50 Best Bars in Portland

“This is a great restaurant. It is very clean and welcoming. The staff was so sweet and the food was delicious. I really appreciate how hospitable they were inviting me into their culture. The portion size is good, the ingredients are of the best quality, and price was very reasonable. I will definitely return for another meal.“

“Reminds me of NYC, really cool place to grab a drink. Turns info a nightclub after 10 PM“

“Finally was able to try Bellwether Bar at the weekend and adored it. Lovely atmosphere, excellent food, cozy setting. It can be pretty packed so would recommend having a spot nearby to chill at if you have to wait for tables to open up.

Note that it's an order-at-the-bar-only kinda place with a queue that can get pretty long. Generally not a fan of places that have a single order-taking point, especially if you're only drinking a few rounds. Bellwether is well worth the friction of that process but would do well to come up with an alternative that would work for them and their size/capabilities. If you're with friends or on a date, you can be in line for 10-20 minutes, which isn't great.“

“I can't stop thinking about the celery salad and the warm olives“

“This place is truly incredible. It has every generation from Atari to Nintendo Switch 2, from every major manufacturer, TurboGrafx-16 included. The library is extensive and the energy is palpable. They handle all the game-switching for you; all you do is play, eat, and drink. The prices are more than reasonable and the quality of food & drinks far exceeded my expectations. Whether is a quick stop, or you would like to spend the most of the night here, Retro Game Bar will satisfy completely in all aspects.“

“Love this iconic place. It is such a vibe. Gluten free by necessity, so I opt for the ciders. Would love if they offered a GF beer or even mead, eventually. One of the best places to sit and people watch in Portland. The staff is always lovely people.“

“We recently moved to the area and are so thankful to have a “third place” just a few scant blocks away. The staff are all super friendly, welcoming, and the curated wine list is top notch. The food and bar snack menu punches way above its weight class too. They do a blot of fun inclusive events too. No downsides to think of, would emphatically recommend Living Room wines!“

“Absolutely a wonderful time whether casual or just fun and a quick drink! Very nice staff and food was amazing! Matt, the bartender was very helpful!! Great Paninis and desserts and soup!! I will be back for sure!!!!“

“While Tomorrow’s Verse has a great reputation for welcoming musicians of all genres, they are also popular for live streaming Phish concert runs on a big screen…. and they provide wireless silent disco headphones ! Great rotating tap list and a limited menu of good quality bar snacks. Excellent pizza and salad orders are possible too, from neighbor Red Sauce Pizza. I keep returning for the chill environment for remote work in the afternoons and the friendly regulars watching the latest playoff game at the bar monitor. Try it out on a Tuesday eve when they have an popular bluegrass picking circle. It’s a great place to make new friends.“

“Best Pina Colada in town food is amazing nice staff outdoor dinning only super fun atmosphere“

“Had a very special time with our group of five. Adam made the whole experience easy and fun!“

“Laverne's is still relatively new to Portland but it feels like a bar that has been here all along. The drinks are incredible and oh so very well curated not to mention straight up fun (whether you're in the mood for a Midnight at the Oasis or a Frog and Toad). Their rotisserie chicken is elevated and delicious but DO NOT sleep on their amazing beans to chase each bite of chicken. To top it all off the place is outright welcoming based on decor alone, which is only enhanced by the very hospitable staff and crew.

My fiance and I recently used this lovely bar as a backdrop for a wedding photo shoot and their team was so accommodating at allowing us to use their space and even whipping up some tasty mocktails to use as props. Look no further, all ye who seek Portland's best neighborhood bar.“

“We stopped by this charming neighborhood spot for a quick drink and a game of Scrabble, and it did not disappoint. I ordered the S Class, a pretty and pink gin drink and holy heck, it hit me like a ton of bricks—in the best way. My friend ordered something with tajin (always a solid choice), to similar effect. The drinks fueled us through a competitive start to our Scrabble game, loosening and freeing our cognitive functions. We didn’t finish our game there, but we did finish those drinks with ease. Yum! Strongly recommend for powerful and delicious drinks, and a darling vibe.“

“From our nine year old: Amazing service and great mocktails! We went during the make your own Gimbap and it was absolutely amazing!!“

“We’ve enjoyed some celebrations at this beautiful space! The menu works for all and their drinks are so well done!“

“There are a lot of hard working people keeping this a safe place to engage with others. Expect tea, coffee, drafts, and good company. 👍👍👍

The new porch is great to hang out on and the back porch is also nice and cozy. There is a library upstairs that has some great literature.“

“Visiting from Los Angeles , gotta say as a former resident of NYC this pizza definitely can hold its own against the heavy hitters on the east coast. Delicious whipped ricotta dipping sauce with garlic and a touch of honey. The crust was perfectly baked and the texture really can’t be beat anywhere around here. The best pie we’ve had in Portland for sure. And the friendly staff and homey atmosphere was so welcoming! Shout out to our waiter from Queens who chatted us up. Highly recommend !!“

“This is one of my favorite places to eat downtown. Staff knows the menu so well. And is kind to make sure everything they prepare meets your dietary needs. Drinks are wonderful. And while the main dining room is great the bar behind the restaurant is a good hack with the same menu on a busy night.“

“Food=Flight: The Whole Line Up

I discovered Freeland Spirits at the Portland Arts Week opening bash, where Skyla was making truly excellent cocktails and then invited me to the tasting room with a free-flight coupon. Danny here at the tasting-room bar just educated me on the unique composition of multiple gins and whiskeys in this generous flight. New gin appreciator here! Angeline and Marisa here at the bar are super-sweet, and Brooke was another fun staffperson at the arts party, so all around, there are gooood, kind humans loving their work and making it fun and delish for the community. Thank you!“

“Nice outdoor patio with plenty of seating. Great neighborhood vibe!“

“Recently had my second foray into Hale Pele. Overall, a fantastic experience that is better than nearly every tiki bar I have had to pleasure of haunting. However, the quality of the drinks were a step below my first visit (2024). We tried 15 drinks between the five of us. The Corn n' Oil in particular was a big miss. It looked and tasted like a glass full of ice and 1/2 ounce of bitters. There was no rum, certainly not an aged Bajan rum. I inquired with the waitress, and got nowhere. The wait between drinks and the frequency of visits by staff was also considerably longer than last time. Our fellow patrons, however, were wonderful as always.“

“My date was very late, but the staff completely saved the experience. From the moment I arrived, they made me feel welcome, comfortable, and not at all awkward for waiting alone. Their kindness and attention turned what could’ve been a frustrating night into a genuinely nice one. Great service goes a long way—I’d definitely come back. They recommend one of their best Tepeztates and just like the ones from Oaxaca. Muchas gracias chicos.“

“This is the spot you will want to expose any out of town guests to Portland. Menu is amazing. The bomba salad is one of the best salads in town. They go light on the meat and heavy on the vegetables which leaves you full and satisfied. Cocktail program and now bunch. Make a reservation for sure.“

“Monday 12/8 my daughter took me to Lombard House to watch a Monday night Eagles/Chargers football game. My daughter lives in Portland and I was visiting from Royersford, Pa We had such a great time and everyone was kind and friendly. Such an intimate place to go. Thank you for your hospitality. I will be sure to stop in again at the next visit. "GO BIRDS"“

“What's not to love about Mayfly?! Mayfly always has one of the best draft and bottle selections in the Portland area that always feels new every time I come in. Prices are excellent, staff and the owner are wonderful people, and there are plenty of great events to check out each week. Also a great selection of food vendors during the weekend. I live in Vancouver and bike here regularly because It's my favorite spot within miles.“

“dog friendly inside and out. great selection of beer and hot sauces. reasonably priced and a great staff and atmosphere“

“Great hh pizza! Crust is a Lil puffy a Lil crispy a Lil stretchy.
I had the papermaker pale. Wow! Well poured, gold colored beauty, tastes like a beer dream, lightly piney on top, then a smoothly carbonated descent to hopville.. brilliant!
They treat you right at the Rudder, so close to the Willamette it probably barely stayed dry in ancient days. But they dont get you muddy. Kick back be patient they will row out to you.
Tune into the vibe here. Becalmed.“

“where to start, we are big good truck goers. A family of 5. makes it great when everyone can get what they want. This place is beautiful, they had a handful of trucks (more coming) but the options were definitely a mix. Something for everyone for sure. The Cuban food truck is a 10/10 highly recommend! The Cuban sandwich was the best sandwich ive had in a long time. Do yourself a favor and give it a try. My husband and kids had burgers, corn dogs, and chicken strips. The burgers were huge. super great flavor, (adding lamb burgers to the menu soon) super excited to come back to try those. Lets talk drinks, I like a good spicy cocktail, however most "full bars" offer Tabasco to spice up my drink. I hate that. I prefer a spicy tequila or a muddled jalepeno. This place has bitters. This was hands down the best spicy margarita (the house margarita with spicy bitters) that I have had since I've been out here. They have have a changing station in the bathroom. a pinball room, and a kids toys section. For families like us, little kids, picky eater, the FULL bar. This is by far the best food truck place we have went to.“

“Fun time. A bit of a wait, so go early.“

“I make a stop at the Bye & Bye every time I’m in town! Once a year, but totally worth it!!“

“Stumbled into finding this spot needing to find a happy hour location. New favorite place!“

“My wife and I got married at this wine bar late last Summer and it was the best day ever. Jack, Stephanie AND Cassi were the best hosts and we’ll always be grateful for the experience they provided us in their lovely space.

We revisited the wine bar this weekend and had a lovely time reminiscing over our previous time in the space while sipping delicious wine, nibbling crackers and cheese and of course engaging with the staff, Elijah and Connor. They were welcoming, charming, knowledgable and attentive. We were happy to hear that Jack was enjoying a well deserved day off ;-)

Always good wine and a lovely time at Backcountry Wine Bar. That’s why it’s our favorite!“

“Jade does a great job! 🙂👍“

“Gin gimlets were delicious“

“Great place to watch all the San Francisco 49’er games!!! One of the 2 viewing sites for Niner Empire Beaverton. Great beers and pub grub“

“This place is the vibe. They set the tone for this neighborhood years ago and the cool kids never left. Beer, booze and food- all winning. Service is spot on. Porch seating, bar seating, dark corner seating, back patio seating..... pick a place and enjoy. Photo booth has super zoom- B&W is your friend.“

“Absolutely stellar selection of sandwiches. I had the chicken parm, and my only regret is that I couldn't eat enough to try them all. Only thing to do is come back! Pool table and some arcade consoles for entertainment, lots of windows for ventilation. Music is on blast so not exactly a quiet spot, but definitely quietly enjoyable on the back patio.“

“The Mediterranean pizza was delish. It just happened to hit the spot for me. I will definitely go there again and highly recommend it.“

“The food was a symphony of flavors everything is made in house by the woman who owns the place Yes her and her husband own it it's a mom and pops in all their all their customers are their children The drinks are delicious The best thing is that habanero honey You have to have it on any of the food“

“We were walking by and stopped in for an after dinner drink. Really nice setup with indoor/outdoor seating and windows that open to make it all feel like one space. Fun atmosphere that didn’t feel stuffy or prententious. Great cocktails.“

“I had the pleasure of dining at Mother's Bistro & Bar for both breakfast and dinner. The experience was delightful; the food was so appetizing that I immediately dove in and neglected to take any photographs. I enjoyed the flaky French toast, perfectly soft-scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, and their signature house mimosa.

During my dinner dining experience at Mother's Bistro & Bar, I ordered the pot roast, and while it wasn't quite like my own mother’s cooking, it was one of the better menu choices. . .“

“Warm cozy atmosphere, friendly service, fine cocktails.“

“I know, nobody is perfect BUT our experience was perfect in every way. From our greeting at the bar as we arrived to our exit. The burger and fries were perfect as was the beer on tap. If we had not stopped at another place earlier for Burger Week, we would have stayed longer and drank more. Sad Valley is our new favorite place in the neighborhood. Such an original & creative theme for a bar. Love the decor, the original art is spot on. You either get it or you don't. Sadly I did not have a fabulous cocktail, but looking forward to it on my return.“

“Great people to work and drink with!“

“My husband and I ate at Palomar Recently and really enjoyed the ambiance The service and the food. We will make it a point to go again soon and I really look forward to it.“

“Aalto lounge is back and it is such a sweet addition to the neighborhood! The Filipino menu is small but mighty! The ceviche is so good you’re gonna be asking for more shrimp chips to savor every last drop! The cocktails are well made and a good bang for your buck! They have Oregon wine on the menu ( which many small bars do not have!) There’s a happy hour from 5-7pm. The small but cozy patio is perfect for catching up with friends or reading a book. Also! There is a photo booth! highly recommend adding this to list of places to go to!“

“Ask for Aaron :) He knows his stuff. Recommended me the mellow mood cbd tea no caffeine and it tastes so good and I can drink it at work . I love this place the vibes and the outside area and the food and drink definitely makes it a good atmosphere.“

“We love this place. The staff is amazing, even if you are new to wine but you have an idea of what you would like to taste, from something sweet, bubbly or heavy and dry. They know what to recommend and they are spot on. Jazz nights are amazing. This place is small and cozy and welcoming.“

“Went here for a friend's going away party & fell in love with the vibe. Owner is so awesome. Patio is fully enclosed & wonderfully appointed. I even saw a shelf that held board games anyone could play. (We didn't cause we were spending time visiting, but I totally will next time! ) looking forward to my next visit.“

“This place is fabulous. THEY HAVE TABLE SERVICE! Every staffer I interacted with was charming and lovely. I got up to pay my check at the bar and they said, oh I'll bring it right over to you! The drinks were perfect and delicious. Their seasonal spritz was a revelation. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“