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Memento Mori Cafe

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Memento Mori Cafe
BERJAYA
BERJAYA
The cafe's exterior, 2025
Map
Interactive map of Memento Mori Cafe
Restaurant information
EstablishedOctober 12, 2024 (2024-10-12)
OwnersCorrena and Justin Hernandez
Location1533 Northwest 24th Ave #100, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, 97210, United States
Coordinates45°32′02″N 122°42′03″W / 45.5340°N 122.7009°W / 45.5340; -122.7009
Websitemementomoricafe.com

Memento Mori Cafe is a goth-themed vegan coffee shop in Portland, Oregon, United States. Owners Correna and Justin Hernandez began operating the cafe in northwest Portland's Northwest District in October 2024.

Description

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The goth-themed[1] vegan coffee shop Memento Mori Cafe operates on 24th Avenue at the intersection of Raleigh Street in the Northwest District of northwest Portland.[2] The business name comes from the Latin phrase meaning "remember you must die" (or "remember death").[3][4] Eater Portland has described Memento Mori as a "macabre and mystical" cafe with a "dark and eclectic" atmosphere.[3] The interior has a goth art, skeletons,[5] black ceramic vase in the shape of a human heart, a tic-tac-toe game with skull and cross bones, and a wall with images of "shadowy" figures and skulls.[1] According to Willamette Week, "Original art and a few shelves of goth home goods (think year-round Halloween decorations) round out the merchandise offered here."[6]

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Oat milk-based coffee drinks include a mint mocha called the Werewolf and another with honey and lavender called the Wolfsbane.[3] The signature blended drinks are called Goth-a-Chinos;[3] varieties include the Crypt Keeper, which is a caramel white chocolate hazelnut latte, and the Pushing Daisies, which is an iced chocolate chip cookie frappe.[1] There is also the mint chocolate-flavored Grave Digger, the Redrum, which has coconut and raspberry,[5] and a mint cookie mocha option.[3] The Raven is an iced coffee with black cocoa, the Red Rum is a coconut raspberry frappe,[2] and the Vampira is a red velvet latte. In addition to coffee and espresso drinks, Memento Mori serves lemonades and milk teas.[4]

The food menu includes the Cemetarium Salad with vegan barbecue smoked "chicken" and varieties of toasts (referred to as "bread of the dead").[3][7] Among toast options is the Wednesday,[1] which has black sesame paste and vegan cream cheese.[2] The cafe also serves bagels and salads (called "mourning bread" and "cemetery clippings", respectively),[1] as well as sandwiches and desserts.[4] Memento Mori has also served pastries with strawberry filling, shaped like bats and coffins,[1] as well as pumpkin muffins shaped like skulls.[5] It has also stocked macarons from the pop-up vegan patisserie Camellia.[8] Sugar cubes at Memento Mori are also shaped like skulls.[1]

History

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Owners and spouses Correna and Justin Hernandez opened family-operated the coffee shop on October 12, 2024.[3][4][7]

In 2024, Memento Mori invited guests to bring photographs of loved ones and flameless candles to display on its ofrenda. On November 1 and 2, the cafe offered champurrado and kits for cake decorating.[9] The business was among 33 restaurant in Portland participating in World Vegan Month.[10] In January 2025, Memento Mori hosted a fundraiser to benefit animal shelters impacted by the Palisades Fire.[11][12] In 2026, the business closed for a day to support the January 30 protests against ICE.[13] Memento Mori also participated in a fundraiser to support women entrepreneurs in 2026.[14]

Reception

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Alex Frane included Memento Mori in Portland Monthly's 2024 list of "our favorite tricks and treats" at Portland eateries.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mahoney, Teresa (2024-10-30). "Portland's new goth cafe, Memento Mori, serves goth-a-chinos and skull cakes". The Oregonian. Advance Publications. ISSN 8750-1317. OCLC 985410693. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  2. 1 2 3 "Memento Mori Cafe". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Roland, Rebecca (2024-10-18). "Contemplate the Inevitability of Death at This New Portland Goth Cafe". Eater Portland. Vox Media. Archived from the original on 2024-10-20. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Elise, Ayo (2024-11-21). "Memento Mori Cafe: Serving up coffee, sweet & savory treats". KPTV. Archived from the original on 2024-11-21. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Our Favorite Tricks and Treats at Portland Bars and Cafés". Portland Monthly. ISSN 1546-2765. Archived from the original on 2025-02-13. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  6. ↑ "Portland Is Up to Four Westside Goth Cafes". Willamette Week. 2025-10-07. Archived from the original on 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  7. 1 2 Roland, Rebecca (2024-10-03). "Portland Restaurant Openings You May Have Missed". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2025-07-26. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  8. ↑ Nocera, Veronica (2025-07-02). "Vote for your favorite bakery in the Portland area: Readers Choice Awards". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  9. ↑ Roland, Rebecca (2024-10-30). "Where to Celebrate Halloween and Día de los Muertos in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2024-11-11. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  10. ↑ "Portland restaurants mark World Vegan Month". KGW. 2024-11-07. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
  11. ↑ "Portland receives foster dogs from LA over the weekend". KGW. 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  12. ↑ "Portland cafe raises funds for California animal rescue affected by wildfires". KGW. 2025-01-19. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
  13. ↑ Seibold, Hannah (2026-01-30). "Portland businesses closing Friday for 'National Shutdown' strike amid federal immigration concerns". The Portland Tribune. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
  14. ↑ "Restaurant Roundup: Dining out for a cause; Bethany's Table changes; Carts on the move". Portland Business Journal. 2026-03-06. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
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