Originally known as Mount Tabor Villa, Montavilla is a historic neighbourhood in Portland that once served as a rest point for travellers en route from Hood River. It centres around a busy commercial hub filled with vintage stores and restaurants, together with a stone marker erected in 1854 to indicate the five-mile distance to Portland.

Things to do

Relax in the picturesque Montavilla Park, which boasts a children’s playground, a futsal field and paved walking trails. Also nearby is the 77-hectare Mount Tabor Park where you’ll find sporting courts, an outdoor amphitheatre and an off-leash dog area. You can stretch your legs on the walking trail that leads to Mount Tabor’s summit, which offers spectacular views across the Portland skyline and the distant West Hills.

Admire the whitewashed Mission Revival architecture of the Monastery of the Precious Blood, which was designed by Jacobberger & Smith in the 1920s and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also of note is the Academy Theater, which opened in 1948 and has been beautifully renovated as a three-screen cinema playing second-run movies and classics.

You can browse the vintage wares for sale at Cactus Records or discover pre-loved gems at the Monticello Antique Market, then pick up locally-made goods at Union Rose. Once you’ve built up an appetite, there’s a diverse choice of eateries in Montavilla that range from the German-inspired Fressen Bakery and Hanoi Kitchen to the East Glisan Pizza Lounge.

Getting around

Portland International Airport is the main gateway to the city and lies around 15 minutes’ drive from Montavilla while the Downtown area is 20 minutes away. Buses are the main means of getting around the neighbourhood and the NE 82nd Avenue tram stops on Montavilla’s northern edge.