Literary Arts

Jane Ferguson

3 months ago

This is a review for the coffee shop only. In the context of the bookstore which is excellent in design and quality on all levels, the coffee shop has far to go. The quality of the soup ( zucchini, vegetable) was poor. It had no body, tasted of too much vinegar, just weak. It is customary when serving bread with the soup, to offer butter. The customer service...having been a young person behind the cafe counter employee for many years, a simple smile accompanying a simple, May I help you, goes a long way. That's a big part of the job. This person undervalues herself, her job, and the Literary Arts. What does LA want to project to the public? That's enough for now I suppose.

Kerry Robison

5 months ago

This place is AWESOME!! They have a really great selection of books and so much more!! Plus they have a bunch of cool classes, workshops, and activities. Really worth checking out!

judd ortiz

7 months ago

Booked a room and used it for a casual work meeting through Hazel Valdez. Everything went off without a hitch and my team loved their coffee and even got some time for a little shopping! Wifi also worked out really well, and the room was well kept. I wasn't sure if this was a thing but I had peeped the space and saw their rooms in the back. I simply asked (emailed the address listed on their site) and they worked with me to book a room/time at the exact date I wanted. Thanks to Hazel and team for the space and coffees! Would definitely return.

Allie Marini

11 months ago

New location with a coffee shop coming to add to the space. (Not open at time of review, but coming sometime summer 2025.) Literary Arts is a non-profit that hosts literary events & workshops throughout Portland & encompasses many types of local poetry. This new space also features an independent bookshop with a solid selection of local, indie, and established writers. Two floors with both stairs and a lift for accessibility. It should be noted that many of these literary events cater to the more "elite/academic" side of the writer's life, but they also host local poetry slams and book launches which kind of balances things. Not sure if Dustin is still the book manager for Literary Arts, but his stance on AI writing (pro, would stock in the bookshop) is also worth noting as a possible drawback. Hopefully, this no longer applies, but bears a mention if this is a concern for shoppers. This is my reason for 4 stars instead of 5. New location can be a bit challenging for parking, and the neighborhood surrounding is a little rough, especially after dark. Good to know, but not a deal-breaker. Just go back a block or two behind Grand, and you'll find more spots. Whether you're a local bookworm or a traveling book lover visiting PDX, Literary Arts should be on your list of indie PDX bookshops to visit.

Sylvia Choi

a year ago

What a wonderful new home for Literary Arts! The bookstore is well organized and the staff is friendly. They also have classrooms and an airy mezzanine for events or reading. The whole building is ADA compliant. And soon they’ll have a Mother Foucault’s across the street.