Glyph Café & Arts Space

A coffee shop closing at 5 in Portland is already absurd. Death to the past I suppose, and something I’ve noticed more and more. But when you close at 5, I don’t expect to hustle down early on my way to work tobsee they decided to lock it up 15 min. Early. Finger wag. So I walked over to pearl bakery, open till 530, coffee half the price.

Pros:
decent looking place
good quality coffee
very good scones
Cons:
–used their tablet to pay, and fella who took our order took off before we were done so we did not get a receipt (needed for tax purpose)
–asked barista for my macchiato to be «dry» and said — «oh, we barely put any foam in it»…
–barrista told us that the esspreso (or the macchiato) comes out as ‘ristreto’ only and COULD NOT modify that… IF I WANT A RISTRETO, I WILL ORDER A RISTRETO!!!
–My macchiato double was so small, it was cold by the time i sat down!
–I still wanted a coffee after i was done with my double as it was about 1oz total
message to business– dont be a snob and over do things. Espresso is esprsso and a ristreto is a ristreto, give customers what they want, not what you pretentious snobness wants.

Great place to study or catch up on a good book while enjoying delicious local food and artwork. Good beer, cider and wine selection. Great outdoor seating for warmer weather. Wonderful, friendly staff!

The breakfast sandwich is ridiculously good.

Good place for studying and a decent cup of coffee. Great open environment. I could see creativity happening here. They pulled a tasty shot of espresso.

One of my favorite low key spots to grab a nice coffee drink and a light breakfast or lunch. The service is always fantastic, the food always fresh and consistently delicious. The people working there always have a smile on their face and make you feel welcomed. Awesome art on the wall and good music. Free wifi too. What else can you ask for?!

Love, love, love this café. Beautiful, airy, peaceful, but fun space with friendly staff, fabulous coffee and the best dish I’ve eaten in Portland! The special of the day was a whole vegetable special of heirloom carrots and farro with carrot top pesto and emulsion & salted green garlic! I know it sounds crazy, but this was better and more soul satisfying than any dish I consumed at Paley’s place, Imperial, Lardos, Olympic provisions and even blue star donuts! I can’t explain it, but I felt the love that went into this dish!

I am currently eating an amazing breakfast sandwich from Glyph. With a slightly crunchy Brioche bun, perfectly cooked egg (to order) perfectly cooked bacon, and an amazing maple aioli, this is one of the best breakfast sandwiches I have ever had. It’s slightly hard to eat like a big foodie burger, which makes it all the more delicious.
Aside from their overly proud price of $ 3 for a cup of coffee, I’d say this place is fantastic.
Now I have to clean my keyboard.

My office is very near this wonderful café and today I had the pleasure of stopping in. Their counter staff/​barista (Donald) was very warm and inviting and the coffee is exceptional!
Thank you for a lovely experience. I most definitely will be back very soon.

This place is great! Friendly staff, huge windows that view the trees in the park. Varried seating options, super clean and nice, modern décor, great coffee, nice Music, a little echo noise, art on the walls, comfortable chairs, wifi, outdoor seating, only complaint is the closing time… too early.

Fantastic café which celebrates the marriage of art and an appetite for a nibble or a saucer for sustenance! Located by North Park Blocks, an interactive and invigorating space. While I did not linger for the tempting baked goods, kudos awarded for their featuring of local produce and a rotating food selection. In addition, a host of impressive teas and space for the expansion of one’s creative thought process.
Including events of artistic promotion, Glyph is diverse in its welcoming approach as a «crossroads» establishment. In addition, the location is close to other literary institutions — Powell’s; and a slew of arts outlets in the Pearl. Convenience and convergence of diverse medias all intersect here! Obtained a literary selection hosted by a past poet — one should certainly investigate the rich collaborative atmosphere.

Cute little coffee and lunch spot, near Powells. I popped in after a visit to The Bookstore and was looking for a light lunch. I saw that they had soup on the menu and was stoked for that, but there was no soup that day. Instead I had the fingerling potato and mushroom dish they had on special. Small but delicious. Very satisfying and the flavors were wonderful.
There are comfortable chairs to sit in, as well as great spots for kids. Lots of windows mean that the light is wonderful, even on a cloudy day. And right on the North Park Blocks.

Glyph is a great addition to the NW Park Blocks that has been lacking good food and hangout places, especially on the park blocks. The décor is super cool, with rotating artwork on the walls that is always interesting. The space has become a go to meeting spot for many of my co-​workers.
They serve Ristretto Roasters which is one of my favorite coffee roasters in town, and they do a great latte, cappuccino, or espresso. They also have a large selection of teas that I have heard great things about.
The food is always super fresh and delicious, and they serve breakfast as well as lunch and dinner options. The breakfast biscuit sandwich is amazing and can come with olympic provisions ham. I’ve also had the avocado salad (super light and good) as well as the cubano (great deal for the price) and the turkey sandwich which is served on pearl bakery bread.
All in all, the food is a great deal for the quality and the area, and the coffee drinks are spot on, and the atmosphere is great for hanging out.

I was stoked to try this place because it has a huge space, and the vibe is awesome. If I was one of those people who worked from coffee shops, I’d want to work here!
However, I probably wouldn’t, because the coffee here is kind of gross and the service is pretty rude/​slow. The first time I came here we ordered two coffees from a pretty snooty guy. We got halfway back to our office before we had a sip and both had to spit the coffee out because it was gross and full of dregs. I, being pretty assertive in these situations, brought the coffee back and was given a refund. I came back because they were doing savor the pearl and I wanted to try the ham sandwich (which was just OK) but the service was once again pretty short. I waited a long time for a simple order and wasn’t smiled at once.
So, overall, this space is really cool but I’m just not digging the service or food.

I had to update this review from a 4 star to 5 star rating. This place deserves it.
This is a nice space conducive to working or eating. They have plenty of tables and a strong artsy vibe. The large glass windows fill the space with light.
The food is also really good. I always get the polenta and eggs, and I’m seriously addicted. Don’t judge me.
I don’t drink coffee, but they have fancy machines and I’ve seen the barista spend quite some time making cups of joe that smell great. They also have tea, beer, and wine!
Finally, the staff. That smiling staff that always gives me my polenta and eggs with such good cheer. You guys keep me coming back.

I have found my new favorite spot.
They have the perfect vibe, and outstanding espresso.
There is wine, coffee, a delicious food menu, great yet subtle music, and a great interior for just relaxing and looking around.
I had my Americano black, and I was in heaven when I normally have to have at least a creamer or sweetener.
Not only was it not needed, but it was amazing enough on it’s own that I felt like I’d ruin it if I put something in it.
The art in the tables are so fun to look at, and even the chairs are perfect for this atmosphere.
I’m in Love

I was a little unsure of this place when I looked it up and saw «Arts Space» as part of the title. Would it be strange to sit down here for awhile and do some work? Would the baristas be extra avant-​garde? At any rate, I gave it a try, and was thrilled with the experience.
Though they do have lots of great space to display art, Glyph is no less «café» than any other Portland coffee shop. The location is great with the large front windows facing the North Park Blocks. Employees are exceptionally friendly and helpful. The menu is complete whether you’re just looking for coffee or want a meal or even beer/​cider wine.
If you’re in the neighborhood for any touristy reasons (*cough Powell’s cough*), this is a great stop for a coffee or casual lunch. I’m a fan.

Love the ambiance, coffee is really good and great sunlight and lots of seating.
Took away a point as the restrooms could be cleaner.

Have you met the cutest spot ever to get some work done, catch a reading, or write a poem? Well, you should get over to Glyph and introduce yourself!
Glyph is a literary café with free wifi, a poetry wall, a zine and chapbook sales area, and actually really good food to boot. When I work I usually get their iced tea of the day — previously iced green jasmine, then a darjeeling — and pair it with a grilled cheese or some of their little tapas dishes.
I’m so excited this place has opened up in the area. I honestly feel great having a place to get work done, meet other writers, and drink a cup of coffee. The area is very zen, and the tables double as encasements for Spanish literature, torn pages from classics, scraps of poetry, and dried flowers. Like the tables themselves feel like little curated museum pieces. And the seats are great for long-​term working/​writing. Once you settle into your bench area you will definitely feel comfy.
I really can’t wait till I get the chance to read here, and if you’re a zinester, poet, or performer you should definitely talk to Sandra, the owner, about getting a reading series started here.
Love this place — definitely a stop for artists and writers crawling through Old Town or the Pearl.

The atmosphere here is lovely. I live near, and tried Glyph for the first time today. It one of the best lunches I’ve had in a long while. I ordered the cubano sandwich. It was delicious! The salad that accompanies it is the perfect size and dressed with a fresh, light vinaigrette. Perfect! Glyph defiantly holds it’s ground when competing with nearby Bunk.
If you’re short on time, stop in for a mocha. I love it because it has the perfect sweet to bitter ratio and is always the perfect temp.