Introduction
We had a brief window of sunshine yesterday, just a couple of hours wedged between Portland’s winter downpours, and I needed to take advantage of it. So, I made a day of it and visited three Portland-area markets, plus two bonus stops. Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly of the experience.
PDX Estate Marketplace – Tigard
I regularly receive multiple “Things to do in Portland” type newsletters that provide ideas on my next adventure, and the PDX Estate Marketplace shows up every month, so I’ve had it on my list to visit for a while.
This market is a 20,000-square-foot warehouse in Tigard that opens one weekend a month and sells everything from clothing to furniture to seasonal knick-knacks. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but the first sign came quickly: parking is a nightmare. Once you do find a spot, entry is free and the crowd inside is manageable, until checkout, where the line bottlenecks heavily.
I spent about 15 minutes wandering. Honestly? Highly unimpressed. Stores like Memory Den in SE Portland are miles better for vintage or used goods.
Verdict: Skip it. Portland has far better options across the river.
Weihnachtsmarkt – German American Society of Portland
Next up was a once-a-year location that I’d driven past countless times but had never attended: the German American Society’s annual Weihnachtsmarkt.
Entry required standing in yet another line, but once inside, visitors could browse holiday vendors, kids could visit Old St. Nick, and the building’s interior had a festive, community feel.
Outside, multiple food tents served German and Bavarian specialties. Unfortunately, the food line was long, and the pickup line was another wait. But once I finally had my tray and found a seat I dug in.
The Bavarian pretzel? Not the best. It seemed frozen, not fresh.
The main plate? Phenomenal. Schweinebraten, spicy beer brat, German potato salad, and kraut, all what I imagine would be authentic and very delicious.
Apple strudel? Decent, though a bit soggy and smothered in fake whipped cream.
Verdict: If you like German food or are curious about the Society, go next year. Entry is $5. Parking is rough. I parked three blocks away, but after that meal, the walk didn’t hurt.
Milki Ethiopian Café – SE Portland
With time to kill before my final destination, I searched for a nearby coffee shop and discovered Milki Ethiopian Cafe (named after the owner’s daughter), right across the street.
The café is spacious, bright, and comfortable, complete with an upstairs lounge and restroom. I ordered a large chai latte and settled upstairs for a couple hours. I didn’t try the pastries, and the latte was so big that I couldn’t properly assess their espresso drinks, though I did see a fresh double shot being pulled right in front of me.
They’re in soft-opening mode, and the experience still needs some tightening up. Case in point: my latte arrived in a beer mug.
Verdict: Give them a couple of weeks. It’s not a destination café yet, but if you live nearby, it looks like a pleasant spot to maybe relax or get work done.
Portland Night Market – Central Eastside
For my final market stop, I headed to the Portland Night Market, held monthly for about a decade inside a vintage warehouse just east of the Morrison Bridge.
The normal entry line is enormous, wrapped around the corner and easily an hour long. My strongest recommendation: buy the $10 Fast Pass. It puts you in a separate line that gets priority entry and moves fast.
Inside, the market is lively and packed with vendors offering home goods, art, clothing, food, and more. One of my favorite cocktail mixers, Portland Syrups, had a booth, which is always a win.
But the standout was Hygge Chocolates, serving absolutely incredible bon bons. I curated a box of nine flavors for myself. See if you can guess which ones made the cut.
Verdict: A must-visit. But do yourself a favor, don’t be cheap. Buy the Fast Pass!
Cowbell – Cheese Monger on SE Morrison
On the walk back to my car, I spotted a tiny cheese monger shop called Cowbell and couldn’t resist stopping in.
The shop is maybe 20×20 feet, but packed with great finds like pickles, sauces, black truffle popcorn (I bought a box), and more. A couple from Vancouver was ahead of me ordering what felt like half the shop’s meat case (but I don’t fault them one bit and I ended up mimicking much of their order on a smaller scale) so I had time to enjoy some samples while the butcher sliced up their order for ten minutes straight.
When it was my turn, I ordered:
Meats
Duck Prosciutto from Smoking Goose
Wagyu Salami from Smoking Goose
Spruce Tip Bresaola from Smoking Goose
Cheeses
Ahuntz Gasna - A medium hardness sheep cheese from the Pyrenees in the South of France
Shakerag Blue - A blue cheese from TN wrapped in fig leaves and soaked in whiskey from Sequatchie Cove
Gouda - A salty, powerful expression from Stompetoren in the Netherlands
I got everything home and made up a nice little plate to finish out the day.
VERDICT: Their prices are reasonable, the people are friendly and knowledgeable, and the product is top quality. They are only open Sat-Wed noon-6pm so plan ahead and definitely check them out if you enjoy specialty meats or cheeses.
Wrap-Up
All in all, a perfect Portland winter Saturday. Yes, the parking is terrible, and the lines are long, but that’s part of the deal of being able to enjoy so many activities just minutes away. Plan ahead, expect some waiting, and enjoy the reward once you finally make it through the door.
Check out these spots when you can and let me know what you think.