Portland Coffee Tour 2025 - Part 3

I'm back with another round of Portland coffee shops, because there are a ton of great ones out there. Today I have a very eclectic selection of shops that were all fantastic and represent their niche really well. I really enjoy being able to show you the many different sides of Portland through its coffee culture. 

This month, you get 4 shops, because I did a mini review last week of the second location of Deadstock, so now I want to bring you a little more info and actual pics. If you already saw my post on IG, you can skip the review at the end.

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Mutts Coffee Roasters

If you like dogs and you like coffee (and possibly a trip to the farmers' market), this little neighborhood gem is a great stop to fuel up. When you make a purchase from Mutts, you are helping dogs. 25% of their profits go to help rescue dogs. They have a lovely outdoor patio where you can sit and enjoy the nice weather, with or without your dog, plus they have ice cream and other treats. 

We hit up the Beaverton farmers' market to buy some goodies and support our local farmers and artisans, then walked a few blocks to Mutts, since it's really close to us, but it's easy to forget, since it's a house in the neighborhood. The baristas are lovely and the prices seem pretty normal. I liked their interesting flavors that you don't see on most other coffee menus. We got a sugar-free salted caramel latte, a blackberry iced latte, a bagel breakfast sandwich with egg & bacon, and the turkey bacon ranch bagel sandwich. It was a great break from the market and a perfect little breakfast or lunch.

As you can see, the inside is cute and sort of reminiscent to the cleanliness you associate with a veterinary waiting room. I love the dog photos and stories scattered around. You can also buy bags of coffee here.

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Memento Mori Cafe

This goth coffee shop has some real fun vampy vibes, but it is also a vegan cafe. It's not unusual to find a vegan eatery in Portland, but for it to have a cool theme is. I had been following this cafe for a bit on Instagram and talked Eric into checking it out one Saturday morning. I say talked into, because it's located in the very popular NW 23rd area of town, where it's almost impossible to find a parking spot (everything is street parking). 

We were able to get a spot on the backside of the block that Memento Mori is on (on 25th) and grabbed a corner of a communal table until we were able to snag a coveted 2-person table. 

I think all of their food options are creative and not boring like the norm-core twist of food many vegan restaurants/cafes have. They have a lot more sugar free flavors than most, and the food offerings are interesting. I ordered the Wolfsbane (lavender & hunny latte) and the Wednesday bread of the dead (sesame paste & cream cheez on toast) and Eric ordered a sugar-free peppermint mocha and a blueberry skull muffin. I learned that I greatly enjoy sesame paste and we stopped to pick up a jar on our way home. Eric said that my toast was better than his muffin, but I honestly think they sell those for the novelty of the skull mold. They come in a variety of flavors, but they aren't anything special. 

Will I make a special trip over there again? Probably not, but they are absolutely a neighborhood favorite, because it was packed in there. If I find myself over in that area, I would be willing to walk a few blocks to grab something there. To be fair though, I feel like that about most of the shops and eateries in this area. Know that you will be paying a bit more than expected, because items are vegan and take a bit more time, and the area of town is more upscale.

La Floridita PDX

A Cuban coffee shop in Beaverton? Um, yes please! The minimalist, but colorful vibes here are everything I love. I ended up visiting this shop right before closing, which I didn't realize until I got there, so I took my food and drink to go. I wanted a little bit of everything, and I kind of lucked out, because I got more than I asked for.

They have a huge selection of pastries and other food. The case is so beautiful and everything looked delicious. I picked up a Cafe Bombon - an iced espresso with condensed milk - a guava pastelito, and asked for a ham and a spinach croqueta. They only had one spinach one left, and the barista sent me off with that and a free beef rellena. 

I need to return here to try more things. The food was all very flavorful and the coffee was bold and refreshing. Next time I visit, I want to sit and just soak in the atmosphere of the dining area. You could tell that the other patrons that had come in were frequent visitors, because they knew exactly what they wanted. 

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Deadstock Coffee - Beaverton

If you just want a good coffee shop with great sneaker vibes and a chill place to sip your coffee (they DO have a basic menu here with all their originals - because the original has no menu and will make whatever you ask for, if they have the ingredients). 

Sign in the bathroom

We ordered a dirty chai, sugar-free chocolate cappuccino, and a slice of butterscotch pound cake. The cake was nothing special, but the coffee was superb. The one in Chinatown will stencil a shoe on your coffee top, and they brought that energy over here with the Nike swoosh (the owner is a former Nike designer).

If I didn't know this shop was here, I wouldn't know by walking or driving by either, because this is their shopfront. You can't tell from the street what's inside. There's just the logo with no name, but it's worth going in. I can't wait for warmer weather when they will open up that large garage door to let in the sunshine and warmth. Make sure you look at everything and don't miss out on the basketball hallway to the restroom.

I have a short list of other shops I want to hit up over the next couple of months and I have two in particular that I plan to visit while I'm in Vegas. I'd love to know your recommendations from where you live or your travels, too.

Tell me your favorite coffee shops from Portland or where you live, or one you'd like me to try for a future review.

7 Of History's Badass Travel Ladies

I love reading about women who did awesome things, because women are still being held back in a lot of ways across the globe, so it's always cool to learn about women who just defied everyone and did their own thing. Were they scared of failure? Were they scared for their safety? How were they perceived by the public? Are these the women that would be called "crazy cat ladies" now, because they preferred to enjoy life on their terms? I bet, like today, they were happy, so wouldn't care. 

Here are 7 badass women that I learned about recently and wanted to bring to you for Women's History Month:

Who are some of your trailblazing women in travel heroes?

Getting Ready for the Travel Goods Show

It's that time of year again. The time when I head to Las Vegas and split my time between seeing and eating some new things in the city and checking out the new travel items and chatting with peeps in the industry. Unfortunately, I won't be in the city for too much more than the show, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to enjoy some new things.

I will have a day and a half free to wander around the city and have dedicated one whole day to doing just that. So, let's look at what's on my list:

Food:

I always look for new dining opportunities when I'm in Vegas. Last year I went to NoMAD, because I really wanted to eat in the library. It was beautiful and the food was delicious. This year, I've made reservations at two very new places and am looking to go more budget-friendly than the fancy NoMAD or Catch LV.

Breakfast at Netflix Bites - This pop-up eatery at the MGM has foods all themed to Netflix shows, including Stranger Things, Bridgerton, Glow, and Emily In Paris.

Coffee break at Mothership Coffee - I've been wanting to get a coffee and pastry or other food at Mothership. I love the shopfront vibes, and they also have several drink specials that go toward local charity. They call this Sip With Purpose and I adore companies that give back. 

Dinner at Pinky's by Vanderpump - Lisa Vanderpump has a few dining locations, including her champagne bar at Caesars. Now, I'm not a watcher of the Real Housewives, but I love Lisa's esthetic for her places and Pinky's in the Flamingo has all that and affordable dishes, too. While I wanted to go for brunch, I won't be there on a Saturday or Sunday, so I booked a dinner and will return in the summer for brunch.

Culture:

Street art in the Downtown Arts District - Downtown is full of awesome art. Between murals, statues, and large pieces from past Burning Man festivals, there's something everywhere you look and you can basically stay just on Fremont Street. I notice a block south there's a art alley, called DT Alley, and I'm really interested in seeing what is being showcased.

Las Vegas City Hall - A few blocks from Fremont Street Experience is Las Vegas City Hall. I didn't know that it was open to the public, but they are and they have exhibit space that rotates. Right now they have Stories from Backstage: Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas with a bunch of props and costumes. And on a different floor, they have People of Color, featuring local African artists' work of the Black experience in America.

Activities:

John Wick Experience at Area15 - After seeing all the art, I'm heading to Area15 for even more art, but also an interactive experience based on the movies of John Wick. Do I know what it is exactly? No, but I'm excited to find out. I'm also going to grab a drink at The Continental Bar. If I have time before dinner, my entry to Area15 also includes a virtual scavenger hunt, so I'll check that out while I'm enjoying the giant interactive art there, too.

On my last day I'll be doing dinner with family and seeing my cousin in a musical, which is super exciting to me. If I have time to fit in some other activities, I for sure will. I'd love to visit Ghost Donkey at the Cosmopolitan, hit up the Conservatory at the Bellagio (where I'd also like to go back to the Gallery), see the Princess Diana Exhibition, and try another place to eat at Resorts World. 

Stay tuned for a packing post as well, because I will be packing a bag inside another bag to bring home things from the show, so we'll talk about packing light and a small capsule wardrobe.

Is there something in Vegas you think I should do? Or a restaurant you'd like me to check out?