50 Best Cocktail Bars in Portland

“all I can think saying is it’s delicious every spoonful come out and have some …delicious I promise“

“Stopped by on my first visit to Portland from Seattle.

There are no more than 3 or 4 cocktail bars in all of Seattle that hold a candle to this place. Incredibly inspired menu with well constructed drinks that are genuinely creative.“

“Dead shot was an amazing experience. The point of the pallet is to set the tone and let the masters decide your fate. You won't be disappointed, humbled and ready for my next visit.“

“I returned to Comala and Wow! What a pleasant surprise.

Stopped in just to take a little edge off hunger, not a full meal. I ordered a “quesadilla” and a Pacifico. It looked and tasted nothing like any quesadilla I ever had. It had a thick delicious sauce smothering whatever was underneath the sauce. I could not tell you what the sauce was because I’ve never enjoyed anything like it.

The server told me that three things between the tortilla (or crepe or whatever) and the sauce were squash.

Texture and deliciousness off the charts. If someone had just served this to me, I would never have called it a quesadilla, just “Damn good.”

Comala is a hidden gem, one of those where you don't want to tell people to keep it your own. On the other hand, the people there are so nice, you want to support them.

Great atmosphere, excellent food and cocktails.“

“Fun spot. With decent drinks. Good for a stop.“

“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.“

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

“Excellent food and service! A fun pre-Timbers match vibe and the place was hopping!“

“I make it a point to visit Canard Burnside on all of my trips to Portland! The unique flavors and presentations on their menu keep me coming back for more. Had the roasted beets last night for the first time and the flavor was out of this world.“

“This place nails it every time. Service is friendly and efficient. Cocktails are creative and delicious, as you’d expect from a Ninsom operation, his spots always have a great bar setup. Photo here of the prawn curry. Damn was that amazing! Also got the tom yum noodles which ruled.“

“The food at Mestizo is fantastic. Great customer service, creative drinks, and as a bonus, everything is gluten and soy free.“

“The owner is super nice and friendly. I love the decorations. Very warm and inviting. Feels like you are in HaNoi. Food is authentic. Good place to go to for special occasion or hang out with friends.“

“Deli made good food restaurant, outside frescoe atomosphere, good Italian food!“

“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!“

“I've. eaten all over Southeast Asia including street amrt I've eaten at many Southeast Asian restaurants, including in Cambodia, Malaysia and Laos, and can unequivocally say this is one of the best meals I've ever had. Starters to dessert, the food was unique, inspired and full of multiple flavors. Bravo and five stars!“

“Great vibes to share a drink and have a conversation.“

“I came to Silk Road after seeing their food online, and it totally lived up to the hype! I know it’s more known as a bar, but the food is seriously next-level. I tried the chow wow noodles and they were incredible, and my drink was amazing. Definitely a must-try spot if you’re in the Portland area!“

“Great live jazz on Thursdays!“

“lovely atmosphere!! and very lovely food!!“

“Brunch here was everything I've heard. I've wanted to eat here for ages. The Besaws pancake is life! The crispy potatoes are uniquely delicious. The service is phenomenal.“

“Um!! Impeccable! Was recommended from the owner of another great bar (Too Soon) and so glad I went in because the ambiance was SO cozy, fun, and unique. The drinks were perfect. But the real star of the show was bartender Michelle and her coworker. (I didn’t catch his name!) So warm and personable. I immensely enjoyed my time here!!! Thanks yall ☺️“

“Great live music here!!!!“

“Too Soon is a much-needed addition to the Portland scene. The perfect place to relax with friends or even actually meet somebody new worth meeting. Looking forward to checking out their awesome menu! Plus the bartenders can make anything and everything ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️“

“Definitely enjoyed it. Looking forward to going back.“

“Tried the Rum Club on a whim while staying down the street and can't wait to go back! The happy hour punch was a steal at $5 and the pineapple fried rice was a huge portion for 2 of us to share. We also tried both the Burning Son & Doors and Corners cocktails, both were delicious. Service was great, friendly and attentive.“

“Nestled in the heart of Portland’s cocktail scene, Fools and Horses isn’t just another upscale bar, it’s where my life began anew.

It was Saturday night, and I was off another 60-hour week at my dead-end job, it was beginning to feel like my life was over. I wandered aimlessly downtown through alleys and intersections before the gates of heaven appeared before me.

From the moment I walked in, the ambiance calmed me instantly. Dark wood, low lighting, and a soundtrack that felt curated just for my mood. Everything was calming me down from another long week. I looked around and saw the real Johnny S. Knuckles and knew I was in the right place. But nothing could have prepared me for the resuscitation of my bleak life.

As I walked up to the bar and sat down, my gaze was instantly locked on one thing. On the other side of the bar stood a man, but not just any man, a figure designed by God. A mountain whose inner elbows sent me into a trance. I couldn’t help but fixate on them as he held them proudly in the air shaking up a cocktail. They were shimmering beneath the glow of the back bar, hinting at stories untold, and in that moment, I knew he could tame a dragon with them.

Then the best moment of my life happened, he walked over and introduced himself. Asher. I watched as he dried his hands on a towel, his velvet bends of the arm flexing as he did. It took all my strength to not drop my glass of water as I took a sip. His voice soothed me, but those silken curves beneath the elbow continued to hypnotize me as we began to talk. I opened the menu and pretended to read it all while stealing every look possible at those grand canyons of flesh that would make the Mona Lisa blush.

Every moment I sat there at the bar with Asher in front of me felt like an eternity, as if even time itself was entranced, slowing down to savor every moment. Flustered, I realized I had yet to pick out a drink, I quickly scrambled through the menu of delicious sounding drinks when my eyes caught one, The Local Hero. I knew this was the one for I had just met my hero. I watched as Asher prepared the drink, his tender crook of the arm once again giving a dance that would win gold. He slid the drink across the bar, his soft bends where secrets live inching towards me as I almost collapsed from my seat.

And as I sat there the rest of the night I stared in awe, watching this man whose golden crescents look as if they were crafted by Zeus himself prepare drink after drink. People talked about it in hushed tones, like sailors sharing tales of sirens. If charisma could be weaponized, these inner altars of forearm lust would need a liquor license and a permit from the Department of Defense.

As I began to leave, I stole one last look as I walked out the door, and I knew life was worth living again. Thank you Fools and Horses, I will always be back to be serenaded by Asher’s inner elbows, my local hero.“

“I frequented this place a lot over the years, it’s nice and intimate inside and a great place for a date night. We don’t usually order food but the cocktails are straight forward and well mixed. It’s not the best place in town to order a cocktail, but it is the best place in “

“I had a great experience at MoonShot Tavern! The inside is vibey and bright but I really loved sitting outside. The Ankeny Alley is the SPOT! Drinks were great and the food was really good too. Their smash burger is awesome. So are the Cajun fries. I got the butterfly shrimp as well and could probably just drink the sauce straight. I will definitely be back!“

“A go-to spot in Beaumont Village and my number one cocktail bar recommendation. Kate, one of the owners, always makes us feel at home. The drinks are sophisticated and the atmosphere is cozy yet modern. They have classic cocktails with a twist plus no proof and low proof offerings. Every single food item is top notch…favorites include Shrimp Cocktail, Cheese Curds, and seasonal items like the Beet Salad. The Classique Burger is the absolute best and has been for years. The Olive Oil Cake makes for the perfect finish to any Wonderly evening.“

“Sunrice is inside of Roxy hotel. Pleasant ambiance of the lobby tucked behind the hotel front desk for hotel guests and food court eaters.

Excellent Philippine food. Reasonable prices. The cook and helper Kent and Jason were very nice and greeted everyone with friendly smile.“

“My fiancee and I have been HUGE fans of Dingers Deli since before COVID and the closing of their food cart.
But now they have this rad little pop-up at The Uncanny!
BEST VEGAN SAMMICHES EVER!

DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS!“

“Awesome venue and great atmosphere“

“Saw an ad on Instagram about this spot and boy am I so glad I saw it! This place is so beautifully decorated and immediately sets a fun, polished, welcomIng vibe. I'm a big fan of flights so was very happpy to see that at the forefront of this menu. We went for the bubbles flight - everything was delicious and I had never had a sparkling red! For the food we tried the fondue (delish), deviled eggs, and tuna tartare (definitely the star). Service was amazing as well of course can't wait to come back and also can't believe I had never explored this area before!“

“Russel makes a mean Manhattan!“

“I've only been here about 4 times (not in NW area often) but it is hands down one of my favorite bars in Portland proper. Every staff member I've encountered has been friendly and helpful with recs. If it's not too busy they'll also tell us process if making some of their unique flavors. As busy as it gets I have never felt rushed out. The bar snacks are from upstairs and pairs great with the Vietnamese theme of the cocktails (spring rolls and salad rolls are great). It's a small space so I'd say it's better for groups of 2-3. I've never made reservations but have gotten very lucky the times I've been, where the hostess squeezed an extra chair at bar and politely asked if a couple next to us would move one seat down that was open.
If you live in Portland, this bar should be on your radar“

“We love this place! Great food and excellent cocktails! We have been coming here for a few years now and are always pleased! Unfortunately they have had some staff turnover and lost some great people, however Cat is there and she is awesome!!!! Price is great for what you get!“

“Amazing cocktails, decor and bartenders.“

“We shared 7-8 small plates last night -- 5 stars doesn't capture how divine each one was. Incredible service and even ordinary orders for mixed drinks proved extra delicious. Can't wait to go back! Highest of 5's to Chef Gabriel -- you have a WINNER w Luigi.“

“What a great spot to hang out. Food and drinks are fabulous. Paydirt is dark and sexy with a huge selection behind the bar. Bartenders are friendly. Sitting outside is fun when the weather is right. Choice of food is awesome. Mexican, fried chicken, pizza, pho, it’s all good. Parking is street and we were a block away but not too far.“

“Went there by myself last night and felt so welcomed by everyone, had a blast ☺️ great atmosphere and people.“

“Absolutely amazing tasty food! We had the tacos and instantly fell in love. I could cry with how good it was. The hosts and staff were so friendly and accommodating all around great atmosphere and learning their story made it all the more heart opening. Thank you so much 🫶🫶🫶🙏“

“Delicious & immaculately presented, robust drink menu and Tapas done right 😋“

“Our server was awesome and helped us understand all the deserts and let us try them. The not so good part was the table next to us being super loud in their conversations about business. Other than that it was a great place to take my wife for our anniversary brunch we would love to see it at night.“

“Best drinks, friendly atmosphere, great bartenders! Especially liked sitting outside on a warm day having a drink with old friends, and making new ones. Always someone there to play pool with and “talk story”.“

“Excellent service, cool place. Outdoor seating with fire pits. Tasty beers and cocktails.“

“The food, the cocktails are great along with the staff. Give it a try you won’t be disappointed.“

“I rented out the Bad Habit Room for our team holiday party and am so glad I did! Randi made booking and planning a breeze. Our bartender Joffrey was fun and helpful and made some fantastic cocktails (and some creative mocktails!) The appetizer platters we ordered from the catering menu were beautiful and very high quality for the price, and I appreciated that we were able to swap in some vegan options. For the main course, we ordered from Saraveza's menu, and the food was great and came out very quickly. The background music was perfect, and the pinball machines were a nice bonus! Everyone had a fantastic time, and my husband and I are already talking about what event we want to host there next.“

“We have had the Golubtsi many times in the past but this one was exceptional. Highlight of the night. We were a tad disappointed the khachapuri was not as crisp as it was in the past but flavors were still there. Vodka still great as ever. We will be back.“

“Unbelievable amazing food lobster pad Thai was unreal Annie was a great server“

“Friendly fun staff. Great beverages and food. Nice vibe.“