Search Downtown
Explore diverse shopping, dining and cultural offerings in downtown Portland.
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
Nestled within the bustle of business and shopping districts, the Ace Hotel is a bohemian chic place to stay with a Stumptown Coffee inside the lobby and European-style tavern Clyde Common to feed the weary traveller. For historic charm, try McMenamins Crystal Hotel, around the corner from their iconic music venue (with a bouncing floor) the Crystal Ballroom with a saltwater soaking pool in the basement, bar and cafe, these quaint guest rooms offer the best place to rest in the middle of it all.
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-wining 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. Skip lunch and head right to the sweets at Ruby Jewel Ice Cream offering decadent handcrafted flavors, ice cream sandwiches and a vintage soda fountain.
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.
Explore Downtown Portland
Eat, shop and play in one of the city's liveliest neighborhoods.
Downtown Shopping
Downtown Portland boasts a wide array of shopping options, from major national and international retailers to locally owned boutiques and specialty shops.
Downtown Dining
From food carts to fine dining, you’re always just steps away from great food in downtown.
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 performance 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.
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.
Things To Do Outdoors
Visit verdant parks and outdoor attractions nestled amid downtown's hustle and bustle.
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 sweet and savory dining options after all of that shopping try Boxer Ramen and 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?)
Shopping in Downtown Portland
Find designer brands to local makers, shopping malls to boutiques in Portland's Downtown
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.
Favorite Theaters
This neighborhood offers a thriving theater community with major venues within a few city blocks.
Downtown Event Picks
Shanghaied In Portland
Shanghaied In Portland is one of the only re-enactor-led walking tours in Portland. This two-hour, small-group walking tour takes you through time to 1890’s Portland when it was named the most dangerous seaport in the world by the governments of Britain, France, and Germany – and Shanghaied sailors. From Portland’s oldest buildings, streets with original…
Michelle Ramin, 2021 Artist Fellowship Recipient
Portland, OR. July 23 – October 14 — Stumptown Coffee Roasters is excited to present Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea by Michelle Ramin, our newest Portland Fellow. Starting July 23rd, visitors at our downtown cafe will be able to view this series. Her work will be on display until October 14th, 2021. Hailing from the mountains…
Portland Farmers Market at Portland State University
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.
Chinese Festival
Chinese Festival is back. As Oregon reopens the Chinese Festival is returning to Pioneer Courthouse Square. This year celebrate, once again, Chinese culture and community. Coming back are the spectacular performances, delicious Chinese food, music and arts from local artists and more. Come celebrate with a full day of programming suitable for all ages.
The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Show
America’s largest interactive comedy murder mystery dinner show is now playing at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Downtown. At The Dinner Detective, 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…
Was this page helpful?