Our Picks for the Best Neighborhoods and Places to Stay in Portland
Portland, the City of Roses – Stumptown, Bridge City, Beervana – is known for its quirk-tastic hipster-filled local coffee shops, eclectic boutiques, yearly naked bike ride, a unicycle-riding, flaming-bagpipe-blowing Darth Vader (yes, we’re serious), and months of grey and rainy skies that are enthusiastically embraced by Portlanders who refuse to use an umbrella.The city’s got heaps of character for sure. So, where should you stay in order to soak up all Rose City has to offer? (And yes you do have to stay somewhere because no amount of locally roasted coffee beans will keep you from crashing, eventually.)
Well, you’ll want to stay in a Stay Alfred travel apartment with tons of room, a full kitchen, and the perfect location. But, what location is perfect for you? We’ve profiled all the happening Portland neighborhoods to help you choose. From Southwest’s fun downtown neighborhood to Northwest’s hipster Pearl District to the east side’s quirkiness and great street-art scene, Portland has so much to offer. Read on to find out which ‘hood is the perfect place to call home during your time in PDX.
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Before we begin, let’s explain Portland’s basic geographic layout. The city is divided between the east and the west by the Willamette River which flows through its heart. There are a number of bridges connecting the east and west sides making it easy to travel between neighborhoods, whether this be by foot, bike, public transit like the MAX or streetcar or by car. The busy Burnside Street and its bridge over the Willamette divide the city north and south. The intersection of Burnside and the Willamette River creates Portland’s Southwest, Northwest, Southeast, and Northeast quadrants, with the fifth “quadrant” of North Portland wedged between Northwest and Northeast.
With “Keep Portland Weird” being a popular slogan that appears on bumper stickers, signs, and hailed as the city’s unofficial motto, we could talk about the Portland neighborhoods in terms of weirdness. The west side in general is considered slightly less weird than other niche areas of the city, and its vibe is perfect for tourists who might find the full-on weirdness of PDX a bit much. The city’s east side is considered the quirkier and more diverse half of the city, with the Northeast section featuring the most eclectic collection of neighborhoods, and the Southeast section boasting zany areas like Belmont Street and Hawthorne Boulevard, as well as Division Street where there’s plenty of shopping, entertainment, tasty local eateries, and great street art. One of the nicest things about Portland is, wherever you go, the city is incredibly bikeable. You don’t need a car to get around. Between biking, public transit, your own two feet and ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber you can get by without a car nicely.
SOUTHWEST PORTLAND & DOWNTOWN
Portland’s downtown urban center is in the Southwest quadrant, and mostly on the north end of that with residential neighborhoods, lush green hills and parks running farther south. You’ll find a variety of both local, one-off, and international shopping opportunities downtown, so you can fully take advantage of Portland’s lack of sales tax.
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Hungry? Stop by Portland’s famous food carts for a bite of just about any cuisine you can imagine. In downtown, you’ll find Pioneer Courthouse Square and the Willamette River: both great spots for people watching and taking a bite out of Portland. Follow Broadway south and you’ll find yourself in the Cultural District, an area dotted with art galleries and home to the Portland Art Museum and the Oregon Historical Society Museum. Stroll along Tom McCall Waterfront Park or stop by the Saturday Market and shop for locally made good.
What Stay Alfred properties will you find in this neighborhood?
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WHAT’S NEARBY
Director Park – 1 minute walk
Powell’s City of Books – 7 minute walk
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall – 5 minute walk
Keller Auditorium – 14 minute walk
OUR LOCAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Brunch Box: Burgers, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches – 1 minute walk
Case Study Coffee: Coffee & Tea – 3 minute walk
Tasty n’ Alder: American style food, Breakfast & Brunch, Bar – 6 minute walk
NORTHWEST PORTLAND/PEARL DISTRICT
If you head north of downtown, along the west bank of the Willamette River, you’ll find yourself in Northwest Portland with its charming Pearl District, Forest Park, and Pittock Mansion. Northwest’s Pearl District is home to a number of “classic” Portland haunts like the famous Powell’s Books, which takes home the impressive title of largest independent bookstore in the world and has aisles upon aisles perfect for wandering all day.
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The Pearl is a formerly industrial era that is remarkably walkable and offers a central location that makes it perfect for business and pleasure travelers alike. While during the day the numerous boutiques and galleries of the Pearl make it the perfect place to explore, the area comes alive at night with a number of sophisticated wine bars, brewpubs, and upscale eateries.
What Stay Alfred properties will you find in this neighborhood?
WHAT’S NEARBY
Moda Center – 6 minute drive
Washington Park – 12 minute drive
Forest Park – 5 minute drive
Portland Japanese Garden – 12 minute drive
Pittock Mansions – 13 minute drive
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) – 10 minute drive
OUR LOCAL RECOMMENDATIONS
The Fields Park: local park and gathering spot – 1 minute walk away
Nossa Familia Coffee: coffee & tea, local – 6 minute walk away
Daily Cafe: breakfast & brunch, American style food, mimosas – 5 minute walk away
River Pig Saloon:Sports bar, cocktail bar, American style food – 9 minute walk away
SOUTHEAST PORTLAND
Just across the river from Downtown Portland, the trendy Southeast quadrant is where you’ll find the city’s most authentic neighborhoods. Discover your Portland gems like the artsy Laurelhurst Theater, the eclectic nightlife on Sandy Boulevard, and delicious cuisine on East Burnside Street. When you’re craving the hustle and bustle of the downtown scene, just walk across the Burnside Bridge, and you’ll be there in no time.
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What Stay Alfred properties will you find in this neighborhood?
WHAT’S NEARBY
Moda Center – 7 minute drive
Revolution Hall – 8 minute walk
Forest Park – 17 minute drive
Portland Japanese Garden – 16 minute drive
Lloyd Center & IMAX – 15 minute walk
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) – 6 minute drive
OUR LOCAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Base Camp Brewing Company: Small brewery with tasty local food carts – 4 minute walk
Voodoo Doughnut: Hipster, cash-only 24-hour donut house – 7 minute walk
Helium Comedy Club: Famous TV comics and American eats – 15 minute walk
Doug Fir Lounge: Futuristic log-cabin decor hosting indie music and serving eclectic eats – 3 minute walk
Portland has undoubtedly won the competition for being the most “hipster” town in America. But aside from its hippest facets, it’s also a geographically interesting and gorgeous city that has a number of neighborhoods ready to be explored. Downtown and Pearl District are topnotch, given their walkability, proximity to popular tourist destinations, and accessibility to the perfect amount of classic Portland weirdness, while Southeast Portland’s combination of even more authentic PDX zaniness, along with great breweries, shopping, and street art make it an awesome experience, too. So, if you’re taking a trip to the Rose City, you’ve got plenty of great neighborhoods to choose from, and plenty of cozy Portland Stay Alfred travel apartments to call home.
Brian Olson 