CENTRL Neighborhood Spotlight: Eastside Portland
We believe a great workspace consists of more than just the physical office where you get your work done. That’s why at CENTRL, our locations are carefully selected so that our members can enjoy the perks of working in a vibrant neighborhood where there are great options for exercise, culture, food, and drink.
Thankfully, there is no shortage of great local businesses to support near our Eastside workspace. Located on the first three floors of the Slate, members of CENTRL Eastside enjoy access to modern and sophisticated offices, steps away from the Burnside Bridgehead and Knot Springs, a social club centered on health, wellness, and good times. Teeming with locally owned cafés, bistros, pubs, and galleries, the Eastside is the perfect spot to find a healthy work-life balance.
Here’s a partial list of a few of our neighbors we think you’ll like and hope you’ll support. Just remember to bring your mask! We’ll also be giving shout-outs to more of our neighbors in future posts.
Coffee & Breakfast
COSUBE
www.cosube.com
111 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97232
COSUBE (Coffee / Surf / Beer) opened in 2016, but started in Manzanita, OR in the late 80’s when owner and Portland native, Alex Morris, first learned how to surf. An Eastside fixture, COSUBE combines a cafe, a clothing store, a surf shop. We love their Coava coffee, and they also serve Chamellia Tea and all your favorite Oregon beers and wines.
Cup & Bar
www.cupandbar.com
118 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97232
Cup & Bar is a collaboration of Trailhead Coffee Roasters and Ranger Chocolate Company, who teamed up to create Portland’s first coffee and chocolate tasting room. Think café culture where ethically sourced, small-batch coffee meets handmade, delicious chocolate to create total bliss. Cup & Bar serves light, satisfying dishes, artisan coffees, and other libations. We love their avocado and lemon ricotta toast!
Lunch & Midday
Nong’s Khao Man Gai
www.khaomangai.com
609 SE Ankeny St, Portland, OR 97214
Opened by Bangkok native Nong Poonsukwattan, Nong’s Khao Man Gai offers a soul-nourishing chicken and rice dish that’s has a cult following both in Portland and around the world. Be sure to order the namesake dish. Poonsukwattan’s faithful rendition of khao man gai is comprised of poached chicken served with aromatic rice cooked in chicken stock; a garlicky, spicy sauce for dipping; cucumbers; cilantro; and a little bit of chicken broth. There is a vegetarian version and Coca-Cola-braised pork, but you’re really here for the khao man gai.
Marukin Ramen
www.marukinramen.com
609 SE Ankeny St, Portland, OR 97214
Marukin is one of Tokyo’s most popular names in ramen. With over 20+ years of experience and nine locations in Japan, Marukin brought their first stateside locations to Portland in 2016. Marukin specializes in handmade noodles, signature Japanese dishes, and locally sourced ingredients. They offer house-made noodles and savory broths, including the blazing-hot Marukin red ramen; tonkotsu (pork broth) made with pigs from Oregon’s Carlton Farms; a creamy paitan (chicken broth) created specially for Portland; and even shoyu and soy-milk-based broths for vegans and vegetarians.
Crema Coffee
www.cremabakery.com
2728 SE Ankeny St, Portland, OR 97214
Established in 2004, Crema Coffee offers delicious handcrafted baked goods, sandwiches, and artesian coffee under one roof. Their coffees and teas are locally sourced and their espresso drinks are prepared by specially trained baristas. Foodwise, they have something for everyone — soups, a kickstarter breakfast, quiches, galettes, pastries, rolls, etc…Definitely give their Caprese panini a try!
After Work
Elvis Room
facebook.com/Elvis-Room
203 SE Grand Ave, Portland, OR 97214
Whether you are in the mood for a dive bar vibe or something a little more extravagant, the Elvis Room is the best of both worlds. Upstairs you’ll find a classy cocktail bar, while downstairs in the basement is a dimly lit lounge. In the lower section, we love their red booths and stained glass bar! Definitely try the Elvis-approved peanut-butter-bacon-pickle Graceland burger.
Loyal Legion
www.loyallegionpdx.com
710 SE 6th St, Portland, OR 97214
Located in a former union meeting hall, Loyal Legion is a classic beer hall set in a cavernous space with leather booths, a long wraparound bar, and vintage stools. It features a wide array of Oregon craft brews, spirits, and international sausages. A rotation of 100 Oregon beers are on tap (including meads and ciders), and they have great burgers and a relaxing atmosphere. It’s the quintessential Eastside neighborhood hangout.
Conclusion
At CENTRL, we know that coming together with local businesses is more important than ever. We feel fortunate that our Eastside workspace is situated in such a uniquely beautiful and vibrant community of businesses, fueled by creativity, a collaborative spirit, and entrepreneurship. We encourage you to support them. And whether you are looking for the perfect cappuccino or a place to watch the Blazers after work, always feel free to ask our Community Managers for a recommendation. We’re here to help!