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Anna Bannanas
Rating Details »
Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Northwest, Alphabet District1214 NW 21st Ave
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 274-2559
- Hours:
Mon-Thu. 7:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri. 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
19 reviews for Anna Bannanas
There isn't a better coffee spot in NW Portland.
Top notch coffee & staff. Wifi, subtle music, great hours & atmosphere.
Dog friendly.
This place is great for hanging out with friends and chatting, getting coffee, but not really amazing food.
Things this place is NOT good for:
1. Purchasing 5$ or less on a debit card
2. Doing quiet work on your laptop (the music is concert level loud)
3. Overall peacefulness (there is sometimes crazy banging on the wall, people walking by on the old floor)
4. Good internet connection
This place makes me feel like a fish out of water. Here's why:
I don't have arms covered with tattoos;
I don't wear plaid for the sake of wearing plaid;
I don't wear way-too-tight jeans (with one leg rolled up too high);
I probably didn't ride my bike (instead, I took the streetcar);
I don't go out of my way to be aloof.
In other words, I'm not a hipster. Now, most places in Portland, hipsters and us non-hipsters can coexist peacefully, but when I walk into Anna Bannanas, I really do feel like there should be a sound of a turntable needle scratching off the album, followed by the stillest of silence as the hipster coffee-drinkers stare at the alien species (me) that has invaded their little cafe.
The staff is alright, the coffee is alright, the prices are alright. The hours are pretty good and I like that they have Personal Telco WiFi. The house that the cafe is in is pretty quirky and cool, but it can smell, well, unclean sometimes.
So, if it's coffee to go, then I'll be glad to do it... but coffee to stay? Not for me: unless you relish your hipsterdom, you might feel like a fish out of water like I do.
EDIT: I forgot to include one of the high points -- their collection of political humor near the cash register is spectacular, and I love the T-shirts that they sell, particularly the "People's Republic of Portland" shirt.
First time I came here I was blazed out of my mind, and a friend brought me down to the basement because (at the time) it was a smoking area. I didn't order anything or have any idea of what was happening, generally, but I knew that I was smoking a cigarette in the basement of a coffee shop, and that was radical to me.
No more smoking downstairs. :(
I have since then tried the coffee and must say it is a delight, and you can get any drink iced! YAY! Also, hemp milk. YAY! Bagels with...Philadelphia cream cheese in a tube? Umm, maybe not so much.
This is a relaxing spot to hang out and read a book, if you can get a seat next to a light (it's rather dim). The chairs are comfy and poofy, but one of the chairs in the front room is a bit dodgy. It must be an ancient reclining chair, but it looks like a torture device. I feel uneasy sitting across from it.
When someone starts pulling a shot, a counter in my mind starts counting. It's just a habit that i've gotten into. Some of you may know that the average time for a proper espresso falls somewhere between 18-24 seconds. I have had good shots up to 30 seconds, but that's pushing it. The last time i was there i counted to... wait for it... 52 SECONDS! BLARRGGHH!
Also they use Darte which is mediocre on a good day.
Interesting atmosphere, good non-coffee drinks, good pastry selection.
Great atmosphere with good coffee! This place is definitely a haven for hipsters, but it seems like a good place for people to meet and study. Although I was not impressed with their pastries. Yuck.
Hardcore local flair, decent coffee, decent pastries. Definitely refreshing to have a place this close to NW 23rd without constant hipsters.
Absolutely take a friend here and enjoy an hour chat or game. Depending on the day though, you might feel a bit sketched out if you're here solo.
Great lattes & delicious marble pound cake just a walk across the parking lot from my favorite place to stay in Portland, Inn @ Northrup Station!
For more, please visit my blog: http://www.ChristineHu...
Enjoy!
I have had some good experiences with Anna Bannanas. Most of these happen to revolve around coffee. I will admit that I am very picky about my coffee. I'm not a snob; I just like what I like the way I like it. Luckily, Anna's prepares their coffee amazingly. The atmosphere is way laid-back with plenty of seating both inside and out, plus they have yummy treats from some amazing bakeries. I can't wait to head over there on an early morning to study for a final. Or a late night, since they are open really late for a coffee place.
This used to be the alternative to the Coffee Time (which is just up the street) crowd, but now it's got the same hipster patrons... sorry, I hate using the word "hipster," but when the Talking Heads come on and three tables are asking if it's The Cure, I don't know what else to call them. Aside from the retarded conversations you'll wind up eavesdropping on, this place IS pretty cool.
So, the hipsters migrate downstairs into the smoking section or out to the porch, leaving the main room surprisingly empty and quiet. But there is the occasional flood of yuppie tourists from the Inn on Northrup, so it's really hard to give advice on what hour you should visit to avoid a crowd, because there might be some folks recovering from jet lag at both opening and closing hours.
As for the internet, no, they don't charge. The Inn at Northrup does, but Anna's? No. It's provided by Personal Telco, which is a weird provider if you're trying to connect with something besides a laptop (*cough* Nintendo DS! *cough*) because it requires you to confirm your connection through a browser window.
If you're vegan, you're in heaven here! The drinks can come with either soy or RICE MILK! Yes! It tastes soooo good. They've also got the typical-Portland Black Sheep Bakery goods, such as vegan chocolate chip cupcakes and an array of muffins. They also make soups, but I'd avoid the sammiches, they're kinda dry when they've been left in saran wrap for hours. If you're not vegan, you can enjoy the homemade gigantic Rice Krispy Treats and coffee cake, etc..
About the music... uhh, can't say I've ever heard the same album played two days in a row. They've got everything from (meh) Tom Waits to (sweet) Mirah to Bob Marley, pretty much anything mellow and not distracting, which is more than I can say for Coffee Time down the street, which I've heard play death metal more than once. And the guys & gals DO take requests, maybe cause I lived next door for three years and got to know them, but whatever, they're still nice.
Try a magnum Anna Banana's "for here" made with rice milk, and a vegan cupcake on your first visit, you won't regret it!
I'll start off by ignoring the fact that this place misspelled my universal nickname. C'mon guys, it's "banana," not "bannana." I'll forgive them, though, as I'm sure they have a good reason for spelling it that way, and, well, it adds that extra hipness that the normal "Anna Banana" just doesn't possess.
I dug this place. Nice breezy, laid-back vibe in a cool neighborhood, HUGE tasty chocolate chip cookies with about 8,000 tiny chips in them, and an assortment of drinks. I of course ordered the "Anna Bannana," which was a latte (. . . I think . . . can't remember exactly, maybe it was a mocha) with banana flavoring added (I was given the choice of either natural or artificial banana flavoring, which I thought was both funny and awesome), and it was even better than I imagined. Basically, this place lived up to its - dare I say - outstanding name. Holla!
I heart Anna's! The baristas are great -- they're laid back, they pull sweet shots, and they're good for an honest recommendation. Plus, they have an impressive variety -- different types of mate, milk alternatives, syrups, etc -- and the front porch is theee place to go on a nice day.
The only thing I don't love about Anna's is that the back room can get kinda dank and musty on a wet day, but no big deal -- just the minor drawback to having a business in a cool old victorian-style house. Just stick to the front room where there's more light and air and you're good to go.
I love this cafe! There are many great places to get a cup of coffee and a snack in Portland but this one is definitely one of the best. The political cartoons at the register make me laugh, and the outdoor patio is lovely. The fact that my nickname has been Anna Banana my whole life makes this place even better.
OK, so I confused this one with the North Portland Anna Bannanas - finally found the original the other day! Great little place, good selection of vegan eats, lots of slightly out of date Obama merchandise, and an owner who seems to be a huge fan of 1970s British punk. Well, who isn't? Actually I'm not that huge a fan, but he is so enthusiastic that I came away thinking I need to revisit the genre. I want to dock them a point or two for inconvenient and unpleasant bathrooms, but really can't bring myself to.
One of the very best Coffees Houses (literally) in town. Anna Bananas is a pillar of enjoyability. The selection of Mate drinks alone would persuade even the most stoic of Argentine Gauchos to put down the asado and saddle up for the Great Northwest. I often search for locations that are "kick it" friendly and this place meets that criteria. In the summer the patio is an excellent spot to grab a lemonade, possibly with Mate, or for most of you, the iced latte and a book or a friend for an afternoon in the ample shade and comfortable seating. During the colder months, there are several rooms within Anna Bananas that are quite cozy. I prefer the front room for the people watching factor and if there happens to be anybody seated outside, the steam from their freshly brewed beverages is somehow familiar and comforting. It's like being at home, but not having to do the dishes or mow the lawn...or make your own coffee.
Other notables: Humorous and informative political literature on the walls, very knowledgeable staff who are willing and equipped to chat it up about the drink you ordered or the article you read and my dog loves it!
I came by last night and this is a pretty rad little coffee shop. The coffee was yummy.. that's important to me. Duh. The atmosphere was cool, and the service was good. But yeah, the coffee made me happy cause it reminded me of my favorite coffee shop back in LA. Yay coffee!
This place is okay.
I say it's only okay, because
a) it advertises wifi, but you have to pay for it (please see below, because I guess I'm wrong about this)*
b) I've been here for about 4 hours and they've been playing the Rolling Stones the entire time. Now I like the Rolling Stones, but puh lease. Let's have some variety already.
The coffee was pretty good. The visitors and staff are friendly. They'd probably change the music if I asked them too, but I'm kinda a wuss sometimes.
They serve beer though, so I think I'll go get a beer and then maybe I'll have the balls to ask them to change the music.
Stay tuned.**
*Okay, so since writing this review, a fellow yelper has written to me and informed me that Anna Bannanas does in fact not charge for wifi, and if I couldn't get on the right server, I should have asked the barista for help. Soo, that might very well be so. But I did ask the barista for help, cause a) I'm not stupid and b) I really didn't want to shell out the $3.99 for a day's worth of service (though I have paid more for internet). Whoever was working there had no idea how to connect to the internet. I further asked those of my fellow patrons who were on the internet (though admittedly not all of them) and they didn't know how to connect either, and were stealing their wireless from the vegan place across the street (which makes a mean side salad, btw). So, that was my experience. I could be wrong, and I don't live in Portland, so I'm not going to be able to go back and find out for a while. Obvs, before I go, I'm going to message sarah a. and figure out how to connect. You should too, I think.
**I drank a devestion ale (HELLA GOOD) and by the time I was finished a new barista had come on duty and had changed the music to Pink Floyd. Later on, he turned on the Daily Show, and he was in general really pleasant and made the rest of my seven hours in one coffee shop pretty darn awesome, so I'm going to up my stars from two to four. Right then it felt like I was in my living room, except a living room far from home with beer on tap.
I love this little place. Great music, great food, so many options, and I especially love the organic and natural choices available both food and drink-wise. Most everyone who works here can make a mean latte or mocha; I've only had one experience where my latte was a little too watery. And it wasn't enough to change my opinion of the place. If you are in the NW neighborhood, check it out. You won't be disappointed.
When I was living in PDX, this was "the coffeehouse". They have really good sammiches, pastries, and coffee. Plenty of nice folk to talk to, lots of comfy couches, chairs, and a nice outdoor deck. They also have a wide assortment of games to play, and books to read. And excellent place to curl up and watch the day go by.
