50 Best Dive Bars in Portland

“The vibes are immaculate. The music is perfect and not too loud, so you are able to have a conversation. The clientele are polite. A good and affordable late night food menu. And the owner is the nicest dude around. The only downside is they don’t have jalepeno poppers. 11/10 (would be 12/10 if they had poppers ?‍♀️)“

“Best music bar in the city! Good vibes and character all over.“

“It’s an honest to goodness dive bar that just so happens to have solid fried chicken - my visit sadly didn’t have any due to fryer issues but it’s exactly the thing to have with your PBR or Rainier at the bar. It can get busy though, be prepared to wait. If you’re expecting fancy cocktails, this might not be the place - there’s other places on Division for that.“

“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.“

“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.“

“hipster central good drinks“

“Rode down to Portland to meet a brother.... and everyone there was great.... our waitress was team Riff'Raff and was absolutely divine... best waitress ever. Regret not getting her name. the Food was goos too!“

“Been here a number of times and it's always solid. Beer selection is reliably good, not too expensive and you're not forced to choose from shades of IPA. I was really impressed by the veggie burger, which didn't have the dryness or graininess you get with a lot of veggie patties (the cheddar maybe did a lot of the work here, but doesn't it always?). I also accidentally had a couple bites of the fried chicken sandwich and it deserves whatever accolades people are giving it.

Vegetarian options: Their veggie burger (not imitation meat patty) is great, and available as vegan“

“First time last night, I had a great time. Bartender is attentive to the comfort of everyone, it feels like karaoke with family you've never met. I definitely recommend. Even if you're shy, everyone is encouraging, picks great songs, and cheers everyone on. I mightve ordered one drink too many just to stick around with the great vibe. It was so nice! Don't be afraid to go alone! Come here and do your thang. New singers are also bumped above those who have already sang, which is a great way to have people stick around! It's hard when you have to wait an hour, have your drink, and just aren't feeling it anymore. Won't happen here! The wait is never too long, DJ does great work and is kind to everyone. Pool tables and generous pours. (: like a dive bar in your home town without the drama! It's about $10 a drink more or less.“

“Was the best time Jon and Me had so so so much... What a fun adventure and entertainment!!!“

“Great beer selection!! Friendly staff highly recommended!“

“"This Ship Don't Sink" is the perfect motto for this bar. A local neighborhood spot that's been kicking up dust since the 40's offering local craft beers and great times. From the welcoming demeanor of the bartenders to the heavy handed drinks, this the place to be in the neighborhood, friendly atmosphere, great locals/regulars that have been coming here for many many years makenit very inviting and wholesome. I've made many a great friend with staff and patron alike. I always felt that the motto was derived from the comradery of the patrons/staff. It's very inclusive and safe with everyone looking out for eachother and also welcoming and accepting of new folks, it's always a good laugh and good times at the ship!

They also have video lottery and a pool table, as well as a big back patio. This is a place where you can come to be by yourself and do work/listen to podcast/etc, or just strike up a random conversation and make a new friend. I highly suggest this bar to anyone new to the neighborhood just looking to scope things out and get more acquainted with their neighbors.“

“I kind of wish we had stayed for another drink. We were both enjoying this bar, talking to the regs. But as we were on a mission to squeeze in as much as (super)humanly possible we only had one. I don't even remember what I drank, yellow beer? She enjoyed her Shirley temple with half a jar worth of cherries. Something about hearing someone's near death experience over drinks just hits different. The copper/brass bar is a super nice touch. This looked and felt old school Portland. We should've came After the PICA, I needed all kinds of beer then.“

“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”.“

“Nice dive bar. Friendly staff. Good music. Pool table, pinball, pong (yes 21st century version of the classic pong game), photo booth, Zoltar (Like in the movie Big). Standard video gambling. ATM. Beer and full bar. Outdoor seating. Not much on the food menu, so go down across the street and get your food on. Really great vibe.

Parking: Street parking

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes“

“are house in the middle of the street ... HOME“

“Friendly staff, delicious pub food with an interesting twist, a good beer selection, and great cocktails!“

“I went there for NFL kickoff opening night and Rocky was my bartender. Turns out that the cook decided to quit that night. However, Rocky seriously rocked it! She was bartender and cook and although it was busy I still got my food and drinks in a timely manner!... and the wings were good!The draft beer is super cheep too!I'll be back and would recommend...“

“I almost didn’t come here due to the negative reviews about bad service. I came here right when they opened and it was already busy. The bartender was super attentive and cool. Service was quick and the vibes are awesome! Portland needs to keep all their quirky dive bars!!!“

“One of my all time favorite bars“

“Just what the Doctor ordered. Great little neighborhood bar even if you aren't from the neighborhood.“

“Kelly's exudes a local vibe. Often noisy, it offers plenty of entertainment options. Drinks take center stage over food, though service can be slow. The trendy atmosphere features eye-catching decor like ceiling-mounted motorcycles. Many patrons sport leather attire, which isn't unusual for Portland. While the place has its charm, getting a drink might test your patience. Overall, it's a lively spot that captures the city's essence.“

“Nice big place with video poker, pool table, one or two video games. Haven't tried the food looks good and they have daily or weekly specials. They open really early like 7am so that's eairler then most places in the area. Usually always at least a few customers and sometimes it gets pretty crowded during normal peak hours. Lots of tvs ro watch sports. All around nice place.“

“No longer vegetarian/vegan friendly AT ALL. It is unclear where exactly to stand to get in line for a drink and locals will walk in front of you and get served first. But the music side is a throwback to the old portland dive bar days and it’s fun to watch a sloppy show there. Great patio. Door guy is very nice.

Vegetarian options: They no longer have the Mexican menu. It’s now a food cart outside that has southern food with next to nothing for vegans or vegetarians. It’s 2024, I don’t want another side of Mac and cheese and collard greens while everyone else gets a meal.“

“I live in walking distance of this place and have to say it is quite the gem. The vibes are always relaxed and comfortable, bar tenders are friendly and laid back, the cheeseburgers are delicious and very reasonably priced, and the drinks are good! On top of that, their new pinball selection (7 machines!) makes this place too good to be true, with two of my all time favorite machines. Happy its in the neighborhood. Don't be fooled by its unassuming facade, Old Gilbert is a perfect neighborhood bar and a Mt. Scott institution.“

“I’m from out of town and was craving something seafood, and a sandwich or burger, and I hit the jackpot.

I called ahead and I didn’t catch her name, but she was awesome! Then when I picked it up to go, everyone was awesome!

The Clam Chowder was amazing, and the Rueben sandwich was delicious!

I highly recommend the Dockside and I’ll be back the next time I’m in town.

Thank you!“

“Excellent food in a dive bar. I love how you order food at the bar, it came out super quick, it was super tasty. What more do you want ? Oh, just about everything on menu wa under $15 and huge! They got two tables and plenty of seating both indoor and out. Dog friendly.“

“Been going here since the doors opened. Still a home base for me even though I don't live in the neighborhood anymore.“

“Solid dive bar, in the classic sense. Low staff, cheap prices, video gambling, small beer choice, cocktails, no wine list, pool, no gd jukeboxes, unruly older drunks sometimes -- exactly what my heart wants -- and their food game is at least diner quality. Their burgers have gotten really good lately.

Parking: Not a super busy place usually, until after 10pm or so, so street parking is okay.“

“Awesome place to grab a brewski. Went here with the wife and had a great time!“

“First time here but was surprised at the interior when I came up. Incredibly welcoming and funny door man and the bartender was full of energy and so fun! The patio is absolutely beautiful warm and feels like a place you could take your mom, a date, friends, whoever and have a great time. Highly recommend“

“Love this place! Jill is the best. The place is fun and friendly, clean, cheap beers too! Love the live music too!“

“Breakfast this morning was awesome highly recommended 💯 thnx Gen!“

“Good beer selection, nice people, good feel… great location.“

“It was my first visit there, I don't know why I waited so long to go, I remember as a youth driving past that odd named bar, laughing at the name wondering what really went on in a place with a name like that. And with my best friend Brooke leading the way she showed me one of Portlands best kept secrets. Visit it today, you surely won't be disappointed, classically PDX weird.“

“Hello, Bear Paw? I'll take a burger and fries. Be there in twenty minutes.I used to get these calls ALL the time, at my first apartment, almost 40 years ago. My phone number was SO close to theirs. I forgot about it until I just read a news article about them.I cannot believe they are still around so I wondered, is that the same Bear Paw on Milwaukie ave? Sure enough!I didn't get around to checking it out for myself until my thirties, but yeah, the food is not bad. Service was great. Fun people there. It was a good place to hang out with friends and have some drinks if you are into that sort of thing.So check them out, you might like it. But carpool. If I remember, the only thing I didn't like is that the parking was awful.“

“Cheapest prices in this country. Shots, beer, & bar food are priced 1980s. Take advantage of this place as long as it last. Wont be around much longer as it attracts borderline hobos & other folks that only come out at night. I absolutely love this sleezy but top spot preflight! 4 drinks limit.“

“The Daily Double is a quaint neighborhood bar. Fairly clean, nice decor, but one of the fun things to me is the place has a very uneven floor. When you walk out the front door from inside, the floor is very uneven. I always say that is the drunk test. If you can navigate that floor to leave without falling down, then you are sober enough to drive home.“

“To be honest I never would have gone here if it wasn’t for Drag Trivia.
It felt like such a warm, inclusive place and I have made so many new friends.
The bartenders are lovely, and I love that they have CBD soda on tap!“

“Best dive spot lol true Slammer joint. Walk in sit almost a fist to cuffs lol bartenders did great since is the size of a 3 bedroom apartment lol. Cheap fun and entertaining. TV good music and friendly except the 1 guy who just seemed to miss Read his company lol
Did see others food... yup Commissary status but awesome“

“The lady that seems to be the main bartender (Miss Cleopatra) is absolutely amazing. And their food is the best food I've had in a bar in years. Got to try their "Smash Burger" today for Halloween, and it was epic. A1 food and service. Highly recommend 100%!“

“Was stuck in Portland for a bit, and this place was genuinely the only bright spot of my time in the city. I love a good dive bar, and the bartender Wendy was very friendly. 4 stars for food because I didn't have any and can't accurately review.“

“love this little hole in the wall, yup one of portland's finest dive bars.On weekends there is a lot of different folks that stop by,Marcee and Stormi always treat them well.“

“Best dive ever“

“Hit up Hidden East to kill some time while traveling. Place was clean enough, customers seemed close knit but open to new people visiting. Bartender was Chastity, and was great. Drinks delivered quickly, friendly and laughed at really bad jokes. Pretty much all I could ask for in some small bar. I come to town often and Chastity turned me into a regular, I always come here now.“

“I really need to apologize to the person that I criticized for having 80s shoulder pads tonight, I’m just jealous I grew up with linebacker shoulders (but couldn’t ever play football)- I can’t pull off that jacket. This bar is fantastic and the service cannot be compared. If you want to play a game of pool, or maybe sit and write… you can be your best self“

“Great BARTENDERS! Jen and Lou and Shelly are the best! Tamara makes me laugh and she's a 49ers girl...smart lady.. They are always really kind. If you like to sing you can do it 365 days a year here....but there's also a patio to sit outside and visit and still be able to talk to friends and be able to hear them. People that come here are salt of the earth. I've still never seen a fight like most bars (eventually) and that's awesome. I wish there was still a pool table tho! I noticed pinball now tho?! Sweet! You all need Big Buck Hunter and some more games if your not bringing back darts or pool. You can tell the bartenders at night like what they do and they are literally some of the best bartenders I've ever come across...Jen is the shit and fast...holy moly:).....One of the girls said this building is 90 some years old. Portland relic for sure. I don't sing but people watching is pretty entertaining. KJs are cool and never a cover at the door. I wish I lived closer.“

“Close to home, inexpensive drinks, all the tvs have football, there's keno, 2 pool tables (free on sundays), and slot machines. The other day they let me watch spongebob at 3pm. Who could wish for anything more?!“

“A true gem of Portland. I used to come here 25 years ago when it was “tavern” called the Watertrough. It’s cool that someone who loves pool (Dan) saw the magic in this place, grabbed it and kept the amazing parts about it the same but took it to the next level. If you appreciate pool you should check it out!“

“Not many things were open on Christmas during the afternoon but this place was and I spent a few hours here reading a book with fresh drinks aplenty and I was happy about all of it. ⚓️

Vegetarian options: Beer and liquor are available.“