Foster-Powell: Portland Neighborhood Guide
After spending an autumn day wandering around the neighborhood, basking in the abundance of Halloween decorations, we are FALL-ing for Foster-Powell! Foster-Powell is often referred to as an up-and-coming Portland neighborhood in Southeast Portland. The triangular neighborhood is bordered by SE 52nd to the west, SE Powell to the north, and diagonally by Foster Road to the southeast. This southeast Portland neighborhood has a long history that began with agricultural transport, and is known today for its small businesses and a community of young families and immigrants. Foster-Powell is cute, houses are reasonably priced, and she’s walkable as heck.
Left: A Tudor home in Foster-Powell; Second from left: A Craftsman Bungalow in Foster-Powell; Second from right: A Four Square home in Foster-Powell; Right: A Craftsman bungalow in Foster-Powell.
History of Foster-Powell
Foster Road is the main artery of the neighborhood. The street cuts diagonally across southeast Portland, beginning at 52nd and Powell and extending all the way out to Damascus. What began as a footpath used by Indigenous people eventually became a dusty trail used by farmers to bring their goods to the big city. The street was named for Phillip Foster, whose wife was Mary Charlotte Pettygrove, sister of Portland founder Francis Pettygrove. As with many neighborhoods in Portland, the advent of the streetcar between the 1880s and WWI transformed the landscape from a rural settlement into a suburban neighborhood. In the early 1900s, Foster road was developed into the widest street in the city at the time, modeled after Parisian boulevards. In the early 1900s, there were seven different theaters on Foster - the highest concentration in the city outside of downtown.
Left: Foster Outdoor lives in a former pharmacy building; Second from left: The Foster Theater, originally the Star Theater, was built in 1915 and has seen been through many iterations. Today, it’s a performing arts venue and ballet studio; Second from right: There are many historic former farmhouses in the Foster-Powell neighborhood; Right: St. Francis Ice Cream occupies one of the many revived old buildings on Foster Road.
Foster Powell Today
Today, Foster-Powell is Foster-poppin!’ After experiencing a decline in the 1970s and 1980s, young families and immigrants began moving here in the 1990s and never stopped, and every year, more small shops and restaurants seem to pop up on Foster Road. It’s often overlooked when listing hot Portland neighborhoods, which makes Foster-Powell a great choice for buyers on a budget who want the classic Portland neighborhood feeling without the price tag. When you take a walk around this Southeast neighborhood, you’re surrounded by bungalows and craftsman homes, big trees, and cute little touches like rainbow-painted streets and pink fire hydrants to remind you you’re definitely in Portland, baby. Parks, sidewalks, and an overall flat slope make this neighborhood feel family-friendly.
Left: A refreshed farmhouse in Foster-Powell; Second from Left: A pink painted fire hydrant; Second from right: A farmhouse dressed up for Halloween; Right: Seesaws at Kern Park in Foster-Powell.
Where to Eat, Drink, & Shop in Foster-Powell
Small businesses of all kinds line Foster Road. For the crafty crowd, there’s Art Supply Center for all your used art supply needs and Rose City Quilts, where you can find custom fabrics, sewing notions and quilting advice. For the foodies who like to cook, Bread and Roses Market is serving specialty, local, and organic goods. While dive bars are a dime a dozen on Foster, Bar Carlo is bar NONE our favorite place to party - home to tons of fun queer events, available to rent as an event space, but it’s also a restaurant with delicious San Diego-inspired border food. And if you like a sweet treat (who doesn’t??) St. Francis Ice Cream hits the spot. For your morning matcha or coffee moment, Carnelian Coffee serves delicious drinks and is full of gems, geodes, and spacious seating. Of course, we can’t forget Devil’s Point! This devilish dancing den won Best of Portland 2026, which is no easy feat in the country’s strip club capital. In one of Portland’s most time-honored traditions, every Friday and Sunday, you can experience Stripperaoke, where you sing karaoke while a stripper pivots around the pole to your (im)perfect pitch.
Left: The iconic Devil’s Point entrance; Second from left: Stopping in at Bread & Roses Market; Second from right: Taking a load off at Bar Carlo; Right: Grabbing a matcha at Carnelian Coffee.
Foster Powell has it all - excellent entertainment, feast-worthy food, cute quirks, and competitively priced homes. If you’re looking to buy in Southeast Portland, check out our East Side Guide, and let’s chat over a coffee at Carnelian!
