Characteristic ambiance of the Pearl District
The perfect neighbourhood
Portland, the capital of bicycles, beer and coffee, celebrates workmanship, appreciates independence and is averse to pretensions. Over the last 20 years in particular, the city has undergone drastic change. Portland is big on green, from farmer’s markets to organic beer. The bustling epicentre of this development is the Pearl District, once the subject of various studies on how to create the perfect neighbourhood from a dilapidated district. Nowadays, it’s the perfect example of successful urban renewal. The neighbourhood spans around 100 city blocks between downtown, the Northwest district and the Willamette River. ‘Pearl’ is a place to hang out and take your time, whether browsing through trendy clothing and furniture shops or enjoying the tremendous selection of recreational pit stops, from coffee bars and galleries to brewpubs. It is worth noting that Oregon has no sales tax, which makes shopping even more fun.
A book city
Powell’s is the largest chain of independent bookstores in the world and you’ll find the mother of all bookstores in the Pearl District: Powell's City of Books. Losing your way in this paper maze makes the experience all the more fun. For book lovers, this shop is a Valhalla and, for others, hopefully an eye-opener. If you can’t make up your mind, simply take a stack of books to the store café and browse through them till you find what you’re looking for.
