Sunnyside is a classic inner eastside neighborhood, with tree-lined streets. It’s walkable and bikeable. There’s Southeast Hawthorne for a stroll, a hang, or a shopping trip.
Portland Monthly’s associate editor of food and drink, Alex Frane, who grew up in the neighborhood and still lives there, has some recommendations for places to visit:
🎬 See a Movie or Play Arcade Games
Sunnyside has some old-school entertainment options:
It’s one of the last remaining video rental places in the country, and it’s definitely worth a visit. (It’s still in Sunnyside for now, though there’s a planned move to the Hollywood District.)
This one’s slightly outside the technical boundaries of the Sunnyside neighborhood, but it’s one of Portland’s beloved independent movie theaters. Catch a film — and cool down during the heatwave or stay dry during winter.
Keep this one in mind for a date night. Arcade games still cost a nickel. Or you can upgrade to virtual-reality gaming.
🍻 Get Out for a Brew, a Cocktail, or a Tea
The neighborhood has a full range of places to get a drink — of various kinds:
It’s an authentically English pub with cask-conditioned ales for the beer nerds among us.
That’s the new bar in the old Victorian house on Southeast Belmont. They focus on low-proof cocktails, and have a food menu that focuses on Spanish-style tapas.
This is one of Portland’s oldest teahouses — with Indian, Chinese, Sri Lankan, and Japanese tea. They have a “Leaf Room” next door where you can buy loose-leaf tea and teaware to take home with you.
It has one of Portland’s best happy hours but also great cocktails anytime.
- Related: Portland’s best happy hours. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
It’s got screens for watching the game, pool tables, and cheap whiskey and beer, attracting locals from the neighborhood.
🎉 Hang Out With the Locals
There are plenty of other places that have their neighborhood regulars.
Southeast Hawthorne has long been a place just to hang out and walk around. The city this summer made it more official, closing Southeast 37th Avenue and creating a pedestrian plaza with plenty of seating.
There’s a Powell’s location on Southeast Hawthorne, not just downtown.
This is Portland’s Christmas street. For much of December, the houses along the block between Southeast Belmont and Stark each have a festive display. Keep this one in mind for the holiday season, particularly if you haven’t made a visit before.
🗺️ Map: If you want to see where all these spots are, check out our Overlook Map of the neighborhood.
📲 What did we miss? Do you have a favorite spot in the Sunnyside neighborhood that we didn’t include? You can reply to this email or click here to send us a note.
