World Cup Coffee & Tea, inside Powell's Bookstore on Burnside Street

Inside the iconic Portland bookstore, Powell's, this quite spacious branch of the local chain World Cup Coffee & Tea (1005 W. Burnside St., 503-228-4651, ext. 234) has lots of seating, both at tables and along the windows (which afford great people-watching). The bustling cafe is open late and draws a predictably literate and well-informed bunch, with a decidedly left bent - this might be the best coffeehouse in town for meeting like-minded friends.