Neighborhoods – Shopping, Eating and Browsing

As Portland’s 25-year vision plan notes, “vibrant, diverse neighborhoods are home to all manner of people, but it’s the other things that give a place its soul – the cafes and markets, the art, parks, plazas, vistas and sanctuaries.” But it’s Portland’s people who contribute to its reputation as a friendly, progressive city. From the Hawthorne neighborhood to Southwest Stark Street, Portland offers an open, welcoming environment for all visitors.

Southeast Hawthorne, Belmont and Sellwood

Though Portland is not as visibly gay a city as Seattle or San Francisco, it has one of America’s strongest feminist and lesbian communities. The Hawthorne District in the southeast quadrant is the most concentrated lesbian enclave, as well as home as well to countless liberal-minded sorts. Both Southeast Stark and Southeast Belmont Streets, which run north of the Hawthorne District, boast a share of the area’s coffee houses, boutiques and music clubs. But the main commercial stretch is Hawthorne Boulevard – a great place for Sunday brunch, bookshop browsing and poetry readings. Sellwood, a short drive south from Hawthorne, is an antique-lover’s dream with more than 50 shops and several antique malls. (source: Fodor’s Gay Guide to the Pacific Northwest)

Northeast Broadway

Portland’s growing eastside population fostered the renaissance of this area, which now boasts a lively collection of cafes and shops. Many of the boutiques are independent, meaning that you won’t find a cookie-cutter approach to your shopping.

Nob Hill/Northwest (Northwest 21st and 23rd avenues)

“Northwest,” as locals call it, is a sophisticated version of the more bohemian Hawthorne district. Scores of whimsical, independent and sophisticated boutiques offer everything from tiaras to topiaries. Restaurants, pubs and cafes, many of which open to the street in warmer months, offer perfect vantage points for some of the city’s best people-watching. For a taste of the area, try any of the eating establishments along Northwest 21st Avenue (“Restaurant Row”).

Southwest Stark Street/Burnside Triangle

Southwest Stark Street is Portland’s most visibly gay thoroughfare and is the backbone of an area that comprises a triangular set of city blocks known by some as the Burnside Triangle. Bounded by Southwest Alder, S.W. 14th Ave., West Burnside Street and Southwest Broadway Street, the district contains a combination of entertainment, independent retail, restaurants, housing and social services. It has been a meeting place for Portland’s LGBT community since the turn of the 20th century. This area’s historical significance is documented in a self-guided walking tour published by the Burnside Triangle Advisory Group. Call 503.823.4519 or e-mail oni@ci.portland.or.us to request a walking tour map.

Pearl District

North of Burnside is the Pearl District, a former industrial section of northwest Portland which houses a thriving community of arts and commerce. Anchored by Powell’s City of Books on Northwest 10th Avenue and West Burnside Street, this area is home to vintage clothing and used record stores, as well as new restaurants, brewpubs, specialty retail stores and galleries.