Multnomah Village: Things to Do and Where to Stay

Multnomah Village is a small-town main street inside Southwest Portland. The shops, cafes and pubs line a few blocks of SW Capitol Highway, with a second short strip on SW Multnomah Boulevard, and most of them are independently owned. The district grew up around a stop on the Oregon Electric Railway in the early 1900s, and it still feels like its own place: a bookstore, a toy store, a brewpub in an old Masonic temple and a Bavarian schnitzel house, all within a short walk of each other.

There are no hotels in the village. Our Multnomah Village rentals are forest studios on SW Capitol Highway, about a mile south of the village core, with Tryon Creek State Natural Area and Gabriel Park a short drive away. You get a quiet, wooded base and a village to walk to for breakfast, books and a beer, about 4 miles from downtown.

A Day in Multnomah Village

Start with breakfast at Fat City Cafe, a longtime diner on Capitol Highway, or at Marco's Cafe & Espresso Bar on SW 35th Avenue. If you'd rather grab something to go, Grand Central Bakery has a cafe on SW Multnomah Boulevard.

Spend the late morning on foot. Annie Bloom's Books has been the village bookstore since 1978, and Thinker Toys, family-owned since 1994, is a few doors down. Browse JP General for home goods from local makers, Mad Sass Soap Co. for handmade soap, Indigo Traders for Turkish towels and linens, and Village Frame & Gallery for local art.

After lunch, head to Gabriel Park, a 90-acre city park with sports fields, playgrounds, walking paths and an off-leash dog area. For deeper woods, Tryon Creek State Natural Area has miles of forest trails a short drive away.

Finish at the Lucky Labrador Public House, a brewpub in a 1920s former Masonic temple where dogs are welcome on the patio, or at Level Beer's Level 2 taproom, which has pinball. For a sit-down dinner, Yalla serves Mediterranean food from a smokehouse kitchen, Tastebud bakes wood-fired pizza, and Otto & Anita's Schnitzelhaus serves Bavarian classics just off Capitol Highway. The Gibson PDX pours cocktails when you want one more stop.

Where to Eat and Drink

• Fat City Cafe (7820 SW Capitol Hwy): classic breakfast and lunch diner.
• Marco's Cafe & Espresso Bar (7910 SW 35th Ave): breakfast, brunch and espresso.
• Grand Central Bakery (3425 SW Multnomah Blvd): bakery and cafe.
• Yalla (7850 SW Capitol Hwy): Mediterranean smokehouse.
• Tastebud (7783 SW Capitol Hwy): wood-fired pizza.
• Tito's Taquitos (7705 SW Capitol Hwy): taqueria that started as a food cart.
• Otto & Anita's Schnitzelhaus (3025 SW Canby St): Bavarian food and schnitzel.
• Lucky Labrador Public House (7675 SW Capitol Hwy): brewpub with pizza and a dog-friendly patio.
• Level Beer, Level 2 (7840 SW Capitol Hwy): brewery taproom with pinball.
• John's Marketplace (3535 SW Multnomah Blvd): bottle shop and taproom for beer, wine and cider.
• The Gibson PDX (7709 SW Capitol Hwy): neighborhood cocktail bar.

Shops Worth Browsing

• Annie Bloom's Books (7834 SW Capitol Hwy): independent bookstore since 1978.
• Thinker Toys (7784 SW Capitol Hwy): family-owned toy store since 1994.
• JP General (7868 SW Capitol Hwy): home and lifestyle goods from local makers.
• Mad Sass Soap Co. (7858 SW Capitol Hwy): handmade soap and bath products.
• Indigo Traders (7814 SW Capitol Hwy): Turkish towels, linens and home goods.
• Village Frame & Gallery (7808 SW Capitol Hwy): custom framing and art.

Parks, Trails and the Arts

• Gabriel Park (SW 45th Ave & SW Vermont St): 90 acres of fields, playgrounds, paths and an off-leash dog area.
• Spring Garden Park (3332 SW Spring Garden St): small park at the headwaters of Tryon Creek with a splash pad and playground.
• Tryon Creek State Natural Area (11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd): a state natural area with wooded hiking trails.
• SW Trails: a volunteer group maintains marked urban walking routes through Southwest Portland, including one that starts in Multnomah Village.
• Multnomah Arts Center (7688 SW Capitol Hwy): a Portland Parks & Recreation arts center in the former Multnomah school building, with classes in visual, performing and literary arts.

Multnomah Days and Village Events

Multnomah Days is the village's big day of the year: a free street festival on the third Saturday in August with a morning parade, live music, an art fair and more than 150 vendor booths. The Multnomah Village Business Association lists it for August 21, 2027.

The business association also runs First Fridays with extended shop hours and live music, a spring festival around Earth Day, a Halloween trick-or-treat parade and a holiday event in early December.

Getting There and Getting Around

Multnomah Village sits about 4 miles southwest of downtown Portland. TriMet bus lines 44 and 45 both run along SW Capitol Highway through the village and on to the Portland City Center; check trimet.org for current times. Parking is on the street and can be tight at busy times, especially on weekends and during Multnomah Days. From our studios on SW Capitol Highway, the village core is about a mile north.

Staying Near Multnomah Village

There are no hotels in Multnomah Village itself, so most visitors stay downtown. Our Multnomah Village rentals are forest studios about a mile south of the village on SW Capitol Highway. Each sleeps two and has a kitchen and a workspace, so they suit solo travelers, couples and longer work stays. When you book direct, you skip the booking-site fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a farmers market in Multnomah Village?

Not anymore. The Multnomah Village Farmers Market has closed; its last listed market day was in 2023. The closest market is the Hillsdale Farmers Market, which runs Sundays from 9am to 1pm year-round at 1405 SW Vermont St, a short drive from the village.

When is Multnomah Days?

Multnomah Days happens on the third Saturday of August. The festival is free and takes over the village streets with a parade, music, art and vendors.

Are there hotels in Multnomah Village?

No. Multnomah Village is a neighborhood business district without hotels, so visitors usually stay downtown or in a vacation rental nearby. Stay Portland's closest rentals are studios about a mile south of the village.

How far is Multnomah Village from downtown Portland?

About 4 miles. TriMet lines 44 and 45 connect the village with the Portland City Center.

Is Multnomah Village dog friendly?

Yes. The Lucky Labrador Public House is known for its dog-friendly patio, and Gabriel Park has an off-leash area.