Franklin High School offers off-campus lunch to students of any grade, something that is unusual in school districts other than PPS. Many students take advantage of this, going to one of several options within walking distance of Franklin. Rain or Shine Coffee House, aptly named considering Oregon’s weather, tends to attract a crowd no matter the time of year. Approximately a seven minute walk from the school, it’s not hard to get to Rain or Shine and back within the lunch period, with plenty of time to enjoy a delicious drink.
My personal favorite drink at Rain or Shine is the iced chai, and I would go so far as to say it’s the best in the city. The chai is made using a Metolius Artian Tea mix, which is a farm direct, small batch, ethically sourced tea company. Their hot chai is quite good too, but I feel the flavors are best when poured over ice. Victoria Huynh, a junior at Franklin, says that her go-to order is a “hot matcha latte with vanilla syrup and whipped cream.” Huynh does caution that the “matcha is unsweetened, so it’s a little bitter without the vanilla syrup and whipped cream.”
Rain or Shine also has seasonal drinks, and holiday drinks are now available. Another Franklin junior, Indie Becker, says that last fall Rain or Shine had a drink called “Baby it’s Halloween,” which they miss to this day. Their current favorite is an iced latte with vanilla and lavender syrup. For people who prefer to shy away from caffeine, Rain or Shine offers a fantastic lemonade that is available year-round.
Rain or Shine also has a variety of food options. There is a pastry case, as well as other cold food items and a menu board with a limited number of hot dishes. In my opinion, hands down the best food is their bagel breakfast sandwich. It is made on either an everything or plain bagel, with vegetarian sausage, cheese, an egg, and spicy mayo. This list of ingredients wouldn’t usually seem appealing to me, as someone who doesn’t particularly like mayo, eggs, or spicy food, but somehow it is shockingly cohesive.
“My favorite food is the breakfast sandwich. No doubt about it, it’s perfect,” Becker says. Huynh agrees, saying: “I’m a massive fan of their breakfast sandwich, and I get it nearly every time I go.” I would urge anyone to try the breakfast sandwich at least once, definitely with an everything bagel. I generally find about half is enough to feel satiated, so it’s the perfect food to split with friends.
The pricing at Rain or Shine is similar to many coffee shops around Portland. If I’m only getting a drink, I expect to pay between $5 to $8, including a $1 tip and added syrups. “I do believe most of their prices are fair, but some items throw me off,” says Huynh. “The add-on prices are kind of absurd to me, like adding cream cheese on an already $4 bagel is an extra dollar, or adding syrup to a drink is also an extra dollar. I just feel like those add-ons should be expected and consumers shouldn’t be charged extra.” For me, due to the quality of the drinks and food, I’m comfortable with the prices. I like supporting a local business, especially one I enjoy as much as Rain or Shine.
Part of the reason I frequent Rain or Shine as often as I do is because the staff are wonderful, and have always been incredibly helpful and accommodating. Both the staff and the coffee house are very LGBTQ+ friendly, and there is a sign up asking people not to assume the staff’s pronouns, but to please ask about individuals’ pronouns or use gender neutral language instead.
Along with the pride flag in the window, Rain or Shine features a variety of colorful artwork by independent artists, which hang all over the walls. The majority of it is for sale. The abundant artwork helps contribute to the pleasant feeling in the cafe, and students often use Rain or Shine as a place to do homework or study. Huynh says, “It [has] a cute rainy academia feeling. It just feels so cozy in the cafe, and it makes me incredibly productive.” Personally, I love doing work at Rain or Shine because of the abundance of natural light and window seats. The atmosphere is aesthetic and clean, which makes me feel like I’m in a TV show. “I think the vibe is so cute,” says Becker. “There’s a good amount of seating so it’s not too crowded, and I love the little merch/gift section by the front.”
My only qualm with the establishment is that they close at 2 p.m. on weekdays, as I would love to be able to go and study there after school. Either way, I love going during a free period or lunch. It’s the perfect pick-me-up in my day. On your way in, make sure you grab a punch card; after ten drinks you get one drink free, any size or type!
