Met up with one of my oldest and dearest friends at the newly rebranded/reopened Taborhood Cafe,…read morewhich turned out to be the absolutely perfect place to reconnect. Bright, sunny, open, and airy, with gentle piano-driven cool jazz making the ideal soundtrack for a late July reunion. Both food and coffee were extraordinary! I had possibly the best roast beef sandwich of my life, stacked 6" high on toasted sourdough bread and loaded up with pepper jack cheese, tomatoes, onions, red peppers, and stone-ground mustard. Coffee was from Marigold, a local woman-owned coffee roaster down on Hawthorne. Absolutely cannot recommend this place enough!

UNDER NEW OWNERS!…read more Stark Street Station is now Taborhood Cafe. They have really spruced the place up and it's much improved. I got the quiche and shared some coffee cake with my wife. The new owners are very nice and the prices are really reasonable. Give them a try!

Environment: nice shared space with the pizza shop. High ceiling and seats indoors and outdoors…read more Staff: friendly and helpful as I had a few questions about their coffee beans. Drink: I got their iced Americano. I was asking about the acidity of the beans as I wanted something less 'sour.' In the end I got their Americano with a splash of cream and it was good! I was able to handle the acidity and enjoyed my coffee!

Very cool space design and concept, but we had to wait an astounding 30 minutes for one espresso…read moredrink midday on a Sunday. Would have been a bit more manageable if we had known before getting in line or had a buzzer (so we could have taken a walk and come back). Unfortunately, we will likely not be able to return for that reason.

What a fabulous little bakery and should I say bookstore?! Delicious pastries, quiche and coffee!…read moreService was friendly and ambiance was fire!

A very chill neighborhood cafe with good pastry selection. It doesn't have too much space but a…read morenice place to have a delicious pastry and a nice coffee. They have good seasonal options.

I came to Rain OR Shine to get some remote work done and indulge in a cup of chai. The chai was…read moredelicious and I got plenty of work done, so I'd say it was a win! The majority of the tables (the ones around the perimeter) were high with tall wooden chairs. I normally prefer lower tables, but the chairs had footrests, which made them more comfortable. There are lots of windows, bringing in lovely natural light. It was a little loud when I was there (~9-12am), which could be a pro or con depending on your work preferences. WiFi password was clearly displayed at the drink pickup counter. Their parking lot only has 4 spots (the two furthest are reserved for the eye clinic), but there is plenty of street parking, especially if you are willing to walk.

Rain OR Shine has a new owner and they have apparently laid off nearly all of their prior staff…read more Visited shortly after they reopened and while things appear pretty similar, the vibe is distinctly off. They weren't playing any music and it just felt weird. Hopefully things improve.

An easy hike up to Mount Tabor, THIS IS THE PLACE (a transitional space) selling James Beard…read moreaward-winning Chef Katy Millard's infamous and unrivaled cookie (See: "Ode to the Cookie") 7 days a week. I've traveled and tried, but there's absolutely none like it - the smoked roughly chopped almonds and toffee, large chips of chocolate and crystalline flake salt. GOOD NEWS for people who love food news: SHIPPING AVAILABLE! While in town, I'm happy to sample something new: the MORNING BUN swirled & kneaded with chocolate (texture of an Apple Fritter, minus the fruit), glazed top (egg wash?) & crystalline sugared bottom. It's bready and sweet and pulls apart in delicious sections that pair perfectly with my COAVA COFFEE Cortado (brown sugar in the bottom) served in NEW ROOTS compostable cups (these give back with use). An easy seat on the patio is heavenly in sweet PNW summer weather. Meanwhile it is actually a tightly edited Farmer's Market (sandwiches by day, oysters by night) including a variety of artisanal picks - many fine sardines & GENTILE pasta, COQUINE Puddin' Pops, REVEL meats, PAHDI Pink Garlic, STEELPORT knives, BAREBONES pruners, & cookbooks! PRO TIP: Nothing beats arriving early and grabbing a crispy cookie warm off the rack - chips are melty miraculous!

Adorable market in a charming neighborhood, out of the way of the hustle & bustle…read more Limited menu for lunch, but included a vegan and a vegetarian option, so points for that. Service was only semi-friendly and less than patient. The menu photo I'm posting is the only food available on a Monday afternoon.

Better Days Cafe is a cool community-oriented spot located in SE PDX. To get here, street parking…read morewill be your best option and there is a good amount of it around the area. Inside, they have cozy and spacious setup with adequate space for seating. For their menu, they have a nice selection of coffee, matcha, and other bites to choose from. I got a Chocolate Ube Foam drink for today and really enjoyed its flavor profile. All of the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. Better Days are here at Better Days Cafe!

Beautiful and bright! Love the space and design with the…read morevinyl music ambiance. Vanilla bean latte - 4/5 not too sweet with a dark roast espresso latte taste. Great milk to espresso ratio to let you taste the coffee flavor. Strawberry matcha - 5/5 well whisked matcha with real strawberries! I love when places use real strawberry and whisk it into the milk before the matcha is added. I hope they add this to the regular menu because I think it was just a valentines special.

Had a brief work meeting at this location this morning. Had a cup of decaf, Americano, and a…read moreraspberry scone. The scone was good, it was way too sweet for my taste. The decaf Americano was very good. The counter service here was really good, the person putting the register was very friendly, very fast, very helpful. The place was very busy with a nice vibe of people working, and people just enjoying their coffee.

Just as good as I remember. An excellent spot to stop & enjoy a cup of coffee and a baked good,…read moreespecially if you want sweet or savory pie. The Raspberry Ginger scone was very good & had chunks of crystallized ginger. Most people are working on laptops or hanging out, so the noise level is perfectly reasonable.

My favorite cafe in Portland! Great coffee that's always dialed in to perfection, kind, down to…read moreearth baristas and no millennial Apple Store inspired decor

Maaaaaaybe my new favorite coffee shop!…read more I had been to their other location but for some sad reason never made it here. Located on Hawthorne just past the curve at 50th, they've got plenty of free street parking in the nearby blocks. They don't have much external signage but they do have a lot of outdoor streetside seating, so it makes you wonder what everyone else knows. Inside, they've got Coava coffee, efficient staff, and an old-school cafe vibe. With multiple couches (one of my main criteria for a coffee shop) and free wifi, this is a place to work, meet people, and slow down. Great long hours - they're open 6am-6pm.

Great staff! Nice range of coffees and espresso drinks and pastries. Fun neighborhood spot.read more

I selected this coffee ship because it appeared in photos to have a nice place for me to sit and…read moreread while I had my coffee. The inside seating is great! Lots of tables and chairs and I was able to post up at a comfy arm chair. I ordered a honey latte and an egg and cheese bagel. Service was fast and friendly. The latte was very tasty and high quality. The egg bagel sandwich was very good-- the bagel tasted fresh and was buttered making it extra savory. I would definitely recommend this spot!

Cafe Rowan is hands-down my favorite brunch spot in Portland…read more The seating is limited, there's usually a line (be sure to put down your name on the list), and parking is limited so it can be a pain - but it's worth it every single time! They are centered around southern/seafood style menu. Their lobster roll is incredible, the oysters are always a treat, and the shrimp and grits are our go to! Their Bloody Marys come loaded and they have rotating coffee specials. You can even just pop in and grab a coffee to go like a neighborhood coffee shop! When I lived in SE, I came here at least once a month. Be sure to schedule a nap after your meal cause you're going to be so food happy it'll put you in a coma ;)

I generally avoid brunch places because I don't like waiting in lines, and the timing typically…read moredoesn't work for at least one person in our family. So, it's a shame I waited this long to try Cafe Rowan. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that they seat people as they arrive, give them menus, and then customers order at the counter. A small menu helps food arrive quickly, and both tables and parking spaces will turn over faster than other brunch places. Their namesake sandwich is a classic, with the fantastic addition of roasted blueberry jam. My wife was thrilled with Rowan's bowl option - which appeared to have a little of everything. Once you get inside, Cafe Rowan seems bigger than it does from driving past, and high ceilings make it bright and airy. All in all, things moved quickly, the food was terrific, and I'm more of a brunch fan than I ever was before.