Extracto

If you happen to be out walking along Northeast Killingsworth Street someday, and the breeze is blowing just right, you might find yourself drawn to a small, white building with red trim and a couple tables out front. From that building, a rich, toasted-sweet aroma pours out onto the street, an aroma so attractive that you cannot help but want to find the source. There is no sign outside to tell you where you are, but you will have just found Extracto, one of Portland’s famous micro roasters.

A humble exterior

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The Rocking Frog

Today’s adventures took me to Belmont Street, where I stumbled across the Rocking Frog Café. With a name like that, I couldn’t resist stopping into see what I might find. On the corner of 25^th Avenue and Belmont, the Rocking Frog occupies an old green house. Go in, hang your coat on the rack and make yourself at home. At least that’s the feeling I got when I walked in. The café looked like someone’s living room that happened to have a coffee bar where the dining area would normally be. A few vintage lamps hung from the ceiling, and there were books everywhere—on either side of the old fireplace, on shelves next to the fridge and in the alcove that acted as the library, where I sat.

Rock it

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Café Delirium

At the end of my long journey to find Café Delirium, I was like a man who had staggered across the desert searching for water. Thirst had overcome my strength and I was about to give up, leaving myself to bake in the desert sun and feed the vultures. One step short of giving up, my weary eyes spotted something in the distance. Were those trees? Could there be water up ahead, or was it just another mirage like so many others had been? Could I have really found my destination? I was hopeful—and a few steps later I realized I had made it to the promised land! Tears of joy and relief filled my eyes as I stumbled the last few steps into paradise. A lake of fresh, cool water awaited me! I plunged my hands in, then my head and finally my whole body, my refreshment complete. . . .

The sign leading to paradise

Okay, that might be a little dramatic, but you can imagine how happy I was to reach the café after walking for so long. Café Delirium could have been the worst café I’ve ever been to and I would have been inclined to give it a great review. I did enjoy my time at Café Delirium, but not only because it was such a relief to get there. Located in Historic Downtown Gresham, the café is a fun place to hang out. When you walk in you feel welcomed. The large café has a mix of seating: big stuffed chairs, perfect for lounging with a book and a cappuccino. There are a couple couches where you can grab a latte and catch up with friends after work or school. If you want to write or study, you can do that too at one of the café’s several tables.

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Vivace

Located at the corner of Pettygrove and 23^rd Avenue, Vivace is a well-known café in one of Portland’s trendy hipster districts ( “trendy-third”, as some people call it). The café, with its refinished wooden floors, felt-covered cushioned dining chairs and low-hanging chandelier, reminds me of the parlor in someone’s old Victorian house. The western windows catch a lot of sun (after the leaves have dropped from the trees), good for warming yourself on those crisp fall afternoons. If you prefer to sit outside, there are several tables on the covered porch and also next to the sidewalk along 23^rd.

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The Bipartisan Café

When I asked for help in locating good Portland cafés, one of the first suggestions to come in was the Bipartisan Café in Southeast. The other day I had wandered to the top of Mount Tabor, so it was just a short jaunt down the mountain and over to the café. I stopped in to check it out.

Arriving at the café at 2pm, I was surprised to find it full of people. There was only one open table. Hmm. Obviously a popular place. The wooden tables and chairs showed signs of heavy usage, as did the couches sitting immediately to the right of the door. The hardwood floor was worn through all the varnish and down to splinters in some places. It was clear that the café was a popular meeting place for the neighborhood. The front window was covered with posters advertising local  bands and other events. Every Friday evening from 7-9pm, the Bipartisan has live music (no cover charge).

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Palio Dessert and Espresso House

At the center of the historic Ladd’s addition, in Southeast Portland, Palio Dessert and Espresso House strives for an Old World (European) feel. When I walked in, the café was quiet, with classical music playing softly in the background. There were a couple people in the back room staring at their laptops. I asked the barista two questions: First, what kind of espresso did Palio’s serve? and 2) What was Palio’s best drink? His answers: Stumptown espresso; and a “Mexican mocha”, with cinnamon, nutmeg and ground up chilies. I wasn’t in the mood for straight Stumptown espresso and the mocha sounded a little rich for first thing in the morning, so I opted for a latte instead.

Palio

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Café Cello

Café Cello, located downtown across Yamhill Street from the Central Library, shares a Victorian-style house with the Pulse Salon. The café is fairly intimate, with five tables plus a row of seats along the front window. You can sit at tables on the front sidewalk if you prefer to watch the Max trains pass by. Inside, the deep red walls give the space enough character to be interesting, but are not so outlandish that they are distracting. The café has a couple stuffed chairs that are good for sitting and reading.

Café Cello

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