Coffee & Tea
Local Favorite

Behind The Museum Cafe

About Behind The Museum Cafe

Behind The Museum Cafe is a welcoming tea house and coffee destination in Portland, Oregon, designed for guests who appreciate a calm atmosphere, thoughtful service, and a memorable place to pause. Set within a tranquil, antique-lined interior, the café offers a distinctive experience that feels both refined and inviting.

Kimono-clad servers add to the sense of care and tradition, while the menu brings together coffee, tea, and light Japanese nibbles that make every visit feel special.

Whether you are stopping in for a quiet cup, meeting a friend, or taking a break from a busy day in the city, this is a place where comfort and quality come together naturally.

One of the standout features of Behind The Museum Cafe is its great tea selection, which makes it especially appealing for tea lovers looking for variety, flavor, and a relaxing setting in which to enjoy it.

As a tea house, it provides more than just a beverage—it offers a calming experience that encourages guests to slow down and enjoy the moment. The café’s excellent reputation reflects that commitment to quality, with customers rating it 4.70 out of 5 based on 533 reviews.

That level of satisfaction speaks to the consistency of its service, the appeal of its atmosphere, and the care that goes into every detail of the guest experience.

Behind The Museum Cafe is also designed to be convenient and accessible for a wide range of visitors. Accessibility features include a wheelchair-accessible entrance, wheelchair-accessible seating, and a wheelchair-accessible toilet, helping ensure that more guests can enjoy the space comfortably.

Service options are equally flexible, with no-contact delivery, delivery, on-site services, takeaway, and dine-in available to suit different needs and preferences. Payments are simple and modern, with credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments accepted.

Located at 1229 SW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97205, United States, and reachable at +1 503-477-6625, Behind The Museum Cafe offers an elegant, easy-to-enjoy tea house experience that brings together atmosphere, hospitality, and dependable quality in one memorable destination.

★★★★★ 4.70 rating (533 reviews)
Behind The Museum Cafe
Freshly Roasted Daily
0
Star Rating
0
Coffee Lovers' Reviews
0
Photos
0
Independent Reviews
Behind The Museum Cafe interior

More Than Just Coffee

Every cup we serve is a small moment of joy, carefully crafted by passionate baristas who care about your experience.

  • Free WiFi
  • Cozy Seating
  • Pet Friendly
  • Local Roasters

Reviews

From our beloved regulars

Belen Murray

Belen Murray

5 years ago

Great ambience and appropriate, plus clean interior space. Went along well with theme and connected to the museum in its displays and sales of trinkets and kimonos. Love the food. Delicious samples of traditional Japanese snacks from modern examples. I would highly recommend the ic ed, matcha latte. It comes with frozen green tea ice cream, pieces of dessert like a brownie and a cute umbrella on top. I would highly recommend this place to a friend and would be one of the first places I would bring visitors to Portland to see and eat for lunch! Service is great and they test for covet immediately at the front door.

Steve Abrahao

Steve Abrahao

7 months ago

Best Matcha in the city. Behind the Museum Cafe is everything you’re looking for when it comes to a cafe. Delicious matcha latte, spacious tables, friendly staff. Street parking. Update 12/25 Dear 10 Google Followers, A new decree has been made: this review has been officially upgraded from 4 to 5 stars. In my opinion, Behind the Museum Café serves the best matcha lattes in the entire city. No competition. If this is your first visit, here are 3 essential tips: - Order a hot matcha latte. No milk substitutions. Their natural sweetener is perfectly balanced—nothing extra needed. - Expect limited seating. If it’s packed, head to the community table in the back. It’s part of the charm. - Parking is classic Portland street parking. Prepare accordingly. And don’t forget to enjoy the pottery wall—it’s half the experience. 5/5. Thank me later.

Meg Taasin

Meg Taasin

year ago

I've been here multiple times, and each time I'm so happy i went! Simple yet delicious japanese snacks, sweets, and teas - not too sweet, not to salty, everything JUUUSSST right. I always get their tea leaf onigiri and summer mugi-cha - so good! They also have a houjicha hazlenut brownie thats to dieeee for. Very aesthetic, almost Muji-like vibes inside. Highly recommend, i always bring my friends who visit here!

akash parikh

akash parikh

2 years ago

This place really nails that authentic Japanese vibe, both in its interior and its coffee and food offerings. My family and I dropped by, and we were all amazed! The interior was absolutely adorable, with plenty of seating for everyone. The barista was super helpful, pointing out some excellent vegetarian options and guiding me through their extensive drink menu with a ton of respect. As for what I ordered? Brace yourself: a Chai latte with almond milk, matcha with almond milk, Teriyaki Shiitake Onigiri, Seaweed Hijiki Shiitake Onigiri, and a cream cheese, tomato, onion, capers Bagel. And let me tell you, I loved every single bite and sip! Especially cool was how they served the matcha latte in a bowl, just like they do in Japan. My whole experience here was a delight, and I'm already counting down the days until my next visit. Check out the pics - they speak for themselves!

Brianna Rollo

Brianna Rollo

5 months ago

Delicious spot for lunch with great gluten free options. When I asked which onigiri was gluten free, they said “All of them!” The miso soup was also excellent. I’ll be here again the next time I go to the Portland Art Museum.

Kim Lê-Simpson

Kim Lê-Simpson

year ago

Beautiful cafe with gorgeous decor & simple menu offerings. The salmon mayo onigiri is the perfect choice for a fulfilling midday snack. This was the best matcha experience I’ve ever had.

Han Nguyen

Han Nguyen

year ago

the best matcha in portland omg this is amazing!! super delicious, pretty good price, and amazing food! the bagel is so good and the onigiri is filling for its size!! adorable place with lots of room, beautiful. the hojicha latte is beautifully created and the matcha latte is just perfectly sweet

Christina Klarenbach-Harris

Christina Klarenbach-Harris

year ago

My granddaughter brought me here. what a cute place. It was my first time having Matcha & I loved it. Also had onigiri & miso soup. It was really good & filling. I had a Matcha Parfait which was delicious. Got some cookies to go. We will definitely be coming back..Thank you for the hospitality.

Andrew Rossignol

Andrew Rossignol

6 months ago

Outstanding! My wife and I shared a matcha set, matcha latte and matcha soft serve. All three were excellent. It has a welcoming atmosphere. It is a busy place. Be patient. A table will open up and you can relax while enjoying your treats.

Alex Park

Alex Park

month ago

I ended up visiting this Japanese-style café while in Portland for a friend's wedding. My friend and I had some free time and were looking for a nice café in the area, and I'm so glad we found this place. They offer much more than just coffee and drinks. There were plenty of options for snacks, light meals, desserts, ice cream, and even alcoholic beverages. Everything looked thoughtfully curated, and there was something for everyone. The atmosphere was cozy, and it was a great spot to relax and spend time with a friend. If I ever find myself back in Portland, I would definitely visit again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Behind The Museum Cafe

Business Features

Highlights & Amenities

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Wheelchair-accessible seating
  • Wheelchair-accessible toilet

From the business

  • Identifies as Asian-owned
  • Identifies as women-owned

Service options

  • No-contact delivery
  • Delivery
  • On-site services
  • Takeaway
  • Dine-in

Highlights

  • Great tea selection

Payments

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • NFC mobile payments

Come Say Hi

We'd love to see you! Stop by for your favorite drink or to try something new.

Location

1229 SW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97205, United States

Hours

Closed · Friday 11 AM-5 PM
Friday 11 AM-5 PM
Saturday 11 AM-5 PM
Sunday 11 AM-5 PM
Monday 11 AM-3 PM
Tuesday 11 AM-5 PM
Wednesday 11 AM-5 PM
Thursday 11 AM-5 PM
Share This Business

Get in Touch

Questions about catering, private events, or just want to say hello?