Sip & Kranz
Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Pearl District901 NW 10th Ave
Portland, OR 97253 (503) 336-1335
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Free
21 Reviews for Sip & Kranz
Things I love about Sip & Kranz: the play area (orange walls & blackboard together at last), being able to drink my coffee uninterrupted while the kid plays, yummy food.
Things I don't love: not being able to rent the playroom for parties, the proximity of the front counter to the door (out which the line always seems to go), an abundance of Bugaboos, parents who don't adequately supervise their precious offspring in the playroom.
All in all I'm a fan. Love the ambiance, love the coffee, love the playroom. And it's right next to the world's best fountain, so we find ourselves there a lot during the summer months.
tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock...oh, hi there biological clock. I guess you really DO exist! After years of thinking that my baby-maker had gone dark, today I introduced my uterus to Sip and Kranz. (Too much?)
Ok, so maybe I'm not ready to go on the bachelor and make an oh-so-romantic national declaration that I am ready for "the reproductive phase," but sitting here at this sleek Icelandic-themed cafe/coffee lounge I am realizing that with places like this, being a mommy would not only be tolerable - but hip and fun! (wow - my kids will be TERRORS...but we'll save that for another review....)
Basically, I feel like I'm in the midst of a kiddie-Matterhorn ride, and I'm having a blast. Perhaps it's because I can still be drugged (both caffeine and alcohol are easily accessible), and food is within reach - as is the escapism of the internet.
Yet while I sip on my iced americano and take bites from my ham & gouda sandwich, kids are streaming in and out with bright board shorts and squirt guns, munching on sides of goldfish and tootsie rolls, and sipping off their crinkled straws in chocolate milk boxes. The sunshine of early June has filled Jamison Square with families and Sip and Kranz seems to act as a neutral home base where everyone can be happy. I am surrounded not only by great music, but by infectious smiles and laughter.
And somehow, right now, all seems right with the world.
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Sip = To drink slowly, Kranz = To gather around. This place serves Stumptown coffee and a plethora of other light edibles (savory and sweet). Very friendly service and chilled out vibe. I like that you can sit inside or outside next to Jamison Square park. Simple, airy and inviting sum it up.
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I figured I might as well continue my coffee shop reviewing spree with Sip and Kranz.
I used to love this place when it first opened. But that was in the summer and it's nice to get a cup of early morning coffee and walk the Pearl district.
I love the pastries, from Nuvrei, but you can get those at some other coffee houses too.
The coffee is pretty good. Nothing spectacular but decent.
Ok, there are a lot of children here. But that is the point. There's a playroom for kiddos with a clear window for parents to socialize and watch their kids. That is pretty cool.
But alas, I am without child and when trying to finish my 100 page graduate school paper, I cannot concentrate with the little munchkins around.
No hard feelings, I'll just go get my Nuvrei and cafe elsewhere. Sans kids. :)
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After a chilly run this morning downtown I decided to swing through the Pearl and get something warm from Sip and Kranz and something sweet from Cupcake Jones.
Some of the regulars have given a great overview of the ambiance and decor. My favorite was the comparison to a Mac showroom. That being said, I didn't find it overly hip, but I agree with the general comments that the staff wasn't terribly friendly. I did however dig the high back wicker (?) lounge chairs.
Longer wait then there should have been to place my order, but my vanilla latte was served pretty quickly. The disappointing part was that I ordered the same drink yesterday at Starbucks (for $1 less) and I preferred the drink there.
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The coffee isn't to bad, way better than starbuck, but its almost like a pearl district daycare of sorts which I'm not partial to. I went to check out an open mic and in my past experience they don't usually start til later in the evening. It was over by 6pm and the place was closed.
I like it here... but...
See there it is... I don't like that but in there. I wish i didn't have to put it there.... I do go here and take my kids here... but... DAMN there it is again.
OK, here you go.
The other review that mentions the staff's ennui is so accurate. I'm there on a busy Sat morning within the last week and there are 5 of us in line. Three of us have children. Sip and Kranz staff should recognize that those of us with small children (I have three sons under the age of 7) are going to come and need their support. Otherwise why have the GREAT kids room? But there is only one register and the guy working it couldn't have seem less concerned about taking orders quickly. He wandered off. Chatted with the guy making sandwiches, and generally showed no sign of urgency.
Finally got my kids herded into the kids room and boy has that gone down hill! Was there 6 months ago and it was in pretty good shape. When I arrived was excited to see they had added a kids train table. However, as another review mentioned broken or torn up toys were still in the room (that stuff is going to happen, you might as well clean it up). Two dirty tunnels were in there, but they were all tied up so they couldn't be used and were just taking up space. Only two pieces of chalk were around when there used to be 20. I know it is hard to keep track of all that stuff, but once or twice a week go in there, clean up some stuff, throw in a new clean used toy you got at Goodwill and refill the chalk box... oh yeah and vacuum. My kids still had a good time, but it was in spite of the condition of the room not because of it.
I like this place, but they need to figure out how to move the line a little faster, show more concern for customers and keep their kids room in a bit better shape.
Coffee is good-if a bit slow coming out of the bar. The food items are overpriced, but not in a bad way, everything is made with fancy ingredients which is why. I'll go back, and i hope the but will go away...
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I come here once or twice a week with my 2-year old. I probably wouldn't come on a day that I'm not with him; on non-kid days you'll find me at Tiny's or Stumptown.
Anyway, I love the coffee, and the decor. I haven't had the service problems that other people have complained about. The service seems normal to me, then again I am a regular, I tip the expected amount every time, and I am courteous to my servers, not expecting that just because I am a mom, they need to drop everything and treat me differently.
I usually get my son settled in the play area first, then I get in line for my drink, maybe that's why I don't encounter the "waiting meltdown" others have been subject to. It's easy to keep an eye on your toddler by just peeking around the corner -- the play area has a big clear glass enclosure so you can see exactly what they are doing. My suggestion for those with infants would be to come in first and park the stroller (there are plenty of little corners by the doors -- the space between the milk station and the door is perfect for 2 small MacLarens), PICK UP YOUR CHILD AND HOLD THEM while you are waiting in line. (effing duh.)
I love the Stumptown coffee and Nuvrei pastries. The food they make is a little less exciting -- just paninis and some weird stuff like acai smoothies that I probably would never get. I usually stick to coffee and pastry. They have ice cream too.
I guess I must be a little more laid back than the parentzillas who complain about the grime. I hope they never go to Urban Grind! For the most part when I am there, I might have seen a stray cheerio in the play room but nothing outrageous. I say, let he who is blameless etc. etc. Let's just say it's cleaner than my living room! If I notice that things are out of place, I might straighten a bit here and there. It's hard to be a business owner (I'm one myself) so if it's easy for me to put some blocks back in a box or move the tunnels out of the way, I do it instead of complaining online, crazy!
Final notes: the wifi always works great for me, and I love the nearness to Jamison and Tanner Creek parks. Hot Lips Pizza, and three cool kids/toy stores are nearby too (Posh, Little Urbanites, and Green Frog) Also, for nursing moms, I have never felt weird or had a problem nursing in public there. It's easy to make Sip and Kranz the hub for a kid friendly afternoon.
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I have mixed feelings here.
The food is good, but selection is limited to about 3 choices (I think). The coffee is pretty good, but it can get very noisy and crowded with children and babies.
It seems to be a great place to bring kids, but probably not the best place to try to work from.
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Great coffee and a nice environment make this a top pick for me in the Pearl. The staff is always friendly and there is a large assortment of baked goods (including those wonderful blueberry cornmeal muffins). They also serve soup and sandwiches, but the selection for these is not all that large.
The decor seems quite modern and a bit austere at first, but I have never found the place to be pretentious. Everyone here seems pretty laid back.
This is a kid friendly place and I immediately assumed that would be a big negative for those (like me) who want to relax or work on a laptop in a quiet place. Sip and Kranz is configured in an "L" shape, with kids/parents on one end and everyone else on the other around the corner. This works surprisingly well as the kids stay on one side, leaving a nice adult environment on the other side.
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I worked across the street, so I have been here once or twice a week for almost a year, we even went there for some early morning meetings. The staff is very nice, but can be slow depending on who is working there. The coffee, ice cream and drinks are great. The only good thing for lunch is pita and hummus, but ask for the oil on the side, it leaks through the take-out container. The cost is on par and it is a great alternative to the nearby Starbucks. The decor is nice and modern and they have a huge play area for kids with books and toys and seating. It can get fairly popular during the summer especially with the park right in front.
It's a good deal overall, good service, good food and drink. The seats and tables are often dirty and stained. Having white furniture was not a good idea because it often looks dirty.
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Am I cool enough for Sip & Kranz?
This is one ultra-hip hangout for the pretentious urban guerrilla and the baby brigade. I happen to notice it as I was passing by on the streetcar heading north. When I made the return trip, I decided to take a peek and see if this plebeian could fit in. Not quite.
The young hipsters minding the counter looked like they were suffering from extreme ennui, but the one girl managed to fulfill my order of a $3.95 Mocha Blender on an unseasonably warm day in Portland. Plenty of tall-backed rattan chairs abound as well as Scandinavian block tables with those chic Design Within Reach stools that swirl effortlessly.
While the malt-like drink hit the spot albeit temporarily, I just didn't feel very comfortable among the skinny staff and even skinnier customers. Discouraged, I tried to take a seat on the patio where more anorexics had taken the available tables. Failure again. Luckily there is the whole of Jamison Square in which to set a spell and enjoy my drink.
Uh-oh...brain freeze, brain freeze.
DRINK - 3 stars...hit the spot but kinda small for the price
AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...cool, stylish with semi-private conversational areas...yet it left me feeling vacant like in one of those Calvin Klein commercials for Obsession
SERVICE - 3 stars...ennui
TOTAL - 3 stars....OK if you're in the area or a trendy Pearl resident but probably not worth getting out of Fareless Square if you're just a plebeian like me
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You will enter Sip & Kranz and think that you perhaps took a wrong turn and ended up in the West Elm showroom, but you will be mistaken. You are actually in one of the most bizarre and lovely coffee places I have ever set foot in.
Loveliness:
*The tuna sandwich. On warm ciabatta - with grapes and almonds. Sounds off, but oh so very yummy.
*Croissants and pastries from some really nice bakery in town - name of which has slipped away. Bagels from Kettleman. If you don't bake it in house, knowing where to order it from is key.
*Free wifi
*Coffee and beer and wine
*Right on Jamison Square
Bizarre:
*Decor is starkly white-on-white Mac modern.
*It's kid-friendly! It's one of the kid-friendliest dang places I've found in this town. $5 kid meals served on cute little orange trays with grapes and crackers. A glassed-in kid holding pen full of toys that actually does a pretty good job of containing/entertaining the little buggers and muffling the screaming.
*Where's the pitcher of ice water and cups? This is like a standard amenity at most coffee places, yeah?
(As an aside in the bizarre realm, last time I visited, I saw standing in line a biker, construction worker, and police officer. If a cowboy and/or Indian chief would have shown up, I totally would've given this place five stars.)
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Coffee Shops are my specialty.
I have determined that I am most focused on my work when I am amidst music, chatter and generally bustling about. The upside: I have become a bit of a coffee shop connoisseur and I know what I like and I really like Sip & Kranz.
If you're there to work: they have free wi-fi, outlets for laptops everywhere, and several tall counters/tables with semi-comfy stools that are perfect for concentrated study. Most importantly, the decor is modern and sleek and there is so much natural light form the large windows that the atmosphere is zen-like, peaceful, and luminous (which makes me happy to spend a few hours there).
If you're there to socalize: there are a series of very comfortable and intimate-feeling high-backed wicker chairs where you can sit with a friend and dish the latest gossip and enjoy a latte. There is plenty outdoor seating for sunny days which overlook the park. Definitely a hip place to meet up for espresso.
If you're there with kids: there is a PLAYROOM, which is very cool looking and sectioned off into its own glass-encased room: so children are seen, but hard to hear. This is the perfect place for parents and kids to socialize and they even offer a special kids menu. However, I am a kid-free person and while there are a lot of children about, the atmosphere manages to stay very adult-friendly and completely free of kid noise. Its perfect really.
Drawbacks: prices are higher than average, service time can be a bit slow.
Pluses: Reasonably priced pot of tea, excellent soups for lunch, and a nice selection of lunch foods.
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One Saturday my boyfriend and I got up early to track down some Nuvrei Bakery pastries fresh from the oven (404 NW 10th) after reading about them in MIX magazine. Nuvrei was closed but there was a sign directing us to shops where we could find their pastries on weekends. The croissant jones was way too strong and given the choice between Powells and Sip & Franz we headed to the latter, hoping to avoid the bookstore mob.
Okay, I admit it, my soy latte was excellent, complete with latte art, and the almond croissant fulfilled my pastry shop fantasies. The rest of the menu seemed creative and interesting and reasonably priced.
But holy god, if I'd known the place was going to be filled with screaming slobbering kids and their SF Bay Area-transplant parents I'd have braved Powells for sure. They eyed us like vultures, circling for us to finish our drinks so they could have our seats while Death Cab played on the stereo. It was like some bizarre circle of Hell.
Don't get me wrong--I'll be a parent someday for sure, but I'd at least try to make sure my kids don't run amok while I wait conspicuously in a Vicodin haze for other diners to leave their table.
Is it supposed to be a play on words, like Sip & Crayons? I don't know for sure, but I know if I brave the Pearl again and feel like Nuvrei pastries on a Saturday morning I'll be sure to get my Sip & Kranz to go.
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So it was like any typical day after boozing on a school night, and it seemed like I waited an eternity for my lunch break to come...The plan, was to hit Starbucks (on Lovejoy), order a green tea, and sit there quietly on one of the two comfy lounge chairs. I would sit there and die for the duration of my lunch break. Starbucks was packed, and I needed refuge bad.
So I knew Sip & Kranz was right around the block so I plotted a course on double time. I was there in less than a minute. The place was pretty sizable (shaped like an L), and was staffed by a pretty hipster crowd. And I do mean pretty if you like pretty hipster chicks. They have a play section for kids too.
I ordered a great big cup of green tea flavored with jasmine. Same price as Startbucks too, and it was served in a ceramic cup! Not only did they have comfy cushioned chairs, they had high backs and each was accompanied with a small white table. The side I was on was practically deserted, so I had the whole section to myself. I was able to pull another chair up and stretch my legs across. Along the wall, there was a generous selection of various magazines.
All I know is, I went there with a wicked hangover, and came out instantly feeling better after my delicious green tea and some relaxation. Do I know anything more about this place...no? Is it worth checking out or a fabulous place for recovery...?
YES!!!
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I want to love this place again. When it first opened, I fell in love. It was everything a working mama could hope for: free wi-fi, great coffee and pastries, playroom, cool furniture to make you feel like you're still hip even though you have baby puke on your shoulder. I loved it here. I wanted to live here. I wrote great reviews about it everywhere. But then something happened: I spent more time here, and the realities of how S + K is run began to knock some sense into me and my fantasies about this place and I've slowly had to break up with this bad boyfriend of a place.
The service, as you have read, is slow, but more troublesome than that to me, is that the ordering process is truly ineffective. It's not just anti-family-friendly as one reviewer mentioned, it's anti-anybody-friendly. There is not enough room for those waiting in line to stand without getting hit by the side door, and believe me, I have waited and waited and waited in that line many times. I've seen kids of all ages - 0 to 50 - have meltdowns while waiting that easily could have been avoided. Sometimes the person behind the counter will smile. Sometimes. This is Portland, people! We all smile! At each other, even! In the Pearl, even! It's the law! I don't think many of the folks working here have gotten that whole sense of community/be-kind-to-your-neighbor thing yet.I keep waiting for them to smile more. I also get the feeling that they just don't care if they get my business or not. Hey, whatever, I am sure they are making bank, but this place has such an UN-Portland feel to me, which seems to stem from the owners on down, that it just makes me so so sad.
The pastries are great, from nearby Nuvrei. The coffee is good. The decor is incredible, although as others have mentioned, dirty.
The playroom works for some, not for others. My kids hate it. I used to come here for playdates when my mama friends and I still had fantasies about this place being cool even though our kids didn't enjoy it so much. I have also come here for work meetings. The latter trips here fared better.
So would I come here again? With kids, not unless I am already at Jamison Square park or visiting the lovely Little Urbanites across the street. Without kids? Yes, I love this spot for quick client meetings or as an in-between-meetings spot to catch up on emails and projects.
I want to love you again, S + K. You're like that boyfriend that is so so wrong in real life but are oh so fabulous on paper. I still want you to want me, so I keep going back every now and then to say hi, just to be rejected again.
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Something funny I've noticed about being on vacation: Little things like hanging out in coffee shops overrun with yuppies aren't troublesome or cumbersome or any other kind of some. A good coffee shop is a good coffee shop, no matter what scene it may or may be in.
Snazzy modern furniture, indierock on the stereo, young hipsters behind the counter & a joint filled to the brim with 30-somethings (apparently the birthday of one of their kids). It was a great place to hunker down with a magazine, drink some Stumptown (they've got that) & get out of the rain.
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My wife and our 2 kids dropped by Sip and Kranz today for a quick bite to eat before heading downtown to do some shopping. I was really interested in trying this mode nouveau themed coffee out after hearing such good things about how kid and parent friendly it is.
The Pluses:
* Good food, nice environment.
* Free WIFI.
The BIG minuses:
* REALLY dirty play area for the kids. The chalk board looked like it hadn't been cleaned in months. The toys were strewn all over the place and looked extremely dirty. The play area floor needed to be vacuumed badly. (can we say cherio build up?)
* The play table train set was missing all but one train car. (Which was being fought over!)
I suspect the hipster staff needs to bust out the cleaning supplies and give the place a once over.
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I've never dressed up to go out for coffee until I stepped foot in Sip and Kranz. You won't see any sweatpants and stained t-shirts at this hip spot, so slip on your best duds and show up to get your Java buzz in style. Sip and Kranz is bright and tastefully decorated, with light blue walls and tall white chairs right out of the Jetsons.
In the afternoon, Sip and Kranz is packed with sophisticated urban mamas. There's a glassed-in play area for the kids, so mom can keep an eye on the wee ones while she sips coffee and catches up with her friends.
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So what is a mommy to do when one of her hip friends (without kids) wants to meet up for lunch downtown. It has been years since I have lived downtown let alone frequented the bar and restaurant scene.
There is only a handful of places that I know of the a mom can go to eat and let her kids play. I had been to Sip and Kranz before but this was my first visit as a lunch experience.
The scene inside looks like something from a European Internet cafe. Everything is sort of white and shiny. Right down to the retro white bar stools. Then there is the super large wicker chairs with white cushions and shiny white coffee tables. White isn't the color I would think of to make my restaurant child friendly, but there is something about the place that makes you feel like you wouldn't bring you kids here. Then you notice the large playroom behind the big glass wall.
The menu was limited especially for a picky 3yr old palate, but it was perfect for a lite fare lunch, or coffee visit. My tuna salad sandwich on ciabatta was super yummy and rather posh.
The playroom is rather lame, sprinkled with books, blocks and pillows, it was just enough to keep my daughter occupied for an hour. But she did not put up a fight to leave. It was really the other super sweet children that kept my girl happy.
Overall I would say, Sip and Kranz is basically a convenient place to go with kids, but I don't think it would be my first choice if I was downtown without the kiddos. And I don't think my childless friend is going to be coming back on her own.
I do have to say though, the kids scene is less in your face than at other kids cafes. The hours are super kid friendly:6am-11pm, and there is a sweet fountain park accross the block called Jameson Square- a great place to go in the hot summer days.
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