Welcome to the stunning and vibrant district of NW Portland. Nestled between one of the largest urban natural areas in the United States (Forest Park) and the Willamette River, where you are sure to find endless adventures while visiting Portland, Oregon.

With this wonderful neighborhood located just across the river from our Portland Leather HQ, we decided to take you on a virtual tour for the day!

8:24 AM

Start your day off with a cup of rich Open School Blend Coffee from Good Coffee in Slabtown. Their locally roasted coffee and tasty treats should set your day in the right trajectory and fill you with a little caffeine boost. 

Read a new thriller or just sit and enjoy the sunshine…the fun has only just begun.

PS: In case you’re wondering, Portland has 51.8 coffee shops per capita! So, maybe you have more than one cup😉

9:17 AM

Alright, so right around the corner is Pistils, an exquisite nursery for all your indoor plant dreams to come to life! They offer an array of succulents and tropicals to liven up that corner of the home that’s been missing something.

[Peep their Instagram]

This little stop early in the morning might just be a window shopping affair since they don’t open until 11 am, but then again you don’t want to be walking around with a cactus all day! Maybe swing by later to pick up a new plant friend.

9:53 AM

Zip up to NW 23rd on one of those annoyingly convenient scooters to some premier shopping experiences. 

10:01 AM

That was fast! Now, we recommend starting around Thurman and 23rd. There’s a quaint bakery, St. Honore’, that you might want to grab a lil’ snack at.  There’s a few gems right up Thurman worth glancing at including: Betsy & Iya and Oxalis. These two fabulous boutiques offer an array of jewelry and apparel.

Strolling down the westside of the street of 23rd head South towards Burnside.

Walking down the street you will enjoy the architectural lines of old Vicotrian homes mixed with the backsplash of contemporary buildings. Continue your saunter up to Lovejoy, where the real shopping overload begins.

12:23 PM

There’s eclectic home goods stores (Ford Grey/Budd+Finn), clothing shops galore and so much along this side of 23rd. You might get a little carried away during this part of the day so we’ve listed some of our faves for a must stop:

• Paxton Gate (a VERY oddity shop indeed, worth the look)
• Free People
• Sloan Boutique 
• PrAna Portland
• Tender Loving Empire (fun local gift shop!)

While shopping you will certainly need a little nourishment along the way for lunch and we suggest a quick stop at local favorite Harlow for some cozy vegetarian dishes.

If you are looking to add some steps after lunch, you can head towards Urban Outfitters. From there you can hop to the other side of 23rd.

3:45 PM

Okay, you’re recharged and ready to hit the opposite side of 23rd and you better be ready! You can start by browsing Smith Teamaker for some take-home tea blends like Meadow or Lover’s Leap for at-home enjoyment.

 Head back down 23rd and you’ll discover some of your new favorite shops. 

• Ipnosi (women’s clothing store)
• Paper Source (experience the meaning of paper!)
• Do you have a pet? Hip Hound has some fun products.
• Looking for cosmetics: Kiehl’s or Lush has you covered  

4:43 PM

Around this time you probably have arrived at our personal favorite stop…yup, the magical Portland Leather Retail Store!! Shout for joy and head on it. You will be greeted by smiling faces and the smell of full-grain leather products. Shop around, spend some time and enjoy the store.

5:26 PM

Alright, you’re back to cruising down 23rd. You can hit up a couple more exciting home goods stores and proceed to other fun gift shops and clothing retails before dinner.

7:09 PM

Looking for something cozy and intimate to relax for a delicious dinner? We recommend heading across the street from the Portland Leather Store to the warming ambience of Fireside. Seasonal outdoor patio and toasty fireplace inside will surely delight!

Other dining experiences in NW Portland can be found on PDX Eater.

8:25 PM

The after dinner cocktail is an essential in NW Portland. There’s several McMennamins’ options to choose from including Ram’s Head which has a low key setting with exceptionally crafted cocktails. 

There’s an endless list of great options but here’s a quick look at some NW PDX staples:

• 23 Hoyt (modern craft cocktails)
• Jo Bar & Rotisserie
• Southland Whiskey Kitchen (looking for a vast selections of bourbon, then this is your spot)
• Beer Lover? Try Breakside Brewery in Slabtown
• Bantam Tavern (Crimson King, anyone?)

10:14 PM

Coffee, lunch, shopping, leather, shopping, drinks!! Oh ya, maybe have your Lyft driver make a quick pit stop at Salt & Straw for a pint of Maple & Bacon Streusel Ice Cream for home.