OUR FAVORITES (so far).
With so many wonderful independently-owned shops, choosing favorites was a major league challenge. Below are seventeen that brought us extra joy on the Sunday(s) that we visited.
Albina Press N. 4637 N. Albina == Kudos on the tasteful and homey remodels/expansions over the years; they’ve addressed the cramped feeling that at times hindered hanging out at this popular shop.
Bipartisan Cafe 7901 SE Stark ==Being open midweek from 6:30 a.m. till 9 p.m. – without serving beer/wine – speaks volumes about Bipartisan’s value to the Montavilla neighborhood.
Blue Kangaroo Coffee Roasters 7901 SE 13th ==An artisan roaster whose low key Sellwood shop includes an area for children, demonstrating its focus on community.
Case Study Coffee Downtown 802 SW 10th == Finally an independently owned shop downtown with terrific streetscape views, an open layout, and furnishings that invite hanging out.
Cathedral Coffee Shop 7530 N. Willamette ==Lots of love and whimsy went into the re-making of this once-time gas station into a neighborhood hangout.
Cellar Door Coffee Roasters 2001 SE 11th ==We felt so at home chatting away in this former cobbler’s store that roasts beans in its basement; since our first 2011 visit it’s opened a restaurant on the 2nd floor.
Coffee Time 721 NW 21st ==We love their mission statement: “We are more than just a coffee shop; we are a community hub where friendships are formed, local artists are highlighted, students come to study, and of course, great coffee is appreciated.”
Dragonfly Coffee House 2387 NW Thurman ==Though relatively small, its decor (soft chairs/chandeliers/mirrors/windows) nevertheless invites you to stay and chat.
Floyd’s Coffee/NW 118 NW Couch == This shop in commercial Oldtown has such varied interesting interior views, it would be ideal in any residential area as well.
JoLa Cafe 5915 SW Corbett == Though SW has fewer coffee shops than other quadrants, JoLa has admirably grown to fill gaps and is now open 6 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Lovejoy Bakers 939 NW 10th ==A bakery/restaurant with Adirondack chairs on the boardwalk for customers to lounge in during dry weather.
Oblique Coffee Roasters 3039 SE Stark ==Another roaster who possesses renovation and hang out talents, this time it’s a victorian grocery store from the 1890s.
Palio Dessert & Espresso House 1996 SE Ladd ==Named after an iconic horse race in a Siena, Italy plaza, Palio is a welcoming hang out spot in the midst of Ladd’s Addition.
Rocking Frog Cafe 2511 SE Belmont ==Suckers for the renovation of former uses into hangouts, we loved chatting in the faux-proper library of this mostly funky home.
Tabor Bread 5051 SE Hawthorne == Not only are the smells from baked goods welcoming, but so is the folk music and friendly ambiance.
Tea, Chai, Te 7893 SE 13th == In Sellwood sits a wondrous railroad car, and within it are three distinct sitting areas, each with its own unique charms.
Woodlawn Coffee & Pastry 808 NE Dekum ==This tasty bakery in the Dekum Traingle features another tasteful renovation, including table tops all cut from one tree, and tasty treats.
Second Line and Honorable Mention. There are another seventy shops open on Sunday mornings, that we unhesitatingly believe worth visiting. Admittedly not all excel in “hangout ambiance”, but each had a special quality that we appreciated. To convey the most prominent attribute of each shop we were drawn to, we chose the following symbols.
(a) = hangout ambiance
(b) = tasty baked goods
(c) = a diverse clientele
(d) = an unusual decor that worked
(e) = layout ingenuity of a challenging space
(m) = an admirable mission
(n) = filling an important neighborhood niche
(t) = a catchy theme
The thirty-some shops – the “second liners” – that just missed being in our top group, are marked with an asterisk*. The others included still fall into the honorable mention category and are definitely worth a visit. (Descriptions of the second line and honorable mention shops, (and each shop we visited,) can be found in the Reviews tabs.)
NORTH
Anna Bannanas Cafe(n) 8716 N. Lombard
Blend Coffee Lounge (n) 2710 N. Killingsworth
*Coffeehouse-Five (a) 704 N. Killingsworth
*Cup Coffee (n) 7540 N. Interstate
Frice Pastry (b) 4802 N. Williams
*GrindHouse Coffee (e) 1934c Rosa Parks
Madrona Hill Cafe (b) 5937 N. Greeley
*Posie’s Bakery and Cafe (d) 8208 N. Denver
*Red E Cafe (a) 1006 N. Killingsworth
*Ristretto Roasters N. (b) 3808 N. Williams
*The Arbor Lodge (n) 1507 N. Rosa Parks Way
*The Fresh Pot (a) 4001 N. Mississippi
NORTHEAST
*Barista Alberta (a) 1725 NE Alberta
*Bison Coffeehouse (t) 3941 NE Cully Blvd.
Cafe Eleven (n) 435 NE Rosa Parks Way
Caffe D’Arte (t) 1615 NE 15th
Caffe Vita Roasting Co. (n) 2009 NE Alberta
*Costello’s Travel Caffe (t) 2222 NE Broadway
Cup & Bar (n) 118 NE MLK Blvd.
Elevated Coffee (n) 5261 NE MLK Jr. Blvd.
Extracto Coffee (Killingsworth) (n) 2912 NE Killingsworth
*Extracto Coffee (Prescott) (l) 1465 NE Prescott
*Fleur de Lis Bakery/Cafe (a) 3930 NE Hancock
Goldrush Coffee Bar (n) 2601 NE MLK Jr. Blvd.
Grendel’s Coffee Shop (n) 729 E. Burnside
*Heart Roasters (d) 2211 E. Burnside
*Jim & Patty’s Coffee (n) 4951 NE Fremont
La Petite Provence Boulangerie & Patisserie (t) 1824 NE Alberta
Motivasi Coffee Shop (n) 4502 NE 42nd
Miss Zumstein Bakery & Coffee Shop (b) 5027 NE 42nd
Nectar Cafe (d) 1925 NE 42nd, Ste e
*New Deal Cafe (n) 5250 NE Halsey
Random Order Coffeehouse & Bakery (b) 1800 NE Alberta
Ristretto Roasters/NE Couch (n) 555 NE Couch
*See See Motorcycles Coffee Shop (m) 1642 NE Sandy
*Seven Virtues (n) 5936 NE Glisan
Seven Virtues/Sandy (e) 2705 NE Sandy
Tiny’s Coffee (a) 2031 NE MLK Jr. Blvd.
TwentySix Cafe (n) 2723 NE 7th
Townshend’s Tea Shop (t) 2223 NE Alberta
NORTHWEST
Anna Bannanas Cafe NW (c) 1214 NW 21st
*Barista NW (d) 827 NW 23rd
Barista Pearl (e) 539 NW 13th
*Caffe Umbria (t) 303 NW Everett
Clearing Cafe (n) 2772 NW Thurman
*Coffee House NW (c) 1951 NW Burnside
Ken’s Artisan Bakery (b) 338 NW 21st
Nossa Familia (c) 811 NW 13th
* Ovation Coffee & Tea (n) 921 NW Overton
Pearl Bakery (b) 102 NW 9th
*Ristretto Roasters NW (l) 2181 NW Nicolai
Saint Honore Boulangerie (b) 2335 NW Thurman
*Sisters Coffee Co. (d) 1235 NW Marshall
*Urban Grind (a) 911 NW 14th
*World Cup Coffee & Tea (a) 1740 NW Glisan
SOUTHEAST
*Albina Press SE (a) 5012 SE Hawthorne
Cafe au Play (m) 5633 SE Division
Coava Coffee Roasters (d) 1300 SE Grand
*Coava Espresso Bar/Hawthorne 2631 SE Hawthorne
*Common Grounds Coffeehouse (a) 4321 SE Hawthorne
Crema Coffee and Bakery (b) 2728 SE Ankeny
Dapper & Wise Coffee Roasters 3158 SE Hawthorne
East Portland Coffee Roasters (t) 2404 SE 79th
Either/Or Coffee (n) 8235 SE 13th
First Cup Coffee House (n) 4103 SE Woodstock
Henry Higgins (n) 2304 SE Foster
K+F Coffee Roasters (c) 2706 SE Clinton
*Kopi Coffee House (t) 2327 SE Burnside
*Kenilworth Coffeeshop (n) 3713 SE Gladstone
Little T American Baker (b) 2600 SE Division
Oui Presse (d) 1740 SE Hawthorne
*Papaccino’s (a) 4410 SE Woodstock
*Rain or Shine Coffee House (a) 5941 SE Division
*Sound Grounds (m) 3711 SE Belmont
Speedboat Coffee (n) 5115 SE Foster
*St. Honore/Division 3333 SE Division (n)
*Tov Coffee Bar (t) 3207 SE Hawthorne
*Upper Left Roasters (d) 1204 SE Clay
*Water Coffee Roasters (l) 1028 SE Water
SOUTHWEST
Baker & Spice (b) 6330 SW Capital Hwy.
Barista Downtown (d) 529 SW 3rd
Bean and Tree Coffee House (l) 0315 SW Montgomery
Fehrenbacher Hof (c) 1225 SW 19th
Heart Roasters (n) 537 SW 12th
*Public Domain Coffee (d) 603 SW Broadway
Stumptown/Downtown (n) 128 SW 3rd
Stumptown/Ace Hotel (e) 1026 SW Stark
Portland Coffee Hangouts 