New in the Lloyd Neighborhood

An urban renaissance is underway in the transit-rich district surrounding the Oregon Convention Center.

6 min read

Convention delegates enjoy more shopping and dining opportunities as mixed-use buildings sprout from former parking lots and under-developed parcels in this district just minutes from downtown. 

Lloyd Developments

Residential developments on several of the area’s large “superblocks” incorporate public spaces and pedestrian walkways, effectively adding more sidewalks and storefronts to the area. What some may remember as an unremarkable sector of office buildings is on track to become the most sustainable neighborhood in the U.S. Developments underway will add about 3,000 residential units to the district, bringing added activity to the streets as well as new public plazas, restaurants and retailers.

One of the new mixed-use developments, Hassalo on Eighth, includes three LEED-certified buildings housing 657 apartments and adds to delegates’ dining options with popular local restaurants GardenBar, Café Yumm! and Little Big Burger, as well as Green Zebra Grocery (a modern market offering local produce, Northwest beer and wine and an organic deli and salad bar). The complex also has an Orangetheory Fitness on-site and 50,000 square feet of retail space, which is still filling out.

Half a mile (0.8 km) from the Oregon Convention Center (OCC), Lloyd Center, Oregon’s largest shopping mall, is nearing the completion of a $50 million, multi-year remodel. Improved pedestrian access, a new 16-theater cinema, a live music venue and local dining options are among the additions that will complement the growing neighborhood. Since 2018, the Lloyd Local initiative has brought an array of Portland makers to the mall as pop-ups.

Lloyd Hotel News

The biggest hotel news in Lloyd is the Hyatt Regency which opened in December 2019 across the street from the OCC.

Opened in May 2015, the Hotel Eastlund is a luxury boutique hotel across from the OCC. Featuring 168 rooms and suites, two executive boardrooms, and flexible ballroom space, the Eastlund’s rooftop offers some of the best views in town.

The Green Seal certified DoubleTree by Hilton Portland is just a few blocks from the OCC and features 477 guest rooms, an outdoor pool, and 44,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.

Things to Do in Lloyd

Catch a Game or a Show

The Rose Quarter, Portland’s center for large-scale sports and entertainment, includes two large arenas: Moda Center, the home court for the NBA’s Trail Blazers, and Veterans Memorial Coliseum, where NHL hopefuls cut their teeth (and other body parts) playing for the Winterhawks. The Rose Quarter also hosts numerous concerts and events. The Rose Quarter is located half a mile west of the Oregon Convention Center (just one stop on MAX light rail).

No matter what team you support, you’ll be able to tune in at Blazers-themed Spirit of ‘77, across the street from the OCC.

Visit the Farmers Market

Get fresh produce and prepared food at the Lloyd Farmers Market, held year-round on Tuesdays, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Northeast Holladay Street between Seventh and Ninth avenues under the gazebo in the Oregon Square courtyard.

Shop and Dine on Northeast Broadway

Just north of Lloyd Center, Northeast Broadway offers a slice of Portland in a compact business district. Broadway Books is one of Portland’s best independent bookstores. Nearby Cadillac Cafe is a neighborhood favorite for breakfast and lunch with options for vegans and gluten-free and traditional omnivores. Sample craft beer from Portland’s pioneering brewery brothers at McMenamins Broadway Pub or nosh on vegan Bibimbap at Blossoming Lotus. For dessert, head to Eb & Bean, where the organic frozen yogurt is adorned with artisanal toppings — and vegan and gluten-free choices abound.

What’s Nearby

In addition to the growing offerings of the neighborhood itself, Lloyd is also a convenient jumping-off point to top Portland attractions on both the east and west sides of town. Portland Saturday Market, Powell’s City of Books, countless food carts, and the Pearl District are minutes away via MAX light rail. Urban explorers can rent a bike from the Oregon Convention Center Biketown kiosk and cruise down the Eastbank Esplanade to one of Portland’s eastside neighborhoods.

Here’s a quick guide to some of the great stuff that’s a short train, taxi, or bike ride from the OCC:

Food & Drink

  • Le Pigeon (0.5 mi southeast) – Visit this tiny space for James Beard Award-winning, French-inspired cuisine.
  • Wayfinder Beer (0.6 mi south) – This newer brewpub features a stellar patio.
  • Voodoo Doughnut Too (0.8 mi southeast) – It’s about the same distance from the OCC as the original location (see below), but almost guaranteed to have shorter lines.
  • OX Restaurant (1 mi north) – Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton and Greg Denton won the 2017 James Beard Best Chef Northwest Award for the wood-fired cuisine at their Argentinean-inspired steakhouse.
  • Voodoo Doughnut (1 mi southwest) –  Open 24 hours per day, seven days a week, this shop attracts lines around the clock.

Live Music

  • Doug Fir Lounge (0.6 mi southeast) – The Doug Fir is a must-see for lovers of live indie music and log cabin décor.
  • Wonder Ballroom (1 mi north) – Catch some live music at this midsized music venue which draws diverse act

Shopping & Attractions

  • Portland Saturday Market (1.1 mi southwest) –  Open every Saturday and Sunday from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.
  • Powell’s City of Books (1.3 mi southwest) – Occupying a full city block, Powell’s is the largest independent bookstore in the world.
  • Pioneer Place (1.3 mi southwest) – This downtown shopping center houses major brands like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co. and Apple.
  • Oregon Museum of Sciene and Industry (OMSI) (1.5 mi south) – One of the nation’s leading science museums, OMSI is a major draw for kids of all ages.
  • Pioneer Courthouse Square (1.5 mi southwest) – Known as “Portland’s living room,” this public plaza and transit hub in the heart of downtown hosts hundreds of events each year.

Rediscover Lloyd

Portland’s Lloyd neighborhood reimagines the urban neighborhood for the next generation of young professionals. A hub for sustainability, transportation, and commerce, the revitalized Lloyd is just one of the reasons visitors (and meeting planners) keep coming back to Portland.

Lloyd

Just across the river from downtown, the Lloyd neighborhood in Northeast Portland caters to convention attendees, sports fans and shoppers.