Kenilworth Coffeehouse

Tasty caffeinated beverages, delicious quiche and Laura Jean’s pie– whets not to love? It is a pretty small shop, so seating is limited, and there can be a bit of a wait because they’re popular for their size, but seating is comfy and service is friendly. Great neighborhood spot overall.

Quaint little coffee shop on SE Gadstone street. It’s a bare essentials type of coffee shop. I met up with a friend, and it’s not really a place to talk and hang out. Maybe a place to study or read, a place for quiet time. I got a café latte with added vanilla, and it was a tasty treat for a mid-40’s Fahrenheit kind of day.

I live nearby here. 7 out of the 10 times I have attempted to go here, it is closed. They close early in the day and are even closed on a weekday.
When I have gotten coffee here, it wasnt bad, but the quiet sedated atmosphere in the coffee shop is not one I would like. No music, and very quiet. Plus, she asked me to not leave my dog tied up out front, even though I have seen many dogs tied up out front…
And I understand small business, but to be closed for an entire week? That is silly and in my mind, not good business. And with all the other shops to choose from…
I have refrained from leaving a bad review, as I REALLY want to like it. But with all the coffee competition, like the one the other direction that is always open and never randomly closed… well, she needs to step it up.
I will walk the other direction over to Woodstock.

Carolyn is an incredible person. Very warm, welcoming and personable. This is a place where one can find comfort and calm.
Two thumbs way up.

Wonderful experience… Stepped in to hear Marvin playing on vinyl! How cool is that. Wonderful coffee and smiles… First time in, but not the last!

Happened upon this place after eating nearby and dropped in for a coffee to go. My espresso was excellent, almost the best I’ve had. I believe they were using the Columbian from Courier. My girlfriend was very happy with her decaf soy latte. Strongly recommended.

I just moved to this neighborhood and was excited to make this place my new morning routine. The most charming thing about this place was the record player and the staff. The coffee has that burnt bitter taste that is the oddest trend in Portland right now and the ambiance is lacking in every way inside and out. Bummer :-(

Fantastic little coffee house with nice back yard seating. Cappuccinos were spot on good.

Am I hallucinating? Why all the 5-​stars?!? The coffee here is sour and murky. When it starts to cool, it smells terrible! I had to check twice to see whether the place people were Unilocal-​ing was the same place I just got coffee from. The place is kinda cute, but not cute enough to bring me back for more sludgy coffee.

We live steps from this café and have to talk ourselves out of coming everyday! Excellent coffee — medium roast with lots of flavor. Always nice to pop by for a donut.
Thanks for being a fabulous neighborhood joint!

This place deserves five stars on the ambiance alone.
I tend to be pretty picky about my coffee shops. What’s in the cup is a small part of what makes you want to sit down and spend hours soaking up your surroundings. Even the best coffee can be ruined by an unwelcoming atmosphere.
That said, they craft a tasty cup of coffee here. The menu is fairly straight forward and simple. Don’t expect blended drinks, or a plethora of food options. Expect a cordial barista and a relaxed atmosphere. This is one of my favorite places to not just get work done, but to sit and socialize or even people watch.
If you are in the area, check it out. South of Powell can be fairly sparse in places and I feel really lucky to have a gem like this within blocks of my front door.

This is a very cute coffee shop: they have a nice feel indoors (record player, comfortable atmosphere) and a back yard area that looks inviting on a sunny morning. The barista was friendly.
This space had so many five star reviews — I was hopeful. Unfortunately, the coffee was not good. Full disclosure: I don’t like how Stumptown coffee tastes — this place does not use Stumptown but the coffee they use has the same sour taste.
I ordered a bagel which was nicely toasted but I dislike when a coffee shop won’t spread the cream cheese on the bagel. They gave a Philly cream cheese packet and a plastic knife — just disappointing.
I hate to rain on the 5 star reviews but I was just unimpressed. Cute location and space but a coffee shop ought to (by definition) have good coffee.

This is absolutely my favorite coffee shop in Portland, no I take that back, it’s my favorite coffee shop anywhere. I can’t even drink stumptown anymore. Courier coffee has ruined all other coffee/​espresso for me. The shop is quaint and relaxing. Everyone the owner hires is just a perfect addition to the already dazzling shop. This coffeehouse makes me want to never leave this neighborhood.

Great place, the owner Carolyn is awesome.

Ahhhhhh I love this place, just my style, great coffee, friendly neighborhood place, local artists that change out, and lots of babies! Great LP collection and a sunny back area to boot. If you don’t like babies with your coffee, avoid stroller time, which is right around 11 am.
Ps get a donut, especially a fritter, they’re from delicious donuts, as the sign says but I read as these donuts are delicious. Which they are.

Carolyn helped change the tone of the neighborhood with her comfortable, homey, retro coffee shop that nonetheless serves the best in Portland coffee, tea and espresso. (Not to mention the ever-​delicious Delicious Donuts!)
We had a ugly dearth of coffee shops in the late ‘00s, brought on by the conversion of Gladstone Coffee to the admittedly awesome Gladstone Pizza. When Carolyn opened on New Year’s Day 2013, all we neighborhood denizens had a rush of thrill. She is lovely and a gracious host, remembering so many names and favorite orders my mind whirls. Her coffee is the awesome Courier Coffee — now my favorite roaster in Portland — and you might see local artists, bartenders at the hottest downtown restaurants, Tarot readers, or Japanese tourists eagerly drinking at the altar of Carolyn’s goddess-​ness.
The record player is almost always spinning with a variety of the best music of the 60s and 70s, and I always feel I’m stepping into a cozy spot that could be out of any time in the last fifty years. It’s always the right time.
Kenilworth Coffeehouse is also a good bet to be open in the mornings on holidays, warming our souls and filling our tummies with the best in caffeinated and sugary treats.
Love this place.

Small. Local. Friendly. What can I say that hasn’t already been said?! :)
Owner is just a delight in the early hours of the day. A smile and a great latte. I love the artesian doughnuts and day ‘ol goodies. Simple drip coffee is robust and tasty!
Nice big ‘backyard’ for the kids and big kids to romp around in. Youll see a small picnic or two during the summer days. The piano really kept me coming back in the beginning, cause I was lucky enough to get some random person feeling the need to hit a few keys and delight us in song. I love it. The couch has a massive squish factor, so beware on first dates, short skirts or a full belly.
The customers are super friendly and never a nose turned up if I need to share some space or even ask for chair. That is such a great thing that definitely keeps me coming back. Its a perfect excuse for a morning walk… and of course, some coffee & donuts. ;)

Stopped in here with a friend before a day of shopping. The atmosphere is relaxed and the place is small and intimate. Music played on a turntable. There’s bar seating, a few tables and a couch. There might be a few tables outside too.
Gingersnaps were the best I’ve ever had. Chewy and buttery.
My iced americano had a house made vanilla syrup. I couldn’t taste it. But I’m a fiend for sugar so it might be my cracked out taste buds. They do put out cream and sugar so I sweetened to my liking.
Overall, a cool place for a friend date or a meeting.

Even though caffeine is a stimulant, I find this coffee house to be a really relaxing place to be. Yes, it may be a bit quirky, but rather than experience a clamor at the counter, it is usually a relaxing process from beginning to end. Due to its small size, it can be busy on the weekends, so my best experience has been mid-​week.
There are four small tables for two and a couch that practically swallows you whole when you take a seat. There is an an old upright piano and tons of vintage vinyl records. They are usually playing some light jazz which suits my mood. They just passed their one year mark (always a big achievement in the food and beverage industry) and still have some party decorations dangling from the ceiling.
Even though it is a coffee house, I will forever be grateful for their introduction to quiches and pies by another local spot, Lauretta Jean’s. Even when the daily selection of quiche sounds a bit off beat, I have loved it every time (today it was sorrel and goat cheese). Served with some greens drizzled with oil and balsamic vinegar and accompanied by a latte (Courier Coffee beans), a very nice way to start my day in Portland.

God, I miss my old ‘hood sometimes. I used to live about 20 feet from what is now the fabulous Kenilworth Coffeehouse, a perfect fit on this humble stretch of SE Gladstone. It was kind of the last remaining piece of the puzzle on this street. I moved only 3 miles, and I’ll gladly return more often now that this shop is open.
A couple of years ago, Gladstone Coffee and Pizza dropped the «Coffee and» part and we were espresso-​less! The horror! No longer, denizens of Creston-​Kenilworth.
Here is what makes this spot awesome: simple but solid products (everything local), friendly service, adorable shop with an old-​timey piano and turntable, a relaxed vibe, and thoughtful little touches throughout. Yes, wifi, yes Courier Coffee.
Love it. Wishing the owner all the best from a (former) ‘hood rat.