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.
Nong’s Khao Man Gai —609 SE Ankeny St
The brick-and-mortar home of Portland’s most beloved food cart, serving the same perfectly rendered Thai poached chicken and rice that launched a cult following and a sauce empire.
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!
