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Oregon, United States

Downtown Portland

Two nights downtown for old dining rooms, the Square's countdown and live music. We have mapped 2 sights, 1 activity and 3 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.

Plan Downtown Portland with friendsBrowse 9 places
Downtown Portland, Oregon, United States
Places
9

2 See · 1 Do · 3 Eat · 2 Drink · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

Portland New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

from our route notes

Warmest month
August

29°C / 84°F avg high

Coolest month
December

7°C / 45°F avg high

Wettest month
December

about 251 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Portland, the nearest city we track.

Things to do in Downtown Portland

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

2 sights worth building a day around across Downtown and Central Eastside. All 2 are free to visit.

  • Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Downtown PortlandPhoto: Taken by User:Cacophony. · CC BY-SA 2.5
    See

    Tom McCall Waterfront Park

    The riverside park along the Willamette, with the downtown skyline on one side and lit bridges on the other.

    Tip Walk it at night between dinner and the Square.

    • Downtown
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Night
  • Eastbank Esplanade in Downtown PortlandPhoto: Tony Webster · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Eastbank Esplanade

    Riverside path on the east bank with the best straight-on view of the downtown skyline over the water.

    Tip Cross the Hawthorne or Steel Bridge on foot for the classic skyline view.

    • Central Eastside
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Blue hour

Do

1 activity for when the group wants to do more than look in Downtown.

  • NYE drone show at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Downtown PortlandPhoto: Visitor7 · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Do

    NYE drone show at Pioneer Courthouse Square

    The city's free NYE party fills 'Portland's Living Room' with a DJ, a 9 pm family drone show and a midnight countdown show.

    Tip Food and drinks are sold inside; arrive early for space near the steps.

    • Downtown
    • Free
    • 4 hr
    • 8 pm to 12:30 am

Eat

Where we would book a table in Downtown Portland across Downtown, West End and Pearl District.

  • Huber's Cafe in Downtown PortlandPhoto: Visitor7 · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Eat

    Huber's Cafe

    Portland's oldest restaurant, founded in 1879, known for roast turkey and Spanish coffee flamed at the table.

    Tip Sit at the bar to watch the Spanish coffee pours.

    • Downtown
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Dinner
  • Jake's Famous Crawfish in Downtown PortlandPhoto: Visitor7 · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Eat

    Jake's Famous Crawfish

    Seafood house dating to 1892, with dark wood, white tablecloths and Pacific Northwest oysters and salmon.

    Tip Book for Dec 30 or an early Dec 31 seating.

    • West End
    • $$$
    • 2 hr
    • Dinner
  • Eat

    Andina

    Family-run Peruvian restaurant in the Pearl District since 2003, with ceviches, small plates and pisco cocktails.

    Tip Reserve early for NYE; the bar takes walk-ins.

    • Pearl District
    • $$$
    • 2 hr
    • Dinner

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Downtown Portland across West End and Downtown.

  • Crystal Ballroom in Downtown PortlandPhoto: Steve Morgan · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Drink

    Crystal Ballroom

    McMenamins' 1914 ballroom with a sprung 'floating' dance floor, which books a ticketed NYE concert most years.

    • West End
    • $$
    • 4 hr
    • Late
  • Drink

    Departure

    Rooftop restaurant and lounge atop The Nines, with covered, heated terraces over downtown; it typically throws a NYE party.

    Tip The terraces are covered and heated, so rain is not a dealbreaker.

    • Downtown
    • $$$
    • 2 hr
    • Late

Stay

1 place to stay we would book in Downtown.

  • Stay

    The Nines

    Hotel in the upper floors of the 1909 Meier & Frank Building, directly across from Pioneer Courthouse Square.

    Tip The closest bed to the countdown; Departure is upstairs.

    • Downtown
    • $$$$

How to fit Downtown Portland into a trip

Downtown Portland is stop 1 of 2 on our Portland New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift Downtown Portland into your own plan.

Weather by month, based on Portland

Our climate figures for Downtown Portland come from Portland, right next door. Average daily highs run from 7°C / 45°F in December to 29°C / 84°F in August. December is the wettest month, with about 251 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Portland. Portland weather (covers Downtown Portland) →

Near Downtown Portland

8 other destinations from our guides within about 250 km (155 mi), measured in a straight line.

Downtown Portland questions, answered

How many days do you need in Downtown Portland?

Our route notes suggest 2 nights in Downtown Portland. On our Portland New Year's Eve route it is stop 1 of 2 in a 3-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 17 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Downtown Portland best known for?

Two nights downtown for old dining rooms, the Square's countdown and live music. Standouts on our list: Tom McCall Waterfront Park (The riverside park along the Willamette, with the downtown skyline on one side and lit bridges on the other); Eastbank Esplanade (Riverside path on the east bank with the best straight-on view of the downtown skyline over the water); NYE drone show at Pioneer Courthouse Square (The city's free NYE party fills 'Portland's Living Room' with a DJ, a 9 pm family drone show and a midnight countdown show).

When is the best time to visit Downtown Portland?

Our Portland New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for nearby Portland put the warmest highs in August (29°C / 84°F), the coolest in December (7°C / 45°F) and the most rain in December (about 251 mm).

What are the best things to do in Downtown Portland?

Start with NYE drone show at Pioneer Courthouse Square, Tom McCall Waterfront Park and Eastbank Esplanade. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 2 sights, 1 activity, 3 places to eat, 2 bars & cafés and 1 place to stay.

Where should a group eat in Downtown Portland?

Our picks: Huber's Cafe (Downtown); Jake's Famous Crawfish (West End); Andina (Pearl District). Sit at the bar to watch the Spanish coffee pours (Huber's Cafe).

What is near Downtown Portland?

The closest destinations in our guides are Portland (about 0 km / 0 mi), Northwest Portland (about 2 km / 1 mi) and Cannon Beach (about 108 km / 67 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Downtown Portland with your crew

Open the Portland New Year's Eve route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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