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A visit to Belmont Collective in Southeast Portland is a good starting point for learning about the city’s cannabis culture.
Visit this Southeast Portland street for great local flavor, unique shops and tons of fun things to do.
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A visit to Belmont Collective in Southeast Portland is a good starting point for learning about the city’s cannabis culture.
Located a few blocks north of Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, Southeast Belmont Street stretches from the Eastbank Esplanade to Mount Tabor Park, and boasts its own mix of vintage and indie shops, coffee shops, bars, eateries, attractions and more. Read on for our favorite things to do and see in Belmont.
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Where is Belmont?
How far is Belmont from downtown Portland?
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Where to Eat and Drink on Belmont
Coffee and Tea
Never Coffee pours delightful coffee drinks that are full of flavor, like their Holy Grail latte with local honey, Jacobsen sea salt and Tellicherry pepper. The unique roasts and innovative drinks make this a must-visit spot for adventurous coffee-lovers.
If you power up best with a combination of coffee, conversation and live music, Taborspace is a great place to charge your battery. A community coffee house located within Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church, this warm gathering spot is lit with stained glass windows and infused with the smell of fresh-baked pastries and locally brewed coffee. The site of weekly live music, art classes, workshops and more, it’s a welcoming place for all people, regardless of faith.
If tea is more your speed, Tao of Tea makes a fantastic chai — they also offer a huge range of other teas of all types, from green and black to blends and herbal options. As an added bonus, they serve a robust food menu, including small plates, light meals, flatbreads and desserts.
Good Eats
Long-running Cricket Cafe is a great place to start a day on Southeast Belmont Street — tuck into their hearty made-from-scratch breakfast staples, including plenty of vegan and gluten-free options.
Bluto’s is a counter-service spot that takes the best parts of a casual eatery (relaxed vibes, reasonable prices) and levels them up with high-quality ingredients and a modern, elegant dining room — most importantly, of course, the food’s delicious. Also laid-back and equally tasty, Taquería Los Puñales serves an extensive menu of tacos, bowls, pozole and more (be sure to order the chilaquiles).
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Credit: Jason Hill for better.
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Credit: Jason Hill for better.
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Credit: Jason Hill for better.
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Credit: Jason Hill for better.
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Credit: Jason Hill for better.
Chef Katy Millard of Coquine draws on her experience at five Michelin-starred French restaurants to craft spectacular seasonal plates, like chilled yellow squash soup or pork and peach ragu. With the help of in-house sommelier Ksandek Podbielski, you’ll be able to pair your meal with the perfect bottle of wine. Another great fine-dining option and one of the top Belmont restaurants, Nostrana is a romantic Italian spot that packs them in every day but Sunday for flavorful wood-fired pizzas, rich pasta dishes and expertly mixed cocktails. James Beard Award nominee Cathy Whims’ timeless recipes — like grilled clam bruschetta and pan-fried veal parmigiana — highlight the finest regional ingredients from local farms.
Kids will love going for dessert at Nate’s Oatmeal Cookies, an awesome local cookie shop offering delectable cookies in a variety of flavors. (Don’t worry, adults — you’ll love them too.)
Bevs and Brews
For the love of beer, Horse Brass Pub has you covered with abundant bottles and drafts from around the world. Serving traditional eats like Scotch eggs, steak and kidney pies, this English-style pub is a colorful spot for catching up with friends.
Belmont Station is a Portland classic — established in 1997, this top-notch bottle shop stocks over 1,400 options for beer-lovers to peruse. The adjoining taproom, which features 35 rotating taps, is a great place to grab a pint.
Nestled in among the shops, The Bite on Belmont is a food cart pod known for a variety of dining options and funky Portland vibes — but it’s also home to Hindsight Beer Cart, a unique place to meet up with friends for a beer, a cocktail or a glass of wine.
What to Do on Belmont
Public Parks
A tranquil patch of nature in the middle of the city and just north of the Belmont district, Laurelhurst Park is well worth a visit. Explore the tree-lined paths and ponds, or play on the sports courts and playground. Laurelhurst Park is also part of Portland history, having been acquired from former Portland mayor William S. Ladd way back in 1909. Another historic park, Colonel Summers Park was established in 1921 — today you’ll find a community garden, a restored brick picnic pavilion and a splash pad, among other amenities.
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Credit: Ashley Anderson
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Credit: Ashley Anderson
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Credit: Margaret Fenton, Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery
Movies and Games
For more Portland history, video rental store Movie Madness doubles as a museum of sorts (besides the fact that it’s a living, working rental shop). Devoted to rare and obscure films, they also have original costumes on display from movies such as “The Godfather II,” “The Wizard of Oz” and “The Sound of Music.”
And if you want to escape to a time when video games only cost a nickel, Avalon Theatre & Electric Castle’s Wunderland has you covered. Their two small screens show classics and second-run movies, while their arcade buzzes with Skee-Ball and whack-a-mole games (and some newfangled digital fare, to boot).
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Credit: Ashley Anderson
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Credit: Ashley Anderson
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Credit: Nick Mendez, nickmendez.com
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Credit: Jamie Francis
Events for All Ages
One of Portland’s quintessential Christmas traditions is a trip — on foot or in a horse-drawn carriage — down Peacock Lane. For the last two weeks of December, the houses on this street just off of Belmont are decked out in true holiday spirit with thousands and thousands of sparkling lights.
And every September, one of Portland’s awesome annual street fairs — the Belmont District Street Fair — attracts roughly 10,000 people with live music, food and local vendors celebrating the vibrant neighborhood.
Shopping
Belmont storefronts are filled with vintage shops, used books and unique trinkets. Still straddling the worlds of old and new, Belmont is home to many shops that have been in the community for decades. Serving the pagan community for many moons, Moonshadow is a spiritual shop for books, crystals and deepening your practice in the ancient arts. You’ll also find a number of quality local cannabis dispensaries on Belmont, including Belmont Collective and Mongoose Cannabis Co.
Credit: Jason Hill for better.
Belmont Books is an independent bookstore offering new editions, collectible rarities, offerings from local authors, zines from off the beaten path and much more. Another one-of-a-kind store, HAPPY ANYWAY. is part gift shop, part art gallery, boasting a curated collection of unique finds.
If you’re in the market for restored vintage leather goods, then stop into Mix Tape and check out their fabulously curated vintage and restyled selections. Naked City Clothing will spruce up your wardrobe, offering retro-inspired fashion, accessories and wacky novelties in a funky space.
Historic Places
Want to hear an amazing tale? Some of Portland’s best stories can be found at Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery, just north of Belmont. One of Portland’s oldest cemeteries, Lone Fir invites visitors to connect with the past through a quiet stroll or on a monthly guided tour that highlights some of the graveyard’s famous residents, like one of the city founders, Asa Lovejoy. Offering another opportunity to learn more about Portland’s past, the Historic Belmont Firehouse is an interactive museum where you can dive into over 100 years of firefighting history.
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