Shopping Pearl District, Northwest Portland
Powell's City of Books
A place to shop in Pearl District, Northwest Portland, budget-friendly ($) and worth about 1.5 hours. Best time to go: Afternoon.
Why go
A full city block of new and used books, color-coded rooms and a rare book room, on the edge of the Pearl.
It is one of 6 curated places we feature in Northwest Portland, alongside 2 places to eat, 2 outdoor spots and 1 sight. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Powell's City of Books and Jake's Famous Crawfish.
- Type
- Shopping
- Neighborhood
- Pearl District
- Price
- $
- Time needed
- 1.5 hr
- Best time
- Afternoon
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 6 beyond Northwest Portland. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Powell's City of Books
A full city block of new and used books across color-coded rooms.
Shopping · Portland · 0.0 mi straight-line - 2Jake's Famous Crawfish
Seafood house dating to 1892, with dark wood, white tablecloths and Pacific Northwest oysters and salmon.
Food · Downtown Portland · 0.1 mi straight-line - 3Crystal Ballroom
McMenamins' 1914 ballroom with a sprung 'floating' dance floor, which books a ticketed NYE concert most years.
Drinks · Downtown Portland · 0.2 mi straight-line - 4Multnomah Whiskey Library
Leather-and-wood whiskey bar with 1,500+ bottles and a rolling cart service.
Drinks · Portland · 0.2 mi straight-line - 5Andina
Family-run Peruvian restaurant in the Pearl District since 2003, with ceviches, small plates and pisco cocktails.
Food · Downtown Portland · 0.3 mi straight-line - 6NYE 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.
Activity · Downtown Portland · 0.3 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Powell's City of Books is a stop on our Portland New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Northwest Portland
Powell's City of Books is our only shopping pick in Northwest Portland; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Northwest Portland guide.
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Lower Macleay Trail and the Stone House
Creekside trail into Forest Park past the mossy 1930s WPA Stone House, known locally as the Witch's Castle.
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Wildwood Trail, Forest Park
The 30-mile spine of one of the largest urban forests in the US, under Douglas fir and bigleaf maple.
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Pittock Mansion
1914 French Renaissance mansion high in the West Hills; its lawn looks over downtown to Mount Hood.
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Besaw's
Northwest Portland restaurant founded in 1903, now a brunch standby on NW 21st.
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Ken's Artisan Bakery
Ken Forkish's bakery on NW 21st since 2001, known for croissants, canelés and country loaves.
When to go: weather by month, based on Portland
Our climate figures for Northwest Portland come from nearby Portland. Average daily highs in Portland run from 45°F in December to 84°F in August; December is usually the wettest month. For Powell's City of Books itself, we suggest: Afternoon.
Modelled monthly averages for Portland from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Portland weather by month (covers Northwest Portland).
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Powell's City of Books, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 45.52334, -122.68159
- Destination
- Northwest Portland, Oregon
- Website
- powells.com
Powell's City of Books: quick answers
How much time do you need at Powell's City of Books?
Plan on about 1.5 hours at Powell's City of Books. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Powell's City of Books?
Our pick: Afternoon. Insider tip: Grab a map at the entrance; check holiday hours for Jan 1.
Which TripsCircle routes include Powell's City of Books?
Powell's City of Books appears on Portland New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Powell's City of Books to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Northwest Portland.
Plan Northwest Portland
- Northwest Portland travel guide 6 places
- Portland weather (covers Northwest Portland) weather by month
Lists & regions
Also in Northwest Portland
- Besaw's Food
- Lower Macleay Trail and the Stone House Outdoors
- Pittock Mansion Sight
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.