Behind The Museum Cafe — Restaurant in Portland

There are only two tea cafes in downtown Portland that I rush to as soon as I get out of town, and this is one of them. The selection of tea is small, but the quality of the tea itself is perfect. This is the closest Portland has to a real Japanese tea house experience, and it's updated for modern convenience. Here you will find a solid wifi connection, numerous power outlets, big windows, and modern twists on traditional fare (matcha milkshake, anyone?). But it's the elegant, traditional touches that make this place come to life: handmade matcha bowls, fresh flowers on every table, kimono-clad tea servers, wooden chairs, a long wooden table for communal gathering, traditional matcha prepared on request in an express version of the tea ceremony.

This is a quiet place where the patrons and staff are always in a good mood. No shady individuals lurking here all day. No haughty waitstaff eager for you to get out. No crowding or jostling for a place to sit. This place is the opposite of all those things: a clear, bright, cheerful place full of caffeine and nibbles, laughter and books, stories and Japanese conversations.

When I have a big project I need to focus on, I come here and...

I don't usually go out of my way to leave reviews (mostly because I forget) but as I'm creating a list of Portland recommendations for some visiting friends, this is one cafe at the top of my list! We discovered this spot a couple months ago and have been in twice. The atmosphere is so so so restful and inspiring. The staff was friendly both times. Most importantly, the ceremonial usucha matcha was great quality and properly prepared. The desserts were lovely; the matcha and hojicha brownies are the same served at the Portland Japanese Garden! Food-wise, we've only had the onigiri so far and those were enjoyable -- it's just nice to find a casual spot that serves it without hiking up prices (we look forward to trying more food and dessert items). The displayed art is also available for purchase so it's fun to see what's on the walls when you walk in; it's also just a very beautiful space to sit in thanks to the mix of the art, architecture and window light. My husband and I aim to drop by here at every opportunity when we pass through the...

As cliche as it is to call a place a “hidden gem”, there are few I have come across that would be as deserving as that description as Behind The Museum Cafe is. While its frequently busy atmosphere may seem to contradict that, pop in enough and you’ll see the patrons are almost always entirely regulars.

Behind the Museum Cafe has a large enough menu that it should be able to cater to a variety of tastes, even if traditional Japanese cafe offerings are their specialty. Besides sandwiches, snacks, teas, and matcha soft serve, you’ll also find a carefully curated selection of antiques: from small gifts to art and furniture.

If you’re visiting the art museum across the way, skip their in-house cafe and cross the street instead. You’ll find a much large cafe, both in terms of size and menu offerings without the museum markups and a staff that is always cheerful and genuinely welcoming of every...