Things to Do in Old Town Chinatown, Portland
Explore Old Town Chinatown - Raw authenticity collides with creative revival—incense curls into vape clouds and the past feels alive, not preserved.
Explore ActivitiesDiscover Old Town Chinatown
Old Town Chinatown stretches along NW 3rd and 4th Avenues between Burnside and Everett, redbrick walls streaked with rain and neon. Five-spice and char siu drift from barbecue windows, mahjong tiles clack from upstairs social clubs, and dragon motifs curl above doorways that have welcomed immigrants since the 1880s. The district sits on the eastern edge of downtown Portland, where Victorian storefronts hold both century-old Chinese apothecaries and third-wave coffee spots roasting beans that smell like caramel and cedar. Walk through Old Town Chinatown and you'll see the neighborhood flaunt its contradictions. Tattoo parlors trade customers with traditional herbalists, food carts sling hand-pulled ramen beside galleries showing contemporary Asian-American art. Old railway tracks still scar the sidewalks, and if you arrive early, elderly residents practice tai chi in Ankeny Square, their slow arcs reflected in the glass of nearby tech offices.
Why Visit Old Town Chinatown?
Atmosphere
Raw authenticity collides with creative revival—incense curls into vape clouds and the past feels alive, not preserved.
Price Level
$$
Safety
moderate
Perfect For
Old Town Chinatown is ideal for these types of travelers
Top Attractions in Old Town Chinatown
Don't miss these Old Town Chinatown highlights
Lan Su Chinese Garden
Pass through the circular moon gate into a Song Dynasty-style courtyard where koi send rings across still water and jasmine drifts from clipped tea plants. Carved wooden pavilions frame downtown's glass towers, staging a deliberate conversation between centuries.
Tip: Arrive for the 10am weekday opening when morning light strikes the rock garden just right and the crowds are still elsewhere.
Historic Chinatown Gate
The green-tiled gate at 4th and Burnside rises sixty feet, its golden dragons catching late sun while traffic growls beneath. The carved characters spell 'Portland Chinatown' in calligraphy that took master craftsmen six months to finish.
Tip: Shoot from the northwest corner at dusk when the gate lights throw sharp shadows against the brick walls.
Ankeny Square and Plaza Blocks
These linked parks serve as the neighborhood's living room—tai chi at dawn, chess pieces clicking under gingko trees, food trucks handing out char siu bao that steam in cool morning air.
Tip: Pick up coffee from Boke Bowl's cart on SW 3rd and eat at the square's stone tables while the neighborhood wakes.
Old Town Pizza
Housed in the 1886 Merchant Hotel, this basement pizzeria keeps the original brick ovens and a resident ghost named Nina. Wood smoke and garlic drift up the narrow stairs, mingling with pinball sounds from the next-door bar.
Tip: Order the house-made sausage pizza and ask for the former opium den room—it's quieter and still has the original pressed-tin ceiling.
Where to Eat in Old Town Chinatown
Taste the best of Old Town Chinatown's culinary scene
Shandong Restaurant
Northern Chinese
Specialty: Hand-pulled beef noodles with cilantro and chili oil ($12-15)
Good Taste Noodle House
Hong Kong-style
Specialty: Roast duck and wonton soup with chewy egg noodles ($10-14)
Bing Mi
Chinese street food cart
Specialty: Jianbing crepes with crispy wonton and house chili sauce ($8-11)
Republic Cafe
Classic Cantonese
Specialty: Salt and pepper squid and honey-walnut prawns ($16-22)
Old Town Chinatown After Dark
Experience the nightlife scene
Kelly's Olympian
A biker bar pouring whiskey since 1902, now hung with vintage motorcycles and a younger crowd hunting cheap PBR.
Rock and roll dive, motorcycle culture
Multnomah Whiskey Library
Above the Chinatown gates, this dim library-themed bar needs reservations but pays off with leather couches and a whiskey list longer than some novels.
Speakeasy sophistication, cocktail enthusiasts
The Society Hotel rooftop
The converted 1881 sailor's hotel opens its rooftop to non-guests after 5pm, giving views over neon signs while you drink locally-brewed beer.
Traveler-friendly, sunset drinks
Getting Around Old Town Chinatown
MAX light rail's Chinatown/Old Town station sits on the district's edge—green and yellow lines reach downtown in three minutes and the airport in 40. The streetcar loops through every 15 minutes, though the whole district is a 20-minute walk if the weather holds. TriMet buses roll frequently along Burnside and 3rd Avenue, and you'll spot more Uber/Lyft drivers than yellow cabs. Bike-share stations pepper the corners, but beware: the cobblestones on NW 3rd will rattle your teeth.
Where to Stay in Old Town Chinatown
Recommended accommodations in the area
The Society Hotel
Mid-range/Boutique
$100-180
Ace Hotel Portland
Boutique
$150-250
McMenamins Crystal Hotel
Mid-range
$120-200
HI Portland Northwest Hostel
Budget
$35-60
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Explore Old Town Chinatown Your Way
From Lan Su Chinese Garden to hidden gems, Old Town Chinatown offers something for everyone. Book your activities now and experience the best of this district.
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