Portland (Oregon)/Northwest

Northwest Portland includes the part of the city north of Burnside and west of the river such as the Pearl District and the Northwest District.

Understand
Just to the north of Downtown is Old Town, which is where Portland was first settled and which has some historic buildings and is a nightlife center, but also contains a fair amount of social services for homeless and mentally ill. The neighborhood also holds the remnants of Chinatown which, despite a lovely archway entry at Burnside and 4th Avenue and some Chinese-inspired street decorations, is rather desolate and may prove a disappointment for visitors expecting the bustle of San Francisco's or New York City's Chinatown.

Just to the northwest of Downtown is the Pearl District, a very hip and trendy neighborhood on the streetcar line which was not long ago derelict warehouses and empty industrial space. The economic success of the Pearl has made it a frequently cited urban planning model, and it is an excellent place to hang out and people watch, eat in fine restaurants, and visit the famous Powell's Bookstore. Perhaps the best spot to people watch is Jamison Square, a city park at the heart of the Pearl that includes a popular fountain which fills a pool during the summer months that's popular with little kids. For a slightly more quiet retreat, Tanner Springs Park is just a couple of blocks north and built to resemble a piece of reclaimed wetland, with tall grasses and a nice pond. On the First Thursday of every month, all art galleries in the Pearl district open their doors for casual viewing, and many serve wine and cheese.

To the north of the Pearl, at the northern end of the streetcar line is the Northwest District, also known as Nob Hill and also on the trendy side and with a variety of retail shops, bars, and restaurants along with plenty of lovely Victorians and tree-lined streets. West of this is the West Hills, where the well-to-do of Portland have traditionally lived. Because of the geography, the streets in the West Hills are a bit of a maze, but they still make for an interesting trek; you'll find lavish mansions, ornate public staircases, and good views of Downtown.

Get in and around
See Portland (Oregon) for getting in from elsewhere in the city.

The southern portion of this district is just across Burnside St from Downtown. Streetcars go from downtown and nearby parts of Eastside to the Pearl District and Old Town.

There are MAX lines serving the Old Town from many locations Eastside; the orange line from the southern Eastside near the Willamette River (via Downtown), yellow line from the Expo center, red line from the airport, blue line from Gresham, green line from Clackamas Town Center and the three latter from locations along Banfield Freeway.

Locations further north and west can be reached by bus (network map).

Mid-range

 * For New York-style pizza, it's hard to beat at 622 NW 23rd (+1 503-227-5423). The restaurants is a shrine to New York, unlike their chain-restaurant counterpart, Pizza Schmizza, which is also quite good with locations spread throughout Portland.
 * For New York-style pizza, it's hard to beat at 622 NW 23rd (+1 503-227-5423). The restaurants is a shrine to New York, unlike their chain-restaurant counterpart, Pizza Schmizza, which is also quite good with locations spread throughout Portland.
 * For New York-style pizza, it's hard to beat at 622 NW 23rd (+1 503-227-5423). The restaurants is a shrine to New York, unlike their chain-restaurant counterpart, Pizza Schmizza, which is also quite good with locations spread throughout Portland.