Paul Kushner
Step into the eclectic and vibrant cityscape of Portland, Oregon, where the craft beverage culture thrives, and each bar tells a unique story. In this guide, we uncover the Best Bars in Portland, a city known for its innovative spirits and welcoming pub culture. From trendy mixology havens crafting artisanal cocktails to quirky neighborhood bars pouring local brews, Portland’s bar scene is a testament to the city’s creative spirit. Join us on a journey through the Rose City’s diverse watering holes, where every glass poured reflects the dynamic character of this Pacific Northwest gem. Get ready to explore, savor, and discover the heart of Portland’s spirited nightlife. Cheers to the best bars in the City of Roses.
Swine Restaurant, Moonshine & Whisky Bar
808 SW Taylor St, Portland, OR 97205
503-943 5844
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Whether you’re wanting breakfast with coffee or a whiskey or two over happy hour plates at Swine, you’ll relax into the fresh flavors and warmly designed interior. Swine is all about polishing up the rugged natural elements; its name alone suggests a playful juxtaposition between the refined and the raw. Portland prides itself in the bountiful Pacific Northwest so readily accessible in any direction, the best restaurants featuring the most current in-season fare, and Swine is no exception. My friends tried the Seasonal Sour, Swine Old Fashioned, and Day Tripper and loved them! I had the Lion’s Tail with bourbon, lime, allspice dram and it was delicious!
Multnomah Whiskey Library
1124 SW ALDER ST. PORTLAND, OREGON 97205
503-954-1381
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Evolving from the classic social club and updated to reflect the vibrant times we live in, MWL is a place to gather and celebrate. Filled with members and guests, animated by the thrum of conversation, the clink of swirling ice, and the rumble of ladders and bar carts across the wood floors, the Library is as much a feeling as a place. Because, in the end, a great experience isn’t made up just of one element – no matter how notable or well-executed. A great experience is one that is shared with old friends and new, in a beautiful space, and overseen by inspired people. I highly recommend trying the Caprice, Sazerac, and Hotel Nacional. My favorite cocktail was the Penicillin with Ardbeg drum Scottish whisky, ginger, honey, and lemon.
Rum Club
720 SE Sandy Boulevard in Portland, Oregon
503-265-8807
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The Rum Club is a wonderfully weird little mash-up of tiki bar, South Pacific dive, and craft cocktail haven, with a low-slung wood-paneled ceiling, darkly tropical wallpaper, vintage glassware, and a menu of long-forgotten classic cocktails. It’s a place where Ernest Hemingway and Hunter S. Thompson might share a drink, and where you could easily saddle up at the bar and spend a long, rum-soaked evening watching the sun’s golden glow slide across the walls. My favorite drink on the menu is their Liars in Love with Navy strength gin, Marigold Amaro, lime, pineapple syrup, bitters, and bubbles. Other cocktails that looked amazing were the Champagne Supernova, Invisible Hand, and Rum Club Daiquiri.
Bible Club PDX
6716 SE 16th Street • Portland, Oregon 97202
971-279-2198
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The Bar at the Bible Club offers a carefully curated collection of the finest spirits & libations in a thoughtfully designed prohibition-style speakeasy. Coupled with their inventive bartenders’ creative cocktails, house tonics, tinctures, and bitters, they have created a premium and exceptionally unique drinking experience. I really loved the drink I ordered, East of Eden with Volstead vodka, Koloa coconut rum, lemon, cream, egg white, simple syrup, and scrappy’s lavender Bitters. Our bartender also recommended a few of the other drinks on the menu; Gypsy Queen, Pisco Sour, and Sazerac.
Palomar
959 SE Division St., Portland, Ore. 97214
971-357-8020
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Trendy hangout with a Cuban vibe offering sharing plates with daiquiris & other tropical cocktails. Enjoy craft cocktails like the Negroni with coconut gin, tequila, campari, vermouth, and almond. Other great drink options include the Swizzle, French 75, and Violet Fizz.
Angel Face
14 NE 28th Avenue Portland Oregon 97232
503-239-3804
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Bartenders prepare drinks to each patron’s flavor preferences at this polished European-style haunt. This is one of the most popular bars in the area, so you’ll be sure to have a good time. I ordered a few drinks, but my favorite ended up being the Hotel Nacional cocktail.
Scotch Lodge
215 SE 9th Ave Ste 102 Portland, OR 97214
503-208-2039
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Scotch Lodge is a cocktail bar for Whisky lovers curated by Tommy Klus with a modern French menu from St. Jack chef Aaron Barnett and Tim Artale. My favorite drink is the Lotus Espirit with Japanese whisky, lemon, genmaicha, lotus seed orgeat, and eggwhite. Or you can try the Reserve Manhattan, Blade Runner, and Islay Daiquiri
Hale Pele
2733 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232
503-662-8454
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Hale Pele – “House of the Volcano Goddess” – is a glimmering pearl in Portland’s sea of food & cocktail culture. They proudly feature remarkable classic and contemporary exotic cocktails made with fresh juices, premium spirits, and house-made syrups. Their outstanding island-inspired small plates featuring local ingredients will delight and satisfy. And their warm and hospitable staff will ensure your journey to their distant atoll is an unforgettable one. I got the Suffering Bastard cocktail which has Ginger beer, bourbon, gin, and lime! Other drinks I would recommend are the Maitai, Jet Pilot, and Zombie Punch.
M Bar
417 NW 21st Ave Portland, OR 97209
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M Bar is proud to present a carefully curated list of great value Old World wines. Theymay be unable to explore distant lands at this time, but their taste buds can travel – follow your palate on a world wide journey of the senses! M Bar features many of the NW’s excellent choices of local craft beers. They pride ourselves with excellently maintained beer lines! Clean, super short beer lines mean their beers always taste fresh – as the brewer intended! M Bar features both local sake from World Winning Sake One and a rotating menu of Japanese sakes. They love discovering the many fragrant aromas and strengths of flavors found across the region – Kanpai!
Vintage Cocktail Lounge
7907 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215
971-242-8729
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Snug watering hole offering a range of classic & contemporary cocktails in a laid-back setting. My favorite drink on the menu is their Lavender Cocktail with Gordon’s vodka, lavender tincture, simple syrup, lemon juice. Other cocktails that looked amazing were the Harrison Fjord, Filthy Chocolate Martini, and Moscow Mule.
Teardrop Lounge
1015 NW Everett St, Portland, OR 97209
503-445-8109
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Pioneering the cocktail renaissance since 2007, Teardrop Cocktail Lounge offers lovingly made libations in the heart of Portland’s Pearl District. From a profound respect for the classics to the adventure of unique flavor combinations, theirs is a perpetual quest for the new frontier of the cocktail. These passions find their home in their sensuously curved island bar, where conversations abound and drinking is elevated to a culinary experience. I highly recommend trying the Diki-Diki, Belle Epoque, and Forty Thieves. My favorite cocktail was the Martinez with Ransom Old Tom gin, Carpano Antica, Luxardo maraschino, Boker’s bitters.
The Green Room
1122 SW Alder St, Portland, OR 97205
503-954-1381
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Located beneath the Multnomah Whisk{e}y Library, The Green Room provides the same impeccable service upon which we pride ourselves, delivered in a bright and relaxed atmosphere. No reservations are required. On my visit, I tried the Old Fashioned with old forester 100 bourbon, demerara, angostura & Peychaud’s bitters. It was absolutely amazing so I definitely recommend ordering this. Other drinks that sounded great were the Ace High, Funky Duck, and Caprice.
Vault Cocktail Lounge
226 NW 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
971-229-1935
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Their focus is on providing the highest quality craft cocktails using the freshest ingredients possible. They do this in an upscale setting with a high level of service at a price that’s more common in a neighborhood bar. Vault Cocktail Lounge is the sister lounge of Vintage Cocktail Lounge located in the Montavilla neighborhood. Like Vintage, Vault delivers craft cocktails without the pretentious attitude. Their favorite drink to make is the one you enjoy the most. The Purple Drank cocktail was absolutely delicious and had Vodka with pea flower, lemon juice, lavender and cardamom syrup, and lemon wheel. Other great cocktails I tried were the Vault Manhattan, Vault’s Margarita, and Frenchish. This spot is a must-visit!
LULU
726 SE Grand Ave. Portland, OR 97214
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Scheduling your trip, pay attention to Architectural Heritage Center and remember to decide where to eat: this bar is right aside from the mentioned attraction. Come here and order perfectly cooked wedge salads, coconut rice, and potato wedges. The cozy atmosphere of LULU allows visitors to relax after a hard working day. Based on the guests’ opinions, prices are attractive. Both food and service made favorable impressions on Facebook users, and this place got the 5 star rating there. When I came to this spot my friends ordered the Green Machine, Damn the Rain, and Gamestop. I went for the Sheesh cocktail which was absolutely amazing. It’s a cocktail with gin, sichuan infused honey, lemon, becherovka.
Paydirt
2724 NE Pacific St., Portland, OR 97217
503-908-3217
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Dedicated drinking establishment in the Zipper Building. A problematic selection of whiskey, craft cocktails, and for some reason, Fernet Branca on draft. We dropped by this spot one night and had a blast! If you end up visiting this bar, I would try the House Manhattan, Gold Rush, or Claimjumper.
Lightning Will Bar & Grill
305 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209
503-327-8203
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They approach their work as we do their lives: passionate, lazy, irreverent, and dedicated, with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. Their goal is to raise the bar of the bar as they continually evolve, grow, and change. They do not wish to follow trends but to set them. Sourcing as much of their product locally as absolutely possible isn’t their attempt, but their promise. Starting with fresh, natural, and beautiful foodstuffs allows them the freedom to create with a good conscience.
Why should you trust us?
We use our own local experience and contacts in the city to know which places to include in our lists. We also researched the web and read 6 reputable blogs and websites, including pdxmonthly.com, pdx.eater.com, thrillist.com, cocktailsaway.com, travelportland.com and traveloregon.com. So that you can be sure you’re receiving the best of the best. We compiled all the results in one spot and ranked them according to how frequently they were referenced.
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