Street Spotlight: Northeast 28th Avenue
This bustling stretch is home to dozens of top-notch restaurants and watering holes.
Hungry for Portland’s best eats? Spend a day eating and exploring along this lively restaurant row on Northeast 28th Avenue.
Crema Coffee and Bakery
Start your day of feasting with a cup of local Stumptown or Coava coffee at bright, airy Crema. This beloved neighborhood bakery offers a wide range of tasty pastries. Savory options include quiche and mushroom-manchego biscuits, while sticky buns and chocolate espresso bread top the list of sweets.
Alma Chocolates
Since 2006, Alma’s flagship location has offered its full range of crunch bars, caramel sauces and gilded chocolate icons. Create a custom chocolate box from the bonbon bar while sipping your way through the decadent drinking chocolate menu.
Association Shop
This tightly curated gallery and retail space showcases emerging independent designers and unique vintage finds. Expect throwback items like gold kitten mules and sheepskin bags. Also available are Ayurvedic body oils, along with zines made by women from around the globe.
PaaDee
It can take weeks to snag a pair of seats at celebrated Thai eatery Langbaan. Thankfully, you don’t even need a reservation to dine at its more casual sister eatery, PaaDee. Admire the teak tables and birdcage light fixtures while lunching on fried fish cakes and shrimp-, crab- and pork-st\uffed dumplings.
Cheese & Crack Snack Shop
Immediately next door to PaaDee, Cheese and Crack is a playful snack shop that caters to adult palates. In addition to cheese plates piled with pickles, olives, crackers and spreads, the ever-evolving menu might include frozen rosé, potato chip “nachos” and soft serve topped with matcha or beet dust.
Laurelhurst Theater
It would be hard for any visitor to Northeast 28th Avenue to miss the striking art deco façade of Laurelhurst Theater. Built in 1923, the theater shows second-run flicks at bargain prices ($4 or less!), leaving moviegoers with extra cash to spend on microbrews, wine, pizza and other gourmet concessions.
Migration Brewing
Home to one of Portland’s most spacious patios, Migration Brewery offers a small-batch beer menu that boasts two award-winning IPAs, plus a handful of other signature and seasonal brews. Pair your pint with a round of darts or a housemade doughnut topped with apricot glaze and prosciutto sprinkles.
Stammtisch
Declared the best bar of 2015 by Willamette Week, Stammtisch recreates the German bierkeller experience in the heart of Portland. Don’t expect any local ales here — instead, you’ll select from a long list of imported European brews. Small plates like Bavarian pretzels, veal sweetbreads and fried rabbit complement the German beers.
Fifty Licks
Founded as a food cart in 2008, this popular ice cream shop opened its second brick-and-mortar location in 2017. On offer are ice cream cones, milkshakes and beer floats, featuring unusual flavors like Thai rice or the booze-infused “butterSCOTCH.” You can also keep it simple and delicious with a flavor called “Vanilla as @#$&.”
Angel Face
This softly lit bar boasts pink floral wallpaper and deluxe European-style eats, like caviar and duck confit. What you won’t find here? A written drink menu. Instead, chat with the bartender, who will gladly whip you up a bespoke cocktail to fit your whims and preferences.
The Goodfoot Pub & Lounge
Looking for dancing, games, live music and cocktails? You’ll find it all at the Goodfoot Pub & Lounge. The upstairs bar features pinball, pool and a classic pub menu. Meanwhile, the basement hosts DJs, dancing, live music and open mics
Tiny Digs
After a long day of exploring, tuck yourself into bed at this tiny house hotel. Although only 150 square feet (14 sq m), each tiny house includes a queen or king bed, shower, flush toilet, mini-fridge, heat and air conditioning. Best of all, each dwelling is decorated in a different theme; choose from barn, beach, bamboo and others.
Explore Nearby Neighborhoods
Street Spotlight: Sandy Boulevard
Sandy Boulevard was once a stretch of auto shops and warehouses but is now a destination for dining, drinking and entertainment on Portland's east side.
Belmont
Located a few blocks from Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, Belmont boasts its own mix of vintage and indie shops, coffee houses, bars and food carts.
Lloyd
Just across the river from downtown, this area caters to convention attendees, sports fans and shoppers.