Get to Know: Mt. Tabor

Welcome to Mt. Tabor — not only the name of a quaint neighborhood in SE Portland, but a 200-acre park, and extinct volcano! The neighborhood is ideal for those who want a relaxed, community-focused environment with amazing proximity to the city. 

As you can see on the map below, Mt. Tabor Park (established in 1909) makes up almost ¼ of the neighborhood! The park’s size is only trumped by Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks in the nation. . Fun fact, the park’s open reservoirs, which generate electricity for the city, also power the historical lampposts around the park!  

The neighborhood, much like the park, is quiet and rooted in history. The community of Mt. Tabor has strong local pride — restaurants source ingredients locally, landmarks are maintained, and the community bands together to preserve historical buildings. 

Mt. Tabor is heavily residential with a few star restaurants. Join us on a tour of our favorite eateries, thrift shops, historic homes, and activities just outside the Mt. Tabor border. 

Snacks and Sips

Coquine — market and restaurant all-in-one. Portlanders value the local farmers, butchers, and small businesses that make up the foundation of the city. The Coquine market and restaurant sources exclusively from local farms and butchers so, as you can imagine, everything is fresh as can be!

As COVID mandates remain in Multnomah county, Chef Katy Millard has prepared a four-course set menu for guests. To control crowds, they are asking everyone to book reservations for restaurant and bar seating here. If you are in the area and swing by the market, check out their wine selection in the back of the store. You’ll find unique wines, all under $25!

If you’re ever on-the-go in Mt. Tabor, swing by Smaaken Waffle Sandwiches for — you guessed it — waffle sandwiches. The food truck makes thin Dutch waffles stuffed with savory OR sweet ingredients. Our suggestion? The Sardou sandwich (egg, smoked gouda, spinach, artichoke, and lemon aioli). 

The Tabor Tavern is a great spot for low-key dinners, great happy hour, and conversations with regular patrons. Their menu has all the typical pub fare with a few surprises — white wine mussels, chorizo mac & cheese, and spicy fried cauliflower. Turns out their bacon jam is so good they sell it by the jar at the bar top!

There’s something nostalgic and comforting about the rustic vibe of the Tavern. Watch out— it’ll be your new regular spot!

Portland’s been making big moves towards all-in-one cafes — coffee in the morning and cocktails at night. The Stark Street Station is a conglomerate of rich espresso drinks, pastries, monster sandwiches, handmade pot pies, fruit pies, and a full bar. The building itself has been renovated and restored, but used to be SE Portland’s Fire Station 19 in the early 1900s. Check out the pictures below of the station, taken in 1913 and 1915!

Shops and Activities

Just outside the Mt. Tabor bounds is Artifact, a curated, totally-Portland resale shop. Everything on the racks are vintage, like-new, and on trend. But wait… there’s more! Artifact hosts Funday Flea sales, where everything is $1 and profits are donated to local charities. Stay tuned for pop-up sales on their social accounts!

If you haven’t gotten your full vintage-fix, swing by Cactus Records, stocked with vintage clothing, vintage artifacts, locally-made art, jewelry, and vinyl records. Cactus is an all-in-one treasure trove!

On the weekends and after work, Mt. Tabor residents enjoy exploring Portland just outside the neighborhood bounds. Take a short drive outside Mt. Tabor and check out a few of our favorite spots on SE Hawthorne Blvd. 

Daily Life

The Mt. Tabor neighborhood is community-centered to say the least! One of Portland tightest-knit communities with a suburban residential feel. On weekends, you’ll find local residents hiking the Mt. Tabor park trails, meeting up at local eateries, walking dogs, and cycling the streets. Because shopping is limited within the neighborhood limits, Mt. Tabor truly feels like a suburb surrounded by the city!

No matter where you are in Mt. Tabor you’re never further than 1 mile from the nearest MAX Light Rail station. Although Mt. Tabor has a lower walkscore than nearby neighborhoods, the area is easily traveled by bike! 

Historical Homes - Our Favorites!

Sit back and enjoy these Mt. Tabor architectural gems! The neighborhood is home to historical English cottages, Tudors, and Bungalows. 

Jacob H. Cook house (1903)

City was ready to tear down this treasure after enduring years of vacancy and vandalism. Arciform and the new owners made it their mission to restore the original elements to their former glory. Much of the oak woodwork, tile, and even the original 1900s tub were restored. We love a comeback story!

The Grout Family House, designed by William C. Knighton (1910)

Check out this stunning Craftsman “English Chalet” home, sitting pretty off Main Street. This home is especially significant because it was designed by William C. Knighton who was Oregon’s first and only state architect. He was awarded the title one year after the Grout family home was constructed.

Fun fact, the butler’s pantry still has a hidden dumbwaiter system that carries firewood from the basement storage to the living room (1st floor) and the primary bedroom (2nd floor). 

The Herman Vetter House

In 1891, only a year after being built, the original owner sold this home to Herman Vetter for $2,500! Since 1992, the home has been registered and protected by the National Register of Historic Places. Notice the stained glass panels in the entryway? They were designed by Portland’s own Povey Brothers, who famously fashioned stained glass across the city between 1888-1928.  

Popo & Archer Take Mt. Tabor

Mt. Tabor Park… phew. We’re surprised we fit in all these activities in one day! The whole park is almost 200 acres and we’re pretty sure we walked the whole thing! Our day started out with a walk along the paved paths, then moved to the off-leash area, and wrapped up with a picnic under the covered area. As we wandered we saw basketball courts, volleyball courts, playgrounds, horseshoe pits, and a ton of people lounging on the grass. Perfect end-of-summer day!

Is Mt. Tabor the best of both worlds? Living in the midst of the city has its perks (check out Boise Eliot and Laurelhurst), as do residential, suburban neighborhoods (Lake Oswego). Living in Mt. Tabor, residents experience the community bond of a residential area, with fantastic proximity to city life. What’s not to love? 

If you are interested in joining the Mt. Tabor community, get in touch!

 

 

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!