Hawthorne Blvd & Belmont Street

Though Portland is not as visibly gay a city as 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 gayborhood.  Trendy, affordable and funky coffeehouses, bars, secondhand shops and boutiques line Hawthorne Boulevard and Belmont Street.

Pearl District

Once an industrial district, the Pearl has sprung to life in recent years, its old warehouses converted into chic restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and lounges. Stylish and luxurious apartments stand alongside the neighborhood’s older structures, which include Powell’s City of Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world, located on Northwest 10th Avenue and West Burnside Street. You will also find vintage clothing and used record stores, new up and coming restaurants, brewpubs, specialty retail stores and galleries.

Old Town/Chinatown

Snug between the Willamette River and the Pearl, this historic district contains numerous galleries and gay bars and clubs. It is also home to the Portland Saturday Market.

Southwest Stark Street/Burnside Triangle

Portland’s most visibly gay community is comprised of a triangular set of city blocks known by some as the Burnside Triangle. Bordered by Southwest Alder, S.W. 14th Ave., West Burnside Street and Southwest Broadway Street, this area is known for its nightlife, boutiques and restaurants. The area has also been a meeting place for Portland’s LGBT community since the turn of the 20th century.

Mississippi Avenue

Ethnically and culturally diverse, Mississippi Avenue is one of several eastside neighborhoods where independent businesses and creative spirits thrive.  This area is considered to be Portland’s up-and-coming gayborhood and it provides visitors with a taste of the city’s quirky character.