Meet the Dive Bar Paradise with a Rising Food Scene

"At the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, St. Johns was once its own city-even a century after it was annexed, some longtime locals will still tell you they live in St. Johns, not Portland. Early resident James John was not a saint, just a generous guy who donated land for the initial platting and, when he died, wanted his property to be the site of a public school."

"St. Johns still feels and acts like its own small town. Locals unpack trucks of groceries at the St. Johns Food Share, quilt during the Grief House's crafting hours. Regulars have been getting buttermilk pancakes and omelets at John Street Café and slathering burritos in avocado salsa at Tienda Santa Cruz for decades. The neighborhood's two homegrown cinemas, sitting just five blocks away from each other, both predate Portland's annexation of St. Johns, and area holdouts have made movie nights at either a family tradition."

"From May to November, residents push strollers and ride bikes to the St. Johns Farmers Market to sample the lineup of incendiary salsas from Chio and marvel at the variety of cheekily named tomatoes at Pipsqueak. In the summer, they camp out on picnic blankets during the free jazz festival in Cathedral Park and hit the pool within Pier Park when it opens for the season."

St. Johns sits at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers and retains a distinct small-town identity despite annexation by Portland. Generous early resident James John donated land and designated property for a public school; that school's playground and turf soccer field remain neighborhood hubs. Community organizations and longtime businesses supply regular gatherings, meals, and services. Seasonal markets, a free summer jazz festival in Cathedral Park, Pier Park pool, and a popular food-cart pod define civic life. The neighborhood’s food scene has been evolving, drawing lines for artisanal breads and new culinary offerings while sustaining long-established cafes and taquerias.

Read at Portland Monthly