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Neighborhood of Providence in Rhode Island, United States
Photo: Filetime, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
College Hill is a district in Providence, Rhode Island. It is approximately bounded by North Main Street to the west, Williams Street to the south, Governor Street and Arlington Avenue to the east, and Olney Street to the north.
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The memorial is on a common lot of the original settlement of Providence, and celebrates our Freedom of Religion as first proclaimed by Roger Williams (1603-1683) and now set forth in the First Amendment of the Constitution. The memorial is set upon 4.5 acres of landscaped park and includes several interpretive exhibits about Roger Williams and his time, including a short film.
Historic house of John Brown, a member of the Orient trade and one of the early benefactors of Brown University. The first mansion ever built in Providence (in 1768). It is available today for tours including original pieces from the Brown Estate.
This park is the burial site of Roger Williams and contains a monument of him. It offers one of the most spectacular views of the city of Providence.
If you appreciate art, this is probably a place you should stop by. It was founded in 1880 to increase the appreciation of art in the local community. It is home to studios, galleries, and a clubhouse, and is a popular hangout for local artists. Maxwell Mays Gallery and Dodge House Gallery are free to the public.
This library was founded in 1753 and is listed as a National Historic Landmark. It is a member-supported library, and is free to the public regardless of whether or not you're a member. This is more than just a library: it holds many historical and cultural artifacts from the surrounding area, and is a great way to discover some of the city's history.
This building was built in 1722 by John Carter and is one of the oldest structures in Providence. It was implemented for printing the Providence Gazette. Contains a popular garden relative to the area.
Built in 1930, the Courthouse is one of the earliest examples of architectural contextualism anywhere. The building's large mass is tastefully fragmented and detailed.
The RISD Museum
It was founded in 1877 as a part of the Rhode Island School of Design. Home to 84,000 works of arts from various time periods, the museum thrives on its diversity, creative and cultural expression and its consistency to open new exhibits. This museum has a variety of different styles. While it does showcase some local talent, exhibits showcasing international artists are often a big part of the museum experience. Tours are available, as are special activities for families.
Visit this historic mansion from the Victorian era for a chance to see some beautiful architecture and a small piece of Providence history. Today it is a National Historic Landmark and available for guided tours and even wedding receptions. Located near College Hill, this mansion includes original stained windows and stenciling which is a must see.
150,000 ethnographic and archaeological objects from all over the world. The museum collection illustrates and documents human cultures and societies worldwide. The collection is strong in the indigenous arts of the Americas, Africa, and Southeast Asia, and has smaller collections from other parts of the world.
This is a historic church built in 1816.
This is a historic church built in 1874.
One of the four original colonial parishes in Rhode Island, established in 1722. Church constructed in 1810.
This historic landmark is one of the oldest churches in the country. It has been on College Hill since 1638. The current building dates to 1775.
Greek Revival building from 1854.
A College Hill institution since the 1930s, the Avon shows independent and foreign films in its genuine Art Deco theater. It's a funky Thayer Street independent theater often showing one-two films a week. Films change every Thursday and showtimes are usually 3-4 times daily starting in the afternoon. The seats aren't as comfortable as more as newer stadium-style theaters and the picture resolution is low. Still a great time and one of the only places in the city to see independent films. Evening admission is $9.50 and matinees are $7.25.
Offers some of the only authentic local Greek/American cuisine. The menu consists of souvlaki's and other traditional Greek cuisine but often with an Americanized twist. The burgers are particularly sensational as are the expansive salads. For those that are interested in something new, try the saganaki flambe (read flaming cheese). After 10PM the kitchen closes and Andreas caters to late night drinkers while maintaining a bar menu. Entrees range from $8-22.
A popular pizzeria chain that features pizza by the slice in almost 40 unique varieties, including chicken quesadilla and tortellini. Reasonable prices, offers $1 cheese slices late at night which is awesome for nights after too much drinking. It is always full of college students, and can be very busy at lunch time and late at night.
If the delicious smell of Indian food doesn’t draw you in, the brightly colored dining room most certainly will. A decades old local institution providing both standard and original fare with many vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free, and halal dishes. If you have an iPhone and are interested in ordering takeout, you can do so with the restaurant’s free app. Kabob and curry features an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet on Sundays from 11:30AM-3:30PM. Voted the best Indian food in Rhode Island, and the voting public is not wrong. Takeout and delivery available.
East Side Pockets has excellent falafel, served in pockets, in salads, or alone, along with a range of other Middle Eastern pocket fare. Vegetarian and vegan options. Pockets are less than $7. Take out or counter seating.
Awesome little hole in the wall, where you can get tasty dinner and dessert crepes as well as smoothies for fairly cheap. Also, their late night hours are a big plus.
In the mood for a cookie the size of a hubcap? Meeting Street Café is the place for you! You can enjoy your giant cookie with one of their many salads, sandwiches, and soups, too. BYOB.
Modeled after a typical Manhattan eatery, its environment is said to be “sensual, elegant, and reliable,” by The Providence Journal.
Want to embrace your inner hipster and enjoy a nice cup o' joe but find some of the other selections in the area a bit too hip for your tastes? Not to worry, there's a Starbucks to be found as well. Pour your mochacchino into a Tealuxe cup and no one will doubt your street cred.
The last independent trade (Ivy League) college bookstore in the country, it offers only new books as well as Brown University merchandise. They also offer small trinkets that can make for good presents. It has a small cafe inside with tables and chairs to curl up with a good book, or one's class work and relax with a coffee. If you ever happen to be cavorting around Brown University and you think to yourself, “Hey, I really wish there was place around here I could grab a book and a drink, throw on my Brown sweater and contemplate the world and its ills,” stop in at the University Bookstore. There’s sure to be plenty of rich students doing the same.
Features clothes, jewelry, books, incense, and gifts meant to enhance well-being. Many of the products are imported from Asia. Those looking for exotic, handmade clothes, tapestries, and jewelry would enjoy this store. It carries quite a variety of odds and ends, but it is very interesting. Do not go in if you do not like the smell of incense. The man who owns it is usually always at the cash register, he is very personable and always interested in having conversations with the people that come into his shop.
A quirky shop that stocks a range of eclectic items, from Baconnaise and Bob Marley posters to vintage Pam Am bags and novelty ice cube trays.
This is a chain, but if you're looking for some more popular (or, as it may be, generic) threads or quirky gifts, check this place out.
risd|works sells functional pieces designed by Rhode Island School of Design Alumni and Faculty. Great for finding fun and unique gifts.
By train
The Amtrak Station in Providence is within walking distance of College Hill. Walk north on Gaspee Street until you reach Smith Street and take a left.
By car
From the south: take I-95 North toward Providence entering Rhode Island. Exit right onto I-195 E/US-6 E (signs for I-195/E Providence/US-6 E). Take exit 3 toward Gano St. Turn left at Wickenden St.
Parking
There is parking at a reasonable rate at the Providence Place Mall, which is found right off of exit 22C off of 95.
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Providence/Warwick · International · PVD
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