Neighborhoods in Brief

Portland's neighborhoods are mostly dictated by geography. The Willamette River forms a natural dividing line between the eastern and western portions of the city, while the Columbia River forms a boundary with the state of Washington on the north. The West Hills, comprising Portland's prime residential neighborhoods, are a beautiful backdrop for this attractive city. Covered in evergreens, the hills rise to a height of 1,000 feet at the edge of downtown. Within these hills are the Oregon Zoo, the International Rose Test Garden, the Japanese Garden, and several other attractions.

Downtown This term usually refers to the business and shopping district south of Burnside and north of Jackson Street between the Willamette River and 13th Avenue. Here you'll find a dozen or more high-end hotels, dozens of restaurants of all types, and loads of shopping. Within downtown's Cultural District (along Broadway and the South Park blocks), are most of the city's performing arts venues and a couple of museums.

Skidmore Historic District Also known as Old Town, this is Portland's original commercial core and centers around SW Ankeny Street and SW First Avenue. Many of the restored buildings have become retail stores, but despite the presence of the Saturday Market, the neighborhood has never become a popular shopping district, mostly because of its welfare hotels, missions, street people, and drug dealing. However, with its many clubs and bars, it is the city's main nightlife district. The neighborhood is safe during the day, but visitors should exercise caution at night.

Chinatown Portland has had a Chinatown almost since its earliest days. This small area, with its numerous Chinese groceries and restaurants, is wedged between the Pearl District and the Skidmore Historic District and is entered through the colorful Chinatown Gate at West Burnside Street and Fourth Avenue. The neighborhood's main attraction is the impressive Portland Classical Chinese Garden. Because of its proximity to bars on West Burnside Street and the homeless missions and welfare hotels in Old Town, this is not a good neighborhood to explore late at night. However, it has been undergoing something of a renaissance in recent years.

The Pearl District This neighborhood of galleries, residential and business lofts, cafes, breweries, and shops is bounded by the North Park blocks, Overton Street, I-405, and Burnside Street. Crowds of people come here on First Thursday (the first Thurs of every month) when art galleries and other businesses are open late. This is Portland's hip urban loft scene and one of the city's main upscale-restaurant neighborhoods.

Northwest/Nob Hill Located along NW 23rd and NW 21st avenues, this is one of Portland's two most fashionable neighborhoods. Here you'll find many of the city's best restaurants (mostly along NW 21st Ave.), as well as lots of cafes, boutiques, and national chain stores. Surrounding the two main business streets of the neighborhood are blocks of restored Victorian homes on shady tree-lined streets.

South Waterfront This is the newest neighborhood in Portland and is a collection of high-rise offices and condominiums a half mile south of Tom McCall Waterfront Park. The South Waterfront is where you'll find the lower terminal for the Portland Aerial Tram.

Irvington Though neither as attractive nor as large as the Northwest/Nob Hill neighborhood, Irvington, centered around Broadway in northeast Portland, is almost as hip. For several blocks along Broadway (around NE 15th Ave.) you'll find interesting boutiques and numerous good, inexpensive restaurants.

Hawthorne District This enclave of southeast Portland is full of eclectic boutiques, moderately priced restaurants, and hip college students from nearby Reed College. Just south of Hawthorne Boulevard, beginning at SE 12th Avenue, you'll find the interesting Ladd's Addition neighborhood, which has five rose gardens and a great pastry shop. Belmont Street, just north of Hawthorne Boulevard, and Division Street, to the south, are two of the city's up-and-coming hip neighborhoods, and both areas are well worth exploring.

Sellwood/Westmoreland Situated in southeast Portland, this is the city's antiques district and contains many restored Victorian houses. Just north of the Sellwood antiques district, surrounding the intersection of SE Milwaukie Avenue and SE Bybee Boulevard, you'll find the heart of the Eastmoreland neighborhood, home to numerous good restaurants.