50 Best Bars in Portland

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

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

“My go to spot for delicious drinks and scrumptious nibbles. The vibes are always great. The servers are all amazing especially Quintin and Johnny! This place is great on summer nights sitting outside or a winter day escaping the rain. It’s always a great time at The Love Shack!“

“We had an exceptional experience at Comala. The drinks menu came with a diagram of the flavor profile AND how each was served. Why doesn’t every bar do this? If you want wine it’s all Mexican. Then the food we ordered (skirt steak tacos, chilaquiles but very elevated, and padron peppers) arrived and every dish was wonderful. Highly recommended.“

“I managed to get a seat at the bar for an early dinner because I hadn't made reservations. Service was friendly and the food was excellent. The short rib arancini could be a meal in and of itself. Their house-made pasta was perfectly al dente and the sauce with prawns was amazing! I was actually spooning up the excess sauce and eating it like a soup because I hadn't gotten bread to sop it up. The Stappi Sunrise cocktail with house-made limoncello was also fantastic! I very much look forward to coming back for future meals.“

“everything was amazing - food, drinks, service and atmosphere..“

“Excelent tapas and coctails.“

“Love this place. Appropriate that the elevator doesn't take you up until opening hour. It has a very crisp and welcoming look. The greenery makes it so. We wanted rooftop and it was lovely. We arrived early and filled up shortly after. Love the fire inside. Staff is attentive and friendly. Food was great. Would definitely return.“

“This bar is so cozy! The atmosphere is very welcoming and they have plenty of seating around the bar and tables. Would be a great date spot.

The bartenders were super knowledgeable and kind. Will be back soon to try out their food.“

“Love this place. We've been a few times and both the drinks and desserts are so so delicious! Recommend reservations but not required. Seating is a little tight for larger parties, but I've seen them make it work. Ideal for parties of 2-3.“

“The outside was uninviting and a bit scary, but don’t let that deter you. The food was delicious authentic Ethiopian dishes. The service was prompt and friendly. The cost was modest. If you’re in the area and want a somewhat exotic meal this is a great option. We had the 2 meat 3 veggie combo and it was a generous meal for the two of us.“

“Great people, fun atmosphere“

“So fun! They have literally hundreds of games including DK bongos and the infamous power glove. The treetrunks apple pie slushie literally tasted like applesauce, definitely dangerous. The food slapped and the staff were great. Come play monkeyball and have fun“

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

“Super cute homey McMenamins shop atmosphere. Folks have always been helpful and nice and this is where we typically pick up our whiskey club bottle so then of course we eat nearby too!! You can order food and eat at the bottle shop or outside. It’s a perfect spot in winter when you need to get out and people watch with beer and tots.

Vegetarian options: Veggie burger is really nice. Simple food but good and filling.“

“This is my favorite place in Portland. I love the open mics, the trans community events, the potlucks, and the openness of the space. Every time I walk in, I feel welcome. The worker-owners are caring and kind people. The giraffe is definitely a fun added touch - but my favorite part of the Tap is definitely the community. This place has singlehandedly motivated me to stay in Portland.“

“We love coming here to hang out with music lovers like us. If you're a Phish fan, they play all the streams. TJ and all his bartenders are wonderful.

I've also come here for drink and draw nights. It's a great neighborhood venue.“

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

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

“My sister treated me to an outing here. Not a lot of food options but what they do have it pretty tasty! The flavor of the kalbi ribs was delicious but chewy. Rice and Mac were some of the best I have ever had. You have to try the crab Rangoon dip and Hawaiian bread (I could rave about them). It’s a great hidden tiki bar. Loved watching them throw fire all over the place. Definitely known for their exotic drinks. I had the rhuby sunset (told the gal to surprise me) and I didn’t think I liked rhubarb until I had it! Was so yummy! It’s a small place but even full it doesn’t feel crowded. Absolutely will be coming back!! Such a fun experience“

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

“Phenomenal. We ordered the Chicken Liver Pate and ribeye steak. What can I say? The pate was paired with a fruit mustard and perfectly pickled onions. The steak was cooked to perfection (medium rare). It’s was so tender and simply delicious. Would highly recommend“

“Loved how cozy and casual this spot was. We stopped in on a Sunday evening and there was live jazz. I also appreciate there’s a price point for every taste. We ended up bringing home a delicious red table wine from France that was $12. I saw they are hosting a queer speed dating night which definitely earned another star. We’ll be back.“

“Great live music here!!!!“

“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.“

“Gin gimlets were delicious“

“This airy, plant filled bottle shop and pub just opened right off the Yellow Line in Kenton. It’s spacious, bright and inviting. The staff are friendly and their tap list is good, plus they have lots of delicious to-go options. Happy to have them in the neighborhood!

Update 2024: Love Mayfly more than ever! They always have a great selection of fun rotating cans/bottles/taps. They frequently have events and food pop ups. Most importantly, they allow minors until 6pm now which makes it easier for our family to enjoy them.“

“I really love it here. This true cocktail bar in the heart of our neighborhood that runs late night was needed. Thank you to all the people that make Dream House happen. The cocktails rock. The food rocks. The people rock. If you aren’t coming here you don’t get it! Thanks. “

“Ever since they let me try a duck fat washed whiskey they were playing with, I was a fan for life. Wish they served the hot dogs specials till closing though, that's all. 🤘 Kyle Kinane said he was eye flucking my chicken sandwich once, that was a ku de gras.“

“Excellent spot for drinks and beers. Nice outside patio with umbrellas and tables. The interior is charming and reminiscent of a Parisian Cafe. Friendly service and food available from The Baghdad Theater. 3 stars for the food which I consider very expensive for simple fare.“

“At the risk of sounding cliche, I wish I could give the service 10 stars. I’ve never experienced a better Portland bar service, they’re always friendly, they make killer classic drinks and excellent twists on classics with very high quality ingredients and craftsmanship. When you consider the quality of the food, drinks and service combined I would say this is in my mind the best bar in Portland. They have a small kitchen but always deliver on everything they make. Please don’t come here I like having it to myself!“

“Got drunk as hell with this young Asian lady here. We had a good time. True story. YouTube “Marcos Summer” if ya wanna hear more about it. My place not hers. Super affordable drinks. Great staff. And they let you come back even if you get 86’d a few times. Highly recommend

Vegetarian options: Plenty

Dietary restrictions: None

Parking: They have street level parking

Kid-friendliness: I would recommend this for kids parties. The staff really loves singing happy birthday

Wheelchair accessibility: They are accessible to those in wheelchairs“

“I love this place if it was in my neighborhood I would be there once a week! It’s so good. The food is delicious. Not your typical pub food, and it’s a wonderful relaxed lounge scene there with great music and cocktails, and even a good NA list“

“Eclectic. Not eccentric. Music is on point with the vibe and the vibe is vibin’

Eat the food; drink the drinks: step back in time with mid century modern decor. Excellent pinball spot with a pool table, patio and, stand up arcade games even but that’s required to match the 60’s vibe. It’s so cool and soo very awesome. Dimly lit and relaxed; the frills are in the house cocktails in glass pineapples which is not a complaint - every detail is thought out.

Not a place with video lottery - instead a place with class in a league of their own.“

“Have only been blessed with food from here twice, recently with some tomato soup and bread someone dropped off at camp which was really good and about 5 or 6 years ago one of the ladies there hooked me up with an elk burger that was incredible. Makes me happy that I spend time cleaning up the area after all the folks that toss the fast food trash out the door before driving home

Parking: Can be a little tricky as the parking for most businesses in the area is side street parallel. There's a large lot next door for McDonald's but they've been known to tow people, part of the lot is out in front of over and out but I'm not sure if that's McDonald's as well. There is a lot at 81st and Washington at Milwaukee lumber where it's ok to park after 5pm up to around 630am and one across 81st at atc autobody but watch for broken glass in that one esp near Dumpsters“

“I had driven by here a couple times and never stopped because it didn't look that great from a moving car. Finally stopped in this weekend and it was a lot better than I would have guessed. Good food, good drinks, good vibe, nice (and pretty big) front patio. Will definitely come here again.“

“We got lucky and caught them when they weren't insanely busy the first time we tried their chicken. Go for the thighs! The juiciest chicken we've ever had.

The next time we tried to stop in, it was absolutely slammed. Didnt even walk inside. 😅“

“Travel the world through cased meat! BEST“

“Friendly staff, the nambawan strain in particular is absolutely exceptional, but all strains I’ve had here have been good quality. Nice chill atmosphere in beautiful and fun SE Portland. Highly recommend for kava lovers and the kava curious. 😊“

“I am pissed that the bartender changed the music from the juke box. I wasted $5. Never heard a single because she listened to what she wanted. Third time this has happened. I am not coming back here and keeping my friends from going here after this.“

“This was a very very cool spot to hangout and have a few cocktails while we waited for our dinner reservation elsewhere. They had a wonderfully curated cocktail menu and everything was mixed with care. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and kind. Thanks again guys! Excited to visit again the next time I'm in the Portland area“

“Tough luck. Bar is a gem hidden in a residential neighborhood. They have an impressively well stocked bar, and while I can't speak for substantial meals, I can vouch for the excellent selection of french fries, cheese fries, and tater tots. It helps if you like potatoes.

Vegetarian options: There's lots of potato goodness in the form of french fries and tater tots, and there's always mac and cheese.

Parking: I scored one of the three available parking spots and they're lots. I'm sure you can find parking on the street, you'll just have a little bit of a walk.

Kid-friendliness: It's a bar, so you should probably leave the kids at home with a sitter.

Wheelchair accessibility: The bar is a single level with seating that can easily be rearranged to accommodate a wheelchair.“

“Great vegan food and a fantastic bar. Love the ambiance and decor, too.“

“No lottery machines!!! It was so nice to be able to go into this bar as it had no lottery machines and kept me from loosing my money for sure. Instead we were able to enjoy playing some games and enjoy the food. The food was hands down the best food I have eaten in a while. The burger was superb, juicy and very tasty. Not your average price bar food coming out of the kitchen. The cook puts love into these meals and you can taste and see that. At 11.00 for a burger I felt as if I had under paid. It was so good. Thank you to the cook and the bar for a late night safe place away from video poker machines. Seriously thank you.“

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

“Such a cool bar! It had a nice ambiance and the cocktails were so unique. Our bartender was very friendly and was happy to tell me about areas in Portland when I told him my husband and I would be moving to Portland. I can't remember the names of our cocktails but they were very good! Mine had a pho wash which I was skeptical about when I ordered it but it was incredible. Highly recommend!“

“Warm, welcoming neighborhood hangout with fantastic bartenders, cheap drinks, and diverse clientele. Karaoke with Scott is always a blast. I’ve made so many friends there.“

“My hubby and I randomly stopped in yesterday after the food show. I’ve lived in OR for 17 years and he’s lived here his entire life. I’ve never done Portland as I moved from a big city and we live in Idanaha. My anxiety was on extreme when we arrived. (I was trying Portland for the first time). Between the food show and getting to the hotel, found Thunderbird. It was exactly what we needed. A decent place, great service. I seriously considered buying a piece of art displayed. Next time for sure! Loved the plants and vibe. We will be returning. Next time I’ll try the food (we were stuffed yesterday).“

“I absolutely adore this pub and am so glad it's in my neighborhood. Warm, welcoming atmosphere, always amazing music, friendly bartenders serving proper cold ones. I enjoy myself every single time.“

“It’s like partying in a cool friends backyard! Eclectic and jus super fun!“