Humboldt Neighborhood Portland
Portland’s Humboldt neighborhood is bordered by Overlook, Piedmont, King, and Boise neighborhoods. The Humboldt neighborhood is also extremely close to the Max line on the other side of Interstate Ave. and is well connected to many bus routes. Bicycle commuting to downtown and beyond is easy and convenient, thanks to bike lanes which are seemingly on every street.
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Features of Humboldt Neighborhood
The Humboldt neighborhood in Portland can probably best be described as young, urban, and hip. The streets are busied with bike traffic, foot-traffic, and buses cruising by every few minutes. This area is a hot spot for the 20-30ish Portland crowd looking for easy access to downtown and the ever-cool Boise neighborhood, which is known to most as “Mississippi” due to its most popular and populated street, Historic Mississippi Ave. Mississippi is a destination for many out-of-neighborhood visitors, and Humboldt enjoys the spill over traffic coming to its famous coffee shop, The Albina Press. Atlas Tattoo, located a few doors down from the Albina Press, is Portland-renowned for incredible ink work. The Red Fox is the very popular local watering hole.
Locals here probably spend a lot of their time on Mississippi Avenue since they can walk there in less than five minutes or bike there in a flash. Mississippi has just about everything the average Humboldter could need: nearly a dozen great restaurants, great coffee shops, several watering holes (bars), and a lot of retail and boutique shops. A few standouts on the street are Mississippi Street’s Crow Bar, Amnesia Brewing, Gravy, Equinox, Por Que No?!, The Fresh Pot, Lorenzo’s, Pistils Nursery, and Miss Delta. It should also be noted that Humboldt and Mississippi are home to mostly independent businesses. You won’t find a Starbucks here, and locals will see to it that you don’t.
Portland Community College is a major presence in the Humboldt area and many residents are also students or faculty. Nearby Williams Ave. offers even more independent retail and boutiques. Additionally, Killingsworth St. has several great local businesses to choose from such as Saraveza (a beer bottle shop), The Red E Cafe, E’njoni Ethiopian Cafe, and CoffeeHouse-Five. Down the road on Interstate Ave. is a New Seasons Market, which is a local area shopping staple and employer.
Humboldt Neighborhood Businesses of Note
The Red E Cafe
Grown out of a love for the Pacific Northwest and cafe culture, Red E Cafe offers, high-quality coffee and a commitment to excellence. Choose from their whole bean Mexican or Guatemalan coffees, cherry skin tea, and more.
The Red E Cafe—1006 N Killingsworth St
E’njoni Ethiopian Cafe
E’njoni Ethiopian Cafe is an intimate East African restaurant offering Ethiopian and Eritrean fare, along with a traditional coffee ceremony.
E’njoni Ethiopian Cafe—910 N Killingsworth St
Coffeehouse-Five
This corner coffeehouse offers with light American bites and big front windows so you can people watch while you sip. Love their coffee? Buy a bag or two of their whole bean roasted Colombian and Guatemalan java to enjoy at home.
Coffeehouse-Five—740 N Killingsworth St
Sweedeedee
Sweedeedee has been serving fresh and seasonal, wholesome comfort food since 2012. They offer a small selection of wines and goods from around the world, along with a daily assortment of deli and pastry items. Always in collaboration with their community for natural wines, farm food, social change, music, and art, Sweedeedee is heart-centered in its approach to serving Humboldt residents and neighborhood visitors. As their website says: “Love over gold.”
Sweedeedee—5202 N Albina Ave
Victoria Bar
If you’re in the mood for offbeat, freshly handcrafted cocktails and Southern eats, Victoria Bar is your place. This drinking parlor in a hip, rustic locale with outdoor seating offers everything from brunch and happy hour to lunch and dinner.
Come in for some vegan chicken and waffles, a Humboldt burrito, or coconut chai French toast alongside a mimosa, Aperol spritz, or a Humperdink’s coffee. Come back in the evening for $1 off well spirits and cocktails, wines, as well as all small bites, their house burger, or vegan fried chicken and fries. Stick around for dinner and savor their vegan mac, pesto pasta, or Mr. Moose’s BLT accompanied by the Greece Lightning Salad.
No matter how you spend your time at Victoria Bar, you’ll want to come back for more.
Victoria Bar—4835 N Albina Ave
McMenamin’s Chapel Pub
Set in a 1932 restored chapel, this tavern offers comfort food, house-brewed beers & live music.
McMenamin’s Chapel Pub—430 N Killingsworth St
Tulip Shop Tavern
Tulip Shop Tavern is known for its chill, hip interior vibe and outdoor terrace where you can enjoy bar bites, sandwiches, salads, and sides with your cocktail or beer.
Try their pork loin Schnitzelwich or Panko breaded, fried Alaskan Cod sandwich with a Wedge Salad. If you’re there for something less substantial, try the hot wings or Dos Hermanos grain mustard pretzel.
Whether you come to Tulip Shop Tavern for a quick bite or want to settle in for the evening, you’ll always fell welcome and will leave satisfied.
Tulip Shop Tavern—825 N Killingsworth St
The Florida Room
Need a break from the usual? A place where you can dip out of the daily grind and revel in some low-pressure relaxation? Settle in and enjoy some standard bar fare in a low-lit atmosphere, or head out to one of their covered, heated, dog-friendly patios.
When your day is too full for a stop off, you can at least drive by to check out their ever-changing reader board for memorable, sassy, and meaningful sayings.
When you can stay, take over a pinball machine, then head to the photo booth and take a strip of selfies to commemorate the evening.
The Florida Room—435 N Killingsworth St
Saraveza
Saraveza is the place in Humboldt for American regional cuisine with a mid-western flare. Try their buttermilk chicken plate for dinner or have a Reuben, traditional, or vegetarian pasty. During happy hour, you’ll have the pleasure of sinking your teeth into bacon-wrapped, blue cheese-stuffed dates, fried cheese curds, German-style potato salad, and a Rice Krispie Treat.
Saraveza—1004 N Killingsworth St
Enat Kitchen Restaurant
Enat Kitchen Restaurant—300 N Killingsworth St
Kabba’s Kitchen
Kabba’s Kitchen—4631 N Albina Ave
Turn! Turn! Turn!
Turn! Turn! Turn!—8 NE Killingsworth St
Vendetta
Vendetta—4306 N Williams Ave
Pho Jasmine
Pho Jasmine—714 N Killingsworth St
Jamaican Homestyle Cuisine
Jamaican Homestyle Cuisine—441 N Killingsworth St
Humboldt Neighborhood Parks
Peninsula Park—Basketball and tennis courts, gymnasium, paved paths, gorgeous old rose garden, play structures and outdoor swimming pool.
Sumner-Albina City Park—.08-acre space that features a mural by artists Chris Johanson and Jo Jackson, commissioned by Regional Arts & Culture Council in 2019. Named Cherry Sprout Market, the mural uses greens that match the neighborhood and shows the harmony between nature, farming, wildlife, and plants.
Nearby parks and recreation:
Matt Dishman Community Center and Pool—Indoor swimming pool, fitness center and movement classes.
Portland Meadows Golf Course
Columbia Edgewater
Country Club
40-Mile Loop—Neighboring Bridgeton is part of the 40-mile loop, famous for hiking, biking and
walking.
Humboldt Neighborhood Community Resources
Multnomah County Library—North Portland Branch—512 N Killingsworth St
Humboldt Neighborhood Association
Humboldt Neighborhood Schools
Elementary School (K-5)—Boise-Eliot/Humboldt Elementary
Middle School—Harriet Tubman Middle School
High School—Jefferson High School and Grant High School
Humboldt Neighborhood Vibe
Artsy, earthy, and most definitely hip although the area hipsters would shy away from this claim. Bikes and scooters are more widely accepted than cars. The neighborhood prizes diversity, independence and entrepreneurialism. Locals know each other and support their local businesses. A mix of renters and owners, singletons and families. Everyone seems to be busy doing something interesting.
Humboldt Neighborhood Stats
Humboldt Zip Code 97217
Humboldt Neighborhood Vision
While not a lot can currently be found about the history of Humboldt neighborhood, there is plenty of information on the plans for the neighborhood in the Humboldt Neighborhood Plan, created in July, 1993.
The Humboldt Neighborhood Plan is part of the Albina Community Plan, which was intended to “Promote economic vitality, historic character and livability in inner north and inner northeast Portland” by including the plans as part of Portland’s Comprehensive Plan. Several neighborhoods are included in these plans, including Humboldt.
Specific to Humboldt, the objectives are to showcase the neighborhood’s historic and educational features and to maintain a connection to its past. Other important features of the plan are focus on the neighborhood’s livability and public safety, along with its offerings around housing choice.
Humboldt’s Livability
Objectives regarding Humboldt’s livability are as follows:
- High level of zoning and housing code and noise reduction enforcement
- Maintain racial, cultural, and socio-economic diversity
- Increase level and quality of government services
- Improve and increase neighborhood communication and participation
- Encourage activities that contribute to the betterment and benefit of neighborhood residents while opposing those that promote displacement
- Establish open communication between the Humboldt Neighborhood Association and landlords
- Promote beneficial communication between the Humboldt Neighborhood Association and neighborhood schools
- Protect scenic views
Humboldt’s Urban Design and Historical Preservation
- Adopt design guidelines within historic districts or major remodels and new construction
- Require new buildings to align with unique architectural aspects of the neighborhood and city
- Establish open spaces and greenery as well as public art
Friends We’ve Lost
Pix Pâtisserie—a chocolate lab and cafe that kickstarted the revitalization of N. Williams Ave. in Humboldt neighborhood. The venue closed to move to a larger location in E. Portland.
Lompoc Brewery—a 23-year old brewpub with multiple locations went out of business completely in 2019. Their brews are still available, though, at Oaks Bottom Public House.
Ristretto Roasters—a Portland icon with multiple locations, closed them down one by one, the last one here in Humboldt—their roasting operation—in 2020.
Humboldt Real Estate and Homes for Sale
Humboldt homes are either modest, awesome, or funky and are just as varied from Old Victorians, Bungalows, Old Foursquare, ranch, apartments, fresh new condos and more. Creative paint schemes and landscaping will shout out to you from pockets all around the neighborhood. It’s not uncommon to see “lawn gardens” peppered with edibles such as strawberries, blueberries, and herbs in lieu of boring old grass.
Humboldt experienced the same boom that Mississippi and surrounding areas did. As a result, a huge mass of people moved in and prices increased dramatically. That said, one can still find affordable homes in the Humboldt area. If you are looking to purchase a home in this area, make sure to be on your toes and ready to make a quick offer as Humboldt homes are highly coveted and will not stay on the market long. All in all, Humboldt is a great place for those who want the comfy feel of an older home, a sense of community, and easy access to other popular neighborhoods and downtown Portland.
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If you are interested in buying or selling a home in this Portland neighborhood, visit our Portland Real Estate Page for more information, or visit our Portland Real Estate Map to search the RMLS for neighborhood homes for sale.
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Sources
Bureau of Planning, Portland, Oregon. Adopted Humboldt Neighborhood Plan. October, 1993.
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