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Kiriko Made is an upscale boutique in downtown Portland offering a carefully curated selection of apparel, accessories and more made from high-quality Japanese textiles.

Downtown and Central City Shopping

Downtown Portland is one of the Pacific Northwest’s top shopping destinations, flush with national retailers, local boutiques, specialty shops and more.

Updated Aug. 25, 2025 5 min read Downtown

Eden Dawn

Choose your own adventure when shopping in Portland’s city center — the awesome options run the gamut from international retailers to homegrown favorites, from all-in-one Portland emporiums to hyper-focused specialty stores, from the world’s single largest independent bookstore to a multitude of tiny mom-and-pop boutiques.

Where to Shop Downtown

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Credit: Kevin Zolkiewicz via Flickr

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Credit: NASHCO Photo

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Credit: Stuart Mullenberg

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Credit: Jonni Armani via Flickr

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Credit: Floating World Comics

The central city is full of delicious food to eat, iconic sights to see and fun things to do for visitors of all ages. It’s also home to the city’s top retail hubs — here are best downtown Portland shopping areas, all 100% tax-free:

• Vibrant downtown Portland is a walkable neighborhood with no shortage of great places to shop, including Pioneer Place, one of the Northwest’s best malls, which spans four city blocks.
• In Northwest/Nob Hill, the streets are lined with historic homes repurposed as boutiques, galleries and other shops. It’s a unique, charming vibe and one of Portland’s top shopping areas.
• The Pearl District is known for its vibrant arts community — it’s also where you’ll find Powell’s City of Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world, which helps anchor another shopping district that’s well worth a visit.
• Don’t sleep on the east side: Just across the Willamette River is the Central Eastside, a hip industrial neighborhood with an abundance of cool stores, and Lloyd, where you can check out Lloyd Center, a one-of-a-kind Portland mall.

Clothing Stores

Long-running local shop Wildfang offers iconic apparel, shoes and accessories that transcend gender. Founded and owned by former Nike executive Emma Mcilroy, the brand’s style is a little bit street, a little bit chic, and all the way Portland. Nearby Kiriko Made specializes in fashionable apparel made from top-quality Japanese textiles — their elegant, long-lasting garments provide a stylish alternative to the cheap “fast fashion” trend.

For more high-quality apparel, peruse denim at Self Edge. They carry the finest brands from around the globe, making this an ideal place to score a new pair of jeans — other offerings include shirts, shoes, jewelry and more. Coveted brands can also be found at luxury boutique Mario’s, long-running Michael Allen’s and women’s shop Mercantile. For unmentionables worth talking about, visit underU4men, North America’s largest men’s underwear store.

Portland is also home to big-name, fashion-focused clothing stores. Nordstrom provides pure couture candy with legendary lines like Chanel and Gucci. Just blocks from the main store, fashion insiders snatch up apparel and accessories at up to 70% off original prices at Nordstrom Rack. Within a block of each other you’ll find both an expansive outpost of Philadelphia-based Anthropologie, which offers boho-chic women’s clothing and home goods, and J. Crew sister brand Madewell.

Stock up on workout wear at two stores located on Northwest Couch Street. National brand Athleta stocks a full range of gear (not to mention free fitness classes). Just two blocks away, lululemon trades in yoga gear for everyone.

Shoes and Boots

Portland-based shoemaker Keen Footwear has gone international, but you can still peruse their distinctive tough-but-stylish shoes at the flagship garage-themed retail space filled with salvaged metals and recycled bleacher seats that double as shoe-testing surfaces. Need more new kicks? The flagship Nike Portland store caters to runners (and others) in a museum-like space.

Since the 1930s, Danner Boots has offered top-notch, American-made footwear. Peruse their iconic boots and other outdoor equipment at their Portland store, located inside Union Way, a unique European-style arcade. Speaking of boots, did you know that Portland is the U.S. headquarters of Dr. Martens? Shop their iconic boots — alongside shoes, sandals, accessories and other great finds — across the street from Powell’s.

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Credit: Ashley Anderson

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Household Goods and Gifts

Woonwinkel, or “living shop” in Dutch, is a home and accessories store specializing in modern, colorful goods with long-lasting appeal. Roam the colorful space to find everything from colorful geometric clay earrings to an eye-popping vase ready to display in your living room. For a gift that truly says “Portland,” pay a visit to MadeHere, an airy, modern shop that showcases the talents of Portland-based designers, artists and makers.

At Cielo Home, housed in a renovated stable, lush linens, chandeliers and curiosities beckon shoppers to infuse their homes with the charms of yesteryear. West Elm is also nestled in the Brewery Blocks for furnishings and decor. Woman-owned SMG Collective showcases artisan-made rugs, poufs and more for the home.

For the booklover in your life, Grand Gesture Books is a Black-owned specialty romance bookstore offering the best romance reads in the heart of the central city. Another downtown Portland shopping option for specialty books, try Hi Books for photobooks, other rare books, arts-focused ephemera and more unique finds.

Jewelry

At the top of Nob Hill and best known for its lines of Portland bridge-inspired bracelets, Betsy & Iya handcrafts each sought-after piece right on-site. Oregon-based gallery and boutique Twist stocks an impressive array of handcrafted jewelry and art pieces.

Gem Set Love, a go-to spot for estate engagement and wedding rings, is also a great place to treat yourself to a vintage or locally designed bracelet, necklace or pendant. And a pinnacle of Portland’s thriving DIY scene, Tender Loving Empire presents jewelry alongside a plethora of gifts, t-shirts, local music, housewares, cards and much more.

Outdoor Outfitters

The central city is packed with outdoor outfitters, including national retailers like Filson. New Zealand-based Icebreaker, which crafts base layers and more from merino wool, has its North American headquarters here. Portland also boasts an outpost of Snow Peak, a storied outdoor lifestyle brand founded by Japanese mountaineers, where you’ll find outdoor apparel plus camping and backpacking gear like tents and lightweight cookware. Other international brands with outposts in downtown Portland include Patagonia and Oregon’s own Columbia Sportswear.

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