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.“

“Clever and custom cocktails. They all taste fantastic and the bartenders will give solid recommendations. So happy to have such a cool place in my neighborhood!“

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

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

“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.“

“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.“

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

“This little wine bar is an absolute gem! They have an incredible selection for both tasting and purchase. I tried my very first bubbly red here, and it was delightful. The servers were warm, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to help us find wines we’d love. The space itself is inviting, with beautiful art that makes you want to linger just a little longer. Highly recommend for wine lovers and anyone looking for a cozy, memorable spot in Portland.“

“The service was wonderful! Friendly, attentive, and great communication! We had cocktails, apps, and desserts! The Fantasia was delicious!!! The yucca fries and corn empanada were very tasty. The desserts were both unique and very delicious! Perfect for date night or fun night out with friends! We will definitely be coming back!“

“One of the few places open during my Tuesday Date Nights. An amazing casual default when my girlfriend and I want to go out on a random whim. The drinks are delicious and reasonably priced given the quality. The staff is welcoming and the atmosphere is the right blend of cozy and lively. Perfect place to go on a cold night to grab a comforting drink and have engaging conversations with your company of choice“

“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.“

“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!!!!“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“It’s always so nice to come to this place. The atmosphere is beautiful, the service is friendly, and everyone always welcomes you with a happy smile.
The drinks are amazing, and the way they present them is such a big part of the experience. There is always something fun and surprising, fire, creative decorations, or unique presentation details. It really makes the place special. They have very high-quality rum and other alcohol selections as well. Thank you so much for always creating such a great experience! 👌💯“

“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.“

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

“Freeland is one of my favorite places in Portland! Awesome spirits (Freeland Forest and the Pink Gin are my faves!), delicious cocktails with fun garnishes and fabulous bartenders make this a must-go-to place. If you haven't been, you're missing out!“

“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.“

“Great live music here!!!!“

“I cannot say enough good things about love shack. The servers are always incredible, always great to chat with. The menu is creative and has a variety of many different things. The ribeye skewers and oysters live in my head rent free. We celebrated my birthday there this past week and they made it extra special.

I believe Johnny was the name of our server, and he was the best! I made a note on our reservation about how we knew we wanted oysters and he had 2 dozen ready for us when we got there. 10/10 as always, thank you Love Shack!“

“These guys nail it! Delicious food, and perfect service. We had a date night and it was so good in every way! We’ll be going back sometime soon for sure. I’m not sure which one is better. The food or the service because both of them were fantastic. Our server was there at just the right times with all the finesse that I wish every server would have.“

“This may be one of my new favorite bars in Portland. Well made cocktails. Had the foreign panache and then ordered a Vesper off menu. Very well balanced on both. The decor, music, vibe, all perfect. Well done! I miss 24th and Meatballs but this is a welcome replacement!“

“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.“

“Jade does a great job! 🙂👍“

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

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

“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“

“Great addition to the South Waterfront.“

“Fun atmosphere and good drinks!“

“We rented out this space for our All Star Accounting Professionals Inc. Year-End Celebration. The entire process was seamless. Our questions were answered timely & in detail. The day of the celebration, we walked into the space that was so inviting, cozy, and elegant. Flowers on the tables, candles lit, and fireplace going. Connor, our bartender. went above & beyond helping us load, move tables, take off candles & flowers to use our own decorations, share lighters & chalk, and even helped some with loading our car. We were so impressed we might just book this place again next year!“

“I love all their seasonal cocktails.

--- shots ---
Little beers ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- liquor 43 with heavy whipping cream
- best shots ever

--- starter ---
Tornado potatoes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- fully on the inside
- crispy on the outside

Brussel sprouts ⭐⭐⭐✨
- too hard
- too saucy
- too much sauce
- little hard to chew

--- entrees ---
Frito pie ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- like the flavor on the meat

❌Fish taco ⭐⭐✨
- not yummy at all
- tastes like a frozen fish
- needs a hot sauce

Chicken ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
- crispy, texture on the inside
- not dry
- was told 4.7⭐ by a friend
- gochujang + herb aioli was amazing

Chicken sandwich ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- pretty flavorful
- good amount of chicken
- crunchy outside, moist inside

--- desserts ---
Cookie ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- little sweet
- love how big it is“

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

“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“

“Great people to work and drink with!“

“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.“

“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.“

“EVERYTHING! Everything you hear about this place is true. The fried chicken, the fried pickles, the atmosphere, the vibe, and the pool table… it’s all true and absolutely amazing.
Yes the wait for food is long but the outstanding all-hat wearing bartender-cook-server-super host, made it all the experience it is. Here’s to you, Kay!!!
When, not if you visit, but when you visit Portland, Reel M In is definitely on your list of local bars to visit and definitely on your list of fried chicken to enjoy.
My next road trip through Portland will stop at Reel M In and visit with Kay, the absolute best.
And if you’re a local, you already know.“

“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.“

“Comfortable booths, tiki cocktails, fun karaoke on Saturday night.“

“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. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“

“Go for the Vibe.

My friend and I enjoyed our visit to this bar.
It has a fun and welcoming vibe.

The bar decor is eclectic and a bit traditional dive bar.

The bath rooms were clean.

Don't expect much from the food. The food is bar food, not great, not bad. Nothing special. My battered fish was slightly on the burned side. The bar tender gavee half off the over priced fish.“

“F'n amazing people and amazing beer!“

“Great vibes and an excellent happy hour from 5-7pm. All of the cocktails were delicious and very affordable. The grilled cheese and tomato soup combo were great on a gloomy day, with the soup being slightly on the salty side, but still a great dish.
Inside is pretty dark, but the back patio was a nice space to hang out while still light out.“

“Best place for great drinks and amazing bartenders. Check it out Sat or Sunday nights and hang with Geoffrey . The cold brew coffee White Russian is amazing!!“

“Great vibes here. Good service, good food, good music. Happy hour from 3-6 and after 10pm everyday except Tuesdays when it's happy hour all day. There's plenty of seating indoor and outdoor. The BLT with sweet potato fries was very large and they did not skimp on the bacon. The thai chicken thighs and gochujang maac and cheese are also worth a try.“

“One of my all time favorite bars“