Portland, Oregon is widely regarded as the US’s hipster capital.
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It’s a diminutive term in most cases, tossed around to summarize the city’s interest in both independence and uniqueness. From a political and legal perspective to a social and cultural perspective, Portland does things differently—for better or for worse.
That type of intense distinction has made Portland a dreamy destination to some and an ongoing joke to others.
But the data is in. A report on the coolest neighborhoods in the world from Time Out pulled together expert opinions on ‘coolness’ from around the world—and Portland outperformed other US-ranked neighborhoods in Miami (Little River) and New York City (Flatbush).
When it comes to ranking coolness—which includes criteria like great food, unique culture, community, street life, and art—Portland came in fifth place in the world.
Well, not Portland itself but one of its longest-standing neighborhoods: Kerns.
So, what makes this neighborhood so noteworthy? And what should you do when you finally make it to the promised land of Kerns?
Welcome to Kerns
Let’s cut to the core of what makes a place cool: Authenticity.
Whatever a place is doing, it should be doing it at full force and with greater regard for its own pleasure and functionality than for others.
The No. 1 spot on TimeOut’s list is located in Marseille, France, and it’s second in Casablanca, Morocco. In both locations, you can find colorful street art galore, locals rubbing elbows in casual settings, and plenty of hole-in-the-wall, mom-and-pop establishments.
In Kerns, Portland, the same is true.
Street art blankets brick buildings, while locals chatter and exchange at the dozens of small restaurants, coffee shops, and indie establishments like the famous Laurelhurst Theater.
The district is home to dozens of independent projects with few chains around. Most uniquely of all, Kerns is one of the US’s most walkable neighborhoods—a rarity in North America.
Half the neighborhood’s streets are residential, letting locals wander from coffee shops to comedy shows to ponds all in a single go. It’s beautiful, it’s functional, it’s independent.
And if you’ve been following my coverage of hostels for adults, you might recognize the neighborhood. Kerns is home to Kex, one of the coolest boutique hostels I’ve ever seen.
The perfect day in the neighborhood
According to Portland local and writer Alice Wolfe, the best way to spend a day in Kerns is to wander from one mom-and-pop shop to the next.
Here’s where you should make sure to pop in the next time you’re in Portland:
Best food & drink in Kerns
- Heart Coffee
- Cowbell Creamery
- Olimpia Provisions
- Providore Fine Foods
- Friendship Kitchen
- The Zipper
- Güero
Best bars in Kerns
Best retail in Kerns
