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Best known for lively downtown Portland, Southwest Portland is also home to Washington Park’s numerous attractions, Goose Hollow’s blend of historic and modern, the small-town charm of Multnomah Village and more; South Portland offers diverse eats, great views and river activities.
Credit: Subin Yang
Enjoy diverse eats, great views and river activities in laid-back South Portland, the City of Roses’ newest “quadrant.”
Created in partnership with Portland in Color
South Portland is a slim strip of land on the west side of the Willamette River, located south of downtown Portland. Bound by Interstate 5 and the Marquam Bridge to the north and the Sellwood Bridge to the south, South Portland encompasses the South Waterfront and Johns Landing neighborhoods.
In 2018, it joined North, Northwest, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest Portland as the newest of the city’s so-called “quadrants.” (With the official adoption of South Portland in 2020, it might be time to start calling them “sextants.”) Why the addition? The neighborhood’s off-beat oddity, a zero unique to many of its residential and commercial addresses, caused too much confusion for mapping applications, package couriers and emergency first responders.
Zero aside, it’s easy to keep it one hundred in Portland’s sixth sextant; this laid-back river community is a perfect 10 if water recreation, low-key urban green spaces and hubs to grub and shop are your things.
Credit: Tojo Andrianarivo for Portland in Color
Eat
Gluttons for gluten, rejoice! Once operating in a smaller kitchen in the same neighborhood and predominately as a wholesaler, Finales Fine Cakes and Desserts owner Bella Chan expanded her business into a brick-and-mortar bakery and café called Sweet Coco G in late 2019. From bigger-than-your-hand, freshly baked cinnamon rolls to classic and seasonally inspired cookies, pies and cakes, there are no wrong choices. (If it’s Saturday, be sure to try the salted caramel and roasted pecan bread pudding.) Looking for something more substantial? In addition to their signature sweets, the bakery also offers homemade soups and sandwiches.
Lunch or dinner, solo or with a group, book it to Szechuan Chef for classic Chinese American eats like sesame and General Tso’s chicken. For more adventurous eaters, the menu’s Szechuan specialties — like the lamb and enoki mushroom hot pot or spicy fried Chongqing chicken with peanuts, chilies and scallions — don’t disappoint.
Savor the fare of the Philippines, a cuisine heavily influenced by Spain, its former colonizer, at Chik & Chuck Pinoy Bakery. Owned and operated by the same family behind popular Parkrose restaurant Fork and Spoon Food House, this spot specializes in classic Filipino offerings, including both savory and sweet options — enjoy pandesal, ensaymadas, empanadas, ube pastries and more.
Play
Enjoy Willamette Park, a 26.9-acre (10.9-ha) waterfront property. Serve ‘em like Serena on the tennis courts, then “Bend It Like Beckham” on the soccer fields. You’re sure to lose track of time exploring the Willamette River’s unique houseboats, public beaches, bridges and natural beauty. Sightings of bald eagles, ospreys and the occasional wayward sea lion await!
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Credit: Tojo Andrianarivo for Portland in Color
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Credit: Tojo Andrianarivo for Portland in Color
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Credit: Tojo Andrianarivo for Portland in Color
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Credit: Tojo Andrianarivo for Portland in Color
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Credit: Tojo Andrianarivo for Portland in Color
Head north for a more metropolitan park experience: Elizabeth Caruthers Park is a compact, modern green space surrounded by striking high-rises. Amenities include a splash pad, a bocce court, public art and walking paths. If you’re looking to get in some steps, the nearby South Waterfront Greenway is a good option — the walkway hugs the west bank of the Willamette River, extending from the River Forum Building to the Marquam Bridge. For a longer walk, consider a stroll across Tilikum Crossing, which connects the South Waterfront to the Central Eastside. Opened in 2015, it’s America’s first major car-free bridge, allowing only pedestrians, cyclists and transit vehicles.
Hop on the Portland Aerial Tram for bird’s-eye views of Bridgetown. Operated by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), the tram runs daily between Marquam Hill and the South Waterfront. The trams — Jean on the north side and Walt on the south — are named in honor of Jean Richardson, the first female engineering graduate student at Oregon State University, and Walt Reynolds, the first Black person to graduate from the University of Oregon Medical School (known today as OHSU).
Shop
Established to address customers’ mastectomy, lingerie and compression needs, Just Like A Woman is all about finding the right fit and necessary support — with style. Common and atypical brands and hard-to-find sizes for all ages and cup sizes are easy to procure at this woman-owned shop, which also offers garment fitting, alterations and fixes.
What goes over your undergarments? Find something fashionable and “new to you” at Here We Go Again, a first-rate resale boutique specializing in trendy designer labels for women, including luxury handbags and shoes.
During the warmer months, explore the charming South Waterfront Farmers Market in Elizabeth Caruthers Park. It’s smaller than some Portland farmers’ markets, but what it lacks in size, this collection of vendors makes up for in quality — peruse fresh produce, spicy hot sauce, locally distilled spirits and more. Snack options range from baked goods to homemade soups to delicious tamales. The market operates every Thursday from 2–7 p.m., June–October.
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