Over a decade ago, inner Southeast Division Street became the face of the city’s changes — the canyons (of four or five story condo buildings) and the fight for parking put some people off. But there are plenty of good reasons to visit:
🍴 Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
Portland is repeatedly (and sometimes believably) celebrated these days as a world pizza capital. And Scottie’s is doing its part. (It opened a second location in Northwest, but Division was first.)
It’s a Portland institution that serves the gluten-free community with all manner of baked goods.
Inspired by Singaporean and Malaysian cuisine, the restaurant serves up mouthwatering roti flatbread, tasty barbecued pork, one of the city’s best burgers, and more.
This Cuban-themed bar with a rooftop deck is just the spot for the warm weather.
This dive bar is like a visit to a Portland of yore if you want to savor a time before Division became what it is now. But the food is also worth stopping in for: get some fried chicken and jojos with your drinks.
🥧🍨 Treat Yourself
Their chocolate cream pie is worth any wait (except perhaps on Pi Day, when the line can be down the block). Their berry pies are good too — so is really all the pie. For the pie skeptics, there’s a hefty salted brownie with a gooey center.
When you’re looking for a cold sweet treat, this Tuscan gelato has traditional Italian flavors, like hazelnuts straight from Italy, but also the occasional experiment like foresta, with Douglas fir tips and juniper berries.
You can’t go wrong with these French treats.
📚 📽️ Read, Dress, and Entertain Well
It’s always a good time to pick up a graphic novel, and this shop was officially selected as the best comic book shop in the world in 2022.
The Portland Art Museum’s newest theater offers something for every kind of film lover, with the occasional live show in the mix.
The beloved arts and craft store has you covered for your next creative project.
As always, I'm interested in what favorite places we have missed. Please email me.
