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Favorite Coffees Spots in Portland, Plus Some Good Lunch Options

Posted on June 23, 2023   |   Updated on September 30, 2025

Rachel Monahan

Cafe Olli, best sandwiches in Portland

On weekdays, Cafe Olli makes extraordinary sandwiches. (Rachel Monahan/City Cast Portland)


🍕 Bella’s pepperoni pizza had sold out yesterday, which was a bummer: I think it’s one of the best in Portland. The thick crust of a Bella’s pie with plenty of pepperoni is memorable. The pepperoni even comes with a dusting of melted cheese on it. (If you don’t like my pick, maybe revisit the advice of a local pizza expert.)

I made do with two other of my favorite treats for lunch yesterday: a sweet roll from Bella’s (made with mascarpone) as consolation — and a vegetable sandwich from Cafe Olli.

Portland's best breakfast sweet roll: Bella’s

My nomination for Portland's best breakfast sweet roll: Bella’s. (Rachel Monahan/City Cast Portland)

We solicited your recommendations for coffee spots over the last week. Here are some recs from your fellow readers:

☕️ “The Living Room Coffeehouse in Sellwood area is a gem I found recently. Great pastries, coffee, and staff. Slow service but worth the wait of the care they take to make my coffee! The space is massive and so cozy. Really is a book reader’s or group meeting dream.” — Miranda Jean

☕️ “Keeper Coffee is very good and a favorite spot but, in all fairness [best coffee] would have to go to Push x Pull and Guilder. Proud Mary coffee is good too!” — Jeff Guenther

☕️ “I just moved to the area and am a coffee lover — single origin only please! I stopped by Coava and really liked their beans too. Great coffee!”

☕️ “My prejudice personal fave is the one in Powell's City Of Books. Clean, stocked w/ reasonable coffee and munchies, comfy chairs...and BOOKS. Covers all my essential needs.” — Theodore Williams

☕️ “I haven't been to all of the coffee shops in Portland, but the best one to me is Jet Black Coffee. I am not a black coffee drinker typically, but their Water Avenue signature roast is so good it doesn't need anything added. The major plus is that they're all-vegan so they're loaded with Shoofly pastries. Jet Black rules!” — Thomas Vanderpol

In other Portland food news, Dave’s Hot Chicken is testing out a cauliflower burger at all its Oregon locations 🍔

Favorite Portland Meals? Email Me.

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