Get to Know: Hollywood
Small, but mighty — that’s the Hollywood district for you. Hollywood is Portland’s smallest neighborhood, at .17 square miles. That’s roughly 3.5 square blocks with a population of just under 2,000 people. The neighborhood is best known for the 1920s style Hollywood Theater, but there is much more to discover in Portland’s beloved Hollywood square!
Our Hollywood Favorites
In the small square of the Hollywood District, the best restaurants, bars, and shopping hotspots aren’t hard to find. They are loud, proud, and packed with loyal locals. For a perfect day in Hollywood, we selected our favorite stops and shops. Check them out!
Snacks and Sips
Start the day off at Vivienne’s Kitchen and Pantry, one of Portland’s tiny gems with fresh-baked pastries, a local wine selection, coffee, and the sweetest employees! Snacks aside, Vivienne’s is also a pantry shop with high quality baking ingredients and potted plants.
For lunch, Gado Gado is a must with traditional and family-inspired Indonesian food. Chef Thomas Pisha-Duffly curates mind-blowing Indonesian noodle bowls, curried clams, pickled veggies, and WAY more. Their to-go menu is limited compared to their normal dine-in menu, but is still stocked with delicious options. Our favorite vegan choice is the Eggplant and Mushroom Cheung Fun with pickled chili sauce.
No longer do Portland-dwellers have to travel out of the city for Chimcking’s famous fried chicken. In April, the Korean fried chicken hub opened a new location off Sandy Blvd. Wings are served in killer sauces, from a mild soy-garlic glaze to a blow-your-face-off Korean hot sauce. Take the spice down a notch with the cioppino stew from Cabezon with fresh shrimp, crab, and mussels. Both restaurants are officially open for dine-in!
Hollywood is home to the ORIGINAL Killer Burger — aka the famous peanut butter and pickle bacon burger. And finally, they have vegan patties (extra delish with red peppers and grilled onions)! Killer Burger started out as a locally-owned, rock-and-roll themed burger joint with a small menu and epic burgers. Since 2010, they have gained well-deserved notoriety and are officially a Portland staple.
One of our favorite shops to satisfy a sweet tooth is Doe’s Donuts for vegan treats! We love an adventure and their donuts fit the bill — Earl Grey glazes, French toast batter, rhubarb, and mojito drizzles? Yum!
Wrap up the night at the beautifully designed Wonderly cocktail bar. The bar is designed with mid-century modern furniture, hanging plants, vintage barstools, and touches of gold. The drinks are equally impressive — try the mezcal Cat Shack!
Shops and Activities
If you’re in the shopping mood, swing by Hollywood Babylon Vintage for quirky and unique trinkets. You’ll find beautiful antique furniture finds and events at Antique Alley — one of the best shops to swing into if you have an eye for vintage furniture and need design inspiration!
The Hollywood Farmers Market — open Saturdays 8am-1pm — is the market of your dreams! Beyond fresh produce stands, the farmers market is a bazaar of Portland artists, bakers, sommeliers, and ethical food vendors. The market stands may change weekly, but you can always find your favorites on their vendor list! Your pups are welcome, but make sure you keep them on a short leash and keep them away from the tasty produce. We’ve learned that one the hard way...whoops!
The famous children’s book author, Beverly Cleary, grew up and wrote her beloved books right here in Portland. We are able to honor her through a walking tour of her immortalized characters in the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden. The garden is perfect for an outing with little ones or a nostalgic, solo stroll!
Unbeknownst to most, the neighborhood was originally named Hollyrood after the Scottish Holyrood, and was not renamed until its new namesake, the Hollywood Theater ,opened on Sandy blvd in 1926. Now, the theater is registered in the National Register of Historic Places and regularly plays contemporary and classic movies. Get ready to snag your tickets — the post-pandemic reopening is scheduled for July 2021.
Daily Life
Houses in Hollywood are often large, older Craftsman or Bungalow-style homes. In lieu of the neighborhood vibe, houses are symbiotically designed with modern elements and historical features like 1950s tiling, preserved fireplaces, and stained-glass windows and inserts. As a plus, rent and mortgage rates are lower than similar neighborhoods in Portland. Because of the neighborhood’s size, day-to-day errands can be completed in a snap. Bus stops are moderately available, but most residents in the area utilize the MAX, keeping the transit score at 70! For those who prefer to stroll or bike, Hollywood has a 94 score for both!
Popo & Archer Take Hollywood
Today, we took a nice, long walk through the streets of Hollywood! The neighborhood is limited with nature parks, so we adventured in the sports fields and green area of Grant’s Park, next to Grant High School. There was still loads of space for zoomies and a quick game of fetch before the little league team showed up! Afterwards, we ventured just outside Hollywood to Normandale Park, where we were allowed to play off-leash in the 1.5 acre, enclosed field!
When is your next day off? The Hollywood district is the perfect place for a full day in the city — breakfast, dinner, drinks, and activities in between, all in a 3.5 square block radius! Bring your pup and tucker them out on a walk through the neighborhood square. Can you make it to all of our favorite spots?
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Food & Drinks:
Shops:
Activities:
Beverly Clearly Sculpture Garden
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!
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