Renting a place in Portland can be a bit of a blood sport—so let us here at Portland Monthly help you. A couple of times a month, we’ll be compiling a quick list of digs for rent in the city right now, at a variety of price points. This time, all our picks are in Southwest Portland, from downtown to the edge of the burbs. We’re on the lookout for non-cookie-cutter spaces—think antique detailing or useful amenities—without breaking the bank. This week: homes with cobblestone courtyards, clawfoot tubs and within walking distance of the Central Library.    

$1,805, Goose Hollow Townhouse, two bedrooms

Southwest and downtown can feel like the most bustling, urban parts of Portland, but this 1930s townhouse, just a few blocks from the sprawling greenery of Washington Park, offers the best of both worlds. It’s the details that shine in this 830-square-foot property, from the staircase’s wrought-iron banisters to the vintage tile in the kitchen to the lantern-lined cobblestone courtyard. 

$925, The Gentry Apartments, studios and one-bedrooms

These apartments radiate Old World elegance, from its warmly lit, velvet-covered atrium to the units with their mahogany-trimmed doorways and walk-in closets. Some units even offer cupboards with stained glass and access to an outdoor garden patio. There’s no shortage of excellent food options nearby like community favorite Addy’s Sandwich Bar or Portland Monthly Best Restaurant 2021 finalist Toki.  

$3,300, Burlingame Bungalow, four bedrooms

This sizable spot (2,336 square feet, with two bathrooms!) has wide and ornately decorated windows that put the leafy old-growth trees that the neighborhood is known for front and center. If that’s not enough, its wooden backyard deck is a rustic retreat to kick up your feet and unwind with a great book and drink of your choice. 

$1,350, Villa Jene Apartments, one bedroom

The Villa Jene Apartments, built in 1909 and currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, hit the marks for lovers of historic architecture. Original lighting fixtures? Check. Clawfoot bathtubs? Check. Brick exterior with European influence, including a marble staircase? Check and check. And, on the border between Goose Hollow and Nob Hill, it has no shortage of boutiques, bars, and restaurants within walking distance. (Bonus: no need to worry about parking on Timbers/Thorns game days.)

$635, Jefferson Plaza Apartments, studios and one-bedrooms

This modestly sized apartment building is right in the middle of the action. Coffee, pizza, and Thai (the three Portland food groups) are all within walking distance, as are Lincoln High School, Multnomah County's Central Library, and the Portland Art Museum. Studios are pretty compact, starting at just 200 square feet, but the price tag is comparatively gentle, too.