Search Pearl District
The chic Pearl District features galleries and cultural institutions, as well as stylish shops and acclaimed eateries.
In the Pearl, loading docks and cobblestone streets hint at this former warehouse district’s past, while stylish bars and gleaming lofts point toward the future. Read on for our favorite things to do and see in Northwest Portland’s Pearl District.
Where to Stay in the Pearl
A stay amid the condos and galleries of the Pearl District puts you in the heart of the city, with easy access to shopping, dining and cultural offerings, along with proximity to downtown, Old Town Chinatown and Northwest Portland.
Pearl District Bars and Breweries
From the Brewery Blocks sample some beers and bars in this chic neighborhood.
Where to Eat and Drink in the Pearl District
Start your morning or midday with a sip of espresso from Barista or La Perlita. If you’re looking for less caffeine find your way to Tea Bar and peruse their selection of tea lattes. For a quick bite, French-style bakery Nuvrei serves up beautiful pastries, or if you’re looking for a sunny lunch spot with outdoor seating, Lovejoy Bakers, offers a wide array of freshly baked bread and creative sandwiches.
Step into fine-dining spot Andina and enjoy live Latin-inspired music at adjoining Bar Mestizo before dining on cebiche, tamales, empanadas and other Novo-Andean tapas dishes at this celebrated Peruvian restaurant. Other Pearl favorites include Khao San serving authentic Thai food served in a Thai street setting. Pizza and Italian dishes made of fresh Northwest ingredients are on the menu at Piattino. Break Bread serves up Portland-style subs on local bread. Get your fill of sustainably sourced fish at Yama Sushi and Sake Bar. And for dessert, try Cool Moon Ice Cream.
Art Galleries in the Pearl District
This neighborhood is home to a huge arts community and First Thursday, a bustling monthly art walk.
Things To Do in the Pearl District
The Pearl District was once the art mecca of Portland, though you can find incredible artists and makers all over Portland these days, the Pearl still boasts some of the best galleries and a time-old tradition, First Thursday, when the galleries open their doors after hours and local artists flock to the streets to showcase their work.
Portland Center Stage at the Armory brings classic and contemporary theater in a beautifully transformed former armory, featuring a large stage and a smaller black box stage on the lower level. True to its origins, Portland Center Stage started as a mostly classical theater company, now commissioning its own plays from leading national playwrights and bringing the best new work to town from around the country.
Find Powell’s City of Books and Oblation Paper & Press, among blocks of big brand stores for all your shopping needs, from sports and outdoor wear to shoes, dresses and jeans.
Pearl District Events
Enjoy Portland's Pearl District at these upcoming events.
Cultivating Luxury: Master Class – Sustainability in Textiles
Inspired by a “less, but better” intentional lifestyle, this Master Class explores how some of the most luxurious collections come to be. Linen Society experts will provide insider perspectives on cultivating linen, down, and tree fibers. Explore how the harvesting, craft, and material purity add style and longevity to the product lines. Enjoy gifts and…
First Thursday in the Pearl District
Starting in 1986, First Thursday in the Pearl is a district-wide celebration on the first Thursday of each month. Originally a gathering of art collectors and dealers, the celebration has grown to a monthly event of over ten thousand people, including art enthusiasts, wine aficionados, and scenesters looking to see and be seen. Art galleries…
McGill, Goodyear & Catalyst
This dynamite program of new music by a diversity of composers leaps to the moment with Ad Anah? (How Long?) by James Lee III, and Adolphus Hailstork’s The Blue Bag — a piece dedicated to clarinetist Anthony McGill and inspired by jazz greats Nancy Wilson, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, and Aretha Franklin. The evening leads…
NEW@NIGHT: International Voices
This New@Night is fresh music arranged for the unique flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano instrumentation. The cutting-edge Third Sound ensemble kicks off their week in Portland with the world premiere of Patrick Castillo’s ephemera and works by composers Lembit Beecher (Estonian-American), Edvard Baghdasaryan (Armenian), and Magnus Lindberg (Finnish). Happy Hour 5:00 p.m., Performance 6:00…
NEW@NIGHT: Protégés United
This thrilling triptych of new works is all the product of CMNW’s wildly successful Protégé Project. They will include the West Coast premiere of Alistair Coleman’s Cello Sonata, Descendants, a new solo piece composed by Viano Quartet violist Aiden Kane, and the world premiere of a new string quartet by this year’s Protégé composer Kian…
JAW: A Playwright's Festival
This annual theater festival invites the public into the creation process.
Central City Guide
The walkable central city includes the Pearl District, Northwest/Nob Hill and downtown.
Downtown and Central City Shopping
Downtown Portland boasts a wide array of shopping options, from major national and international retailers to locally owned boutiques and specialty shops.
Central City Activities
Walk to a wide range of entertainment in central city and downtown Portland including theaters, museums and parks that play host to festivals and farmers' markets.
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 in central city.
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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