A Grimm Take on Portland Food & Dining (Filming Locations)

If you’re a Grimm fan ready to explore real filming locations, or you are a local looking for a new Portland dining adventure, here's a list of some of the food and dining spots featured on the show. 

Pulled from mysouthwaterfront archives, this list highlights the cozy diners and iconic eateries that helped give the show such an authentic Portland feel. Dive in and start planning your own Grimm-inspired food adventure. 

1.  Fuller’s Coffee Shop

Address: 136 NW 9th Ave, Pearl District

Notes: Classic Portland diner since 1960; seen throughout the series.

Key Episodes:

Episode 220: Kiss of the Muse

Episode 401: Thanks for the Memories

Fuller's Coffee Shop in 2013 (c) mysouthwaterfront.com

2. Café Nell

Address: NW 20th Ave & Kearney, Northwest Portland

Notes: Popular restaurant location used across different seasons, and just a great place to go anyways! Nice happy hour.

Key Episodes: 

Episode 210: The Hour of Death

Episode 310: The Eye of the Beholder

Cafe Nell on nbc.com/grimm

3. Huber's Cafe 

Address: 411 SW 3rd Ave

Notes: Established in 1879, Huber's is Portland's oldest restaurant, and definitely worth a visit! Huber's offers their famous Flaming Spanish Coffee amid an ambience of mahogany, archways and stained glass.

Read more about the history and family behind this iconic Portland restaurant.

Key Episode:

Episode 309: The Red Menace

Huber's on nbc.com/grimm

https://www.koin.com/news/where-we-live-hubers-cafe-and-spanish-coffee/

4. The Sultan Cafe

Address: NW 18th Ave, Northwest Portland

Notes: Another distinctive diner, as seen in season 2.  

Episode 204: Quill

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Sultan_Cafe-1.jpg

5. Greek Village

Address: 301 NW Murray Blvd

Notes: Shown as the "Junkyard Dog" bar in the second season.

Episode 214: Natural Born Wesen

Junkyard Dog on nbc.com/grimm

The Other Grim Take

More than half of the restaurants and diners featured in the Grimm series have closed since the show was filmed, many a byproduct of the 2020 lockdown.

Below is a memorial to their time in the spotlight: 

6. Raven & Rose (Closed)

Address: Corner of SW Columbia & SW Broadway

Notes: One of the most interesting buildings in Grimm, the Ladd Carriage House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Raven & Rose was a British and Irish inspired pub with an upstairs cocktail bar. A casualty of the 2020 lockdown, it closed fully by 2021.

Key Episode: 

Episode 303: A Dish Best Served Cold

Ladd Carriage House in 2014

7. Golden Touch Family Restaurant (Closed)

Address: 8124 SW Barbur Blvd, Portland

Notes: Retro family diner frequently appearing in Grimm’s mid-series episodes. Off the beaten tourist path, but not too far from Monroe's house.  

Golden Touch closed down and is now a vegan restaurant, Vertical Diner and The Gold Room, yet maintains some of that vintage vibe. 

Key Episode: Episode 310: The Eye of the Beholder

Golden Touch in 2014 (c) mysouthwaterfront.com

Fun Fact: Just a few blocks down, you'll find Portland's The Original Pancake House, established in 1953. Not filmed in Grimm, but with it's classic 1950's exterior and red and white awnings, it would make a great movie cameo.

8. Hobo’s Restaurant & Lounge (Closed)

Address: 120 NW 3rd Ave, Old Town/Chinatown

Notes: Moody underground bar aesthetic; appeared in several scenes. Hobo's, was a restaurant, gay bar, and piano bar in Old Town/Chinatown, in a building with access to the Shanghai tunnels. This made it a starting point for unique guided tours of Portland.  

Unfortunately, Hobo's was a casualty of the Covid shutdown in 2020. So today, rather than a meal at Hobo's, perhaps sign up for a haunted, underground tour of Portland?

9. Lotus Cardroom & Café (Closed)

Address: SW 3rd & Salmon, Downtown Portland

Notes: Classic diner/bar atmosphere, used in multiple episodes.

Status: Former historic bar site in downtown Portland to be food cart pod

However, the historic back bar was saved by McMenamins (local heroes!) and is now part of the Backstage Bar, located at the McMenamins Backstage Pub behind the Bagdad Theater on Hawthorne. 

Installation Timelapse Video --> Travel from the Lotus to the Backstage Bar in 60 seconds:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ-oFrPoYfI

10. Bridgeport Brewery (Closed)

Address: 1318 NW Northrup

Notes: Bridgeport closed in 2019. 

Key Episode: Episode 303: A Dish Best Served Cold

wikipedia.org

11. Food Front Co-op (Recently Closed)

Address: NW Thurman St, Northwest Portland

Notes: Neighborhood grocery store seen in background shots in early episodes. As of November 2025, the Food Front building is now owned by a development company, with plans ahead for the building.

Episode 116: The Thing with Feathers

12. Tippy Canoe Restaurant & Bar (Closed)

Location: Troutdale, along the Historic Columbia River Highway

Notes: Roadside bar/restaurant featured in the Season 3 premier, was closed in 2020 due to a fire. The property was purchased by the owners of the Sugarpine Diner, which is worth a visit on your way through town!

Episode 301: The Ungrateful Dead

Feel free to drop me a line if there's anything that needs to be added to the list...and with your restaurant reviews. Enjoy!

Exploring the Folklore Behind Grimm’s Wesen

NBC’s Grimm pulled us in with its unique, Pacific Northwest spin on classic fairy tales, weaving folklore into a suspenseful, magical crime drama set in Portland. 

I have done a little digging to understand the mythological inspirations behind Grimm’s TV creatures. From the mischievous Hexenbiest to the sly Fuchsbau, each Wesen has a rooting and inspiration in folklore. Here is a brief guide of the myths, legends, and folklore behind some of the show’s most fascinating and fantastic Wesen.

1. Blutbad – Wolves in Folklore

The Blutbad is basically Grimm’s answer to the big bad wolf: part werewolf, part Germanic legend. Wolves were often symbolic of danger and wilderness, but also of loyalty, and the show leans into all of it. Blutbad literally means "bloodbath" in German, which sets the tone. 

Grimm adds its own twist with the Wieder Blutbad, a reformed version who keeps the wolf tendencies in check through diet, discipline, and a lot of self-control. And of course, a fan-favorite Grimm character, Monroe, is a Blutbad.

Notable episodes and posts:

• Episode 106: The Three Bad Wolves
• Our favorite Blutbad's house: The House of Monroe

https://grimm.fandom.com/wiki/Monroe

2. Hexenbiest – The Witch Inspired by German Folklore

The Hexenbiest is a Grimm character, roughly inspired by traditional German witches (Hexen) and fairy tale sorceresses. In folklore, Hexen were believed to wield magic for both good and ill, often feared for their knowledge of herbs, spells, and curses. 

Grimm pushes the visual horror farther, giving them a corpse-like woge form with decayed features. Adalind is the best-known example, and the Hexenbiest storylines give us some of the show’s most intense arcs. They first appeared in the pilot, as well as notable episodes:

• Episode 117: Love Sick
• Episode 212: Season of the Hexenbeist

https://grimm.fandom.com/wiki/Pilot/Images

3. Zauberbiest – The Male Counterpart

Zauberbiest translates roughly to “magic beast” and is the male warlock version of the Hexenbiest. These characters often possess extraordinary powers, can manipulate others, are are both feared and respected. Grimm Examples: Captain Sean Renard is a half-Zauberbiest, and Conrad Bonaparte is a full Zauberbiest.

4. Fuchsbau – The Cunning Fox Spirit

Fuchsbau, the fox-like Wesen named for the German term for "fox burrow" or "fox hole", draws from European folklore about clever, shape-shifting foxes. In many cultures, foxes symbolize trickery and intelligence, appearing as sly spirits that test humans or guard secrets. 

Grimm’s interpretation leans into that cleverness, especially through Rosalee, who brings heart, humor, and a steady hand to the Spice Shop.

Notable episodes:

• Episode 113: Three Coins in a Fuchsbau
• Episode 217: One Angry Fuchsbau

https://grimm.fandom.com/wiki/Rosalee_Calvert

5. Eisbiber – The Beaver-Like Builder

The Eisbiber, a more obscure Wesen, finds roots in mythological tales of industrious creatures like beavers, symbolizing resourcefulness. Many indigenous and European myths highlight animals as teachers of survival skills, a concept mirrored in the show’s portrayal. 

The Eisbiber is a beaver-like Wesen that was first seen in "Danse Macabre". Of course, the Grimm beaver comes with full Oregon State University loyalty.

Notable episodes:

• Episode 105: Danse Macabre
• Episode 111: Tarantella (one of the most scenic)

nbc.com/grimm

Rooted in old-world folklore but reimagined for a modern city, NBC's Grimm takes centuries-old mythologies and drops them right into daily Portland life. Wesen are living among humans and bridging traditional folklore with contemporary urban life. This creative approach not only entertains but also sparks curiosity about folklore, inspiring viewers to explore the myths behind the monsters.

More Resources for Grimm Fans:

• Watch Grimm the Complete Collection (DVD) 
• Watch Grimm on Prime Video
• The Complete Grimms' Fairy Tales Hardcover, by the Brothers Grimm 
• The Encyclopedia of Mythical Creatures
• Amazon Prime Free Trial

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

National Register of Historic Places used as Grimm filming locations

The National Register of Historic Places is the United States' official list of buildings, districts, structures, sites, and objects important to local, state, or national history.

The program is run by the National Park Service and administered locally by the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, an office of the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). Oregon is home to over 2000 sites and there are 90,000+ listed nationally.

Here are a few of the notable places highlighted in NBC's Grimm:

1. Portland Police Station 

The US Custom House (220 NW 8th Ave, Portland, OR) was used as the exterior of the Portland police precinct.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Customhouse_(Portland,_Oregon)

2. Black Claw Mansion

The Boschke-Boyd House in NE Portland, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and a Portland Historic Landmark.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boschke-Boyd_House_(Portland,_OR).JPG

3. Hotel Deluxe

Located at 729 SW 15th Avenue is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_deLuxe

4. St James Lutheran Church

Filming of the opening scene took place at St James Lutheran Church located at 1315 SW Park Ave. The church is 125 years old and on the National Register of Historic Places. 

St. James Lutheran Church is still an active church with weekly worship services and food, housing, art, and music ministries.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._James_Lutheran_Church_(Portland,_Oregon)

5. Kronenberg Castle 

The Pittock Mansion located at 3229 NW Pittock Dr, Portland, OR serves as the backdrop for the Austrian castle scenes.

Modeled after Beaux Arts and French Renaissance architecture, the mansion is situated in the West Hills with panoramic views of Downtown Portland. It is a popular tourist stop, offering tours year-round.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittock_Mansion

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittock_Mansion#/media/File:PittockMansion_CentralStaircase.JPG

The mansion plays a role in other movies, the Amazing Race 13th season, and Colin Meloy’s Wildwood Chronicles. In the Wildwood book series, Forest Park is imagined as a magical realm, with Pittock Mansion serving as its seat of government.

6. Ladd Carriage House

Located at the corner of SW Columbia & SW Broadway, near PSU, Ladd Carriage House is one of my personal favorites. Built in 1883, the building recently housed Raven & Rose restaurant, an Irish inspired pub which was featured in Grimm season 3. The restaurant eventually closed due to the Covid lockdown.

Ladd Carriage House in 2014

You can search historic sites here: https://heritagedata.prd.state.or.us/historic/

More Resources for Grimm Fans:

• Watch Grimm the Complete Collection (DVD) 
• Watch Grimm on Prime Video
• Amazon Prime Free Trial

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

History of the South Waterfront ICE Facility

It's 4:21 on a Friday afternoon and we await the final ruling on National Guard deployment to Portland.

It shocked me to look back and see our early 2011 posts about the ICE facility entering the neighborhood.

August 2011: 

First it was a No - Decision on ICE Detention Center 

Then it was an Appeal - Appeal Hearing on Immigration Facility 

October 2011:

Then it was a Yes - Welcome to Neighborhood 

August 2012:

The launch of affordable housing at Gray's Landing / Block 49 across the street.

2017:

Tesla showroom announced, and so is the bike path expansion.

Summer 2020:

In 2020, an encampment existed outside the ICE facility for most of the summer.

November 2025:

Fast forward 14 years, and this same little facility is once again in the spotlight, both locally and nationally.  

We've seen regular protests on Bancroft since June. As of November 6, the number of arrests related to South Waterfront demonstrations remains at 64. In a non-exhaustive search of recent updates, I noted 2 arrested from New Jersey, 1 from Texas, and several from Portland, Beaverton and West Linn.

The DHS Secretary visited in October and stood on the rooftop for a clear view of a few costumed protestors, The Old Spaghetti Factory, and traffic flowing nearby.

Other interesting takes:

Frogs - Inflatable Costumes Ballooned

Food - How Food Fuels Portland's ICE Protests

Faith - Portland Faith Leaders Stand with Immigrants

And how Portland’s current approach to crowd control evolved from soccer hooliganism in Europe: How a British psychology professor is guiding Portland police’s response to ICE protests

Updates as of 11/20/25:

Portland gives ICE building owner more time to challenge permit violation

Half of Oregon National Guard members mobilized by Trump are returning home

Did federal officers cross the line at Portland’s ICE facility?

What led 4 older Oregonians to the Portland ICE protests

Neighborhood Crime Statistics for South Portland 2024

Here is our second annual review of the Portland Police Bureau crime statistics for the South Portland neigborhood. The data is offered through PPB's Tableau-powered public website.

All offenses past year (Nov 2023-Nov 2024):

For context, the crime trend has been decreasing since a peak in 2022. 

Motor Vehicle Theft is a category we looked at closely last year. This category has dropped dramatically likely thanks to the initiatives outlined last year.  Vandalism is also way down.