Search Central Eastside
Across the Willamette River from downtown, this area blends industrial Portland with new restaurants, microbreweries and riverside recreation.
Criss-crossed with train tracks and lined with old industrial factories, some of Portland’s favorite restaurants, boutiques and events call the Central Eastside home. Read on for our recommended things to do and see in Portland’s Central Eastside.
Where to Stay in the Central Eastside
Across the Willamette River from downtown, the Central Eastside area blends industrial Portland with new restaurants, microbreweries and riverside recreation and offers easy access to other central-city and eastside districts.
Place to Eat and Drink in the Central Eastside
You’ll want to start early if you’re looking to try Southeast Portland’s Delicious Donuts. Often selling out before closing, this low-key, family-owned doughnut shop sneaks under the radar in Portland’s food scene. With their flagship coffee shop in the Central Eastside, Water Avenue Coffee roasts interesting blends and single-origin coffee beans, making you an excellent cup.
Credit: James Berrier
With a year-round patio, live music and DJ, and weekend brunch Produce Row Cafe is a gastro-pub you don’t want to miss. A champion of craft beer in Portland since 1978, pair beer with whiskey and a great meal.
One of the neighborhood’s pioneering restaurants, clarklewis makes the most of its light-filled former-loading-dock location, turning out wood-fired delicacies like oak-grilled rib-eye steak served with local chard, creamed corn and oyster mushrooms.
Kachka brings a little bit of the old world to Portland with traditional Russian cuisine (their dumplings are incredible) and vodka samplers where you can try house-infused vodkas in flavors like horseradish and chamomile. Recently, they’ve opened Lavka, as a market with a deli counter daily, though still continuing their fine-dining by evening — so be sure to make a reservation.
For Italian classics and thin-crust pizza, Nostrana brings complex flavors to simple dishes.
With its own creative take on ramen — think rich, meaty broths with fried chicken, oysters and fresh noodles — Boke Bowl has also earned a devoted following. But despite their meaty servings, vegetarians can get in on the action here too, with Korean fried tofu and eggplant — and everyone loves Boke’s daring miso-butterscotch twinkies for dessert.
Perhaps the most nationally recognized name in the neighborhood, Le Pigeon, turns out French-based dishes with a local twist, like the Paris mushroom carpaccio starter and the entrée of smoked scallops with spaghetti and pig’s ear. Guests sit elbow-to-elbow at communal tables here, packing in for a crack at James Beard Award-winning chef Gabriel Rucker‘s ever-changing menu.
When night falls, the Central Eastside offers plenty of entertainment. Hipster biker bar White Owl Social Club serves shoestring fries and rave-worthy beet burgers on its expansive patio, where patrons can roast s’mores on tabletop campfires. Housing hundreds of barrels filled with award-winning sour ales, Cascade Brewing Barrel House offers a tart tap list ripe with beers made with berries, apricots and even local coffee.
What to Do in the Central Eastside
The Central Eastside knows how to have fun any time of day. Head to Water Avenue, which runs along the Willamette River, and find shops, restaurants and an old — and renewed — business district (accessible via Portland Streetcar or MAX Orange Line). Tucked under the Marquam Bridge, OMSI promises fun for all ages, with permanent draws like a four-story movie theater, a planetarium, high-profile traveling exhibitions like Body Worlds and Mythbusters, or special exhibits on everything from retro video games to nanotechnology.
Central Eastside Attractions
Explore five of this district’s distinguishing landmarks and places to visit.
And those who love trains shouldn’t miss the nearby Oregon Rail Heritage Center, which features three steam locomotives and other train antiquities.
If you want to spend more time outdoors, Kerr Bikes rents any style of bike, including a surrey that will hold the whole family. With nearby trails to explore, bike along the Springwater Corridor or Eastbank Esplanade.
Pips & Bounce is a palace of ping-pong action. (Yes, ping-pong!) Packed with ten tournament-quality tables, hundreds of paddles and even ball-shaped lights, players can work on their backhand or kick back with vittles like local smoked sausage from Zenner’s. Staffers even scoop up stray balls to help keep the volleys coming. Around the corner, the traditional bowling alley gets a reboot at Grand Central Restaurant & Bowling. Giant projection screens play B movies and music videos to accompany the crashing pins and classic arcade games, air hockey and billiards. Order pub grub and signature mojitos straight from a comfy couch by your lane.
You can sing your heart out at Voicebox, a karaoke bar with private rooms, so even shy crooners can slam the door on stage fright thanks to private, soundproof suites. Confidence-boosting beverages like sake cocktails along with pita pizzas and tater tot nachos help feed the need to belt out “Bohemian Rhapsody” until the wee hours. Singers can even order gummy worms and M&Ms by the half-pound — virtually guaranteeing a sweet note to end on.
If you’re in the mood for live music, Central Eastside has many world-class venues from Doug Fir to Holocene. Bunk Bar on Water Avenue, is an intimate, converted warehouse with eclectic bands, pinball, beer and Bunk sandwiches.
Nightlife in the Central Eastside
This area of Portland is a hub for late-night attractions, including cool bars and dance spots.
Shopping in Central Eastside
Fashion Finds
Look out, downtown — East Burnside is beginning to rival the city center as Portland’s fashion hub. Inside a hip, minimalist space, Machus, a tightly curated boutique for men, carries high-end designers from Saturdays NYC to Naked & Famous. Nearby, Una offers a collection of exotic knickknacks, indie clothing and local housewares sourced by thrift-store whiz Giovanna Parolari.
Check out OKO in its new East Burnside location. This small shop specializes in vintage and antique jewelry. It also sells new jewelry by Portland designers, art, a small selection of magical skincare potions and other antiques and rarities.
Books and Trinkets
With plenty of boutiques and small storefronts, Central Eastside provides trinkets of all kinds. The distinctive 811 E. Burnside building, with exposed iron beams and loads of glass storefronts, is home to a handful of fittingly unique shops. Complete a new look at xobruno, which offers one-of-a-kind leather bags. Coy & Co., the city’s first sustainably certified florist shop, is equipped to handle all your floral design needs. It sells hand-tied bouquets, flower subscriptions, robust arrangements and more.
With apparel for hard-working folks, Red Cloud Collective — a group of artists, designers, musicians, woodworkers, motorcycle mechanics, skateboarders and photographers — is full of locally hand-crafted clothing, leather and products.
Mother Foucault’s is a stunning used bookstore, with old-world charms and occasional readings by local or touring independent authors.
More Central Eastside Events
Get to know the Central Eastside neighborhood at these upcoming events.
Bloom Tour
The Bloom Tour is part walking tour and part floral show focusing on supporting some of Portland’s unique shops, restaurants and hotels. Participating retailers are also hosting a wide range of Bloom Tour Specials, so follow the tour map and explore them all. Each of these businesses have been paired with a local floralist and…
Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family
Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family brings the latest tyrannosaur discoveries to life, overturning preconceptions about these ferocious predators. The exhibition explores the most feared and revered of all dinosaurs in new and different ways. The exhibition’s real and replica specimens are spectacular in scale and form and reveal some of the most significant discoveries…
Greg Wrenn and the Portland Psychedelic Society Reading and Q&A
What part might psychedelic medicines have to play in healing the relationship with Mother Nature and offering much-needed hope for the future? Join author Greg Wrenn and the Portland Psychedelic Society at Mother Foucault’s Bookshop for an intimate evening of storytelling, psychedelic science, and ecological exploration as he discusses ayahuasca as a trauma medicine and…
Jeremiah Coughlan
Jeremiah Coughlan is a comedian with a very distinct style. Dave Attell recently described him on stage as “someone who looks like he knows everything there is to know about parrots.” He might not know everything about colorful birds but he does have a pretty good idea about how to make folks laugh. He has…
Duncan Trussell
Duncan Trussell is an actor and stand-up comic, known for his podcast "The Duncan Trussell Family Hour." He appears on the Netflix series "The Midnight Gospel," as well as "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast and "Joe Rogan Questions Everything." He has written and appeared in sketches for two seasons of Fuel TV's "Stupidface," Showtime's "La…
Portland Night Market
The Portland Night Market showcases many unique businesses that call Portland home. Blending food, culture, music, drinks and retail for an adventurous evening in the Central Eastside. Meet some of Portland's best makers and creators. With almost 200 hundred makers, the Night Market offers food carts, drinks, clothing, lifestyle goods, home goods, body care and art. The Portland…
Alabaster by Audrey Cefaly
The play Alabaster, by creative titan Audrey Cefaly is showing in Portland, Oregon. Willow Jade Norton is producing and directing this powerful play about women, art, and healing. Featuring Hailey Henderson, Jerilyn Armstrong, Jasmine Cottrell, Mikki Lipsey and Ness Zolan. At Shaking the Tree Theater. The play begins after a tornado barrels through a town, leaving…
Open Air Train Rides
Join the Oregon Rail Heritage Center for a 45-minute ride in open-air rail cars along the Willamette River in the heart of Portland. This is excellent for viewing wildlife, paddleboarders and Oaks Park rides. Open-air cars are pulled by a diesel locomotive and depart from the Oregon Rail Heritage Center.
Swan Dive Diva Drag Brunch
Join Portland’s all-star drag queens and burlesque dancers every Saturday and Sunday for a heart-pumping performance complete with acrobatics, live singing, intricate custom-made outfits and sweat-defying artful makeup. Come prepared to tip generously and have a rowdy good time. The ticket price does not include food or alcohol. Doors open at 11 a.m., and the…
Red Richardson
Red Richardson is a critically acclaimed standup comedian, writer and actor and is regarded as one of the most exciting and in-demand new faces of comedy. His ‘Stay Toxic’ videos have received over 80 million views on Instagram, and his stand-up comedy shows sell out theaters and comedy clubs across the UK. In 2023 his…
Christian Johnson
Christian Johnson is a clean comedian, a husband, and a father from Charlotte, NC. Since he started his standup comedy career he’s been traveling from city to city and using his comedic talents on social media growing his fan base. In his career Christian has had the pleasure of working with some of the biggest…
OMSI Science Pub: Cosmology with the James Webb Space Telescope
The second phase of the golden age for modern cosmology began with the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope last year. The JWST has met and exceeded all its designed capabilities and provides a window back into the very beginning of the Universe. The JWST allows us to study the era of galaxy formation,…
Portland's Funniest Person Competition
Join Helium Comedy Club for the Preliminary Rounds of the 2024 Portland's Funniest Person Competition. Preliminary Round winners are determined by audience vote, so come on out and help us crown this year's champ. The contest continues with the Semifinals from August 6th – 18th and the Final on August 25th.
Trivia Tuesday at White Owl Social Club
Join the fun. Untapped Trivia is free to play every Tuesday at White Owl Social Club. Four rounds of trivia is more than just your typical pub/bar trivia. Voted “Best Trivia” in Portland, Oregon. Topics and themes are different each week. Follow @untappedtrivia on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter for specific weekly themes and hints for the night at White…
Laurie Kilmartin
Laurie Kilmartin is a comedian and WGA Award-winning writer for CONAN. She has also written for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, The Late Late Show, The Bonnie Hunt Show and Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. She has performed standup on CONAN, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Late Show with James Corden, Comedy Central and Showtime….
Josh Wolf
Josh Wolf is a comedian, actor, and NY Times Bestselling author best known for his work as a round table guest and writer on E!’s “Chelsea Lately” and “After Lately.” Throughout 2013-2014, Wolf hosted “Shark After Dark” which aired during the ultra-popular “Shark Week” on The Discovery Channel. Josh was then cast as the host…
First Friday PDX
Located in Portland’s vibrant East Side Arts District, the First Friday Art Walk takes place on the first Friday evening of every month year-round. Offering a gateway into Portland’s thriving arts culture, First Friday PDX includes more than 23 independent galleries, shops, and studios and a street exhibition from April to October. The self-guided tour…
Dead Guy Music Fest
Get ready for the Dead Guy Music Festival at the Rogue Eastside Pub. Together, in partnership with Portland Radio Project, Rogue is bringing you three days of diverse musical experiences where you can enjoy non-stop entertainment from a lineup of 21 talented acts over three days. Plus, indulge in merch areas and a local vendor…
Leave Your Troubles at The Door
Leave Your Troubles at The Door is a completely improvised stand-up comedy showcase where the audience’s problems are the topics of the jokes on stage. Audience members write their problems/troubles down on paper and put it in a box before the show. Then, many of the best comedians from the Pacific Northwest and beyond take on those…
Pearlmania500
Alex Pearlman has been delighting audiences with his three minute rants across social media as Pearlmania500. He has been featured on The Joe Rogan Experience, Hasan Piker’s twitch channel, and CNN.
Charcuterie Board Workshop at Wow Market PDX
Come handcraft your one-of-one charcuterie board with Tree To Table PDX and Charcuterie Me. This all inclusive hands-on workshop provides a one-of-a-kind experience. In one hour, become a woodworker and a charcuterie connoisseur, handcrafting and then filling up your board with delicious food and enjoying a complimentary beer, whiskey, or non-alcohol beverage when you are…
Wood & Other Wonders Market
COME CHECK OUT Wood & Other Wonders @wowmarketpdx at @urbanitepdx 1005 SE Grand Ave PDX There are so many makers, builders, creators, hand-made mavens and woodworkers. There will even be a traveling lathe shop, mobile forge and glass workers. It's different, innovative and supportive of the local maker community like never before. Demos, classes,…
Colum Tyrrell
After beginning his career in his home country of Ireland, Colum Tyrrell moved to New York City and quickly became one of the fastest rising comics in the scene. He is a regular at The Comedy Cellar, The Stand Comedy Club and Stand Up New York. A staple in the New York Comedy Podcast scene…
Burlynomicon – A Darkly Decadent Burlesque Revue
Burlynomicon – A Darkly Decadent Burlesque Revue beckons you back into the cozy crypt at The Coffin Club for another delightful soiree. Bringing you the best in local and international darkly decadent entertainment among the spirits of the eve… Enter this lush, decadent, and special speakeasy soiree through a hushed bar. You'll descend the staircase…
Leah Rudick
Leah Rudick is an actor, writer and comedian based in Los Angeles. Her first standup special, “Everything is Fine!” is currently available on the streaming platform Seed & Spark. Recent festivals include SF Sketchfest, Laughing Skull, All Jane (Portland), and Flyover Fest (St. Louis). Her standup can be seen on Comedy Dynamics’ most recent season…
SnackFest
SnackFest is a food-focused festival featuring all your favorite treats from hot food vendors, food trucks, food purveyors, retail stores, and other F&B-related products. You'll experience live entertainment, demos, educational breakout sessions and opportunities to meet the makers of your favorite food and products. You'll also be able to experience special, one-off pop-ups from chefs…
Love, Shakespeare
Witness the Magic of Unscripted Shakespeare. Step into the offbeat world of Love, Shakespeare, where seasoned Portland comedians attempt something audacious: performing a fully improvised Elizabethan based on your suggestions. Each show is an unpredictable tribute to Shakespeare's comedy, filled with ridiculous twists and spontaneous delights. Follow a merry band of players — former buddies of…
Sarah Sherman
Sarah Sherman aka Sarah Squirm is currently in her third season as a repertory player on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. She recently co-starred with Adam Sandler in the Netflix film, “You Are SO Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah!”. Sarah was selected as a NEW FACE at the 2021 Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival and…
Celebrate All Dads With a Train Ride
45-minute round-trip train rides pulled by the BNSF 3613 diesel locomotive will depart from the Enginehouse. Enjoy scenic landscapes and wildlife along the east bank of the Willamette River. Snacks and adult—and kid-friendly beverages will be available for purchase. There will be plenty of old beer for Dad. There will also be onboard activities for…
Stuff Island
Stuff Island features comedians & podcasters Tommy Pope & Chris O’Connor. They have been featured on Comedy Central and have had both writing & acting roles in the sketch series Gilly & Keeves. The boys will be starring in the comedy series Tires, which will be coming out on Netflix in May. In addition to…
Black to Drag at The Get Down
Introducing Black To Drag Dance, a Juneteenth celebration showcasing Portland's black drag excellence, Hosted by Coco Jem Holiday and Kimber Shade. This event will also feature performances by A'Keria Davenport From RuPaul's Drag Race Season 11 and All-Stars. This event will also feature performances by Mona Chrome, Wonderful, Viper, Oliver Clothesoff, Lala Benet, Cody James…
An Old Fashioned Father's Day
Join Westward Whiskey for a tour, tasting, shopping from market vendors, cocktail demo and cocktail kit creation event. This event is the perfect Father's Day activity and gift in one. Each guest will enjoy a tour of the whiskey distillery, a taste through various Westward expressions, learn how to make a cocktail from the cocktail…
Every Outfit Podcast
After spending years dispensing bitchy fashion commentary on their viral Instagram account Every Outfit on Sex and the City, BFFs Chelsea Fairless and Lauren Garroni realized that they have highly specific opinions about other things, too. So like every enterprising geriatric millennial, they decided to start a podcast. Every Outfit is the culmination of its…
Giulio Gallarotti
Giulio Gallarotti is a New York City based standup comedian, actor, host and podcaster. He made his Netflix stand-up comedy special debut on “Pete Davidson Presents: The Best Friends” in June 2022. His podcast, “Oops”, which he hosts with Francis Ellis, is regularly listed on the iTunes top charts. He has appeared on TV shows…
Gianmarco Soresi
Gianmarco Soresi is a New York based stand-up comedian, actor, and creator known for his sharp societal observation and spry, energetic stage presence. Gianmarco effortlessly commands a room with his animated style, blending upbeat candor with dark comedic beats — which has garnered him critical acclaim from NPR, Esquire, The Atlantic, Buzzfeed, ABC News, and…
Alice Wetterlund
Alice Wetterlund has performed her non-yelling brand of comedy nationally at colleges, clubs, and festivals such as Just for Laughs, Bridgetown, Moontower, Women in Comedy, SF Sketchfest, RIOT LA, and more. She was a "New Face" for the 2013 Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and was on the official line up for FOX’s…
Helium Comedy Academy
The Helium Comedy Academy is an ongoing monthly class that focuses on developing and honing a range of skills in various comedic disciplines, including stand-up, improv, and sketch. Our philosophy in teaching comedy is understanding that training is essential. It's a craft similar to and not unlike any dance, theater or vocal program. There's a…
Robby Hoffman
As a queer, ex-Chasidic, Canadian/American woman who writes and performs comedy, there is no one else like Robby Hoffman. After a childhood in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Robby began her career as a writer in Toronto, working on Baroness Von Sketch (IFC) and Catherine Reitman’s Workin’ Moms (Netflix). Robby also wrote for several seasons of the…
OMSI After Dark: Blown Away
Explore all things explosive as OMSI blow the lid off the science behind blasts. OMSI After Dark is for the 21-and-over only crowd, where you can drink beer or wine and roam the museum with no kids around. There will be science demos, performances, DJs, artisan food and beverage vendors and more.
Benedict Polizzi
Benedict Polizzi is a stand-up comedian and actor. He starred in seasons 2 and 3 of FBOY Island and can be seen everywhere on the internet, with almost a billion views across all social media platforms. He's been seen on HBO and The CW and has been featured in People magazine, E! News, Men's Health, BarstoolSports,…
Maria Bamford
Maria Bamford is revered for her deeply personal and experimental comedy about mental illness. She starred in the surreal, semi-autobiographical Netflix comedy series Lady Dynamite, about a comedian who suffers a nervous breakdown, and is the star of three unconventional hour-long stand-up specials: Weakness is the Brand, Old Baby and Maria Bamford, the special, special,…
Screen Printing Workshop and Artist Social
The embroidery hoop and Mod Podge method of screen making, but in a more social environment. This method is perfect for beginners or those who want to try screen printing without investing in expensive equipment. Students can create unique and personalized prints with just a few materials and meet other local artists simultaneously. Masks are…
David Gborie
David Gborie is a comedian, writer, voice actor and all-around thorough dude originally from Denver, Colorado. He's recently appeared on NBC's AP Bio, TBS's Chad, and can currently be heard as the voice of Comedy Central. He is the co-host of both the wildly popular All Fantasy Everything podcast as well as My Momma Told…
Tim Meadows
Tim Meadows is an American actor and comedian best known as one of the longest running cast members on "Saturday Night Live." During his 10 years on the popular late night show, he crafted some of the series' most memorable characters, including 'Leon Phelps – The Ladies' Man' and 'Lionel Osbourne.'
Tyler Fischer
Tyler Fischer is an actor, stand-up comedian, and viral content creator based in NYC. He has performed stand-up on America's Got Talent, been a guest star on NBC's Chicago Med, TV Land's YOUNGER and STARTUP on Netflix. Tyler is known for his viral content with over 200 million views on his online videos. He was…
Uncle Lazer
The Single Mother Slayer and Texas’s own prodigal son is out of the oil fields for good. He is hitting the road and taking his unapologetic approach to comedy to a town near you. Everything from his outlandish single mother dating stories to the rough and rowdy upbringing of his trauma-filled childhood on the bad…
D.L. Hughley
D.L. Hughley can light up a stage like no other. Known for being politically savvy in true comedian-style, Hughley dives head first into hot-button controversial topics with insightfully sharp observations and his signature rapid-fire jokes. Career Highlights: Five comedy specials; host of CNN's "D. L. Hughley Breaks the News;" correspondent for "The Jay Leno Show;"…
Taste of Thailand
Experience Portland's first-ever Taste of Thailand Food Festival, which offers authentic dishes from northern, northeastern, central, and southern regions of Thailand. The festival showcases well-known local restaurants, including Nong Kao Man Gai, Khao Moo Dang, Farmhouse Kitchen, Kati Thai Vegan, Somtum Thai Kitchen, BKK PadThai and many more. The event celebrates Thai culture and is…
Russell Peters
Only a handful of today’s artists can claim their success began with YouTube. Even less, if any, have been named alongside such luminaries as Richard Pryor, George Carlin, and Eddie Murphy in "Rolling Stone’s" recently released list of the 50 Best Comics of All Time. In comedian Russell Peters’ case, “success” may be a drastic…
Doug Benson – Doug Loves Movies Podcast
Doug Benson has hosted the weekly comedy podcast Doug Loves Movies since 2006, which is recorded in front of live audiences in Los Angeles and at clubs all over the U.S. Benson and his guests talk about movies and then play movie related games. Guests have included such notables as John Lithgow, film critic Leonard…
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