Portland Area Guide · No. 4
Walkability · Local businesses · Bungalows
Southeast Portland is the city's walkable, independent-business heart: the vintage shops of Hawthorne, the restaurant corridors of Belmont, Division, and Clinton, the bungalow streets of Sellwood, and the volcanic hill of Mount Tabor rising over it all. It is where classic craftsman homes, neighborhood main streets, and a fiercely local culture meet.
Portland · Multnomah County · Oregon
SE Hawthorne Boulevard · Southeast Portland
The latest verified news about the major employers and companies that anchor this area, with sources cited. Each item links to the reporting outlet that published it.
01
OMSI will debut 'Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition', a look at the science and engineering behind Universal's attractions, on November 21, 2026.
The exhibition was announced on November 3, 2026, and the museum also reopens its reimagined Physics Lab on November 15, redesigned with Project LEDO and Boeing to link hands-on physics learning with STEM careers.
Source: YourOregonNews, November 3, 2026
02
OMSI opened the door for design teams to shape the OMSI District's identity and a new waterfront park.
The Daily Journal of Commerce reported on October 16, 2026 that the 24-acre district around the museum remains in the design phase, with OMSI not yet prescribing how teams must be built. An OregonLive report from August 2026 noted the district remains stalled relative to its plan for 1,200 housing units.
03
OMSI reopened its reimagined Natural Sciences Hall on April 25, 2026, with a new bilingual permanent exhibition on climate science and climate resilience.
The 7,000-square-foot hall, renamed for former president and CEO Nancy Stueber, uses immersive multimedia including a room of five Pacific Northwest bioregions. Willamette Week and The Oregonian covered the launch in April 2026.
Source: Willamette Week, April 24, 2026
Classic bungalows on a Sellwood street
01 · Area Highlights
Southeast Portland grew along the streetcar lines that once ran out Hawthorne, Belmont, and Division, and the commercial streets are still the heart of the neighborhood. Hawthorne is the vintage-shopping district, Belmont is the lively corridor, and Division and Clinton have become two of the city's best restaurant streets.
The housing is classic Portland: craftsman bungalows, foursquares, and early 20th-century houses on tree-lined streets, with Laurelhurst and Mount Tabor anchoring the parks. Sellwood-Moreland at the south end is the antique and riverside district, and Buckman is the close-in urban neighborhood with restaurants and older homes near the central eastside.
01b · Navigable Map
Pan, zoom, and drag around this live map to get your bearings before you even call us: pin Hawthorne, Belmont, Division and Clinton, Sellwood, Mount Tabor, and the neighborhoods this guide covers.
Southeast Portland · Multnomah County
02 · Community Detail
Southeast Portland is the city's most walkable east-side quarter, and its neighborhoods each keep a distinct identity: Hawthorne for vintage shopping, Belmont for the corridor, Laurelhurst for grand old homes and its namesake park, Sellwood-Moreland for antiques and the river, Richmond for the Division and Clinton dining scene, Mt. Tabor for the hill, and Buckman for close-in urban living.
Housing is dominated by early 20th-century bungalows and foursquares, with some larger historic homes in Laurelhurst and newer infill along the corridors. It is one of the most sought-after parts of the city for buyers who want character, walkability, and a real neighborhood feel.
Vintage shops, restaurants, cafes, and independent businesses.
A lively commercial corridor surrounded by established homes.
Historic houses, mature landscaping, and the popular Laurelhurst Park.
Antique stores, neighborhood shopping, parks, and classic homes.
Residential streets and access to the popular Division and Clinton dining areas.
A residential area known for its namesake volcanic hill and park.
Close-in urban living, restaurants, and older residential properties.
The Belmont District's lively commercial corridor
Adventist Health Portland anchors the local economy
03 · Major Employers
Southeast Portland's economy is a mix of big institutions and thousands of independent businesses. Here are the anchors:
A 302-bed hospital at 10123 SE Market St employing roughly 1,800 to 2,300 people, the largest single employer in Southeast Portland.
A private university just south of Mt. Tabor Park, a longtime anchor of the neighborhood and a significant local employer.
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry sits in the adjacent Central Eastside, drawing visitors and employing hundreds in science education and events.
Hawthorne, Belmont, Division, Clinton, and Sellwood are lined with thousands of independent shops, restaurants, and breweries that form the neighborhood economy.
04 · Restaurant Guide
From Hawthorne's sandwich shops to Sellwood's neighborhood kitchens, Southeast Portland eats as well as any part of the city. Some of our favorites:
Lardo
VisitA celebrated sandwich shop known for porchetta, fried chicken, and a serious cocktail list.
1212 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Por Qué No
VisitA neighborhood taqueria with house-made tortillas, margaritas, and a beloved patio.
4635 SE Hawthorne Blvd
McMenamins Bagdad Theater & Pub
VisitA 1927 movie palace turned theater-pub, with pizzas, burgers, and a balcony bar.
3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Jam On Hawthorne
VisitA brunch favorite with creative pancakes, benedicts, and a lively weekend scene.
2239 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Worth a stroll: Division Street and Clinton Street, two of the city's most celebrated dining rows, sit right in the Richmond neighborhood this guide covers.
Neighborhood pizzerias and local kitchens
Mount Tabor Park, the city's extinct volcano
05 · Activities
Parks, vintage shopping, and one of the best science museums on the West Coast: Southeast Portland has it all within a short walk or bike ride. Here is how locals spend their time:
An extinct volcanic cinder cone rising 643 feet above the city, with forested trails, historic reservoirs, and panoramic views from the summit.
A 30-acre Olmsted-inspired park with a spring-fed pond, mature trees, and winding paths, one of Portland's most beloved green spaces.
A riverside park at the south end of Sellwood with trails, a boat ramp, and views across the Willamette to the west hills.
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, with hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, and the USS Blueback submarine.
Blocks of vintage clothing stores, bookshops, and independent boutiques make Hawthorne one of the best shopping streets in the Pacific Northwest.
From a Hawthorne bungalow to a Sellwood craftsman, we know this quarter of the city block by block. Tell us what you are looking for and we will show you the home that fits.
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