Introducing, Lake Oswego! Gorgeous, inviting, with a tight-knit community. Every time we visit Lake Oswego, there is something new going on, whether it be a restaurant or community event. Come along with us on our next community tour!
History
Flashback! Lake Oswego is one of the oldest inhabited areas of the Willamette Valley, with records of prehistoric people as far back as 4,000 BCE! In modern history, the town was renamed Lake Oswego in 1850 by settlers who journeyed here from New York. In the 1930s (and going forward) Lake Oswego was renowned as a suburban, family hub. In fact, in the 1930s, cheap costs of labor and building materials combined with well-off community members brought an influx of family housing. Lake Oswego is still known for its beautiful homes, outdoor recreation, and elevated lifestyle.
Our Lake Oswego Favorites
Lake Oswego is packed with history but has recently seen an influx of exciting new businesses. Especially in the restaurant realm. Check it out!
Snacks and Sips
Lake Oswego has added some epic additions to their restaurant scene. Some of Portland’s most notable restaurants are coming soon or have recently opened in Lake O’s Mercato Grove, including Tasty, Oven and Shaker, Lardo, and Grassa!
Before venturing into Mercato Grove, you have to start your morning off with a kolache from Happy Sparrow Cafe. The owners moved from Austin, Texas in 2016 and brought their passion for Czech-Texan pastries with them! The shop sells sweet (Nutella, coconut, and almond) and savory (pulled pork, Texas hotlink, and vegan) kolaches… YUM!
Tasty — that’s right, of Tasty n’ Alder fame — recently opened in June! Following the closing of a few of their restaurants during the pandemic, and now under new leadership, the Toro Bravo restaurant group was bought and re-branded by two former restaurant employees. Faye Crosswhite and Mike Kessler have brought Portland’s beloved brunch spot back and the community is celebrating!
Tasty is also welcoming Katherine Benvenuti — former baker at Bar King — as their pastry chef. Benvenuti is seemingly making Lake Oswego her new stomping ground, splitting time between Tasty and Fills, next door. We are dying to try her raspberry-matcha-filled donut.
Driving down SE Hawthorne, heading west, you’ve likely noticed Lardo — a beautifully designed sandwich shop, with floor-to-ceiling glass walls. The shop is always packed with patrons, often with a line out the door. If the name wasn’t enough of an indicator, the restaurant is renowned for outrageously indulgent, meat-stacked sandwiches. Lardo has officially opened a location in Lake Oswego’s Mercato Grove, right next to Lac St. Jack. Patrik is especially excited to try their “NO MEATball sub” (hold the cheese, please)!
Head next door to Lac St. Jack for authentic French food and an incredible wine list. The menu features fresh ingredients from local farms and Oregon coast fisheries. Chef Aaron Barnett has made it his mission to dismantle the stereotypical fussiness of French food, while maintaining authenticity.
In the mood for comfort food? Grassa and Oven & Shaker are yet another two Portland staples, brand new to Lake Oswego. Grassa’s menu features hearty pasta dishes from pork belly mac to lamb sausage mafaldine that WILL send you into a carb-coma. Oven & Shaker is famous for their artisan pizzas (arguably the best margarita pizza in the Portland metro) and killer cocktails.
Shops and Activities
Back in 1940, the Lake Theater was a simple single-screen movie theater and the city’s hotspot on Friday nights. Since then, the theater has endured a roof caving and the 1996 Lake Oswego flooding, but has never permanently closed its doors. While COVID restrictions continue to fluctuate, the theater is not yet open to the public, but the café and bar are open for business. Stay tuned for the theater’s reopening — fingers crossed for Fall 2021!
May through October, Millennium Plaza Park hosts the Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market. The market is packed with fresh produce, meats, and cheeses, as well as locally curated art. Saturdays 8:00 am - 1:30 pm the market is open to the public — dogs are welcome, but ensure your pet is kept on a short leash and away from the produce.
The Art Council of Lake Oswego is working to amalgamate art into the community and beautify the city. The council hosts a unique outdoor art gallery — Gallery Without Walls — featuring 80 works. The gallery is open year-round and aims to install permanent artwork to the streets of Lake Oswego!
Daily Life
Lake Oswego melds the balance of quaint, residential life with reasonable proximity to downtown Portland. The city has exceptional K-12 schools, kid-friendly activities, and a great walk score for a residential area! The Lake Oswego Library hosts storytime events and creative programs for little ones. The city is known for its tight-knit community feels and regular community events!
There are 27 total neighborhoods in the Lake O grid, with a wide range of properties and home styles, however, the city sports many stunning, luxury homes. Take a drive through the winding neighborhoods, and you’ll see grand lake-side homes, English cottages, Tutor revivals, and Craftsman estates.
Popo & Archer Take Lake Oswego
We took a trip to Lake Oswego today — there are SO many parks (24, in fact), I don’t know how our dads chose one! Because it was warm today, we decided to go to Roehr Park where we could splash around in the Willamette River. Our second stop was to West Waluga Park, where we played in the fenced dog park and ate lunch under the covered picnic shelter. We even watched locals work out on outdoor fitness equipment!
Lake Oswego is unlike any Portland-metro city — the perfect balance between residential and city life! If you are interested in the Lake Oswego community and everything the city has to offer its residents, get in touch! We would love to help you find your next home.
Eager to continue exploring Portland? Thinking about moving to our beautiful city? Check out all of our featured community blogs and find the perfect Portland neighborhood for you!
Lake Oswego Homes for Sale
Included below are homes for sale in Lake Oswego. If you would like more information on any of these Lake Oswego real estate listings, just click the "Request More Information" button when viewing the details of that property. We can provide you with disclosures, past sales history, dates and prices of homes recently sold nearby, and more.
And, if you haven't already, be sure to register for a free account so that you can receive email alerts whenever new Lake Oswego listings come on the market.
This content last updated on June 5, 2023 8:45 PM PST . Some properties which appear for sale on this site may subsequently have sold or may no longer be available. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. IDX and listing information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Cascade Hasson Sotheby's International Realty
