Teahouses in Portland

This post provides impressions of four teahouses in Portland, Oregon. I visited Enthea Teahouse in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Portland, Smith Teamaker on SE Washington Street, and Portal Tea Company (previously known as Tea Chai Té) in Sellwood. I also spent an afternoon at the teahouse operated by The Tao of Tea inside the Lan Su Chinese Garden.

In most of July 2022, I was away on the longest work trip I have ever taken. I was lucky enough to spend three weeks in Portland. On the weekends (and on one enchanted evening), I visited a handful of teahouses Portland. Here are my thoughts.

Enthea Teahouse

Enthea Teahouse is located in the Brooklyn section of southeast Portland. It puts the “house” in teahouse: it is located in a literal house! Inside there are creamy yellow walls, dark wooden tea tables, and lots of gongfu teaware. Charmingly, the teahouse is also dotted with tea pets to keep you company. Enthea generally opens later in the day than the other teahouses I visited and closes later, too. A sign in the teahouse notes it has “over 80 teas for sale” and a rotating food menu centered around “hand-made vegan tea snacks made fresh locally.” I had some very tasty pot stickers and a dazzling Wild Purple Moonlight tea when I visited.

A view of an interior doorway inside Entheawith a dark hanging separating two rooms,, dark wooden furniture, and creamy yellow walls. — Left: One of cozy the interior rooms at Enthea Teahouse. Right: One of the smaller outdoor tea tables set up in Enthea’s lovely backyard garden. Both photos taken by Enthea and used with their kind permission.

Photo of a tea tray on top of a small table surrounded by two chairs , bamboo plants, and fairy lights at night in the back courtyard at Enthea — Left: One of cozy the interior rooms at Enthea Teahouse. Right: One of the smaller outdoor tea tables set up in Enthea’s lovely backyard garden. Both photos taken by Enthea and used with their kind permission.

Weather permitting, in the summer Enthea holds Friday late evening and night SpeakTeasy events (with conversational topics like ephemerality) or DreamTeasy events (think costume themes) in its enchanting backyard. It’s magical to attend a SpeakTeasy, sip tea served gongfu style, and chat while surrounded by bamboo and fairy lights. Community flows with each infusion. BeauTEAful.

Smith Teamaker Tasting Room

Portland was having a historically long heat wave when I visited. The morning I headed over to the Smith Teamaker location on SE Washington Street, by luck, was the only cool and overcast morning during my trip. It was perfect for outdoor tea!

Inside Smith Teamaker on SE Washington St. Part of a stone fireplace, a gray chair with a pillow, and shelves of teaware. — Left: Enjoying a cup of Darjeeling tea and a slowly passing freight train while sitting outside at Smith Teamaker. Center: A view from inside their tasting room.
Right: Enjoying a nitro chai and a macaron on the front porch.

Smith Teamaker has two teahouses in Portland. The Washington Street location that I visited is in an industrial area, close to train tracks. Calming neutral colors (light natural wood, pale gray cement, cream walls, and some black accents) adorn the tasting room inside. A covered porch, flowers, and several tables welcome you outside. It was very relaxing to sit on the porch, sip tea, and occasionally watch trains slowly chug by. There is a small food menu with sweet and savory choices as well as a curated tea menu. Besides cups of hot or iced teas, you can order a tasting flight (four teas to compare), or gaiwan service.

Portal Tea Company

Portal Tea Company, previously known as Tea Chai Té, has three locations in Portland (and one in Eugene). I visited their iconic red caboose teahouse in the Sellwood neighborhood of Portland. At this location, outdoor tables are available in front of the teahouse and in the small courtyard in the back. The interior of the teahouse is much larger than I expected–bigger, by far, than the memorable red caboose through which you enter.

A white macaron with black specks of vanilla bean sits on a plate on a turquoise blue table next to a dark mug holding a creamy tea latte. — Left: The iconic and cheerful red caboose entrance at Portal Tea Company’s Sellwood location.
Right: A vanilla bean macaron and black rose tea latte enjoyed at a table in their back courtyard.

The vibe of the teahouse is cozy: it has different sections and nooks where you can enjoy your tea. There are dark wooden tables and paneling (upstairs) and painted walls (downstairs). Splashes of color from artwork and upholstered armchairs brighten the rooms. Portal Tea Company serves hot or cold tea, including bubble tea. It also has a small food menu.

The Tao of Tea Teahouse at the Lan Su Chinese Garden

Before this long work trip, I had previously only visited Portland on short trips. On those occasions, I visited The Tao of Tea Teahouse at the Lan Su Chinese Garden. So, when I made my way there during this trip, it was my third visit to this teahouse. The garden in which the teahouse is located is small and absolutely stunning. Think beautiful stone mosaic walkways, blooming flowers including lotus (seasonally dependent, of course), graceful arches, and koi ponds. The teahouse is in the in the Tower of Cosmic Reflections. It’s lovely, with very tall windows that open out onto the garden and outdoor seating along the koi pond (weather permitting).

A white gaiwan and an iron kettle on a warm sit on a wooden table outdoors. In the background, there is a koi pond with lily pads with pink flowers and Chinese architecture. — *Left: Gaiwan service, enjoying some Oriental Beauty tea, with a view of the koi pond,*
outside at the teahouse in the Lan Su Chinese Garden.
Right: A photo of the exterior of the teahouse that I took on a previous visit to Portland.

A white flowering tree and a weeping tree in front of the pagoda structure of the teahouse in the Lan Su Chinese Garden. — *Left: Gaiwan service, enjoying some Oriental Beauty tea, with a view of the koi pond,*
outside at the teahouse in the Lan Su Chinese Garden.
Right: A photo of the exterior of the teahouse that I took on a previous visit to Portland.

From this Portland teahouse, the views of the Lan Su Chinese Garden are stunning–the most beautiful views of any teahouse I have ever visited (yet!)–and totally worth the admission price of entering the garden. The tea selection is small, but curated to have something for everyone. I ordered gaiwan service and was very happy with the set up. There’s also a menu of “light meals and snacks.” I love to pair my tea with one of their tasty mooncakes when I visit.

Your Thoughts on Portland Teahouses?

Have you visited these teahouses, or any others, in Portland? I’d love to hear your perspective! I invite you to share your thoughts in the comments.

6 replies on “Teahouses in Portland”

I haven’t visited Portland yet, but I would love to go one day! I have ordered tea from enthea tea house before so I loved seeing your mention of them 🙂

Taniya–Thanks for read the blog post. Enthea is a very special place and it curates lovely teas. 🙂

Great post, Traci!

Ahhh. That means so much coming from you, Nicole! Thank you.

Your descriptions of Enthea Teahouse and the Tao of Tea Teahouse at the Lan Su Chinese Garden sound magical. I cannot wait to visit Portland again, and have some tea (and a macaron or two)!

Ohhhh. I hope you get to visit some of these places when you return to Portland! Love to know your thoughts when you do.