Welcome back to Northwest Portland, and the lovely Nob Hill neighborhood. Nob Hill is lively, vibrant, and centrally located between some of the hottest spots in NW Portland, in the Alphabet District. Residents and visitors of Nob Hill are bordered by NW 23rd and Burnside to the South, NW Thurman and Vaughn to the East, Highway 30 to the North and Nob Hill Elementary School/Chapman Park to the West. The area is home to many wonderful locally owned shops, restaurants, bars, coffeehouses and more. It's also a great place for nature lovers with plenty of hiking trails and parks nearby. And last but not least, Nob Hill is one of the most dog friendly neighborhoods in Portland (which you know we love!)

If you are struggling to find your bearings in and around Nob Hill, you aren’t alone! The neighborhood is technically a sector of the greater NW Portland neighborhood, Uptown, and the Alphabet district. 

See what we mean — check out the map below, outlining Nob Hill in a quaint “boot” shape. Portland’s own Little Italy! ⬇️⬇️

Join us on a tour of the vibrant and exciting neighborhood of Nob Hill.

As we tour the neighborhood, you’ll notice outstanding local and corporate owned businesses lining the streets, shoulder to shoulder. Because Nob Hill is packed to the brim with incredible restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops, we are rapid-firing our top 15 favorite joints below.

St. Jack — Perfect atmosphere for a date night or special treat yourself occasion. 

Papa Haydn – Order a simple espresso and a slice of the chocolate raspberry gâteau… Trust us. 

G-Love – Described as a “reverse steakhouse” where veggies are the stars and proteins are featured as supporting role.

Caffee Mingo – Full-flavor Italian home style cooking.

23Hoyt – Swanky New American spot with one of the best happy hour menus in the area.

Bar Diane – Rotating wine menu, curated cocktails, and a delish seafood selection. If you enjoy wine, we suggest asking the bartender for whichever rotating orange wine they have available. Oh, there’s two you say? As for the funkiest of the two!

Ringside – A Portland (and nationally recognized) classic! While everyone heads to Ringside for the steak and onion rings, their crab cakes are unbeatable!

Bunk Sandwiches – Casual, on the go sandwiches with a kick.

Nong's Khao Man Gai – Everything on the menu is available in vegetarian and vegan options. Wooohoo!

You’ll need a jolt of caffeine while you’re strolling Nob Hill. Here are some of the best places to get coffee in Nob Hill:

Caffe Vita – Perfect for students and WFH employees, Caffe Vita has a large space with plenty of seating and outlets.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters – A classic that never disappoints! Their vegan breakfast sandwiches are unbeatable. 

Heart Coffee Roasters – Calm, relaxing environment to catch up with friends, or grab a quick cup to go.

While all the restaurants and cafés we’ve touched on so far offer vegetarian and vegan options, here are a few that cater specifically to our vegan friends:

Laughing Planet – Busy vegans on the go! Get high quality, fresh, healthy food fast.

Harlow – Their brunch menu is anything but basic.

Blossoming Lotus – Farm-to-table ingredients, sourced from local farms!

Nob Hill is also home to a variety of attractions, including museums, art galleries, and plenty of outdoor adventures. Whether you're a local or just visiting, Nob Hill is definitely worth exploring.

Stroll the Nob Hill blocks, and you’ll notice shoulder-to-shoulder locally owned shops, boutiques, book stores, and artist popups. In this tight-knit community, residents support the success of their neighbors. We are only touching on a few of Nob Hill’s locally owned shops — for the full experience, we suggest blocking out a day, grabbing a coffee at Sunny Day coffee at the southernmost point of 23rd and Burnside, and taking a leisurely stroll through the blocks!

For now, check out these locally owned shops and learn about the Portland locals who founded them:

MadeHere —  John Connor (CEO of MadeHere PDX) founded in 2014 with a group of fellow local entrepreneurs who all saw a unique opportunity to showcase locally-made goods in a large gallery-style environment. The store focuses on “high quality and design savvy goods made within Portland and the Pacific Northwest.”

Like Nobody’s Business — This “little shop on the corner” was founded by a wife and husband duo in 2018. They launched their store as “a place where artisans from places far and near would have the fruits of their labors displayed and enjoyed in a protected environment.”

Budd & Finn — Kevin Pilla founded Budd & Finn in 2013, purely out of his undeniable love for animals and the Portland community. The gift and pet goods shop is named after his two dogs, “since they represent to us that essence of comfort & home; not too fussy and full of life.”

Crossroads — The NW go-to thrift shop, where locals buy and sell secondhand clothes. Founded in 1991 by Jerry Block and Chip Gerken, Crossroads was one of the first secondhand buy/sell shops in the city! 

The Yo! Store — Founded in 2016, Yo! is a trendy women’s and kid’s shop, known for their matching mom-child outfits (plus, so much more). “Having moved from London in 2009, Sarah brings her European influence and previous buying experience to create a unique assortment of children, women’s and home goods”

Portland Leather — This is a leather-goods store we can get behind! Portland Leather sources all their hides from, “the U.S. beef industry, ensuring that materials that would otherwise go to waste can have a second life. Those hides are tanned in award-winning facilities that not only meet, but continually redefine the standard for eco-forward practices in the field.” Incredible! Although the shop was founded and based in Portland, their artisan workshop — The Studio — is located in León, Mexico.

Nob Hill is a historic district in Northwest Portland, Oregon. Back in the day, Nob Hill was home to some of Portland's most affluent residents — now it’s one of the city's trendiest neighborhoods. With a mix of businesses and residences, Nob Hill is home to a diverse population, with residents of all ages and backgrounds. 

The neighborhood is centrally located, making it easy to get around town. Whether you're looking for an urban adventure or a quiet respite, Nob Hill is the perfect place to call home! Between apartment complexes and single family homes, prices of homes vary depending on the type and the location. However, Nob Hill is generally considered to be a more expensive neighborhood than other parts of Portland. 

Living in Nob Hill equates to big-city fun in a communal, neighborly atmosphere. Nob Hill has a stunning Walk Score of 93, and a Bike Score of 90! Most daily errands are accessible without a car. Transit is available in Nob Hill, but most residents choose to travel by foot or bike. For wheelchair and powerchair users, transit buses and MAX light rail cars are accessible, and most sidewalks in NW PDX have curb cuts.

There aren’t too many parks in Nob Hill (well… there aren’t any) but we got our steps in strolling along 23rd Avenue. However, when our dads take to Nob Hill, they treat us to a trip to a nearby park! We’ve visited Macleay Park, Washington Park, or Wallace Park. Truth be told, we get tuckered out from our city strolls alone!

Nob Hill! The ideal place for a true lover of Portland!

...Are you an environmentally conscious shopper?

...Do you prefer to shop locally? 

...Is convenience and accessibility important to your day-to-day life?

...Do you value variety? 

…Yes to all of the above? Well, then we found your perfect Portland neighborhood!

Don’t hesitate to reach out – let’s get you settled in Nob Hill and off to find your next adventure!

Find links below to everything we covered in this blog (plus a few extras)

Food & Drinks:

Ringside 

Sunny Day coffee 

Activities:

Popo and Archer’s Favorites!

Eager to continue exploring Portland? Thinking about moving to our beautiful city? Check out all of our featured community blogs and find the perfect Portland neighborhood for you!