The Kerns neighborhood has come into its own. Tucked between the city’s NE and SE quadrants, it offers up a perfect blend of old and new Portland.
Located in Portland’s inner eastside, Kerns sits just east of the Willamette River and north of Burnside Street. It’s bordered by the Lloyd District and Sullivan’s Gulch neighborhoods to the north, the Laurelhurst neighborhood to the east, and the Buckman and Sunnyside neighborhoods to the south.
Kerns is a high-density neighborhood consisting of nearly 3,000 households and a thriving industrial district. It offers a mix of single-family rental homes, new apartment buildings, and a few landmark vintage buildings.
The lay of the land in Kerns
The Burnside bridgehead, at the west end of Kerns, is an enclave of luxury apartments rising from the base of its namesake bridge. The architecture of the bridgehead is the most buzzed about in the city—it’s home to the colorful Fair-Haired Dumbbell, the tall, dark, and handsome YARD, and the innovative curtain-wall facade of Slate.
Kerns snugs up against Lower East Burnside, a hip but gritty business district flanked by the Buckman neighborhood on the south. Lower East Burnside is where you’ll find all day hang spot Hey Love (inside the Jupiter Next Hotel), the sprawling patio of Rontoms, and the darling of Portland’s culinary scene, Le Pigeon.
The neighborhood is dotted with Portland mainstays like the Sunshine Dairy, Franz Bakery, and Norse Hall. And it also encompasses the warehouses and historic buildings of the Central Eastside Industrial District.
Sandy Boulevard, a busy thoroughfare that’s developing even faster, crosses Kerns at 14th Avenue. This strip is home to the Zipper, a lively food court featuring one of the best chicken sandos in the city, Fernet Branca on tap, and a late-night nail-art salon dubbed Fingerbang.
You’ll find an eclectic mix of pawn shops, vintage apartments, car lots, and shopping centers along Sandy. But you’ll also encounter the Pepsi Blocks, a nearly five-acre parcel of land slated for dense development of apartments, retail, and green space. The development is named after the iconic Pepsi building that resides there. (no worries! It’s staying and will be repurposed as a public space.)
At its eastern boundary, Kerns is bookended by the 28th Avenue shopping and dining district, which is anchored by the historic Laurelhurst Theater and nuzzles up against the tony Laurelhurst neighborhood. 28th Avenue has excellent restaurants, coffee, and shopping including thrift stores and a Whole Foods Market. You’ll find a range of small businesses, sometimes owner-operated.
By Bus, Bike or Car
Kerns is easy to get to. Smack dab in the middle of Portland’s eastside urban core, there are two main streets to get you here. Burnside and Sandy Boulevard. Riding the bus east and west you can take TriMet bus #19, #20 or the #12 up Burnside and Sandy Boulevard and is a relatively seamless commute from downtown. The closest MAX station to Kerns is in the Lloyd District. There are plenty of bike routes that will get you to Kerns and experienced riders commute via busier streets like Burnside.
Who lives and works in Kerns?
Kerns is a renters paradise. In fact, 81% of Kerns households are rentals. Alongside new development and vintage buildings, there are plenty of families in the neighborhood, both renters, and homeowners. As rental brokers, we have a few go-to buildings in Kerns, if you need help and you’re moving from afar, we can fill you in.
Where to Eat in Kerns
Kerns has a little bit of everything. If you’re looking to try out some fantastic food in Portland without breaking the bank, Kerns is an excellent place to do just that. We couldn’t possibly list every place to eat, but there are some spots worth mentioning you shouldn’t miss (in our humble opinion).
On a summer day in Portland, 28th Avenue is bustling with activity. There are plenty of restaurants with outdoor seating, and the vibe is light-hearted and fun. Be sure to check out Guero for some of Portland’s best tortas and pozole, Angel Face for cocktails and romance. Navarre for French, Italian and Spanish food. If you love pizza, try Ken’s Artisan for wood-fired pie and Dove Vivi for its cornmeal crust. Stammtisch serves up German fare like kraut, sausage, and super yummy potato salad. For excellent Thai head to Paa Dee and, if you plan ahead, you can get in on Lang Baan, the back of the house restaurant within Paa Dee, a traditional Thai dining experience.
Of course, there’s ice cream, though officially in the Buckman neighborhood but across the street from Kerns, Fifty Licks has some outstanding and drool-worthy flavors like Blood Orange Creamsicle. Cheese and Crack Snack Shop (also officially Buckman) offers soft-serve ice cream cones and uh…mazing s’more sundaes.
For a hearty breakfast, try Portland-staple Beulahland. For Cuban, get in on Pambiche. For drinks and light fare, check out Migration Brewing and Holman’s. If you like coffee you should try Heart Coffee Roasters, it’s one of Portland’s best. For an old-school Portland drinking experience, head to the Sandy Hut. It looks pretty grim from the outside, and it’s not swanky but has pinball, fries, DJs, and mid-century swagger.
For more amazing food options head to 24th between Glisan and Sandy Boulevard where you can try 24th and Meatballs for some delicious meatballs, salads and sliders, and the Pie Spot for (you guessed it) some amazing pies including small and savory options.
But wait, there’s more! Grab a late-night slice (vegan, veg, or meaty) at Sizzle Pie, enjoy wine and tapas at Bar Botellon, or practice your French at cozy bistro C’est Si Bon.
Where to shop in Kerns
Our favorite shops have a range of goods for home and body. Appetite has a mix of vintage and new, and some fantastic plants, planters, and macrame. Palace has more lovely items like clothing, slippers, books, linens and body oil. It smells good, and you’ll want to hang out in there—if not move in. And when you’re done shopping and eating, you can duck into the Goodfoot and dance the night away. Or head to Knot Springs for a soak and sauna.
Individual shops often host events and workshops so be sure to check out links to these shops above. Otherwise, you can quickly hit neighboring districts for farmers markets and street fairs or festivals.
Being that Kerns is near Burnside, Glisan, and Sandy, it’s easy to hit events in all directions. Kerns has yet to establish its own street fair, but it’s where you’ll end up before or after the popular Portland Flea or Portland Night Market.
If you’re new to Portland, don’t overlook Kerns. It’s a great neighborhood with tons to offer in rentals, entertainment, and food. Did we mention food?
Photo gallery
Enjoy this visual tour of Portland’s Kerns neighborhood. Join us on Instagram for more pics from neighborhoods all over the city.
Buy, sell, or rent with Team Arrive
The Portland Oregon real estate market is extremely competitive—whether you’re a local or relocating from afar. With 95 neighborhoods and 45-plus business districts—all with distinctive personalities—finding the best neighborhood for your lifestyle and home for your budget takes diligence and expertise.
As licensed real estate and rental brokers, we can help with your home search and alleviate the stress of buying, selling, and renting in Portland. For 12-plus years, we’ve explored the city’s beautiful neighborhoods and impressive inventory of homes, apartments, townhouses, and condos. Whether you’re looking for a bungalow in a leafy historic district, a high-rise apartment or condo in the heart of the city, or a duplex on a family friendly block with quick access to your new job at Nike or Intel—we’ve got you covered.
Hiring a rental agent is a cost-effective way to find the best rental home for you as efficiently as possible. Moreover, when you’re ready to sell your current home and/or buy the house of your dreams, we can help you with that too.
Kim Minasian Sparks, principal broker and renter specialist, 503.349.5457