Pearl District
The chic Pearl District features galleries and cultural institutions, as well as stylish shops and acclaimed eateries.
In the Pearl, loading docks and cobblestone streets hint at this former warehouse district’s past, while stylish bars and gleaming lofts point toward the future. Read on for our favorite things to do and see in Northwest Portland’s Pearl District.
Where to Stay in the Pearl
A stay amid the condos and galleries of the Pearl District puts you in the heart of the city, with easy access to shopping, dining and cultural offerings, along with proximity to downtown, Old Town Chinatown and Northwest Portland.
Pearl District Bars and Breweries
From the Brewery Blocks sample some beers and bars in this chic neighborhood.
Where to Eat and Drink in the Pearl District
Start your morning or midday with a sip of espresso from Barista or La Perlita. If you’re looking for less caffeine find your way to Tea Bar and peruse their selection of tea lattes. For a quick bite, French-style bakery Nuvrei serves up beautiful pastries, or if you’re looking for a sunny lunch spot with outdoor seating, Lovejoy Bakers, offers a wide array of freshly baked bread and creative sandwiches.
Step into fine-dining spot Andina and enjoy live Latin-inspired music at adjoining Bar Mestizo before dining on cebiche, tamales, empanadas and other Novo-Andean tapas dishes at this celebrated Peruvian restaurant. Other Pearl favorites include Khao San serving authentic Thai food served in a Thai street setting. Pizza and Italian dishes made of fresh Northwest ingredients are on the menu at Piattino. Break Bread serves up Portland-style subs on local bread. Get your fill of sustainably sourced fish at Yama Sushi and Sake Bar. And for dessert, try Cool Moon Ice Cream.
Art Galleries in the Pearl District
This neighborhood is home to a huge arts community and First Thursday, a bustling monthly art walk.
Things To Do in the Pearl District
The Pearl District was once the art mecca of Portland, though you can find incredible artists and makers all over Portland these days, the Pearl still boasts some of the best galleries and a time-old tradition, First Thursday, when the galleries open their doors after hours and local artists flock to the streets to showcase their work.
Portland Center Stage at the Armory brings classic and contemporary theater in a beautifully transformed former armory, featuring a large stage and a smaller black box stage on the lower level. True to its origins, Portland Center Stage started as a mostly classical theater company, now commissioning its own plays from leading national playwrights and bringing the best new work to town from around the country.
Find Powell’s City of Books and Oblation Paper & Press, among blocks of big brand stores for all your shopping needs, from sports and outdoor wear to shoes, dresses and jeans.
Pearl District Events
Enjoy Portland's Pearl District at these upcoming events.
Work After Work
PDX CONTEMPORARY ART is pleased to present Work After Work, an exhibition featuring work by past and current gallery staff. Many employees working in the arts are artists themselves. This exhibition spotlights PDX staff's talent, vision, and creativity — presenting the work made when the work at the gallery is done for the day. …
FROELICK GALLERY: Tom Prochaska and Kevin Kadar
Froelick Gallery presents two outstanding solo exhibitions of new work by Portland artists Tom Prochaska and Kevin Kadar. Prochaska's solo features new and historic paintings plus work on paper. The Hallie Ford Museum of Art recently hosted a retrospective of his decades-long career; the monograph is now available. Kevin Kadar's show includes 12 new landscapes…
Head Games Trivia
General knowledge trivia combines movie clips, sound effects, pictures and popular music to give players a one-of-a-kind two-hour experience. The pace is relaxed, so there is plenty of time to buy food and drink. Win gift cards and more. Free to play, show up early to get a spot.
Head Games Trivia Night
Live multi-media trivia every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Free to play. Win prizes. Teams of up to 6. Please arrive early for best seats. General knowledge trivia combines movie clips, sound effects, pictures and popular music to give players a one of a kind 2-hour experience. The pace is relaxed so there is plenty of…
Kaliente Drag Brunch
Kharisma brings the heat with Kaliente, the newest Drag Brunch at your Stag PDX. Start your month with a bit of spice every 1st Sunday, with a show that has that extra kick that only Kharisma and her special guest performers can bring. Enjoy all-you-can-eat brunch options served from the buffet with mimosas available -…
First Thursday in the Pearl District
Starting in 1986, First Thursday in the Pearl is a district-wide celebration on the first Thursday of each month. Originally a gathering of art collectors and dealers, the celebration has grown to a monthly event of over ten thousand people, including art enthusiasts, wine aficionados, and scenesters looking to see and be seen. Art galleries in…
Exhale
A staged reading of Exhale, a semi-autobiographical play written by Jerilyn Armstrong. On the cusp of finishing college, Jerilyn’s father unexpectedly falls into critical condition. Returning to her hometown, Jerilyn confronts the unacknowledged lineage of mental illness and alcohol dependency in her family, her boyfriend’s infidelity, and her brother’s absent and self-destructive coping. Jerilyn must choose….
Bread and Roses
A reading of the 2024 Winner of the Portland Civic Theatre New Play Award By Portland playwright Timothy Krause Presented by Linestorm Playwrights during the 2024 Fertile Ground Festival of New Works In 1912 Lawrence, Massachusetts, Ellen, a textile mill worker, plans to marry Joseph, a mill manager from a prestigious Boston family. When Joseph implements…
Cessair: How Ireland Was Born
According to Irish legend, when Noah — yes, that Noah — tells his granddaughter that there is no room for her on the ark, Cessair takes matters into her own hands. After a tumultuous journey aboard a discarded fleet, 39 women and one lone man land on what is now known as Ireland. This musical-in-progress…
The Alchemy of Steam
Ifeoma is a driven, brilliant and determined African American Studies student on her way to making her mark on the world. She is burdened by the extra effort that must be undertaken in order to compete in a country that wasn’t made for Black women. And then there is the matter of her tail. Tayir…
Central City Guide
The walkable central city includes the Pearl District, Northwest/Nob Hill and downtown.
Downtown and Central City Shopping
Downtown Portland boasts a wide array of shopping options, from major national and international retailers to locally owned boutiques and specialty shops.
Central City Activities
Walk to a wide range of entertainment in central city and downtown Portland including theaters, museums and parks that play host to festivals and farmers' markets.
Downtown Restaurants
Downtown Portland restaurants run the gamut — you'll find everything from budget lunch options at a multitude of food carts to delicious fine dining at acclaimed dinner spots in central city.
Portland's Central City
There's a lot more to Portland's urban core than Downtown, a center for retail, restaurants and cultural attractions. Goose Hollow is home to Providence Park soccer stadium, while the Pearl District is famous for upscale bars, boutiques and galleries. Old Town Chinatown offers streetwear shops, Saturday Market and Lan Su Chinese Garden and Northwest/Nob Hill boasts shopping, dining and access to Forest Park and the historic Pittock Mansion. East of the Willamette River, the Central Eastside offers family-friendly attractions, shopping and nightlife, while Lloyd is home to the Oregon Convention Center and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Was this page helpful?