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a colorful map of Northwest Portland highlighting prominent neighborhoods and landmarks
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Northwest Portland is a study in contrasts, from swank shopping and dining in the central city to the natural beauty of Forest Park — and everything in between.
Credit: Subin Yang
Neighborhoods / Northwest Portland

Northwest Portland

Northwest Portland is a study in contrasts, from swank shopping and dining in the central city to the natural beauty of Forest Park — and everything in between.

Updated May 8, 2025 9 min read Northwest Portland

For those drawn to Portland for the region’s natural beauty, Northwest Portland has a lot to offer. It contains the northern stretch of the West Hills and most of Forest Park, one of America’s largest urban forests; other outdoor attractions include Lan Su Chinese Garden and the views from Pittock Mansion. Those seeking a more metropolitan experience will enjoy a visit to this quadrant, too. The Pearl District is home to stylish shops and art galleries (and one of the most famous bookstores in the world); in Northwest/Nob Hill, you’ll find striking architecture and more top-notch shopping. Old Town Chinatown offers Portland history, iconic landmarks and — if the timing’s right — the Portland Saturday Market. In every one of Northwest Portland’s neighborhoods, excellent restaurants and bars abound.

a map of Portland's quadrants highlighting Northwest Portland

Northwest Portland stretches from Forest Park in the west to the Willamette River at the east, encompassing the central city’s Old Town Chinatown and Pearl District, Northwest/Nob Hill, Slabtown and miles of wooded hillsides. West Burnside Street and Road form the southern border of the quadrant. Its west side is forested and serene; its east side is urban and lively, a vital part of the central city.

About Northwest Portland

History

The development of Northwest Portland began when a sea captain named John Heard Couch claimed 640 acres (259 ha) in 1850 as part of the Donation Land Claim Act. Over the following two decades, Couch (rhymes with “pooch”) became a prominent community leader and businessman — he built a wharf and warehouse and platted the area, simply assigning letters to the east-west streets. Years later, the letters were replaced with the names of prominent Portlanders, meaning “A Street” became “Ankeny Street” for Captain Alexander Ankeny, B took “Burnside” for merchant David Burnside, C was named for Couch himself, and so on. Today, the Alphabet District is a charming area known for its tree-lined streets, historic homes and local businesses.

Where to Stay in Northwest Portland

Find a perfect home base for your adventures in the central city, the West Hills and beyond.

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Northwest Portland Hotels

A stay in Northwest Portland promises a taste of everything the city has to offer.

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Portland Hotels

Find accommodations in Northwest Portland, or stay elsewhere in the city and come to the quadrant to explore.

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Portland Bed & Breakfasts

Mix things up with these one-of-a-kind accommodations, several of which can be found in Northwest Portland.

Short-Term Rentals in Northwest Portland

Use the links below to search for short-term vacation rental listings in and near Northwest Portland.

Airbnb

Vacasa

Vrbo

Railroads played a vital role in Portland’s growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and many of the workers who kept the trains running were Black. But Portland was extremely racist, and there were no hotels that allowed Black guests — until William Duncan Allen opened the Golden West Hotel in 1906. For 25 years, the Golden West served as a hub and gathering place for a growing Black middle class in Northwest Portland; it housed a restaurant, a barber shop, an athletic club and other Black-owned businesses. The hotel closed during the Great Depression; redlining and other racist policies forced most Black people out of Northwest Portland. But the Golden West building still stands today, near the eastern edge of the Pearl District — it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022.

For most of the 1900s, what’s now known as “The Pearl” was an industrial area and a hub for transportation and shipping, full of warehouses, manufacturing sites and railyards. Nearby Old Town Chinatown was Portland’s original downtown, populated by the Couch family and other settlers. When the city grew larger and wealthy Portlanders moved west, the district became home to many Chinese American families and businesses. It remained a hub for the community for decades, and for a time was the second-largest Chinatown in the country. These same streets were also the site of Portland’s historic Japantown — by 1900, several thousand Japanese immigrants had come to Oregon, and by 1940, they had established over 100 businesses in present-day Old Town Chinatown. In 1942, Japantown was destroyed when virtually all Japanese Americans were forcibly incarcerated in internment camps.

Northwest Neighborhoods

Find sophisticated shopping, dining, an urban forest, breathtaking views and more.

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Northwest / Nob Hill

Old Portland charm lives through the repurposed Victorian homes — now boutiques and restaurants — that line the streets of Northwest/Nob Hill with sophisticated shopping, dining, breathtaking views and more.

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Slabtown

Northwest Portland's trendy Slabtown neighborhood boasts walkable streets, plentiful shopping, coffee, restaurants and art galleries -everything you need can be found in this lively, friendly neighborhood.

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Pearl District

The chic Pearl District features galleries and cultural institutions, as well as stylish shops and acclaimed eateries on loading docks with cobblestone streets, which hint at this former warehouse district’s past.

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Old Town Chinatown

Today, Portland’s original downtown is a bustling entertainment district, home to Portland's famous Saturday Market, Chinatown Museum and Lan Su Chinese Garden.

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Forest Park

Escape the city without leaving Portland; with 70 miles of trails within Portland city limits, 5,156-acre Forest Park is a popular escape for runners, equestrians and hikers alike and supporting more than 112 bird and 62 mammal species.

Northwest Portland Now

Today, Old Town Chinatown is a lively part of the central city. The ethnically Chinese population has mostly dispersed into other parts of Portland, though vestiges of the area’s rich history can still be found. Visitors can learn about that history at the Portland Chinatown Museum. (The Japanese American Museum of Oregon is well worth a visit too.) Enjoy Chinese fare at Chen’s Good Taste or Golden Horse Seafood, then wander the tranquil ponds and pavilions of Lan Su Chinese Garden. Old Town Chinatown also offers iconic Portland landmarks like the Chinatown Gateway, the White Stag sign, Union Station and the so-called Shanghai Tunnels (accessing the tunnels can be tricky; Old Town Pizza & Brewing is one option for a tour). Abundant venues for streetwear shopping are scattered throughout the neighborhood, like INDEX, a haven for sneakerheads, and Laundry, a vintage sportswear shop. Deadstock Coffee is a “snob-free” coffee shop that celebrates sneaker culture.

Shopping in Northwest Portland

Explore an abundance of great shops in the heart of this unique, walkable quadrant.

  • The Meadow – Northwest

    This popular specialty shop, which offers gourmet finishing salts, chocolates, wine, flowers and more in a historic Portland storefront on Nob Hill also hosts an intimate event space.

  • Pendleton Home Store

    The flagship location of celebrated heirloom brand Pendleton Woolen Mills features the company’s complete line of American-made blanke is a lifestyle concept space featuring iconic Jacquard blankets, furniture and home décor.

  • Oblation Papers & Press

    Oblation employs antique machinery and old-world processes to press handcrafted, 100 percent recycled cotton paper into charming, modern stationery. The shop offers fine papers, artful cards and ephemera.

  • Paxton Gate – Nob Hill

    This eclectic shop in the Nob Hill neighborhood deals in exotic plants, taxidermy, animal skulls, curios and mounted insects — basically, everything you need to outfit your home like a Victorian naturalist.

  • Betsy & Iya

    What began as a handcrafted jewelry line has blossomed into a lifestyle boutique where you’ll find clothing, bags, accessories, gifts, bath and body products, cards and of course jewelry.

Portland Saturday Market

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

Read More

Just west lies the Pearl District. You can still feel the neighborhood’s industrial roots when you walk the streets, though the area has changed considerably in recent decades; warehouses have transformed into lofts and condos, and local businesses have flourished. Any shopping trip to Portland demands a stop in the Pearl. Try Garnish for women’s clothing and accessories, Halo Shoes for fashionable footwear, and KEEN for rugged boots, sandals and accessories. Don’t miss Powell’s City of Books, the largest independent new and used bookstore in the nation. The Pearl’s abundance of galleries makes it a hub for the visual arts — it’s the site of First Thursday, a district-wide celebration of the arts (read more in the “Enjoy the Arts” section below). Dining options here run wide and deep, from Peruvian fine dining at Andina to Thai street food at Khao San to the tempting baked goods and sandwiches on offer at Nuvrei.

More Northwest Portland Restaurants

Eateries in Northwest Portland range from no-frills street food spots to chic, upscale cafés.

  • Serratto Restaurant and Bar

    Serratto is a lively, elegant neighborhood restaurant serving authentic and innovative dishes from Italy, France and the greater Mediterranean region.

  • LeChon

    Offering South American fine dining, Lechon combines dishes from Argentina, Chile and Patagonia. Enjoy charred flank steak, slow-roasted pork and escabeche, and stop by for live music on the weekends.

  • Phuket Cafe

    Another restaurant by Akkapong Earl Ninsom, Phuket Cafe offers inventive takes on Thai flavors, including a “Thai paella” and shaved ice desserts.

  • Arden

    Named after a Shakespearean forest, Arden’s focus is on using seasonal ingredients from the Pacific Northwest, sourced from small producers who employ respectful farming methods.

  • Pine Street Market

    This chef-driven food hall brings diverse dining options to Portland’s historic Old Town, including a tap room with a curated selection of beers on tap and cocktails.

Nearby Northwest/Nob Hill is a charming, walkable neighborhood known for fine dining, lovely views and striking architecture. Many businesses are built into converted historic homes, lending the district a unique feel. Like its neighbor the Pearl, it’s a great place to shop — wander up Northwest 23rd Avenue and back down Northwest 21st Avenue (or vice versa) for the highest concentration of local shops, including New Renaissance Bookshop, Betsy & Iya, Sloan Boutique and Tender Loving Empire. If you’ve worked up an appetite, you’re in luck — Northwest/Nob Hill is home to innumerable excellent eateries. St. Jack serves hearty French cuisine in a cozy café, or enjoy cocktails and wine in the adjoining bar. Try Fish Sauce for satisfying Vietnamese fare, Serratto for elegant Mediterranean flavors, or Ken’s Artisan Bakery for decadent desserts and pastries.

Tucked between the Pearl and Northwest/Nob Hill, Slabtown is a trendy pocket neighborhood that’s full of chic architecture, tasty food and drink, and fun things to do. Explore the oddities on display at the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium and Museum (helping keep Portland weird indeed), or catch a show at CoHo Theatre. If you’re hungry, consider a classic breakfast at the Stepping Stone Cafe or savor tender meats and fresh, local veggies at G-Love. Wash it all down with a local beer — Slabtown has two great breweries located just blocks apart: Breakside Brewery and Lucky Labrador Beer Hall.

Public Transit in Northwest Portland

MAX Light Rail stops in Old Town Chinatown; explore Northwest more via Portland Streetcar.

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Portland Streetcar

The City of Roses built the nation’s first modern-day streetcar in 2001: the sleek and modern Portland Streetcar.

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MAX Light Rail

Portland’s efficient light rail system connects the metro area and downtown core. Learn how to ride and where to go on MAX.

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Biking

One of the best ways to explore the Rose City is on two wheels.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_Hour_Party_People

Things to Do in Northwest Portland

Explore the Outdoors

At more than 8 miles (12.9 km) in length and more than 5,000 acres (2,023.4 ha) in area, Forest Park is a massive urban-adjacent woodland — many access points are located in Northwest Portland. At the west end of Northwest Thurman Street, you’ll find the eastern trailhead for Leif Erikson Drive; this wide, popular path offers access to several trails (including the 30-mile [48.3-km] Wildwood Trail), so you can choose a route that fits your schedule and skill level. Another option is to head to the western terminus of Northwest Upshur Street, just past Northwest 29th Avenue, and take the scenic 5-mile (8-km) round-trip journey from Lower Macleay Park to Pittock Mansion.

Named for Henry and Georgiana Pittock — pioneers, publishers and early Portlanders of influence — Pittock Mansion provides a glimpse of life in the early 20th century. Enjoy the impressive architecture, antiques and artwork as you explore this publicly owned historic home (timed tickets can be purchased online). The beautiful, manicured grounds offer spectacular views — it’s a satisfying payoff at the end of a long climb through Forest Park (it’s also accessible by car, if you prefer).

Cultural Communities

No matter which neighborhood you're visiting, people in the LGBTQ+ community and of every ethnicity and culture can find themselves in the independent and welcoming Rose City.

Go To Cultural Communities

The result of a collaboration with Suzhou, Portland’s sister city, Lan Su Chinese Garden is one of the most authentic Chinese gardens outside of China. Explore the flora, walkways, koi ponds, bridges and pavilions; they also offer tours of the grounds and a charming teahouse. A few blocks west you’ll find the Pearl District’s North Park Blocks, one of the city’s oldest public parks. Nearby Tanner Springs Park is a unique blend of modern and natural, with striking, angular walkways traversing pre-industrial wetlands.

Northwest Portland Attractions

Find a fun way to spend your day during a visit to Northwest Portland.

More Attractions
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Forest Park

Escape the city without leaving Portland; with 70 miles of trails within Portland city limits, 5,156-acre Forest Park is a popular escape for runners, equestrians and hikers alike and supporting more than 112 bird and 62 mammal species.

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Lan Su Chinese Garden

This year-round wonder houses an authentic Ming Dynasty-style garden built by Suzhou artisans, offering a peaceful escape in Portland's historic Chinatown.

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Powell’s City of Books

Covering an entire city block, Powell’s City of Books is more than a great bookstore: It’s a microcosm of Portland, packed with smart and eclectic books, gifting options, and passionate people. And, like Portland, it’s open 365 days a year.

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Portland Saturday Market

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

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Pittock Mansion

High in the West Hills, the Pittock Mansion offers picture-perfect views of the city and interesting insights into Portland's history.

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Voodoo Doughnut

Since 2003, Portland's Voodoo Doughnut has sold millions of wacky, sugary snacks — and the downtown landmark still attracts lines at all hours of the day.

Enjoy the Arts

Centered in the Pearl District, First Thursday is a monthly art walk and street gallery that’s held on (you guessed it) the first Thursday of the month, April through October. Local art galleries — like Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Blackfish Gallery and Blue Sky — hold events and extended hours. Many serve food and drinks, and some host artists discussing their work. A section of Northwest 13th Avenue closes to traffic and fills up with artists, art lovers, musicians and vendors. Note that parking can be difficult, so public transportation is a good option.

You can experience the arts in other parts of the quadrant, too — check out PDX Contemporary Art in Slabtown or the Russo Lee Gallery in Northwest Portland/Nob Hill. Just two blocks south of Russo Lee Gallery you’ll find Cinema 21, a well-loved, locally owned theater. It began life as a silent movie house in 1926; today you can catch independent flicks, art films and classics on three screens.

Explore Portland With Near Me Now

Are you in Portland or visiting soon? Our Near Me Now web app will lead you to some of our favorite neighborhood spots.

Visit Near Me Now

More to Explore

Literature and Libations

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good book; fortunately, Northwest Portland is home to one of the finest bookstores on earth: Powell’s City of Books. The largest independent bookstore in the world, Powell’s occupies an entire city block. Use detailed maps of the 10 color-coded rooms to explore their 68,000 square feet (6,317.4 sq m), four floors and 3,500 sections.

Seeking a different route to satisfaction? This quadrant boasts a laundry list of great spots for a drink, whatever your beverage of choice. You’ll find several of Portland’s renowned distilleries (including Freeland Spirits, Bull Run Distillery and Aviation American Gin) and a high concentration of local breweries (like Great Notion Brewingand Kells Brew Pub ). If you like to play while you imbibe, Ground Kontrol’s mixed drinks and draft brews complement classic arcade games and pinball machines. Try Teardrop Lounge or Olive Or Twist for tempting craft cocktails in elegant settings.

Neighborhoods

Events in Northwest Portland

Check the calendar — one of this quadrant's popular events is sure to be starting soon.

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The Portland Book Festival

Portland Book Festival (formerly “Wordstock”) returns every November with an impressive (and extensive) lineup of local and national authors.

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JAW New Play Festival

This annual theater festival invites the public into the creation process.

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Chapman Swift Watch

Every September, spectators gather to see the world’s largest roost of Vaux’s swifts swarm and spiral into the chimney of a Northwest Portland school.

Portland’s Quadrants

Explore the six “quadrants” (yes — there are six of them!) that make up the City of Roses.

Go To Neighborhoods
a colorful map of Southwest Portland and South Portland highlighting prominent neighborhoods and landmarks

Southwest Portland

Best known for lively downtown Portland, this quadrant is also home to Washington Park’s numerous attractions, Goose Hollow’s blend of historic and modern, the small-town charm of Multnomah Village and more.

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Southeast Portland

Southeast Portland embodies many of Portland’s best-known attributes: hip, artsy, quirky, foody. It’s home to popular neighborhoods, lively food-and-drink districts, peaceful parks and more.

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Northeast Portland

For shows, sports and big events, Northeast Portland is hard to beat. It’s also home to many popular neighborhoods, noteworthy sights and attractions, and top-notch restaurants and bars.

a colorful map of North Portland highlighting prominent neighborhoods and landmarks

North Portland

From the beautiful blooms of Peninsula Park to the bustle of North Mississippi Avenue, there’s more to explore in North Portland. The so-called “Fifth Quadrant” is home to charming neighborhoods, striking landmarks and unique attractions.

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South Portland

South Portland is a slim strip of land on the west side of the Willamette River. This laid-back river community is a perfect 10 for water recreation, low-key urban green spaces and lots of spots to eat, drink & shop.

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