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A view of the historic St. Johns Bridge connecting North and Northwest Portland.
Credit: Aaron Lee
Once its own town, this North Portland enclave is filled with homegrown shops, independent spirit and plentiful things to do.
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A view of the historic St. Johns Bridge connecting North and Northwest Portland.
Credit: Aaron Lee
More than 100 years ago, leafy St. Johns existed as a small, quiet town at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers. Today, the quaint North Portland neighborhood retains its small-town charm with its many locally owned shops, pubs and cafés. To stay in St. Johns proper, near these numerous eateries and attractions, consider taking a room at the St. Johns Inn. Pack a picnic blanket for an afternoon in Cathedral Park, cross the picturesque St. Johns Bridge and get ready to explore a lovely, lesser-known side of Portland.
Coffee Shops
If you like a pastry with your coffee, set a course for The Sparrow Bakery and try their signature Ocean Roll. For traditional and not-so-traditional coffee drinks, take a stroll down Willamette Boulevard to Cathedral Coffee, where you’ll find a rotating menu of baked goods and seasonal coffee concoctions.
Eats
Tucked away in the back of a Mexican grocery store and bakery, unassuming Tienda Santa Cruz garners rave reviews from the city’s foodies for its enormous, budget-friendly tacos and burritos, packed with authentic flavors.
Another perennial pizza favorite, the Signal Station serves hand-slung pies inside a repurposed vintage gasoline station complete with a spacious patio.
Get Outdoors
One of the city’s most cherished green spaces, Cathedral Park attracts dog walkers, picnic goers, boaters and wedding parties. The 2024 opening of a floating dock has also improved Willamette River access for swimming and launching personal watercraft. Mark your summer calendar for can’t-miss annual events like the free Cathedral Park Jazz Festival. Within an easy walk of the park, visitors can beat the heat with a summery kolsch in the airy tasting room of the Euro-inspired Occidental Brewing.
Entertainment and Events
Find Frito pies, rockin’ bands and bourbon-spiked sweet tea at Southern-inspired bar and music venue The Fixin’ To. The patio of Leisure Public House, another favorite watering hole, hosts bocce ball and ping-pong matches late into the night.
St. Johns’ two top movie theaters were both built more than a century ago, but that doesn’t stop them from showing first-run films with classic style and cutting-edge cinematic technology Better yet, St. Johns Twin Cinema and McMenamins St. Johns Theater & Pub both serve local beer and buttery popcorn, along with hearty fare like pizza, tater tots and burgers.
Shop
Photographers from around the globe make pilgrimages to Blue Moon Camera and Machine to peruse a veritable museum of vintage film cameras and one of the world’s last remaining optical printing labs. Lovers of books and cozy things find a match made in heaven at the shared storefront of Two Rivers Bookstore and Weird Sisters yarn shop.
Fun Facts About St. Johns
It’s named after a real person.
According to the journals of Lewis and Clark, there was a Native American settlement near the area we now call Cathedral Park.
There’s an annual parade and “bizarre.”
Forest Park is just across the bridge.
Enjoy easy parking and fewer crowds by accessing Forest Park from St. Johns. Park near the foot of the St. Johns Bridge and cross the Willamette, enjoying some great views of the city along the way. Once across the bridge, cross Highway 30 and head south. Look for a set of stairs connecting you to the North Forest Park Loop/Ridge Trail.
Vintage Shops in Portland
Vintage shopping in Portland is a delight, with an abundance of top-notch vintage shops and thrift stores offering clothes, accessories, antiques and other treasures.
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