15 of My Favorite Things to Do in Pearl District Portland

Whether you’ve got a taste for contemporary art or not, we can all come to appreciate a good masterpiece in a traditional setting. If you’re visiting Portland for the first time, I would definitely recommend exploring some of the best art galleries in the Pearl District as it’s a fascinating way to learn more about the history and culture of the city. 

Looking at different pieces of artwork isn’t only a mental exercise that stimulates creativity and positive thoughts. Still, it also helps a person learn a great deal about world history and geography- a plus for all the nerds out there. The best art galleries to visit in Portugal are:

Blue Sky Gallery: The Blue Sky Gallery is probably the most exciting gallery to visit when arriving in the Pearl District. It is a modern space with contemporary photographic art hung neatly across its pearl-white walls, with each picture telling stories worth a thousand words.

The gallery is an excellent space for local and international artists to showcase their photographic work, so if you’ve got a knack for photography, put your name down for your work to be considered at no cost!

Foelick Gallery: For those looking for modern artwork that’s more than just some expressive photography, Forelick Gallery is the place to be.

The gallery is an expansive area with various art forms from individual artists who have strong voices and tell a story through their art.

Not good with interpreting art? No problem. Just feel free to ask the highly knowledgeable staff at Forelick Gallery any questions you have and I promise they’ll be happy to answer as long as they’re within their knowledge capacity.

PDX Contemporary Art: The well-lit vintage building of the PDX Contemporary Art gallery offers an aesthetic backdrop to your sleeky Instagram photos. Visit this place anytime from 10 AM to 5 PM to experience the zest of modern artwork and photography.

Cute coffee shops are the one remarkable feature of Pearl District that makes you want to visit again simply for the mind-blowing aromas and the best-tasting coffee in the world. 

I’d suggest stopping by the Barista coffee shop on 13th Avenue in the Pearl District and experiencing a world completely different from what you’re used to. This coffeehouse allows you to sit out front and watch all of the passersby with a latte in hand, I love it! 

La Perlita is another great coffeehouse if you’re willing to take your taste buds on an all-time high. The espressos and the baristas at La Perlita are exquisite, and we don’t just say that.

The place has a 4.7 rating on Google reviews, which is exceptionally good for a small cafe that sells coffee. Anything you’d be too skeptical to order otherwise, try at La Perlita.

You’d be happy you listened to us while you enjoyed the best food at Pearl District.

Where are all the cinema geeks? This one’s for you. The Portland Center Stage is a historic theater company located on 11th Avenue in Portland, featuring two gigantic theaters inside the antique building.

What better way to spend an evening than watching classical and contemporary theater art and stories brought to life in exceptional ways inside The Armory building?

The place has been awarded several times for its award-winning plays, such as The Twelfth Night and Sometimes a Great Notion. 

The Pearl District in Portland also enjoys a rich beer culture you do not want to miss out on. The best kind of beer is the one that’s been carefully brewed with a thick aroma and a bitter-sweet taste of fruity ales.

Like any other city in America, you must be 21 or older to enjoy a beer in Portland legally.

You’ll find the best craft beer available at the 10 Barrel Brewing or the Deschutes Brewery & Public House. Deschutes Brewery offers both takeaway and dine-in options in a small pub downtown.

Enjoy gourmet food and the best-tasting beer in Portland at these rich places.

For all our bibliophiles, it is a time to rejoice if you’re taking a trip to Portland. Powell’s City of Books is a chain of bookstores lining the streets of Portland.

It claims to be one of the world’s largest bookstores for old and new books.

You’ll likely find everything among an assortment of as many as a million books- from children’s stories to modern-day literature at the City of Books. 

Kure and Vtopia are some of the best places to enjoy a healthy meal after exercise or before starting your day with a good city exploration.

Head to these famous restaurants and order anything from fresh salads to a gluten-free meal for a healthy eating experience.

The Kure juice bar is especially famous for its refreshing smoothies, coffees, and meal shake. At the same time, the Vtopia cheese shop enjoys a reputation for its mouth-watering cashew-based cheeses, salads, and sandwiches. 

Jamison Square is a tourist attraction in Portland. It was one of the first parks to be established in the Pearl District neighborhood.

Take a morning walk through the park’s vast grounds or visit the attraction for some great outdoor pictures.

Either way, Jamison Square Park is a great picnic spot for fun in the sun and relaxing under the cool breeze of Portland. 

Eco Trust is an organization working towards preserving a climate-smart future.

Visit the Ecotrust building to learn about the amazing things the organization is doing in contributing towards their cause, and have a drink at the facility and enjoy their Mexican cuisine.

Make sure to get involved in some way possible with the organization. This place especially offers a great learning curve for environmentalists and eco-conscious people. 

Tanner Springs Park is a small city in Portland, fed by the waters from Tanner Creek. Tanner Springs Park is part of what we now call the Pearl District and is a great spot to revisit nature and enjoy the pond ecosystem.

The park is just two blocks from Jamison Square, so while you’re at it, visit the place for another mesmerizing experience.

It is no surprise that the benefits of a gluten-free diet are many. Not only is a gluten-free meal light and easy on your digestive tract, but it also promotes healthy, glowy skin.

And who doesn’t want to look their absolute best while on vacation? 

While most gluten-free meals are bland to the taste buds, the gluten-free pizzas at Hotlips Pizza in Portland are a famous feast for vegans and non-vegans.

In addition to being gluten-free, the pizzas at HotLips are vegan and whole-wheat for a complete vegetarian experience. The place also serves great-tasting wine, real-fruit sodas, and whole pies that are also vegan. 

If you’re looking for things to get your loved one back at home, explore the vintage stores at Pearl District.

These vintage stores also have great collectibles and apparel items ranging from a few bucks to a good thousand dollars.

Try a few pieces of vintage clothing to express your tourist spirit in Portland, or go window shopping for an equally fantastic experience.

Another great gift idea would be to shop for vinyl records and CDs for a music fanatic. These are easily the most thoughtful gifts anyone would give someone with a thing for music or vinyl records.

Visit My Vinyl Underground in Portland, an indie-pop record shop selling vinyl.

While we’re on the shopping subject, you may want to check out some other independent shops in Portland that cannot be found elsewhere. Some popular shops in Pearl District are: 

• CULT: Cult is a vast souvenir shop housing everything from precious collectibles to unique gifts for your significant other. You’re sure to find something for everyone on your friend list here.
• Hello from Portland: This souvenir shop has incredible clothing designs and apparel items. 
• Portland Gear: Portland Gear is a clothing store in Portland that sells explicitly hip merchant and custom-tailored Portland-themed apparel, accessories, and souvenir items for friends and family. The brand is unique to Portland only.
• PorchLight: Porchlight is a unique shop selling antique items, notable furniture and decor pieces, statement jewelry, apothecary items, and much more   

We all miss high school, don’t we? To revisit that high school musical experience, visit the Gerding Theater at The Amory building and watch a good musical.

Annually, the theater produces eleven to twelve original plays that are all-time hits among theater lovers.

If you’re lucky enough, you may be able to watch their most popular play or musical at the time of your visit.

Jewish or not, it’s always a good idea to expand your mind and learn about other people’s beliefs, culture, history, and more.

The Oregon Jewish Museum provides an opportunity to learn about Jewish history and beliefs and explore the famous Holocaust exhibition at the Museum.

These exhibitions provide direct insight into the lives of the Jews during World War 2, and it’s a very eye-opening experience.

If you’re in Portland and you want to learn more about the Jewish culture or the Holocaust, this is a museum that cannot be missed.