Our home town is full of vibrant neighborhoods like the one where we live, St. Johns. It has a small town feel but is a mere 15-20 minutes from downtown Portland. It also happens to be the home of the most iconic Portland Bridge!
Map
Sections
5
Outdoor Activities
Restaurants
Other Food & Drinks
Arts & Entertainment
Local Favorites
Outdoor Activities
Cathedral Park is a perfect place for a picnic (bring a blanket if you prefer to spread out on the grassy meadow). The new swimming area is a great place for kids to paddle under the majestic St. Johns Bridge.
Cathedral Park
Pier Park is a beautiful oasis on a hot sunny day. The air remains cool under the Doug firs and madrones. There is an excellent park for kids, a pavilion for parties, a meadow for a blanket picnic, and a frisbee golf circuit.
Pier Park
Not far from St. Johns is my favorite place to stroll along the Willamette River and watch the tug boats go by! And, on a good day, you can see Mt. Hood by looking up the Columbia. That's right - this park lies at the confluence of our two major rive...
Kelley Point Park
Restaurants
Great place for breakfast and lunch and a local favorite. Be sure to plan time to wait in line on weekends. Pro tip - during the summer, there is often seating available in the back garden!
John Street Cafe
With limited availability, Gracie's is known to sell out of pizzas before closing… and for good reason. These pizzas are absolutely amazing!
Gracie’s Apizza
We love the Vietnamese inspired dishes at the Mosaic Taphouse and highly recommend Taco Tuesday. Many of the dishes are made to share, making it perfect for this tap house vibe. So many beers, ciders, and even a sake or two on the menu! Indoor and ou...
Mosaic Taphouse
Other Food & Drinks
Wonderwood is a recent newcomer to St Johns but immediately became a local favorite, especially for family's with kids. The owner and artist Mike Bennet decorates his fantasy cafe with creatures of his own design. Plus… there is mini-golf in the buil...
Wonderwood Springs
Our go-to coffee shop is Two Stroke… we found them when they were the closest coffee shop to our house. Then they moved down the street to a bigger location and they remain our favorite. Coffee, pastries, bagels, and banana almond butter toast. What ...
Two Stroke Coffee Co.
Looking for a glass of wine? This is the spot for you! With several local options as well as an international selection of wines, Matt always has a few “on tap” that you can buy by the glass. If your partner prefers a brew, there are options. Light f...
45th Parallel Wines
Arts & Entertainment
Super fun for the kid in all of us! This indoor mini-golf is a great place to escape the rain or the hot weather while having a little fun with your friends. Right next to Wonderwood's Cafe.
Wonderwood Mini Golf
We recently went to a St Johns Boosters mixer at Lombard House. It's a great bar… but it's an even better gathering place for sports fans. Wednesday nights, there is live music on the back porch.
Lombard House (@lombardhousebeer)
Local Favorites
When in Portland, you should eat in at least one local bar. Slims is one of the oldest businesses in St. Johns and well worth a visit… I recommend breakfast but that could because its my favorite meal of the day.
Slim's Restaurant & Lounge
This is our local food pod - full of great options for all kinds of eaters. I love two vegan eateries and my hubby trends towards pizza (by the slice or the pie) and salad. Always, we have a beer or kombucha on tap. Yummy!