Northwest/Nob Hill: Portland Oregon Neighborhoods

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Located at the base of Portland’s west hills, Nob Hill (also known simply as “Northwest Portland”) shares more than a passing similarity to its San Francisco namesake. Turn-of-the-century Victorians line the narrow streets, and storefronts house whimsical and sophisticated boutiques, while restaurants and cafés with sidewalk seating offer some of the city’s best people-watching.

Quick facts:

• You may hear locals refer to Northwest as “The Alphabet District.” This historic moniker refers to the alphabetical naming of the area’s east-west streets, from Burnside (Couch, Davis, Everett, etc.) to Wilson.
• Knowing that the streets are named in alphabetical order can be very helpful in navigating; if you’re on 23rd and Glisan and want to get to 23rd and Irving, just check the next street sign — if it reads “Hoyt,” you’re going the right way!