Director Park, right in the middle of downtown Portland, is home to the Portland Visitor Center.

Downtown

Explore diverse shopping, dining and cultural offerings in downtown Portland.

Director Park, right in the middle of downtown Portland, is home to the Portland Visitor Center.

Know Before You Go

Downtown Portland is well served by TriMet, the city’s public light rail, Portland Streetcar and bus system.

Portland’s compact, walkable downtown offers easy access to great food, green spaces, cultural offerings, tax-free shopping and seemingly endless things to do. Browse the Rose City’s most diverse mix of retail brands, see a show and grab a bite at a food cart or fine restaurant — all conveniently located in downtown Portland.

Where to Stay in Downtown

The city center offers easy access to shopping, entertainment, culture —and other districts, making downtown Portland a natural jumping-off point for visits to the city. Downtown is home to more than 35 hotels, from independent boutiques to big-name brands. With a direct light-rail connection to Portland International Airport, Portland Streetcar service and short, walkable blocks, downtown are great for a car-free stay.

Airbnb

Vacasa

Vrbo

Where to Eat and Drink in Downtown

Coffee connoisseurs select from a hand-written menu of single-origin, house-roasted beans at Courier Coffee Bar. Once you’ve made your choice, baristas grind the beans right in front of you to prepare a perfect pour-over into a steaming mason jar. Never short on local-roasted coffee, for award-winning single-origin coffee visit the green wall at Coava Coffee for an urban escape after wondering the city center.

Flying Elephants, a Portland-local chain across from Director Park, offers deli fare from a fresh salad or sandwich with classic pastries to sate the sweet tooth. Nearby, another perfect no-fuss lunch in central city is Pastini Pastaria, serving pasta dishes with a contemporary take on Italian bistro dining. For a modern and romantic experience head to Q Restaurant & Bar with electric menus featuring dishes inspired by Pacific Northwest cuisine.

As the evening winds down, relax into a leather armchair at Multnomah Whiskey Library, where expert staff offers recommendations from amongst 1,500 available spirits. Count on a line to get in; downstairs, The Green Room serves as a sophisticated (and thirst-quenching) waiting area.

Downtown Shopping

Downtown Portland boasts a wide array of shopping options, from major national and international retailers to locally owned boutiques and specialty shops.

a person with tattooed forearms holds two plates of food

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.

Downtown Portland Activities

Walk to a wide range of entertainment in downtown including theaters, museums and parks that play host to festivals and farmers' markets.

Things to Do in Downtown

Museums, parks, sports arenas, shopping, and theaters; these attractions in downtown Portland are enough to keep any traveler busy for days. Known as Portland’s living room, Pioneer Courthouse Square is a gathering space where most days you can people enjoying their lunch breaks, or taking a beat. From food carts to art installations and performances The Square is a must-see.

Walk along the South Park Blocks, a green strip spanning 12 city blocks ending at the campus of Portland State University, to discover public art, the Portland Art Museum, Oregon Historical Society, and seasonally, the Portland Farmers Market at PSU, in the heart of Downtown’s cultural hub.

Pioneer Square is the center of downtown Portland and is surround by great shopping and places to eat. It’s also has movies playing on the big screen during the summer months and plenty of festivals during the year.

people browsing through an outdoor market — Local artisans share their wares at the open-air market at Portland State University.

A historic building with a variety of business signs — Al's Den, at McMenamins Crystal Hotel, hosts free live music nightly.

Take in some music -folk, jazz, a hundred flavors of indie rock, soul, singer-songwriter- at McMenamins Crystal Ballroom, a historic Portland music hall that remains among the most vital and central venues in the city. It features high ceilings, a balcony, grand chandeliers, wide floor-to-ceiling arched windows, and “floors that bounce”. The ballroom complex includes Lola’s Room, a much smaller venue and bar, on the second floor beneath the ballroom. Ringlers Pub is on the street level, featuring beer from the Crystal Brewery. And the Crystal Hotel is nearby, with its own restaurant and music venue.

South Park Blocks

Set aside for public use in 1852, the South Park Blocks were the city’s first parks, forming a green corridor through the heart of the city and playing home to the Portland Art Museum, the Oregon Historical Society and Portland State University.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park

This downtown riverfront park offers a 1.5-mile stretch of green along the Willamette River. It is home to many signature Portland events, along with Salmon Street Springs and the Japanese American Historical Plaza.
Mill Ends Park (The World’s Smallest Park)

At 24 inches (61 centimeters) in diameter, this is the world’s smallest dedicated park. Over the years, events have been held at the park and contributions have been made to the park, such as the small swimming pool and diving board for butterflies.
Keller Fountain Park

An astounding 13,000 gallons of water per minute cascade through the terraces and platforms of this unique fountain landscape. Designed by Angela Danadjieva, this city landmark was inspired by the waterfalls of the nearby Columbia River Gorge.
Director Park

This European-style piazza features a fountain, ample outdoor seating and plays host to occasional events in the summer.

Downtown Shopping Highlights

Parisian-style shopping at Union Way provides only-in-Portland shopping. This sleek arcade houses iconic local brands like Danner and Bridge & Burn, the latter of which you can show Pacific Northwest pride by shopping for T-shirts emblazoned with slogans like “The Upper Left Coast,” “Pacific Wonderland” and “Rivers & Lakes”. Also find trendy denim boutique Self Edge and if you need a sweet treat after all of that shopping try Wailua Shave Ice. Nearby boutiques Frances May, Pinkham Millinery, Tender Loving Empire feature local designers and artisans, while Woonwinkel offers a curated selection of housewares and jewelry from local and international artists.

Step into WILDFANG, a bastion of tomboy fashion, beloved by celebrities like Janelle Monae and Kristen Stewart for its feminist T-shirts and gender-binary-breaking collection of blazers, bow ties, and button-ups.

Take a moment to stroll through Pioneer Courthouse Square — affectionately known as Portland’s living room — on your way to the central city’s premier shopping center, Pioneer Place which boasts more than 75 stores, including H&M, Apple, and J. Crew. (Did we mention that all shopping in Oregon is tax-free?)

Neighborhoods, Tours & Itineraries

display of boots next to a storefront window

Union Way Shopping Arcade

Evoking Paris’ intimate passageways and Scandinavian architecture, this shop-filled alley connects downtown Portland’s West End with the Pearl District.

Pioneer Place

Downtown Portland's home for big-brand shopping houses the major brands that fashionistas crave, along with an expansive food court and a movie theater.

Portland Saturday Market

Open every Saturday from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.

The Old Church Concert Hall

Built in 1882, this former church hosts live music including folk, alternative, world, indie, classical, jazz and more.
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

A 65-foot-high “Portland” sign illuminated with 6,000 lights crowns the historic Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Seating 2,776 it is the home base for the Oregon Symphony Orchestra and several other large performing arts groups.
Keller Auditorium

The spacious Keller Auditorium was built in 1917 and is part of Portland’5 Centers for the Arts. The venue hosts performing arts events of all kinds, including Broadway productions, ballet and opera.
Whitsell Auditorium

Located inside the Portland Art Museum, the Film Center’s Whitsell Auditorium features year-round foreign, independent and classic films, and hosts visiting artists from the PacNW and across the globe as well as host International FIlm Festivals.
Winningstad Theatre

This courtyard-style theater is Portland’5 Centers for the Arts’ most flexible performing space. With 304 seats, the seating and stage can be reconfigured in a variety of ways to allow for innovative staging and set design.

Transportation

Portland transportation options include efficient public transit, miles of bike lanes, ride-share services and pedestrian-friendly city streets. Getting around the City of Roses is easier than you think.

Get Around Town

Editor's Pick

Ongoing

Farmers Market at Portland State University

Portland Farmers Market at PSU Free

The Portland Farmers Market at Portland State University will be open every Saturday, year-round. April through October hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. November through March hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Market at PSU is located in Downtown Portland in the South Park Blocks between SW College & Montgomery Streets.

Editor's Pick

Food & Drink

Shopping

Editor's Pick

Ongoing

The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Show

Embassy Suites by Hilton – Downtown $67.95

America’s LARGEST interactive comedy murder mystery dinner show is now playing in Portland, OR. At The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show, you’ll tackle a challenging crime while you feast on a fantastic dinner. Just beware — the criminal is lurking somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as a Prime Suspect before…

Editor's Pick

Comedy

Food & Drink

Performing Arts

Editor's Pick

Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022

India Festival

Pioneer Courthouse Square Free

India Festival brings India to downtown Portland. The Celebration of India Festival celebrates all that is Indian – the culture, music, dance, fashion, art, history, and foods of this beautiful, diverse yet modern country. This festival is a celebration of India’s Independence Day with live music, dance, food and other entertainment. India Festival is hosted…

Editor's Pick

Cultural Communities

Festival

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.

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