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The Ultimate Hipster Guide to Portland

The Ultimate Hipster Guide to Portland

Portland has been ranked the second most hipster city in the world, and the first in the country according to MoveHub’s Hipster Index.

Hipster culture includes coffee, food, music, and vintage clothing, all with the eponymous interior design that’s stylized with brick walls, wooden accents, and exposed beams.

We’ve found the best hipster spots for you in the city that definitely validates Portland’s reputation as the most hipster city in America.

Coffee

Coffee

Hipster culture wouldn’t be complete without coffee. And no, we will certainly not include large coffee chains in this list!

We chose the guaranteed favorites among hipsters, and most of them are independent cafés run by—you guessed it!—hipsters.

1. Stumptown Coffee Roasters

Must-try: Cold brew, single-origin coffee

Locations: 4525 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97206

128 SW 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97204

7000 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97218

3356 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214

Website: https://www.stumptowncoffee.com 

Hours: Monday – Friday: 6:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Saturday – Sunday, 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Stumptown serves freshly brewed coffee and offers specialty drinks on its menu, and you can choose from different roasts and beans to find your favorite fix.

But if you’re still uncertain about which coffee will suit your taste perfectly, they have an online quiz you can take on their website to find out! 

Oh, did we mention that they have four locations in the city? There’s definitely no reason for you to miss out!

2. Cathedral Coffee

Must-try: Espresso, lattes, pastries

Location: 4525 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97206

Website: https://www.cathedralcoffee.com/

Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Saturday – Sunday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Other than their coffee, Cathedral Coffee has cozy interiors that make you feel at home! There’s a cozy nook with a bookshelf should you want to relax while you enjoy your drink.

They offer vegan and gluten-free options for both their beverages and food, and you can choose between sandwiches for a quick meal or from their pastry menu. 

If you want to take some of their coffee home, they offer monthly subscriptions for their beans and blends!

3. Tōv Coffee & Tea

Must-try: Egyptian coffee, Turkish coffee, cold brew ice cubes

Locations: 3207 SE Hawthorne Blvd #5044, Portland, OR 97214

Website: https://www.tovcoffee.com/

Hours: Monday: 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM, Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM, Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Saturday: 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Tōv serves Egyptian and Turkish food and drinks in a red double-decker bus. The experience of being there is both fun and whimsical—a great way to explore new coffee.

They have seasonal specials and also offer Turkish and Egyptian pastries, but what’s great about them is that your $10 can go a long way! With that amount of money, you can get a cup of coffee and some dessert.

Food

Food

There’s no distinct characteristic for what counts as hipster food, but it’s known for the different options that weren’t as commonly offered before such as gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan options.

Whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, we found the best hipster spots for a meal.

1. Jam on Hawthorne

Must-try: Ty’s Big Breakfast, Maddie cakes, gluten-free pancakes, eggs Benedict

Locations: 2239 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214

Website: https://www.jamonhawthorne.com/

Hours: Monday – Sunday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Jam on Hawthorne offers lots of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options as well as some options for meat eaters. You’ll be surprised at how much meat lovers enjoy their meat-free options, which are among the crowd-favorites!

They’re a great brunch spot, but you can also enjoy coffee or cocktails from their beverage menu.

2. Pambiche

Must-try: Ropa vieja, plato cubano, Cuban sandwich, café cubano

Location: 2811 NE Glisan St Portland, OR 97232

Website: https://www.pambiche.com/

Hours: Wednesday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Pambiche is a Cuban restaurant that has a wide range of Cuban favorites on its menu, from empanadas to Cuban sandwiches and full meals. They also serve unique cocktails you can’t find elsewhere and tropical shakes and teas.

Other than its food, Pambiche has its own personality with its bright and distinctive design. Their interior is decorated with items from Cuba, and outside the restaurant, you’ll be met with a colorful mural celebrating symbols of Cuban culture.

3. Cartopia

Must-try: One item from all their carts!

Location: 1207 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214

Website: https://www.cartopiafoodcarts.com/

Hours: Monday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM

Cartopia food carts exude hipster vibes in their location, from its tents with hanging lights, wooden dining tables, and even wooden food carts!

They’ve got eight food carts, with each having its own specialties. You can get Thai or Mexican food, wood-fired pizza, fruit cups, and quirky desserts!

Whichever it is, you can make the most out of your visit by trying one item from each food cart, or you can just keep coming back, of course.

Bars

Bars

Hipster culture wouldn’t be complete if it wasn’t for alcohol—but not just any kind of alcohol. Hipsters prefer draft beer and unique cocktails, and Portland is home to a lot of these spots.

1. White Owl Social Club

Must-try: Draft beer, Sun Ray cocktail, tacos

Location: 1305 SE 8th Ave Portland, OR 97214

Website: http://www.whiteowlsocialclub.com/

Hours: Monday – Thursday, Sunday: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM, Friday – Saturday: 5:00 PM – 2:30 AM

White Owl Social Club is a bar that also serves Mexican food. They’ve got lots of unique house cocktails, and you can enjoy draft beer from their rotating tap selection.

If you want to grab a few bites while you drink out, you can choose to order Mexican favorites like tacos, nachos, enchiladas, or their pulled pork sandwich.

2. Teardrop Lounge

Must-try: Seasonal cocktails, piña colada

Location: 1015 NW Everett St Portland, OR 97209

Website: https://www.teardroplounge.com/

Hours: Monday – Thursday, Sunday: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM, Friday – Saturday: 4:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Teardrop Lounge is best known for its cocktails, which rotate per season! For example, in summer, you’ll find more fruity and refreshing cocktails, whereas in fall you’ll find warmer and aromatic mixes.

Their interior checks all the boxes for hipster-style design with exposed concrete walls and metallic fixtures where they display all their bottles.

3. Gold Dust Meridian

Must-try: Classic cocktails, deviled eggs

Location: 3267 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214

Website: https://www.instagram.com/golddustmeridianpdx/?hl=en

Hours: Monday – Sunday: 2:00 PM – 2:30 AM

The best thing about Gold Dust Meridian is that they have happy hours daily from 2 PM – 6 PM, but their drinks make people happy too! They have novel takes on classic cocktails and art installations that routinely change.

The place is great for a night out with your friends since they have a lot of entertainment options. You can play a game of pool or enjoy some music at the jukebox, which plays jazz, blues, and soul.

Rare Finds

Rare Finds

Hipster hobbies and interests include vintage clothing, books, art, and vinyl records.

This isn’t an exhaustive list of course, but we’ve found the best spots if you want to take a dip into some hipster hobbies.

1. Red Light Clothing Exchange

Must-do: Shop for vintage clothing

Location: 3590 SE Hawthorne Blvd Portland, OR 97214

Website: https://shopredlight.com/password

Hours: Monday, Thursday – Sunday: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM, 2:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Red Light Clothing Exchange is known for its trove of vintage clothing for all genders and sizes. The collection may routinely change, but you’ll never run out of things to choose from each time you visit!

It’s not just everyday casual clothes you’ll find here but rare vintage pieces, socks, hats, sweaters, and even some accessories and decorations for your home.

2. Music Millennium

Must-do: Shop for CDs, DVDs, and vinyl records

Location: 3158 E Burnside St Portland, OR 97214

Website: https://musicmillennium.com/

Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Digital music may be all the rage these days, but real hipsters prefer to enjoy music the traditional way: through vinyl records, or CDs.

Music Millennium has music and movies from different decades, and we’re sure that it’s easy for you to lose track of your time as you explore everything they have available.

3. Powell’s City of Books

Must-do: Explore their rare book room

Location: 1005 W Burnside St, Portland, OR 97209

Website: https://www.powells.com/locations/powells-city-of-books

Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Rare book room: Friday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

This list wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t include a bookstore. After all, hipsters love to expand their knowledge and learn more!

Powell’s City of Books sells both new and used books of all genres, but their best feature is their rare book room, where you can explore antique books that are no longer in print!

Outdoor Activities

Outdoor Activities

Hipster culture isn’t just about food and urban life, but it’s also about exploring local spots and engaging in outdoor activities.

Portland has a lot of parks and gardens that are great for an outdoor-loving hipster, and we’ve narrowed it down to the favorites.

1. Forest Park

Must-see: Hiking and cycling trails, urban forest reserves, Witch’s Castle, view of the Willamette River

Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/crgnsa

Hours: Monday – Sunday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Forest Park is perhaps the most popular forest in Portland, which is home to tons of wildlife and greenery that’s perfect for hiking, cycling, and nature photography.

While you’re there, we suggest you stop by the Witch’s Castle, which has a rich historical background to it. 

It may sound scary, but Witch’s Castle has its cottagecore charm to it with vines and moss growing around it that makes it a perfect spot to cap your hiking trip.

2. The Columbia River Gorge

Must-see: Bridal Veil Falls, mountain bike trails, camping spots

Website: https://www.portland.gov/parks/forest-park

Hours: Monday – Sunday: 24 hours

The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon along the boundary of Oregon and Washington. It stretches over 80 miles and offers lots of views of the state!

You’ll never run out of activities to do here—from hiking, biking, sightseeing, fishing and even engaging in watersports like kayaking and canoeing. 

There are over 90 waterfalls in The Gorge, but the most popular is the Bridal Veil Falls that’s accessible from the Columbia River Highway.

3. Portland Japanese Garden

Must-see: Cultural village, umami café, heavenly falls, sand and stone garden

Location: 611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR 97205

Website: https://japanesegarden.org/

Hours: Monday, Wednesday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

The Japanese Garden is the perfect spot if you’re in need of some rest and relaxation. The garden is quiet and almost never gets full, so you can always visit when you need to unwind, reflect, and meditate.

There’s more to see than just nature in this garden. You can visit the Umami Café for some refreshments and explore their art exhibitions to learn more about Japanese culture.

Conclusion

No two hipsters are entirely alike, and while they may have similar interests, it’s possible that you’re looking for different kinds of places and niches.

However, if you’re someone who’s curious about Portland’s hipster identity, then we are sure that the spots we chose will make a good introduction to Portland’s hipster culture.

If there’s anything you want to explore or learn more about Portland, feel free to check out our articles on our website!

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