont, a once sleepy residential street boasts its own mix of vintage and indie shops, coffee houses, bars and food carts.
Illustration by Subin Yang
Southeast Portland Neighborhoods
East of the Willamette River and south of Burnside Street, this large quadrant is home to many favorite neighborhoods and business districts, as well as the dormant volcano at Mt. Tabor Park, delectable Asian food in the Jade District and urban nature at Leach Botanical Garden and Powell Butte.
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