How to Spend a Day in Multnomah Village
A hidden gem of a neighborhood, Multnomah Village is a great place to explore and check out all it has to offer.
You just have awoken on a beautiful weekend morning and want to spend the morning visiting someplace new, exploring your city. Some may suggest exploring Hawthorne, Alberta, or NW 23rd. If you live in the surrounding suburbs, this can feel like quite the journey. I am here to offer you one more option, and a bit closer to home, as it is located in SW Portland. I give you Multnomah Village.
Multnomah Village is a neighborhood “area” comprising 2 main streets (Capitol Highway and Multnomah Blvd, in between roughly 37th and 33rd St.) with shops, restaurants, cafes, a food truck park, and more. MV is loved by all in the neighborhood and children remember “Multnomah Days” a block party in the summer, fondly. Multnomah Days is a summer festival block party with booths, music, and art celebrating the neighborhood.
For more information, Multnomah Village has it’s own website and instagram and you can visit it here https://www.multnomahvillage.org/ or @multnomahvillagepdx
Note: Check shops and restaurant hours before visiting. Many shops open around 10-12pm or later.
Fat City Cafe
First, let’s start with a classic diner breakfast at Fat City Cafe. Fat City is beloved by all in the neighborhood and has some tasty dishes and friendly workers to back it up. The place is memorable with license plates and other road/street signs decorating the entire interior. It makes for a cozy, retro, and inviting restaurant. The food is always decent with a home cooked feel. I remember coming here as a kid and always wanting the Cinnamon Roll French Toast. It was sweet and delicious and everything I wanted for my sweet tooth. These days, I usually go with a classic breakfast or the Country Benny, but you can’t really go wrong.
My only remark is that, in true diner form, they do not have an espresso machine and only serve drip coffee. Being a latte gal myself, this is a bummer, but fear not, the food is yummy and the next stop is the coffee shop to get that fix.
Note – Cash Only
Espresso at Village Coffee Co.
After our late breakfast, we will want to grab a warm latte to sip on as we continue with our journey (and to get that latte fix). Village Coffee Co is a neighborhood essential with a cozy and warm atmosphere. Although the indoor seating is limited, it still shines with local authenticity and a warm community feel.
Looking for more coffee options? Check out my list of great coffee shops located all in Portland’s Suburbs!
Walk the Streets
Up next, just walk the streets. Scope out the shops. Buy a plant or beautiful floral arrangement at Arranged and Rooted. This is a new, but welcome addition to Capitol Highway. Peruse the vintage antiques and goods at the Multnomah Antique Gallery. It is more “Grandma’s house antique-y” than the average millennial/genz (me) prefers, but it’s fun to look.
If I had all the money in the world, I would decorate my home with items from Indigo Traders. Indigo Traders is a beautiful, local shop with kitchen and home goods from or inspired by the Mediterranean areas. It is not for those on a strict budget, but I have purchased olive oil and a cookbook for my father as a gift, and always love to gather inspiration. Sarah J. Handmade is another cute boutique store filled with local artists and fair trade goods. With gifts, crystals, plants, jewelry and clothing, there is always something that catches my eye. Again, while on the expensive side, they support local artisans and ethically sourced products, so worth it to support ethical, local businesses. Another favorite is Annie Bloom’s Bookstore. They are a cozy independent bookstore with helpful and knowledgeable staff. A friend even went in and asked them recommendations for a birthday gift for me! Consign Couture is a great consignment shop with great items I would actually wear. With new items daily, I always love stopping in to see what they have!
Gabriel Park
While technically not in Multnomah Village, At the west end of the street, all the way down past the Post Office (and off the end of Canby St.), is an entrance to Gabriel Park. If it is a nice day and you have the time, I recommend walking through. On this side of the park, there is a neighborhood garden and “winter” dog park. You can also continue walking down the path to make your way through the woods and to the Tennis Courts/other Dog Park near Vermont and 45th. If you are not up for the walk, you can lay a blanket and relax/read on this “back” side of the park. It tends to be more calm and quieter on this side. Again, it is a couple blocks away, so might not be on the agenda for everyone, but again, if the weather is nice and you have the time, it is worth it.
Mix and Match the Perfect 6-pack at John’s Marketplace
John’s Marketplace is one of the largest collections of local and imported craft beer. They offer a world wide selection, including brews and ales from Germany, Japan, different US States and more! I always love trying tasting flights at a brewery, so John’s is literally one of my favorite places to purchase beer and cider. This is a low stakes way to find out if you like something since you only have to get 1 can, instead of a case. Yes, it’s not the cheapest, but the fun of discovering something new is worth it.
Casual Dinner at Lucky Labrador
Looking for a casual dinner with a slice and a pint at Lucky Labrador Brewing Company? Grab a slice or a whole pie and a pint of their beer and enjoy! Lucky Lab has another location in SE and is known for being approachable and dog friendly. They have outdoor seating with picnic tables now taking over their parking lot and an upstairs available for private events.
Date Night Dinner at Yalla
Feeling like a nicer dinner with a lovely back patio? Yalla is a Mediterranean smokehouse that serves small plates with great cocktails and is open for dinner with hours of 4-9pm daily. If you want to feel like you are at a trendy, delicious downtown establishment, Yalla is a great option! Yalla is from the Sesame Collective that includes Shalom Y’all and other loved establishments around Portland and perfect for a date night, a nice dinner with the parents, or any other occasion!
Late Night Drinks
End the night with a drink at the Ship or Renner’s. There are two main dive bars in Multnomah Village, The Ship and Renners. Pick your poison as both bars have their own clientele. Renner’s Grill has limited seating inside and a bit of a no nonsense feel that creates a cozy atmosphere and serves classic dive bar food (how are the tots always so crispy and delicious?). During COVID Renners updated their outdoor seating area and made a small shelter of tables in addition to their tables out on the sidewalk. Renners does have a limited tap list, while the Ship has a more extensive list, it is more on par for Portland beer drinkers. While the Ship Tavern is larger inside with pool tables and occasional live music, they have limited outdoor seating with just a few small tables on the sidewalk out front.
Honorable Multnomah Village Mentions:
Spielman Bagels – great for a casual, quick breakfast stop with espresso and coffee drinks. Great bagels, but can end up on the expensive side.
The Village Ice Cream Factory – Delicious, unpretentious homemade ice cream (even if the milkshakes cost almost $9). (Seriously though, for my chocolate sweet tooth, Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Brownie is a dream come true.) Also a small note they have GF and Dairy Free options!
The French Quarter Food Carts – Great selection of food and great outdoor seating, some have fire pits. Great for large groups, families, and casual eating. Be sure to check cart hours, as they vary. Check out my post about different Food Cart Pods located around the Portland Suburb areas!
Thinker Toys – If you have kids, this is a stop for you. A charming, independent toy store with games and toys for all. I have purchased a couple of gifts for the niece and nephew here and the staff were so kind and helpful and even wrapped up my gifts for me.
To sum it up, you can’t really go wrong with anything in Multnomah Village. Most places are independently and locally owned and the support/community feel is great.
My one wish would be for there to be a couple new, updated, and modern stores, like a great boutique for 20-somethings that wasn’t outrageously expensive. As most places are local and independent, the shops can be on the more expensive side.
All in all, the feeling of supporting local Portland business owners and families is worth it. I love walking to Multnomah Village and seeing where I end up!
What is your favorite place in Multnomah Village? Drop a comment down below and let me know!
