Good Coffee and Kolaches

When the much anticipated boutique hotel Woodlark Hotel downtown opened, besides the already well loved Oregon meets Texas meatcentric restaurant from Chef Doug Adams of Bullard, and the pre-Prohibition cocktail lounge of Abigail Hall as conceptualized by Jennifer Quist, the lobby also became the home to Good Coffee. Unique to this location you will find both Good Coffee and Kolaches.

Good Coffee was recently featured as the best coffee in Oregon by Food and Wine Magazine for their 2019 list of best coffee in every state. The Good Coffee menu here includes the expected coffee drinks varying from regular filter coffee, single origin coffee, cold brew, espresso, cappuccinos, americanos and a wide variety of lattes from vanilla, maple and smoked orange, matcha, and spiced fig to almost a dozen Townshend Teas.

If you have your coffee here rather then to go, it will be served in mugs by local ceramic artists like Margaret & Beau (the green mug you’ll see) and Mary Carroll (the pink mug). I love how these mugs feel and they have a pretty calming happy effect on me that puts me at ease. It’s yet another way the Woodlark shows how supportive it is of women by showcasing these women ceramicists. Besides Jen Quisty’s the Abigail Lounge named after women’s activist Abigail Scott Duniway and their cocktail menu of drinks with nods towards strong women leaders, Good Coffee offers The Founders Series of coffee drinks also named for women, including one called The Activist after Abigail.

And now let’s talk about 75% of the draw for me for picking any coffee shop over the other – what they offer as bites to eat!

The Kolaches are a new touch that Chef Doug brings from his experience growing up in Texas. There, a wave of European immigrants brought this stuffed pastry into popularity and Chef Doug is putting his twist on that Texan twist. You’ll find this version of doughy bread that is bun-like surrounding a stuffing that may be sweet or savory. Fillings I’ve seen so far vary from sweeter fruit like a seasonal apple one in April, a Lemon Poppyseed version, a Nutella Kolache version, and I’m sure a strawberry one to come when the local strawberries are ripe

Here’s a closer look at the Lemon Poppyseed Kolache

This Apple Kolache is a seasonal one that will be swapped with other fresh fruits

What is going to draw me in though are the savory options like a Cheddar Jalapeno Sausage Kolache. The sausages are made at local Zenner’s Sausage locally using naturally raised, humanely treated local ingredients, and as they finish running through this batch, it’s on the list to add more cheesy goodness to the next round of sausages they case.

They will also start offering rotating chef collaboration kolaches, starting in April with Chef Doug’s friend Karl Holl who pops up not too far away at Park Avenue Wines. The rumor is a smoked maple ham and cheddar cheese kolache will be appearing starting midweek this week, with ham from the pigs chef and farmer Karl raises and butchers from his farm. Chef Doug is also negotiating with Han Oak’s Peter Cho on a concept – and maybe we might see a suggestion from Top Chef alum friend Mei Lin one day? Keep checking in to Good Coffee to find out!

Kolaches are not the only option on the menu – you’ll find other baked goods such as Orange and Anise Gibassier, Caramel Pie Hand Pies, Chocolate Chip Banana Bread, Gingerbread Molasses Cookies, S’more Caramel Shortbread and more.

Oh and did I also mention breakfast burritos starring some of the amazing smoked goodness from Bullard? Below on the left you see the green chile smoked pork, and on the right a vegetarian version with grilled cauliflower.

Despite being a hotel lobby, the goal is to have the space also function as a local coffee shop that regular Portlanders will want to drop in to grab and go a beverage and morning snack, or work with others. This location is only a few blocks from the Tri-met Max and Portland Streetcars, and I have already stopped by to just grab a quick caffeine infusion and snack between running errands.

There are lots of nooks of space that include comfy cushioned chairs and couches to also countertop seating, some small tables, and a large table for groups or to share communally.

Did I mention cushy artsy seats that make you feel like you’re in an artsy living room from a magazine?

Have you ever had a Kolache before – besides Europe and Texas, you might also find them in Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin – so maybe you’ve had a version there? Which version that I’ve shared so far do you think you’d like to try? And did you know you can find Kolache Festivals dedicated to this snack – not just in Prague either but also in the US?

Disclosure: I attended a complimentary tasting of some of the kolaches at a media event, but I also have gone back a couple times on my own and purchased my own items to try and decided to share this because I genuinely do love it. I will always provide my honest opinion and assessment of all products and experiences I may be given. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own.