Mills 50

What locals love

• Colonialtown, Lake Eola Heights, Park Lake Highland, and Hillcrest -- four historic residential neighborhoods inside one district
• Vietnamese-American commercial corridor on Mills Avenue since the late 1970s; Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants at Mills Market food hall
• No HOA or CDD -- craftsman bungalows and mid-century ranches on walkable blocks, priced from the high $300Ks
• Hillcrest Elementary rated 10/10 by GreatSchools and named a 2024-25 FLDOE School of Excellence
• Live music at Will's Pub, street art on nearly every block, Track Shack running store hosting community race series

A brief history

The district takes its name from the intersection of Mills Avenue (US 17-92) and State Road 50 (Colonial Drive). Vietnamese refugees began settling in the Colonialtown neighborhood along Mills Avenue in the late 1970s following the Vietnam War. The first Vietnamese restaurant, Hung Kim, opened at 1112 Mills Ave in 1983. Long Kim Thu, the first Vietnamese grocery and pharmacy, opened at 811 Mills Ave in 1985. Little Saigon Restaurant, which opened in 1987 under Vu Nguyen and Mai Huynh, operated at 1112 Mills Ave for 38 years before closing in December 2025 when the owners retired. The City of Orlando officially designated the area as a Main Street District in 2019, joining the Main Streets America national program.

The housing mix

Mills 50 is a patchwork of sub-neighborhoods, each with its own housing era. Lake Eola Heights, closest to the lake, has 1920s-1940s craftsman bungalows -- smaller footprints, higher prices, and the most walkable streets. Colonialtown has 1950s-60s concrete-block ranches on slightly larger lots. Park Lake Highland adds a mix of pre-war colonials and infill townhomes. No HOA or CDD fees apply in any sub-neighborhood. Single-family homes run from the high $300Ks for unrenovated ranches to $650K+ for updated bungalows in Lake Eola Heights.

Who lives here

Mills 50 draws renters and buyers who want proximity to downtown without paying downtown condo prices. Creative professionals, musicians, chefs, and LGBTQ residents make up a visible share of the population -- the corridor has a longstanding reputation as one of the more LGBTQ-inclusive neighborhoods in Central Florida. The Vietnamese-American community that built the commercial district remains a presence in both the businesses and the residential blocks. Young professionals who work in downtown or the SoDo health-care corridor use the Lynx bus connections or bike commute via the Colonial corridor.

Landmarks & things to do

• Mills Market food hall -- Michelin Bib Gourmand concepts including UniGirl, Banh Mi Boy, and Zaru; rotating Asian pop-ups
• Will's Pub -- live music venue operating since 1988; indie, punk, local bands; outdoor beer garden
• The Historic Cameo Theater -- 1920s-era theater building on Mills Ave; concerts and events
• Colonial Photo & Hobby Shop -- local institution since 1952; model trains, cameras, and hobby supplies
• Wally's Mills Avenue Liquors -- self-described oldest bar in Orlando; open-air tiki-style dive
• Track Shack -- independent running store; hosts the Track Shack Running Series community races
• Black Rooster Taqueria -- fresh taco counter on Colonial Drive with a strong local following
• Zymarium Meadery -- Orlando-based meadery crafting honey wines from Florida ingredients

Schools in the area

• Castleview Elementary School

  Orange County Public Schools

  6/10

• Dr. Phillips High School

  Orange County Public Schools

  8/10

• Freedom High School

  Orange County Public Schools

  6/10

• Glenridge Middle School

  Orange County Public Schools

  7/10

• Lake Como School

  Orange County Public Schools

  7/10

• Lake Eola Charter School

  Orange County Public Schools

  7/10

• Olympia High School

  Orange County Public Schools

  5/10

• Palm Lake Elementary School

  Orange County Public Schools

  9/10

• Princeton Elementary School

  Orange County Public Schools

  9/10

• Sand Lake Elementary School

  Orange County Public Schools

  7/10

• Ventura Elementary School

  Orange County Public Schools

  4/10

• Village Park Elementary School

  Orange County Public Schools

  8/10

• Vista Lakes Elementary School

  Orange County Public Schools

  8/10

• Waterbridge Elementary School

  Orange County Public Schools

  6/10

• Waterford Elementary School

  Orange County Public Schools

• West Creek Elementary School

  Orange County Public Schools

  9/10

• West Oaks Elementary School

  Orange County Public Schools

  4/10

• Westpointe Elementary School

  Orange County Public Schools

  6/10

• Wetherbee Elementary School

  Orange County Public Schools

  8/10

• Washington Shores Elementary School

  Orange County Public Schools

  3/10

• Vista Pointe Elementary School

  Orange County Public Schools

  5/10

• Vista Pointe Elementary School

  Orange County Public Schools

  5/10

• Audubon Park School

  Orange County Public Schools

  10/10

• Wyndham Lakes Elementary School

  Orange County Public Schools

  7/10

Frequently asked about Mills 50