Visit Portland neighborhood recommendations

March 19, 2025 9:43 PM

Spending 2 separate nights in Portland - parent and two older teenagers. What neighborhoods should we stay in? Cool hotels? Looking forward to great restaurants of any cuisine with veggie options, and the teens like thrifting/non-mall shopping. We’re visiting from coastal Southern California and will have a car.
posted by gryphonlover to Travel & Transportation around Portland, OR (11 answers total)

Check out SE Hawthorne between ~34th and ~37th avenues for multiple thrift shops.
posted by mug of tea at 9:51 PM on March 19 [6 favorites]

We stayed on SE Division with 3 adults, 3 kids (teen, tween, elementary school.) it was a good spot and easy to get around. Check out the art installation Hopscotch, everyone enjoyed that.
posted by vunder at 10:15 PM on March 19 [2 favorites]

You gotta go to at least one food cart pod, but dress for sitting outdoors (you might get working heaters, or not).
posted by Lyn Never at 6:37 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]

All cool walkable neighborhoods with good shopping: SE Division in the 30s (Aves), NE Alberta in the 20s and 30s, N Mississippi Ave north of Freemont. SE Hawthorne (above) does probably have the highest concentration of actual large thrift stores within a few blocks, although you might find better quality at smaller ones elsewhere.
posted by gottabefunky at 9:39 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]

Hawthorne Asylum and Cartopia are two big food cart pods with a block of each other at SE Hawthorne & 12th, both with covered seating.
posted by gottabefunky at 9:42 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]

SE Hawthorne, where mug of tea mentioned, is going to be the best bet for fantastic thrifting that will appeal to your teens. There are great restaurants everywhere. Walking in neighborhoods is a big part of what makes Portland great, so I’d say to stay nearish that stretch of Hawthorne or plan to drive and park and walk and wander.
posted by bluedaisy at 9:52 AM on March 20 [2 favorites]

There's also a Powell's Books on Hawthorne as an added bonus. And it's not that far a walk to another cool, short stretch--SE Belmont between 33rd and 35th Ave--with veggie restaurant options and a retro arcade/movie theater the kids might like.
posted by gottabefunky at 11:16 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]

FYI: When we stayed on SE Division, near 30th, very close to Bollywood Theater (we didn't eat there but it seemed fun) and not far from Lauretta Jean's pie shop (we did get pie from here), I took a nice big walk from there to the stretch of Hawthorne mentioned with the thrift stores and stuff, it's about a mile away or less.
posted by vunder at 11:16 AM on March 20

Just visited Portland with two teens and we found lots of fun stuff on Hawthorne. Breakfast at JAM on Hawthorne was delicious and there is a nice bakery across the street. My teens enjoyed Excalibur Comic Books and Quarterworld Arcade. Powell's on Hawthorne is fine but I'd probably spring for an Uber to go to the main store downtown because you could spend ALL DAY there. We stayed north of the Hawthorne Area near Burnside Street and really liked seeing a movie at the Laurelhurst Theater (they serve beer and food) but you have to be 21+ after 7:00P I think...so you'll want to choose an early movie. It's a very cute walkable neighborhood. The Screen Door on Burnside serves friend chicken and is supposed to be amazing. I can't wait to go back so I hope you and the family have a great time!!!!
posted by victoriab at 12:33 PM on March 20

If you have two teenagers, you might enjoy staying at the Inn at Northrup Station. It’s a fun, retro style hotel and has a lot of cute amenities.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 9:21 PM on March 20

“ Screen Door on Burnside serves friend chicken and is supposed to be amazing” — confirmed, it is amazing, and I will recommend pairing with that a Screen Door Plate with seasonal veggie sides. As for Laurelhurst theater on Burnside (which we love), if we’re staying with the SE Hawthorne suggestion, the Bagdad theater on 37th is also a nice cheap movie option. It’s also next to the Echo Theater, which has great physical theater shows and drop-in classes.
posted by klausman at 9:50 PM on March 20