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    Portal West Coffee

    4.7 (41 reviews)
    Closed 6:30 am - 4:00 pm

    Portal West Coffee Photos

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    PORTAL WEST COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

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    Lindsey S.

    Stopped in around 10am on a Saturday and it was medium busy but was packed by the time we left. I like the vibe of this basement spot, even though I drove by it looking up not down. There's plenty of in door seating plus covered seating on their brick patio. The baristas are friendly and give good recommendations. I enjoyed my blueberry lavender iced almond milk latte but my son's decaf iced maple latte had good espresso flavor but wasn't so maple tasting.

    BEST COFFEE...I've ever had and I've been coming here 3-4 times a week for over a year because of the atmosphere and workers! If you're looking for a coffee spot that has one of the best coffee around north east Ohio, meet a ton of amazing people, get to know the workers on a personal level this is the spot!

    Carol L.

    The espresso macchiato had a great flavor and the presentation was perfect. The service was delightful friendly faces good conversation. The place was pretty crowded but still relatively quiet. Seems like a great place to do some work. It is in a lower level with windows. There is an elevator to access this coffee shop if handicapped.

    matcha tea latte
    Rebekah Y.

    First time ever going here and it definitely did not disappoint. I got a blueberry matcha latte with oat-milk and it was made perfect tbh it was one of the best i ever had! def will be coming back, such a cute cafe. the baristas were kind and patient. They also have so much pretty plants.

    exterior
    Allison Z.

    I really was looking forward to trying this spot as i'm new to town, looks very cute and a great ambiance!! The coffee though is a different story, flavors are not strong and the espresso is not great. Very strong and nutty. Our latte was even a little burnt tasting, more of an acquired taste i'd say. I was disappointed but the vibe itself was cute, but I came for a good latte and left disappointed. To add- service from the baristas were very friendly and they greeted everyone and wished a farewell as everyone exited.

    Blueberry pancake Matcha and A vanilla latte
    Katy D.

    I have driven past this place for months not knowing it was here, so I'm glad my friend mentioned it to me, because it was such a cute little spot. I absolutely love a cafe that has lots of plants and natural light, especially when they have fun drink options like a blueberry pancake matcha!

    Pea flower tea latte.
    em o.

    Portal West is a wonderful spot for coffee and non-coffee drinks alike. It's rare that I can find a coffee shop where I can pull out the laptop or where I can meet up with a friend to chat. The pea flower tea latte is tasty (and periwinkle). I also love the option of being able to sit out in the covered patio area or inside. For a smaller size place, they use the space so incredibly well. My one pet peeve concerns the opening hours. Every few months, the days and times for operation seem to change. As someone who is more of a late morning or early afternoon coffee shop person, I tend to avoid places that close before 5 pm, which means that I really loved being able to swing by Portal West during the week. (I note that a lot of people work until 5 pm.) However, when opening hours change, this change was not simultaneously listed on the website or on Google -- which would have helped me either check out another shop that day or plan my schedule to arrive earlier. It's disconcerting to get all situated only to spend money and to have to leave an hour before I had planned on it. I recognize that there may be factors outside of my purview that necessitate changing hours around every few months. Hopefully they can either settle on hours that don't fluctuate as much. That said, Portal West is great and I hope they stay open until 6 pm at least one or two days during the week for people like me who are not able to be there between 8-3 pm

    Butterfly latte, London fog, mocha, and lemon poppyseed muffin
    Anna K.

    Always good work from home vibes here, with great coffee and great service. Love the plants too!

    Chai and butternut squash brioche
    Catherine C.

    First time checking out this hidden downstairs shop. Baristas were friendly and welcoming and there is both indoor and outdoor seating, and enough outlets to go around. I tried a chai, which was a generous cup and not too sweet, though I felt the flavor was very subtle. The savory seasonal brioche bun with squash was worth a try but not the most mind blowing pastry experience.

    Oat milk latte

    Favorite coffee place in Akron! The staff is lovely and keeps up even when busy. Great vibe to sit and stay for a while as long as it's not too crowded. Only complaint would be that the seating fills up on weekend mornings but usually you can squeeze in somewhere especially when the weather is nice with the outdoor seating.

    Oatmilk matcha with caramel and cold brew with almond milk.
    Chance P.

    This is a bit of a hidden gem in the plaza it is a part of. You have to go down a staircase to get to the main entrance but everything inside is well done. It's a nice place to get a coffee and sit down to get some work done. The service was quick and the coffee was easily an 8/10. Love that they have local art showcased inside.

    Rhubarb hand pie & flat white
    Emily C.

    This is a hidden gem in Merriman Valley, and when I say hidden, it literally is hidden down some steps on the lower level of the plaza. Portal West has quickly become a destination for me on my weekend bike rides. (I ride from my house in Medina but it's also on the towpath as a perfect stop for causal weekend cyclists!) The vibe is impeccably hipster from the decor to the attire of the baristas and the regulars, but not the snobby type that makes a newcomer feel ill at ease. Everyone I've interacted with here has been warm and friendly, happy to recommend their favorite, serve it with a smile, and give a cheerful wave of thanks when I head out. These guys clearly know what they're doing with their coffee, and the small, unassuming display of baked goods will knock your socks off with how fresh and delicious everything in it is. Their rhubarb hand pie is one of the best things that I've ever eaten, and pairs perfectly with an oat flat white or a spicy chai latte. Portal West is a must-try!

    Chrissy T.

    Great coffee shop vibes. The staff here were super friendly. I ordered a med spiced honey chai and a banana walnut muffin. Both were delicious! Will def be coming back.

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    2 years ago

    Fantastic coffee and chai. Always super friendly service. I just wish they were open a little later on some days!

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    2 years ago

    Visited for the first time recently. Will definitely be back. Good vibe, friendly service, and excellent mocha, hot chocolate.

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    3 years ago

    Great coffee, I'm a fan of their house blend, bold but bout acidic or burnt. Great space and very friendly service

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    Café Arnone - Pistachio pastry and coffee

    Café Arnone

    4.1(144 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    It could have been better…read more I had been to Café Arnone a few years ago when we first moved to Akron and remembered it fondly, so I suggested it when meeting a friend for coffee last week. When I arrived around 1:00 pm, the café was quiet. There was no one at the counter, so I walked around to find someone and ask where to sit since the space has more of a café feel on one end and a wine-bar feel on the other. I was told to order at the counter and sit anywhere. I sat in the front area to wait for my friend. Once she arrived, we went up to order. I asked about a menu and was pointed to a sign on the counter. Since it was my first visit in a while, I asked the employee what she recommended, and she flipped the sign to a breakfast sandwich called The Sal. I ordered that. I then had to ask about beverages, as none were mentioned. I only wanted water and was directed to a carafe on the counter to serve myself. Our food came out within a few minutes. The presentation was a little disappointing. I chose the vegetable side, which turned out to be two carrot sticks and two celery sticks lying in a small puddle of water. The sandwich looked good, but when I took my first bite, it was overwhelmingly salty. I understand bacon is salty, but this tasted like an excessive amount of salt had been added. After a second bite, I brought it back to the register and asked if it could be replaced, which they did. My disappointment wasn't so much in the mistake, but in the lack of acknowledgment--there was no apology and no follow-up to ask if the replacement was better. The restaurant wasn't busy, and while I'm sure they have many regulars, the lack of greeting when I walked in and the lack of follow-up stood out to me. I did appreciate the wall of ancestors--it was a nice touch--but overall the service felt disengaged. Maybe it was an off day, or perhaps inexperience from a young staff. I may try again in the future, but this visit fell short of expectations.

    I was in Akron area and saw this place so I decided I wanted a slice of pizza. I walked in and saw…read morea food counter. No one was there so I walked to the bar area up front. Still no one there. After a few minutes, someone came out. I ordered the pepperoni pizza. It came in square piece. The dough was thick. I can't say it was anything special, but it tasted OK. Sauce, cheese and dough seemed fresh. I thought it was expensive for the smaller size of it. I'll have to try their other offerings next time I'm around.

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    Café Arnone - Matcha gelato

    Matcha gelato

    Café Arnone
    Café Arnone - Flower cart with flowers for sale in parking lot on Mother's Day.

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    Flower cart with flowers for sale in parking lot on Mother's Day.

    Asterisk Coffee Bar - Maple latte

    Asterisk Coffee Bar

    4.6(97 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    I was doing my work with my friends, and O.M.G. Whether you're busy with your friends, family, or…read morework, this place really brings you together. The place has a minimalist aesthetic with black and white color theme, amazing. The food and drinks? Amazing! Especially the avocado is fresh and warm when they delivered to you.

    I'm not from the area, but I was in town staying with friends for the weekend and I needed a place…read moreto get some work done before I linked up with them. I did a quick search on Yelp and found Asterisks just a couple minutes up the street, so I decided to pay them a visit. I didn't do too much research before heading there so I was surprised to find them in a cute little shopping center. By the stroke of luck I was able to get a parking spot directly in front. Had that not happened, I may have gotten so frustrated trying to find parking that I would have given up. Just being honest as someone that doesn't know the area at all. Anyhoo, I was greeted immediately by their friendly staff who were happy to give me recommendations on what to order. I landed on their mole latte with oat milk, their house salad with lemon poppy seed dressing, and a ginger muffin. I drank every sip and ate every single bite. The latte was the perfect blend of chocolate and spice. The salad I would order again and again and again. Lastly, the muffin was moist with a fabulous amount of ginger flavor. The space itself was great, with a nice variety of seating options, strong wifi, local art on the walls, and a good bit of natural light. And again, the staff were fabulous. I would definitely return.

    Photos
    Asterisk Coffee Bar - Front counter

    Front counter

    Asterisk Coffee Bar - Menu/Retail Area

    Menu/Retail Area

    Asterisk Coffee Bar - Apricot granola GF& dairy free vegan with homemade almond milk.

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    Apricot granola GF& dairy free vegan with homemade almond milk.

    Angel Falls Coffee - Taken from a table in the coffeehouse, you can see past the divider with retro paraphernalia and see merchandise and where you order.

    Angel Falls Coffee

    3.4(182 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $

    Angel Falls Coffee is one of my favorite spots to go when I want to support a local coffee…read morebusiness! While it's about 20 minutes away from me, it's always worth it. The last time I went, I ordered a chocolate croissant and a Caramel Chameleon iced latte. The iced latte was so good that I grabbed another one to go! Something I really admired about this place on my last visit was how organized the staff was, despite being absolutely slammed. They knew how to keep the line moving and were all very friendly. *Some things to note: It can get very crowded, which limits seating. Because of the crowds, parking may also be tricky (though I've never had to leave due to not finding a parking spot!)

    I don't see how there could be any ratings under 3 for Angel Falls Coffee. Surprisingly and not…read moresurprisingly, this city and area, the crown jewel of the rubber industry and home of big tire manufacturers, has enough critical mass to warrant culture, fine dining, and entertainment venues. The nearby university (University of Akron) is a medium- to large-sized school that has many of the chain eateries and coffeehouses nearby. Not surprisingly, a major university niche area is polymer engineering, which relates to the rubber industry. I asked about independent coffeehouses and was steered several miles west on Market Street to Angel Falls Coffee, although I was given some other indie names. The name Angel Falls registered. Located in Venezuela, it is the tallest waterfall in the world! I was also told that the coffeehouse and its immediate area, Highland Square, lean bohemian and is where the cool kids in the area opt to live. Once you get out of your car, the quirkiness of the area is evident and it continues in going inside to Angel Falls Coffee. If it were in a strip mall, which it is not, Angel Falls would seemingly take up two bays. The left half of the store is where you order near the glass cases and where there is merchandise. The right half of the store is the slightly frumpy wood paneled coffeehouse with the seating. I need to immediately mention some things. The selection of teas is stellar. I was able to land on apricot flavored tea that is a caffeinated black tea. It was delicious. If that isn't enough, there's a large selection of cookies, cupcakes, pastries, and slices of cake and the prices are fair. The cupcake I selected was excellent. The service is pleasant enough and they attend to people quickly. You can take your purchase to go. However, many people choose to stay to eat in. Places like Angel Falls make me chuckle and scratch my head as to how I check the D box on my voter registration yet I find counterculture people amusing, intriguing, and irritating. Now, at a suburban coffee house where many of the patrons might check the R box, these mental gymnastics wouldn't even register. But I don't want to check the R box. Thus, I rolled with this "rubbing of the elbows" with some unique people: Highland Square residents, Akron U. students, university employees, progressives, hippies, various area residents who come because it's a good coffeehouse, and others steered here because of asking for recommendations. You'll remember this coffeehouse because it's far from cookie cutter. Parking can be found free of charge on the side streets. There are diagonal parking spaces out front that are metered. Again, the coffeehouse itself is a little bit dowdy which detracts from it getting 5 stars. But the selection of teas, baked goods, and the expedient service are its strong points. I'm sure the coffee, of which there are many varieties, is also good. There are also some interesting eateries packed into these few blocks. Angel Falls is thus squarely a 4 star experience and one that I could see people repeating often if a local, or from time to time if passing through.

    Photos
    Angel Falls Coffee - This is an aerial view of a cup of the peach apricot tea which was accompanied by a chocolate cupcake.

    This is an aerial view of a cup of the peach apricot tea which was accompanied by a chocolate cupcake.

    Angel Falls Coffee - On this wall is the selection of their teas, which is vast.  At the left are greeting cards (any of the irreverent and risque' sort?)

    On this wall is the selection of their teas, which is vast. At the left are greeting cards (any of the irreverent and risque' sort?)

    Angel Falls Coffee - Hot drink from Angel's Fall

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    Hot drink from Angel's Fall

    The Blue Door Cafe & Bakery - Peach  Pancakes

    The Blue Door Cafe & Bakery

    4.5(1.4k reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    We started with drinks: black berry mimosa and salted Carmel mocha latte. Both were divine. The…read morewait staff was attentive despite the steady stream of customers. The exterior of the building is not much to look at, but inside they have really made it charming. The entrées we chose were the classic eggs, Benedict and the quiche. At first, I thought they were quite pricey, when the entrées came out, the portion sizes are enormous. It is always very busy I'm told, but it is worth the wait.

    This was our first time visiting this restaurant while traveling from out of state, and we were…read moreexcited to try it. There are a few things to know before you go. Parking is very crowded, but you can usually park at nearby businesses. When we arrived, we were greeted warmly and given the option of waiting about 20 minutes for indoor seating or sitting outside with heaters. We chose outside. Even though it was raining, the heaters kept it comfortable and it was still a nice experience. The biggest issue was the wait for the food. It took about an hour for our meals to arrive. The staff was very apologetic and explained they were having issues, which we appreciated, but an hour is still a long wait. This was especially noticeable because the restaurant's website mentions that, due to limited space, guests are asked to limit their stay to about 75 minutes. The inside of the restaurant also felt very congested because of the front entrance layout and the constant flow of people coming in. One suggestion would be to add the bakery items directly to the menu so guests can easily order them with their meals instead of having to ask separately. Our server was very nice, and the food itself was good. I ordered the hash with scrambled eggs and a coffee, while my wife had a pot of tea and the Croque Madame. They also had specials available, but we decided to keep it simple. Sorry, no pictures -- we forgot to take them. Overall, the prices were slightly higher than normal for similar places we've visited.

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    Eggs Benedict!

    Portal West Coffee - coffee - Updated June 2026

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