Find the Best Things to Do in Hawthorne District
By Meagan Wristen
Portland Local Expert
About Hawthorne District
Photo courtesy of Jamie Francis
When most people think of Portland they picture an area full of happy hippy's, quirky independent little shops and restaurants, and lots of other stereo types. Hawthorne is this area. Hawthorne offers some of the best of what Portland has to offer and yes it's hippy and quirky, but it's original and awesome too.
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See & Do
Hands down the best thing there is to do on Hawthorne is people watch. The people watching here is some of the best in the country, because chances are high you are going to see something you have quite simply never seen before. Beyond the people watching there is tons to do in this area. The Bagdad Theater and the Hawthorne Theater are here.
Eat
It's extremely unlikely that you will find any chain restaurants on Hawthorne. Instead you will find lots of independently owned eateries and food trucks. Not only are they one of a kind, but many of the top restaurants in Portland are found here. There are so many great restaurants in this area that you could spend several days eating your way up and down Hawthorne Boulevard. For breakfast hit Jam on Hawthorne, for lunch visit Lardo, and for dinner splurge at Castagna.
Party
Even at night the Hawthorne District is still in full swing. From local pubs, to happening bars you will find many places open until late night. There's a couple of great theaters here. At Bagdad Theater you can watch a movie or over at the Hawthorne Theater you can enjoy live music.
Stay
At this point there are no hotels located within the Hawthorne District, but there is a hostel, The Portland Hostel Hawthorne District with 4 beds including 2 private rooms, 2 co-ed dorm rooms with men and women together, as well as segregated women’s and men’s dorms. There are also several places to stay in this area available on sites like VRBO or AirBNB.
Shop
The Hawthorne District features some of the most eclectic shopping found in the city. Here you can shop from normal items to the weirdest stuff you have possibly ever seen in a store. At Naked City Clothing you can pick up a rockabilly dress to wow your friends or at a card for Grandma's birthday at Presents of Mind.
