Be warned: One trip to the backyard of Sip Coffee House may permanently alter your expectations of urban coffeehouses. Inside, the walls are awash in warm red, sage green and mustard yellows; lounge on the purple sofa (a classic piece that's just waiting for a fainting lady) and leaf through one of Sip’s countless magazines.

Yet it’s in the garden where sheer delight awaits. A few tables and chairs rest on a stone patio with randomly placed mosaic tiles. A tree-shaded walkway extends from the patio, leading to a quaint sitting area. The garden is bright and eclectic, and a collection of wind chimes and birdhouses and baths impart the pleasant eccentricity of an old-lady-on-the-hill house.

To cool off a bit, try an iced Dreamy Mocha with white chocolate, topped with an obscenely large swirl of whipped cream. If you’re abstaining from caffeine, the iced Oregon green tea latte is a refreshing alternative. Should an indulgence for sweets strike, the three-chocolate brownie and chocolate chip, banana and blueberry breads taste as if they were freshly baked by Mom.