Mississippi Avenue is one of the more interesting communities to visit if you happen to be in North Portland. For sure, this is a place that no one would dream of calling drab or boring. As soon as you get there, you will immediately be welcomed by storefronts brimming with history and architecture, walls alive with splashes of colorful artwork, and an overall ambiance of arts and culture that is typical of the northeast parts of Portland…
How did Mississippi Avenue first originate?
The Mississippi Avenue that we know and love today is exciting and diverse. Many would agree that no other neighborhood could be a better representation of Portland than Mississippi Avenue. But it wasn’t always the hotspot that it is today. In fact, just years ago, buildings along the street were boarded up and you wouldn’t in a million years think that it will once again blossom into the neighborhood that we know today.
This area has recently undergone a rollercoaster of changes, particularly because of the gentrification process that took place at around the turn of the century. What used to be a thriving community found itself with greatly diminished land value by the middle of the 1990s. Real estate developers took advantage of this and began replacing historic buildings with more profitable condos and commercial spaces.
Finally, the locals took a stand and managed to save the last building owned by an African American, which was one of the few remnants of the old richness of the avenue. As the community banded together, the rebuilding of the district began. Business-minded locals saw the potential in the historic storefront and little by little, the culture and economy of the area began to flourish once again.
Things to Do on Mississippi Avenue
Whether you are looking for a place to eat, drink, shop, or watch a show, you will have no shortage of options when you are at Mississippi Avenue. This eclectic neighborhood offers a little bit of everything. Here are some of the interesting places that you can check out while in the district.
Restaurants and Cafes
Blue Star Donuts
Fulfill your sweet cravings with Blue Star Donuts. Guests will like its donut party every day upon entering the store. Expect only the best from them, including the traditional 18-hour French brioche dough, vegan cake donuts, and donut bites. Order some pastries in classy flavors, including Cointreau Crème brûlée and blueberry bourbon basil.
Mississippi Pizza
Pizza and history are a weird combination. However, it fits Mississippi Pizza’s story. The store chain is one of the oldest businesses in Portland. They serve pizza slices with great trivia, bingo, karaoke, and live music offerings.
Mississippi Avenue offers a wide variety of food selections, especially along the stretch of the avenue bounded by North Fremont and North Skidmore. No matter what kind of cuisine or flavor you crave, from a light snack to a family dinner, there’s a good chance that you will find at least one restaurant that offers it in this area. Here are some of the best food establishments in the area that you might want to check out.
Prost Marketplace
Named so because it is located right next to the famed Prost! Beer Bar, Prost Marketplace is actually a food cart pod that features 10 carts offering wildly different food options, from the grilled sandwiches of Fried Egg I’m In Love to the sushi rolls of Teppanyaki Hut, and the wide variety of beverages of Bloodbuzz. Of course, one cannot talk about Prost Marketplace without a mention of the best barbecue in the city by Matt’s BBQ and the mouth-watering burgers of Burger Stevens. Prost Marketplace is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm.
Lovely’s Fifty Fifty
The claim to fame of Lovely’s Fifty Fifty is their combination of wood-fired pizzas and homemade ice cream that is truly very creamy and comes in a variety of unique flavors.
If you have never tasted malted milk ball or fig pistachio ice cream, then these are certainly a must try. This cozy diner has built such a great reputation for itself that it was even featured as one of the 25 Iconic Portland Dishes and Drinks and also the 38 Essential Restaurants and Food Carts in Portland in Spring 2022.
Por Que No Taqueria
As the name suggests, Por Que No Taqueria specializes in tacos. They offer more than a dozen taco varieties served on their own homemade organic corn tortillas. There are also several options for appetizers and sides, plus they also have smaller servings for kids, making it an ideal place to take the entire family.
This taqueria also offers taco kits for takeout and does catering as well. They have multiple dining options, including indoor, heated, covered outdoor and al fresco. The quaint storefront and festive décor add an authentic Mexican feel to the ambiance.
Breweries and Bars
Portland is known for having some of the finest brews around and indeed, you will be spoilt for choice if you are looking for a bar that serves good beer along Mississippi Avenue.
Interurban
Try these craft beers housed in a sleek industrial area. Besides beers, Ecliptic Brewing also offers seasonal ingredients for the menu like sandwiches, fries, salads, and burgers.
Also, it’s an ideal location during the warmer days because of its spacious outdoor patio.
StormBreaker Brewing
Despite the abundance of places on Mississippi Avenue that serve quality beer, there is only one true brewery around, and that is StormBreaker Brewing. They make all kinds of IPAs and have consistently come out on top at the country’s major beer competitions. StormBreaker’s brews have won multiple times at the Oregon Beer Awards, US Open Beer Championships, North American Beer Awards, Great American Beer Festival and the Beer Army Beer Wars.
These awards should be more than enough to convince you to try one of their award-winning brews! And not only that, but their place is also very enjoyable, with comfortable seating and a great fire pit patio where you can gather around with your friends.
Fresh Pot
It is a classic coffee shop on Mississippi Avenue. The Fresh Pot is independently owned and serves excellent Stumptown Coffee.
Whether you are into coffee or want to rest from strolling, the Fresh Pot can be an ideal place. It sits inside a historic drug store that oozes charm and warmth.
Stem Wine Bar PDX
One of the newest additions to the long list of excellent bars in Mississippi Avenue, Stem Wine Bar PDX was established by Wei-En Tan just two years ago, right when the pandemic was at its peak. This did not hinder the success of the bar, which quickly took the community by storm.
It has a nice patio where live musicians entertain customers as they sip their roses. The bar features wines that were made by women, as well as Willamette Valley wines. You can also order wine boxes and cheese boards for delivery, and also hold private indoor tastings.
Boutiques and Shops
There are many delightful shops along Mississippi Avenue that can draw you in even if you have no plans of buying anything. Most of the storefronts are a combination of artsy and cozy décor, and practically all shop owners exude that warm Portland hospitality that will really make you enjoy your shopping experience all the more.
Pistils Nursery
If you are a plant lover, your stay at Mississippi Avenue will not be complete without a visit to the Pistils Nursery. They have all kinds of plants and gardening supplies for sale. They also have many selections of pottery, glassware, gardening books and apothecary items.
Some of their bigger and rare plant varieties are understandably on the expensive side but most of their average sized plants are quite easy on the pocket. From time to time – and you might chance on one when you visit – the nursery holds workshops on various plant-related topics like terrarium building, houseplant care, staghorn fern mounting, and so on.
Sunlan Lighting
They sell light bulbs, but Sunlan Lighting is certainly not your typical light bulb store. A quick look around their shop will show you the dozens of unique light bulbs that they sell, all of which are available in a wide range of colors, sizes and shapes. Their window display is already very attractive in itself, especially at night when the lights really become the star of the show.
Even if you don’t need a bulb, the store is worth visiting if only to chat with store owner Kay Newell, fondly called in the community as “The Lightbulb Lady”, who will gamely show you vintage photographs and old clippings of Mississippi Avenue and share with you interesting stories about the old days of Portland. Kay and her shop are quite famous that a feature film was made about her entitled, The Sun’s Only Rival.
Worn Path
It would be a waste to stay indoors when in Portland. The city hosts hundreds of parks and other outdoor activities to the point that you will never run out of options.
Drop by the Worn Path to shop for locally-crafted beanies, sleeping bags, slingshots, and other outdoor essentials.
Mississippi Records
Portland, Oregon, will never be a famous city now without vintage items. The analog era is alive and thriving at Mississippi Records. The store specializes in blues, international, and soul recordings. There are listening stations, turntables, and even the shop’s line of releases on cassette and vinyl.
ReBuilding Center
This nonprofit organization centered on climate justice takes up almost a block on Mississippi Avenue. Here lies a vast array of recycled home materials from vintage Portland homes.
You can score some great finds here, including the ornate door handles from the 19th century, original shaker doors, and clawfoot tubs.
Arts and Music hopping
Ori Gallery
This art gallery aims to amplify the voices of Queer and Trans Artists of color through community organization and mobilization through arts.
Besides the rotating exhibitions, you can find joining workshops and classes in communities at an affordable cost or free.
Bridge City Comics
The selection of graphic novels and comics inside this store is a testament to the number of comic book professionals and publishers in Portland.
In fact, most even believed the city was second to that of New York. Whether you are a collector, an enthusiast, or want to learn how to create comics, Bridge City Comics is for you.
Mississippi Studios
For sight lines and acoustics, you can visit Mississippi Studios. As the neighborhood attracted more people, so did the use of the live music halls.
What used to be known for its folk and acoustic music has evolved into a venue for national and international acts and local favorites. They are featured artists almost every night, so you might want to check the schedule before going.
Reading Frenzy
Combine reading and art, and you’ll get Reading Frenzy. The shop holds art exhibition spaces, a reading room, workshops, and an in-house print shop.
Moreover, they commit to supporting independent, self-published, and small press titles by selling them at the store.
Art Walk
If the Alberta Arts District has its Last Thursday art fair, Mississippi Avenue holds its art walk every second Thursday of the month. You can expect the flock of people on the streets – most are showcasing their craft and art pieces while others bask in the vibrant creativity of the artists.
Street Fair
The Street Fair on Mississippi Avenue is one of the biggest in the city. It usually draws about 30 000 visitors closing in North Portland Street. Approximately not less than forty musical acts participate in the event.
Also, it is an excellent avenue for visitors to mingle with the locals over good food, music, and drinks. Over 200 local vendors will showcase delicious delights and other local products. The Street Fair, which is usually held every summer, is also the neighborhood’s way of supporting local small businesses.
Mississippi Avenue’s Street Fair is just one of the many street fairs the city holds during the summer. Additionally, you can spend almost every weekend exploring various neighborhood events with live music, local color, and food.
Where to Stay at Mississippi Avenue
If you are looking for a hotel right along Mississippi Avenue, you won’t be able to find one. However, there are plenty of first-class hotels that are very near the district.
Hotels
The Portland Marriott is the closest hotel to the Mississippi Avenue neighborhood, located less than a tenth of a mile away along SW Naito Parkway, right at the Willamette River. It is a first-class business hotel with rates of anywhere between $300 and $800 per night.
The Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel is another nearby hotel that exudes a turn-of-the-century feel and provides the perfect blend of luxury and comfort.
Mississippi Court
If you are looking for a longer stay, you can rent one of the studio units at the Mississippi Court, which is a beautiful restoration of the original building more than a century ago. Staying in this exclusive residence is just like living in vintage Portland.
Mississippi Avenue Lofts
Located in the middle of Mississippi Avenue, the Lofts give you the experience of luxury living right at the heart of this vibrant neighborhood. When you step out of your place, you will just be a few steps away from some of the finest restaurants and shops in Portland.
There are indeed a plethora of things you can do and see at Mississippi Avenue. It will be hard to experience everything during a single stay so it will be a really good idea to come back for more!
We also have posts on…
Beth was born under a wandering star, with drama in her veins and ink in her pen. After stints studying theatre in Dublin and Utrecht she used her creative streak to see as much of the world as she could on as little money. She toured Italian Schools with a children’s theatre troop, lived as an au-pair in both Rome and Washington DC, explored the British countryside, worked her way through much of Europe, Salsa danced in Cuba and road tripped down America’s west coast where she discovered her spiritual home; Portland, Oregon. In between adventures she resides peacefully with her family, cats and ukulele.