Rilassi Coffee House & Tea

Cant wait till another coffee shop opens in the South Waterfront. This place only exists because the little competition it has. Their coffee is not very good and there where multiple flies in the pastry and muffin display which was a health concern.

I just started coming here more regularly, and I’m so glad this place is in the neighborhood. It’s big enough that there is room to find a quiet spot to relax with a book and a cup of coffee or a latte, so that’s nice. I’ve only had one experience where there was really no place to sit, and that was an anomaly, and unlike many coffee shops in the area, I haven’t seen any pretentious types, just people quietly reading/​doing something on their laptops/​having conversations.
I noticed some of the reviews said the staff was rude, so I’m guessing that some aren’t there anymore, because the people I’ve met when I’ve been in there have been incredibly nice, and are always attentive. Coffee, meh, it’s okay, but it’s not terrible. I usually put cream in it anyways, and it’s better than the coffee I drink at work.

Cool environment very coming atmosphere. Coffee wise I tasted batter one’s but it’s the best in the neighborhood and very much resemble to the European taste. The Turkey panini is much recommended

They know what service means. The chocolate peanut butter smoothie is the best. Also good salads, (but get the smoothie, you know you want it).

It’s nice to have a coffee house in SoWa, but Rilassi leaves plenty to be desired. I will say, I’ve always received great service here BUT the coffee is bad, the ambiance/​décor even worse and their breakfast sandwiches are drowned in grease. No doubt that you can make a better cup of coffee at home!

This is a re-​review and I love it when I am able to «up» my review.
I have visited Rilassi a few more times after my last review, primarily on weekends. I’ve got to say coming in on the weekends is a big difference from some of the weekdays. There is a girl working the register on weekends who is a GIANT ray of sunshine to this place.
She has wonderful customer service skills and greets everyone with a big smile. You can tell she loves her job and is happy. This morning I even watched her coming to the dining room to assist an elderly lady when she didn’t have to. I’m not sure what this girl’s name is but I got to say people like this make a difference to an establishment.
I hope the owner realizes all this and uses her as an example to hire future employees. People make the difference! Now if we could just get better coffee… Please. :-)
2015 – 77

Austin is friendly, giving this place a relaxed feel to enjoy my drink. Having this fantastic place so close to where I live is great!

It’s sad that a business with so little direct competition can seem to garner very little business from the neighborhood, but I quickly understood why I never see anyone in there when I ordered coffee there for the first time. I even went simple and grabbed a drip coffee and it was quite possibly the worst cup of coffee I’ve ever had. On a later date my husband bought me a pumpkin spice latte which was also horrible but at least had the advantage of some flavor due to the added syrup.
Given the location of this shop it’s unlikely a coffee shop here will ever get many customers outside of those living in the south waterfront; however, at this time, it seems they’re struggling to even get that

Living in the SW Waterfront, this place is convenient, but not a destination. I ordered the croissant ham, egg, and cheese sandwich which tasted good but was very greasy, and took a surprisingly long time to make. I also ordered a fruit smoothie, unfortunately they used cheap, from-​concentrate OJ which completely ruined the flavor. Coffee drinks appear to be their specialty, perhaps stick with those.
** PS. might want to stay away from the pastries, I saw flies in the case crawling all over them.

I miss coming here because the last girls were so much friendlier. Nobody knows what they’re doing and they always seems way too stressed. Coffee was cold and way too sweet.

Generally, I’m pro south waterfront. I love when new places open and have given some great reviews to shops that really deserve them. Few reasons this place sucks.
1. Bad coffee: Can’t expect to serve that sludge in PDX and get away with it. I drink it black so I can’t speak to the mixed drink crowd, however I brought my sister a vanilla latte she said was the worst she’d ever had.
2. Bad atmosphere: The flamboyant Italian stuff with the faux lions and fancy cars just doesn’t mesh with Britney Spears blaring through there speaker system at 8 in the morning. Or maybe it does. The staff is… challenging as well. Can’t make a drink or a smile to save their life.
3. Bad hours: Opens too late and closes too early for much impact outside the geriatric population.
They need a complete overhaul to win me back. Especially with lovejoy now open a block or so away.

I’m not a coffee snob, typically only drink your basic hot coffee, but I like this place. Sure the decorations might be over the top, but it’s a nice comfortable place to hang out. The limited food menu is actually pretty good considering this is a coffee house first and «food place» second. The staff is always nice and it’s a large place (with a second floor) so not cramped at all.
I just wish they were open later in the day. I live in the area. Most people leave the area during the day and come back in the evening, so I have always found it odd how this places closes at 4:00. They are open when people in the condo buildings aren’t around, then close when people come back. I’d visit A LOT more if it was open in the evenings.

Eh… coffee is good, not great. Ambiance is better than many suggest. It’s a good place to work from but I don’t know that I would want to hang here with friends for an extended period of time. It’s right around the corner from where I live so I will likely go back if I’m not in the mood to drive down the street.

I have been working down the street from this café for over three years now and have become increasingly disappointed in the quality of their food and drinks, as well as the staff members.
When I originally began visiting the shop, there were the same familiar and friendly faces to great me. It soon became a revolving door for employees, and I believe this is in part due to the fact that the manager hires young, unprofessional employees (majority are young females.)
I continue to visit this coffee shop in hopes that I will be pleasantly surprised, but I am continually disappointed. The last time I went in, I ordered a smoothie and a standard with ham. The smoothie came promptly, but the employee behind the counter got distracted when, what looked like his girlfriend came in. He proceeded to make her several sandwiches and chatted away while I continued to wait for the single sandwich that I had ordered. After the girl left I went to the counter to ask is my sandwich was ready, and he looked baffled as if I had never ordered one. He had to ask me again what my order was and then gave me my sandwich which was supposed to be hot, but was cold due to him rushing.
The entire time this was going on, the owner was conducting an interview with a young girl at the table next to me. If an employee can get away with giving out free food, and blatantly not doing his job while the owner is right across the way, then this shows that the level of costumer service expected is very low.

It’s the best caffe ever and the workers are very lovely and friendly.
I wish it’s open to the late times

I have ordered sandwiches here before and been somewhat satisfied with the food. The service has always been slow and rude. Especially today when my daughter was looking for a water bottle.
Nobody acknowledged us until we had been standing there more than 5 minutes. I should add that only one other person was seated at a table… It was not busy. Then after we paid the $ 2 and stood waiting for the change a few more minutes of awkward silence went by before we were asked if there was anything else we needed. We were shocked and just asked for the change but were even more shocked to be told there was none.
I pointed out the sign that water bottles were 1.95 and showed her where it said that. She said she’ll fix it and that it’s wrong. We stood there a while expecting an apogee but she just added «oh the arrowhead are that price not the one you have.»
After leaving and deciding not to try going here again we realized that we should have just taken the whole $ 2 back and not allowed our 3 year old daughter to go through this rude confused discussion.

I really, really wish I could love it. I live on the block and needless to say, this is the most convenient coffee shop. But it’s just depressing.
First, they have a gorgeous space. It looks very comfy and inviting. It’s rare that I see more than a handful of people in there, unless its a beautiful sunny day out and usually people are sitting outside. You walk in and are immediately hit with dread. The girls are not friendly at all and have this cavalier attitude about everything including setting good customer service. I don’t expect a lot from a coffee shop. Serve good high quality drinks and set an atmosphere that is warm and invites me to stay. You won’t really find that here. The drinks are mediocre at best and well the service is barely passing.
I’ll stick with the coffee they brew for me in my lobby. At least there I know the concierge will be friendly and inviting and I save myself a couple of bucks.

Yikes! What’s with all the negative reviews here?
Every time I come to Rilassi the girls are super sweet (and fast) — I’ve never received subpar service and am happy with the end product — given, I’m not a huge coffee drinker (which is practically blaspheming in Portland), but I AM someone who frequents cafes and appreciates when baristas go the extra mile.
I think a few people were let down by the décor — yeah, the execution («Italian-​style villa») fell through. It definitely seems more like a big empty shop that happens to serve coffee in the corner. I haven’t tried the food, but playing into the ambiance again: it just doesn’t really seem like a «polished» food kind of place.
I get better (more personalized) service here than I do at Starbucks, so I’ll keep coming back when I’m in the area. I will note that I usually go in the afternoons, so that might possibly be a better time (with happier people)?

I really liked this place the moment I walked in the front door. The décor is amazing. 2^nd floor balcony seating as well.
I just had a regular coffee as I’m not really into or about those fru fru 10,000 calorie drinks. The coffee I chose, an ultra dark roast for that full bodied effect, was absolutely delicious. I hung out for awhile just so I could enjoy the ambiance. They’re also very pet friendly as no less then 5 dogs came through in the half hour or so I was there.
I’ll be going back here to experience and observe.

I’ve been here a few times when visiting my brother in the highrise condo. Their paninis are all good. The coffee is pretty good. The smoothies are all pretty good and their service is great.
Location is awesome if you live in the area.