How many bars and pubs are there in Portland's busiest areas?
We counted 211 bars and pubs within 1 km of the centres of 8 Portland areas. Downtown is the most crowded at 18.1 per km²; Sellwood is the least, at 1.6.
Mapped
211
in 8 areas
Busiest area
18.1/km²
Downtown
Average rating
4.5★
places with 10+ reviews
Last scanned
13 October
2026
Bars and pubs by area, most crowded first
Measured within 1 km of the centre: LOW under 5, MODERATE 5–15, HIGH 15–40, INTENSE over 40 places per km².
| Area | Within 1 km | Per km² | Avg rating | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown4.4★ average | 5718.1/km² | 18.1 | 4.4★ | HIGH |
| Pearl District4.5★ average | 4614.6/km² | 14.6 | 4.5★ | MODERATE |
| Hawthorne4.5★ average | 299.2/km² | 9.2 | 4.5★ | MODERATE |
| Nob Hill4.5★ average | 237.3/km² | 7.3 | 4.5★ | MODERATE |
| Mississippi Avenue4.5★ average | 196.0/km² | 6.0 | 4.5★ | MODERATE |
| Alberta Arts District4.5★ average | 165.1/km² | 5.1 | 4.5★ | MODERATE |
| Division Street4.5★ average | 165.1/km² | 5.1 | 4.5★ | MODERATE |
| Sellwood4.5★ average | 51.6/km² | 1.6 | 4.5★ | LOW |
Where is it least crowded?
- SellwoodLOW
5 bars and pubs within 1 km (1.6 per km²), averaging 4.5★.
- Division StreetMODERATE
16 bars and pubs within 1 km (5.1 per km²), averaging 4.5★.
- Alberta Arts DistrictMODERATE
16 bars and pubs within 1 km (5.1 per km²), averaging 4.5★.
Fewer bars and pubs is not the same as more demand. Look at foot traffic and rents before you read a quiet area as an opening.
How they are rated
All 211 bars and pubs in the 8 areas, by rating. Places with fewer than 10 reviews are counted apart.
- 4.5 and up119 (56%)
- 4.0 to 4.475 (36%)
- 3.5 to 3.96 (3%)
- Below 3.51 (0%)
- Under 10 reviews10 (5%)
Chains seen most
No brand has two outlets inside any one area circle: these areas are mostly independents.
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Questions
Is Portland saturated with bars and pubs?
It depends on the street. Within 1 km of the 8 area centres we mapped, density runs from 1.6 per km² in Sellwood to 18.1 per km² in Downtown. 1 of the 8 areas counts as high or intense competition (over 15 per km²). Check the exact address you have in mind before you commit.
Which Portland area has the most bars and pubs?
Downtown, with 57 within 1 km of its centre (18.1 per km²). Next come Pearl District (46) and Hawthorne (29).
What is the average rating of bars and pubs in Portland?
4.5 out of 5, across the 201 bars and pubs with at least 10 reviews in the areas we mapped. The highest area average is Nob Hill (4.5), the lowest Downtown (4.4).
How was this counted?
We scanned a 1 km circle around the centre of each area on 13 October 2026 and counted every bar on the map inside it. Places missing from the map or opened since are not counted, so treat the numbers as a floor. Circles of neighbouring areas can overlap, so a place near two centres is counted in both, and the figures are not a total for the whole of Portland.