Neighborhood Guide: Multnomah Village | Portland Monthly

Like Orenco Station, this neighborhood began as a stop on the Oregon Electric Railway. Over the years, markets and homes sprung up around the station, sharing a name with the Multnomah band of the local Chinook Tribe. Annexed by Portland in 1950, it lives up to the “Village” part of its name, feeling more like a small town than a neighborhood. Some of the buildings lining the main roads of SW Capitol Highway and the lower Multnomah Boulevard are more than a century old—on weekends, they’re filled with young families visiting the many cafés, restaurants, and shops.

The commercial stretch covers just a few blocks, but it’s easy to spend a whole day exploring here. Start with a leisurely breakfast at Fat City Café, a greasy spoon with tiled floors and walls clad in license plates. Since the 1970s, locals and visitors of all ages have filled the diner’s forest green booths to dig into pancake stacks and hefty omelets. Or pop into Marco’s, an all-day, family-friendly restaurant in a building constructed in 1913 as a grocer; it later served as Multnomah Village’s Masonic lodge. During the week, commuters might grab a pre-work bagel from Spielman or a takeout latte and pastry from Village Coffee, a cozy shop with 20 years of service and twice that number of flavored syrups.

After breakfast, shopping beckons: Capitol Highway’s row of gift shops rivals an Oregon Coast vacation town, with sewing supplies, linens, jewelry, and vintage goods found all along the street. You can always find parents and children at Thinker Toys, perusing the puzzles, games, and beginner science kits. Annie Bloom’s Books, though not as famous or colossal as Powell’s, has been serving the area since 1978—if you can’t find what you’re looking for in its sizable collection, the staff can usually special order it. Those looking to get pampered can buy artisan bath products and make custom candles at Mad Sass Soap Co., or treat themselves to handwoven linens at Indigo Traders.

In the evenings, Multnomah Village comes to life thanks to a dense population of bars and restaurants. Tastebud is a local institution, slinging wood-fired pizzas made with Oregon-grown flour—after years of operating as takeout only, it’s now welcoming folks back to its dining room. Down the block, young families crowd into Level Beer’s taproom, where kids compete for pinball high scores and parents nurse hazy IPAs. For family dining and quiet date nights, the homey Otto and Anita’s brings Bavarian charm (and schnitzel) to the neighborhood; those seeking something a little trendier can squeeze into the boisterous dining room for Yalla, which packs tables with shareable plates of mezze, smoked meats, and salads. And beer lovers would do well to visit John’s Marketplace on the busier Multnomah Boulevard, a sprawling taproom and bottle shop loaded with local, imported, and rare brews and wines—it stands on the ground that was the original Multnomah train station.

Head deeper into the neighborhood and you’ll find Gabriel Park, nearly 90 acres of open fields dotted with trees, play structures, and pathways. On sunny days, it’s a popular locale for family outings, pickleball, or a game of fetch in the off-leash area.