When longtime East Nashville coffee shop Portland Brew closed back in February, many loyal customers took to social media to mourn the loss. They mentioned its community vibes and its remote-work-friendly atmosphere, naming the cafe as one of the few remaining places where you could camp out with a beverage for a few hours and get sh*t done, particularly of the writerly sort. I was a Portland Brew regular for years, and felt compelled to memorialize Portland Brew in my Substack, FIELD TRIP. Truth be told, I’m still missing PBrew every day. It hurts to walk by the shuttered space. 

But we must persist, and we must continue to get out of our houses to write from time to time, with beverage of choice at the ready. So, where to, folks? I ask my Porch teammates for their favorite other, still-extant spots to write and sip. Here’s what they told me:

“Sip Cafe in Inglewood has it all: affordable coffee, plenty of seating, a drive-thru option, and original ice creams for hot days. The baristas are funny and kind, and the bakers are always trying new flavors in pastries and savory snacks. You can find me there multiple times a week, either with my laptop or meeting a colleague or two for fruitful conversations.” — Yurina Yoshikawa. (She also recommends Hanna Bee, Dose, and Crema.)

“Osa. Amazing coffee, and no wifi means fewer distractions.” — Joe Kane

“All People in East Nashville is low-key, bright, neither bustling nor ghostly, friendly, and has parking up and down the street. Also, I like that it’s a Black-owned, locally-owned business. But keep an eye on the reopening of the Loading Dock - it’s a true artist's cafe...and also black-owned, locally-owned.” —Nina Adel

“Coffee shops are rarely open during my writing hours, but if I had to claim a happy habitat for putting words on the page, I'm going to tag Sterlings in Sewanee, specifically its porch, ideal on a mild summer's day. Excellent destination for a writerly getaway.” —Katie McDougall

“Edit in Hendersonville offers a variety of fancy coffee options and tropical-inspired cocktails. It’s the perfect backdrop to jot down your next poem or get inspired by the local traffic. Hendersonville still has a couple of undiscovered hangs, and this one is sure to inspire your next piece of prose or poetry! Huge plus: It's open at night." — Bonnie St. Martin 

And as for me? Nothing’s going to take the place of Portland Brew. Sigh! (I’m sorry. I’m still mourning.) But if I happen to be across the river and am looking to lock in, I like to post up at the original 8th & Roast location on 8th Ave. South. It’s never too crowded, they have good food and pastries, and parking is easy. Plus, Starland Emporium is next door in case you seek diversion…

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