Hillsdale

About Hillsdale

Nestled in the forested hills of southwest Portland, the Hillsdale neighborhood exudes a family-friendly suburban vibe with close-in access to downtown.  The neighborhood is anchored by the Hillsdale town center, which houses shops and restaurants in a series of strip malls with mid-century charm.

On weekend mornings, wake up to waffles at Gigi’s Café. This breakfast spot favorite features caramelized-sugar liege waffles and gluten-free varieties piled with decadently delicious options.  A few doors down, you’ll find made-from-scratch, hearth-baked breads, pastries, and cakes at Baker & Spice.  Around the corner, you can travel the world with an eclectic mix of global cuisine in a vibrant setting at Salvador Molly’s.

You can easily tackle all of your errands at the town center, including running into the bank, the dry cleaners, the pharmacy, and picking up groceries at Food Front Cooperative Market.  But there are also some notable shops tucked here and there. You’ll find stylish, natural fiber fashions at Paloma Clothing.

A cornerstone of the neighborhood is the Hillsdale Library, which was originally built in 1957 and then remodeled and reopened in 2004 as Portland’s first certified LEED building.  Sidewalks are in short supply in Hillsdale, but network of pedestrian trails crisscross the neighborhood, connecting the neighborhood’s green spaces, including George Himes City Park, which is a forested gem on the slopes of the West Hills offering peeks of Mount Hood.  The best place to cool off in the summer months is Wilson Pool, which features a six-lane lap pool with a diving board, a family pool with water slides, a lazy river, and a splash park.  The pool is located at Wilson High School, which is one of Portland’s top-ranked public high schools.

Along Hillsdale’s quiet, residential streets, most of the homes sit on larger lots and were built after the 1940s. Typical styles include ranch homes from the 1960s and 70s mixed in with more contemporary architecture.