Buckman is one of the oldest neighborhoods on Portland’s east side, and arguably its most culinarily diverse. The western edge along MLK was once a working industrial corridor, full of warehouses and rail lines that fed the city’s early economy. As industry moved out, restaurants, roasters, and creatives moved in, lured by old warehouse buildings and the easy access to downtown. The residential interior is just as historic: the “Buckman Threes,” rows of near-identical homes built by small local developers in the early 1900s, sit alongside Victorian painted ladies, solid Foursquares, and Craftsman bungalows. The neighborhood runs from the Willamette River to SE 28th, and from Burnside south to Hawthorne.
Buckman has the energy of a neighborhood that’s deeply rooted and constantly surprising, where Portland’s food and arts scene come out to play. You can find James Beard-recognized chefs, experimental roasters, whiskey bars, and late-night karaoke within blocks of each other, while the tree-lined residential streets are quiet, walkable, and full of architectural charm. It’s a neighborhood that rewards the people who actually live there. Here are a few of my favorite spots to eat, drink, shop, and soak in all things Buckman.
Coffee & Cafes
Coava Coffee — 1300 SE Grand Ave
Coava’s flagship roastery in a stunning converted industrial space, with communal tables, a fireplace, and some of the city’s most precise single-origin espresso.
Exquisite Creatures Coffee — 537 SE Ash St #108
A hole-in-the-wall coffeeshop that’s entirely plant-based, with unique specialty drinks and charming decor.
Push x Pull Coffee — 821 SE Stark St
A neighborhood cafe with thoughtful pour-overs and espresso in a welcoming space near the heart of Buckman (and Living Room’s SE office!).
Good Coffee — 1150 SE 12th Ave
A bright, modern coffee shop with house-roasted coffee, seasonal drinks, and excellent pastries.
Water Avenue Coffee — 1028 SE Water Ave
Interesting single-origin roasts in a relaxed setting steps from the Eastbank Esplanade.
Restaurants
Kann — 548 SE Ash St
Chef Gregory Gourdet cooks Haitian cuisine with local PNW ingredients over a live-fire hearth, paired with impeccable service and presentation. Recent James Beard Award winner and one of the top-ranked restaurants in the US.
Le Pigeon — 738 E Burnside St
Chef Gabriel Rucker’s beloved French bistro and a Portland landmark for nearly two decades. Set in a cozy space with exposed brick and shared tables, this inventive, deeply satisfying cooking has won multiple awards.
Nostrana — 1401 SE Morrison St
An Italian landmark. Chef Cathy Whims has been rewriting the menu every single day since 2005, built around seasonal produce and a glowing wood-fired oven. Their happy hour is one of Portland’s best-kept secrets.
Kachka — 960 SE 11th Ave
Soviet-era comfort food through a Pacific Northwest lens: house-infused vodkas, caviar toast at happy hour, pelmeni, and a warm, wonderfully kitschy dining room.
Afuri Izakaya — 923 SE 7th Ave
A Portland outpost of the celebrated Tokyo-born ramen chain, set in a soaring converted warehouse. The izakaya menu and cocktail list are worth exploring beyond the noodles.
Hat Yai — 605 SE Belmont St
Simple Thai fried chicken with scratch-made roti and Southern Thai-style curry has won hearts and awards.
Obon Shokudo — 720 SE Grand Ave
Vegan Japanese comfort food done beautifully, from a couple who spent years at farmers markets before opening this beloved brick-and-mortar. Known for onigiri, curry udon, okonomiyaki, and house-made miso and koji.
Lardo — 1212 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Sandwiches taken seriously, with slow-cooked meats, house-made condiments, and dirty fries that have their own devoted following.
Food Cart Pods
Hawthorne Asylum — 1080 SE Madison St
One of Portland’s best, with 20-plus carts, a firepit, and a sprawling courtyard near the historic site of Dr. Hawthorne’s original asylum. You can find Ethiopian to Egyptian to barbecue to brunch.
Cartopia — 1207 SE Hawthorne Blvd
A late-night favorite open until 3am on weekends, with wood-fired pizza, Latin chicken, bacon-honey-walnut crepes, and famous vegan poutine.
Wonderlove — 262 SE Main St
A newer addition and already a standout: a multi-level food cart pod and bar built from stacked shipping containers, with a rooftop patio, great skyline views, fire pits, live music, and a welcoming community vibe.
Bars & Nightlife
Scotch Lodge — 215 SE 9th Ave
An award-winning whiskey bar with a library-ladder wall of bottles, beautifully crafted cocktails, and a cozy speakeasy atmosphere.
Hey Love — 920 E Burnside St
An indoor tropical garden inside the Jupiter NEXT Hotel, winner of best hotel bar in North America. Tropically-inspired cocktails and slushies, weekend brunch, and genuinely good food make it a fun destination.
Rontoms — 600 E Burnside St
A midcentury-inspired neighborhood bar with a huge heated patio, ping-pong, and live music. A lower Burnside anchor loved for its easygoing energy and plentiful hipsters.
Rum Club — 720 SE Sandy Blvd
A “craft cocktail bar with a rum problem” on Portland Monthly’s best bars list. Dim lighting and a cute atmosphere with a cocktail menu that rewards adventurous drinkers.
Creepy’s — 627 SE Morrison St
Willamette Week calls it a “polished, nightmare carnival parlor.” The atmosphere is dim and kooky, with animatronic dolls, a portrait of John Quincy Adams, velvet paintings, pinball, and surprisingly good burgers.
The Vern — 2622 SE Belmont St
A dive bar with a cult following, named for the “Tavern” sign outside that lost its first two letters to a passing truck decades ago. Big red booths, a fire pit, pinball machines, hand-smoked chicken wings, and a roomy back patio make it a local fave.
Honarable Mention: Trio Lounge – ask me about the lore
Arts & Entertainment
Revolution Hall — 1300 SE Stark St
A concert venue and event space converted from a historic high school auditorium, with a rooftop bar and one of Portland’s most distinctive settings for live music and events.
The Get Down — 680 SE 6th Ave
An intimate venue for hip-hop and jazz, with a great sound system and a warm, community-focused atmosphere.
Hopscotch — 1020 SE 10th Ave
An immersive, collaborative art experience inside a renovated industrial building. Family-friendly during the day, with select adult-only evenings.
Voicebox Karaoke — 734 SE 6th Ave
Private-room karaoke with soundproof suites, sake cocktails, and tater tot nachos.
Holocene — 1001 SE Morrison St
One of Portland’s oldest independent music and dance venues, with live acts on weeknights and DJ dance parties on weekends in a converted warehouse space.
Shopping
Rejuvenation Hardware — 1100 SE Grand Ave
Portland-based architectural hardware and lighting brand with a national reputation. Its heirloom-quality furniture and lighting are built to last. The SE Grand flagship gallery is a joy to walk through, and don’t miss the sale and seconds section.
Cargo — 81 SE Yamhill St
A sprawling, colorful marketplace of globally sourced goods, textiles, ceramics, toys, furniture, and curiosities from Asia, South America, and beyond. A personal favorite.
Hippo Hardware — 1040 E Burnside St
A delightfully scrappy architectural salvage treasure trove: vintage hardware, lighting, toilets, and fixtures for old homes and curious collectors.
Memory Den — 499 SE 2nd St
A vintage and antique mall with dozens of vendors offering one-of-a-kind furniture, art, and collectibles.
Lounge Lizard — 1426 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Vintage furniture, retro lighting, and unique housewares. A Hawthorne classic for reasonably priced mid-century and retro home goods.
Next Adventure — 426 SE Grand Ave
A Portland institution with two floors of new and used gear, from backpacking to paddling to skiing. The bargain basement always delivers.
Parks & Recreation
Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery — 629 SE 26th Ave
Portland’s oldest cemetery and a lovely green space, with hundreds of heritage trees, birds, and the graves of many of Portland’s earliest residents. Guided tours available; the annual Halloween event sells out fast.
Colonel Summers Park — SE 20th & Belmont
A beloved community park with basketball courts, a baseball diamond, summer movie nights, and a community garden.
Grand Central Bowling — 808 SE Morrison St
Classic bowling with B-movie projections, arcade games, and a retro atmosphere that makes for a fun night out.
Thinking About Buying in Buckman?
Buckman is one of those rare neighborhoods where you can walk to some of the best restaurants in the country, cross a bridge to downtown, and come home to a street lined with century-old homes. It’s an ideal first stop in Portland and a hard neighborhood to leave. If you’re ready to make a move, I’d love to help you find the right home here. Drop me a message to get started or check out my Instagram for more local tips!
