Chic and charming, Portland’s Pearl District is a mixture of the city’s industrial past and its trendy present. Restaurants and boutiques fill repurposed warehouses, while quaint cafes and can be found throughout its cobbled lanes. Portland’s originality is celebrated in Pearl District, where the experience is all about exploring creative local businesses and unearthing a menu of hidden gems. Pearl District is located on the southern bank of the Willamette River, north of Downtown and Old Town Chinatown.
Most of this district has been transformed from an industrial zone. Warehouses are filled with craft breweries and enticing bookshops, while stylish restaurants are tucked away behind a facade of rugged red brick. It’s a place that rewards those who explore on foot, a dazzling array of creativity imbued on almost every street. Jamison Square provides a green space to rest the legs, a city park with fountains that forms the geographical heart of Pearl District.
Pearl District is geared towards those on foot. Attractions are well signposted and stores distribute free walking maps of the area. Union Station is on the edge of Pearl District and the main gateway station for visitors arriving from other Portland neighbourhoods or American cities. Trams travel along the district’s main streets, passing Jamison Square and Powell’s City of Books. A journey to Portland International Airport will take around 30 minutes by private taxi, or longer on local light rail lines.
Covering a full city block in Pearl District, Powell’s City of Books is the world’s largest bookshop. The eclectic and enchanting maze of bookshelves is a representation of Pearl’s District’s atmosphere. Getting lost here is part of the fun, but there is also a free app and guide to help ensure that visitors don’t miss out on anything.