When you’re from the Northwest, you know you’re in the place where the best craft beer is curated, collected, and shared among the community. With a strong sense of understanding on how to create the right drink with the perfect amount of hops and taste, it makes sense that Portland is also home to some of the best bars in the country and offers a unique spin and taste to the way you enjoy drinking and spending a night on the town! Finding the best bars in Portland can be a bit overwhelming when there are so many options, and finding your footing in the nightlife scene might offset the fun time you want to have while in the amazing city that is Portland.
So, we’ve done it for you. That’s right—we’ve tracked down some of the best bars in Portland to help you get off on the right foot when exploring the downtown Portland scene. From sports bars to themed bars, to bars that offer a sense of sophistication and a chance to try spirits and beers brewed in-house, these bars will help you find a place where you click, and will definitely give you a wonderful night on the town with your visit. Let’s get started!
1: Ecliptic Brewing
A staple of the Portland area, Ecliptic Brewing is certainly among the best bars in Portland. They have a rotating draught of their all-time hits, as well as seasonal favorites and new drinks to try when they’re spinning something exclusive! Choose from a tried and true favorite or something new and exciting, and sit down with a meal to enjoy some local craft beer goodness! With delicious greasy, finger food that compliments the bubbly taste of beer, it’s easy to see why Ecliptic Brewing is such a strong part of the Portland community and easily among the best of the best!
2: Outrage eSports Bar
That’s right, a bar just for fans of the growing eSports scene! Whether it’s watching your favorite streamer go at it against the world, or gathering around a screen to watch the big Overwatch League finals, Outrage eSports Bar is quickly becoming one of the best bars in Portland. It’s only been open a month, but the reviews could not be better! Grab a beer, grab a snack, and log on to watch, play, engage, and collaborate with friends from around the world, or friends who’re just one screen down.
3: Bible Club PDX
A bar with an atmosphere that’ll take you back in time, Bible Club PDX is certainly one of the most interesting, as well as one of the best bars in Portland. With drinks that’ll have you enjoying your night in a place that’ll make you feel like you’re nearing the roaring 20’s once more, Bible Club PDX offers a unique spin on what’s normally referred to as “bar food.” Enjoy a freshly cooked meal as you enjoy their cocktails made with spirits that have been handcrafted, in-house and from scratch. This guarantees that you won’t find another drink like theirs anywhere!
4: Nomad PDX
Nomad PDX, formerly known as Ash Bar, brings health and sustainability to the bar scene, making it one of the best bars in Portland. If you’re looking for a traditional night out, then you’ve come to the wrong place—Nomad PDX works hard to make sure that you’re getting a meal of the best quality while ensuring that your meal is natural and beautifully crafted. Additionally, their alcohol menu works in the same fashion, with nothing but natural and raw wines making their menus, and their craft cocktails taking on a playful aesthetic with flavor.
5: OK Omens
Marketed as a naturally focused wine bar, OK Omens aims to give you the best of both worlds with an amazingly unique food menu and a list of wines that’ll please the senses while remaining sensible, making it one of the best bars in Portland. With a drink menu that has 5 pages solely dedicated to their amazing wine selection, OK Omens is a spot you’ll want to try if you’re a wine expert searching for something new to add to your collection of tastes, smells, and enjoyment.
6: Ranch PDX
A place to eat, drink, and enjoy a night out, Ranch PDX is definitely among the best bars in Portland. When it comes to beer, nothing quite pairs like a delicious slice of pizza, and the kitchen at Ranch PDX creates some of the best Sicilian style pizza you can find in the Northwest! Additionally, they create their own ranch dressing in-house and serve it up side by side with their amazing dishes, making it unique in its own right.
7: Teardrop Cocktail Lounge
A pioneer of cocktail bars in the Northwest, Teardrop Cocktail Lounge offers unique, original, and handcrafted cocktails for you to enjoy, making them one of the best bars in Portland. Their drinks are curated with the community in mind, and combine local flavors and classics into signature drinks that anyone can enjoy! Since 2007, Teardrop Cocktail Lounge has been on the cutting edge of mixology and has certainly earned their keep with how sublime their creations are.
8: Psychic
A neighborhood bar created inside an old Victorian home is Psychic PDX, one of the best bars in Portland. With a unique location that certainly sets them apart from the rest, Psychic PDX offers you amazing beverages and Indian-styled food both inside, and outside, with their spacious seating. With rotating draughts, cans, and cocktails for everyone and a menu that’ll leave you wanting more, it’s easy to see why people are flocking to Psychic PDX for a brand new experience!
9: Bailey’s Taproom
Bailey’s Taproom is one of the best bars in Portland if you’re looking for locally inspired crafts beers and brews. With a rotating draught of 26 beers heavily influenced and inspired by Oregon locals and natives, Bailey’s Taproom allows you to sit down, relax, and enjoy a taste of what the Northwest has to offer. This is a bar only, however—there is no food to be served, so make sure you get something tasty from the area before or after visiting!
10: Deadshot
A cocktail-focused bar that brings you new and amazing treats and delights, Deadshot is easily among the best bars in Portland. Their kitchen focuses on new flairs and approaches to what’s typically known as “bar food,” while their drinks aim to give you a unique flavor as you go. With beers on draught as well, it’s a wonderful place to sit back, relax, and enjoy a low-key night on the town.
11: Revolution Hall Rooftop Bar
A fun, unique place to get a drink and a bite to eat, The Roof Deck at Revolution Hall is easily among the best bars in Portland. Located on the roof of Revolution Hall, The Roof Deck offers crafty cocktails, canned goods from the area, and wonderful, bite-sized snacks and appetizers that’ll keep your stomach ready to go as you enjoy the view from the top!
12: Blank Slate
Another intimate place for drinks and snacks is Blank Slate, a bar that serves some of the best cocktails, beers, and wonderful plates of specialty food orders—like oysters on the half shell, a Northwest favorite! Taste one of their amazing cocktails, with a list of spirits to choose from that’ll give you the right taste and texture you’re looking for. Additionally, try your hand at some local craft beer, or some wine if you’re feeling up for it! The choices are endless at Blank Slate, making it one of the best bars in Portland.
13: Paydirt
With a slogan like “we have too much whiskey,” you know that Paydirt has to be among the best bars in Portland. A “dedicated drinking establishment,” Paydirt offers you the best in whiskey in the Northwest. With cocktails, whiskey served on the rocks, and even some brands on draughts, it’s a must-stop for the whiskey lover in all of us. The stock is limited, though, so make sure you visit sooner rather than later!
14: Secret Society Lounge
A vintage setting with a small capacity, Secret Society Lounge is one of the best bars in Portland. With a 50 person the limit, Secret Society Lounge is the perfect place for a small, enjoyable evening out on the town. The vintage-inspired aesthetic will have you feeling comfortably at home as you nurse an in-house cocktail, made with locally sourced spirits. Take a look at their original Americana flavored menu too, with options that’ll leave you satiated and satisfied.
15: The Solo Club
A cocktail bar that invites visitors from morning until night, The Solo Club is easily one of the best bars in Portland. Weekend brunch, as always, is a big hit, with tasty mid-morning snacks that wonderfully compliment mimosas. During the night time, The Solo Club turns into one of the best hot spots in the city, with a cocktail list that gives you a chance to try something new, exciting, and interesting!
16: Shift Drinks
A shift drink, for those who don’t know, is a drink earned by a worker at the end of their shift. It’s a token of gratitude from their workplace for a job well done. For that reason, it’s easy to see why Shift Drinks is one of the best bars in Portland! Named after a wonderful practice, Shift Drinks is a favorite among the community of Portland, with amazingly affordable deals on spirits that would otherwise be unattainable. With an additional deal to buy bottles on the go for $10 up until closing, Shift Drinks is truly a one of a kind experience.
17: Multnomah Whiskey Library
Not only is the Multnomah Whiskey Library one of the best bars in Portland, but it’s also a place where amazingly talented bartenders share their talents as mixologists, chefs, and historical educators in the world of whiskey and distillery practices! Peruse the Library’s expansive list of cocktail options and whiskeys to choose from, as well as dining in with a menu that’s been crafted to compliment the wonderful drinks they serve.
18: Clyde Common
A European styled tavern that gives you a chance to experience something new is Clyde Common, one of the best bars in Portland. Enjoy a plate of deliciously inspired food from across the ocean, with French favorites to try and enjoy. Additionally, their cocktail menu is full of new and inventive ways to enjoy a night on the town, with spirits, wine, and beer all up for grabs to taste with your wonderfully creative meal.
19: Vault Cocktail Lounge
A neighborhood bar that gives you the best services with amazing prices, Vault Cocktail Lounge is easily among the best bars in Portland. The bartenders and master mixologists at Vault Cocktail Lounge work to give you the best drinks and spirits they can while giving you service in an atmosphere that speaks upscale, but a price that says the opposite. Enjoy your night out in a place that makes you feel like your on top of the world, without the pretentious filter that can seep into a cocktail bar setting.
20: Saraveza
A regular spot for craft beer and homemade comfort food, Saraveza is easily one of the best bars in Portland. With taps that are curated and made in-house, as well as bottled beer from the local Oregon area, enjoy what the Northwest is known for in a setting that makes you feel right at home. Who said a night out has to be over the top anyway, right? Let Saraveza relax you with something comforting, delicious, and simply wonderful.
21: The Lovecraft Bar
A themed bar that’ll give you frights and scares, The Lovecraft Bar is one of the best bars in Portland! The name comes from their inspiration, the stories of horror from HP Lovecraft, that’ll leave you with chills and thrills to die for! Enjoy something deliciously unique from their menu—drinks and food are on the table, with a spooky theme that fits right in with the amazingly decorative and eclectic atmosphere! Just in time for October, this bar fits the horror bill completely, totally, and without fail.
22: Interurban
A bar that boasts one of the most extensive whiskey lists is Interurban, one of the best bars in Portland! With a unique atmosphere, Interurban sets itself apart by serving cocktails themed before prohibition, giving you a true taste of history with strong foundations and intense flavors. Their food menu does the very same, with a big lean towards local and seasonal flavors, giving the Portland community something truly special in what they do.
23: Tryst
With handcrafted cocktails and a drink menu that’s 99% made up of locally crafted Oregon beer, it’s easy to see why Tryst is one of the best bars in Portland. With a flavorful and inclusive menu that heavily features a variety of Asian tastes and recipes, Tryst combines the new with the old, giving you a chance to relax in an atmosphere that’s casual and enjoyable, while serving you with some of the best craft beer and alcohol that the Northwest has to offer!
24: Bit House Saloon
A bar that brings you back to the 1800’s is Bit House Saloon, a name that comes from the older times in America, where “bit” was a form of currency used to buy alcohol. Saloons were often referred to as “bit houses” for this reason, giving Bit House Saloon a rich history in what they strive to do with their carefully preserved atmosphere of original American history. With a drink menu that offers a wide variety of flavors of whiskey, spirits, and more, it’s easy to see why Bit House Saloon is one of the best bars in Portland.
25: Church
A bar with a name that gets people’s attention is Church, a place to enjoy your favorite cocktails and bite-sized appetizers. Church invites you to eat, drink, and repent, with open hours every day for those who want to indulge in a unique experience that welcomes everyone and anyone to join them. With patio seating, a focus on new American cuisine, and a fun spin on cocktails, it’s easy to see why Church is one of the best bars in Portland.
26: Wayfinder Beer
A new brewery on the scene is Wayfinder Beer, a tap house that invites everyone to enjoy the best of the Northwest! With a tap house that seats 110 occupants, there’s more than enough space for everyone to come on down and try the best of the best from Wayfinder Beer. With a focus on lagers and ales that bring nothing but pure enjoyment to the craft beer capital of the country, it’s easy to see why Wayfinder Beer is surely among the best bars in Portland.
27: Victory Bar
Experience something unique with a staff that knows how to let loose and have fun at Victory Bar, a place to enjoy some of the best Belgian beers that the Northwest has to offer. With a strong focus on cocktails and whiskey as well, Victory Bar aims to give you a night out that’s different than anything else—creative nightly specials and “gastropub” food are excellent toppings on one of the best bars in Portland, and one of the most amazingly individualistic bars you could spend a night.
28: The Box Social
Described as a romantic and relaxing night out, The Box Social has been providing the Portland area with specialty drinks and a wonderfully crafted menu since 2011! Their kind and the inviting atmosphere allows you to enjoy a night out without the craziness of a nightclub, letting you truly enjoy a drink or two with good company—and in goods hands, too. Referred to as “a drinking parlor,” it’s easy to see why The Box Social is one of the best bars in Portland.
29: Loyal Legion
One of the best bars in Portland, Loyal Legion, has 99 Oregon based beers on tap, making it the perfect stop if you’re looking for a taste of something locally fresh! Partnered with another Oregon owned business, Olympia Provisions, Loyal Legion is easily a step above the rest in offering you a meal that’s completely local and original in taste and design. Enjoy beer and sausage the way you were meant to, and see what makes the Northwest so amazingly wonderful in the way of craft beer excellence!
30: Rum Club
Craft cocktails, delicious food, and a relaxed atmosphere easily make Rum Club one of the best bars in Portland. Enjoy some late night snacks that are tantalizingly inviting as you choose from one of many handcrafted cocktails! With options for blind tasting, dealer’s choice, and a nightly special that you can take a risk on, the Rum Club gives you a relaxed and comfortable setting to enjoy a night on the town with good friends and fun memories.
31: La Moule
A bistro and bar with heavy French influences, La Moule invites you to try some classics from across the ocean in one of the best bars in Portland. With a strong focus on muscles and heavy dishes that are simply to die for, take a chance on bold new flavors as you enjoy a taste of France. Additionally, their drink menu is just as splendid, with French favorites and locally sourced beer, giving you the best of both worlds in the Northwest.
32: Hale Pele
No city is complete without a tiki bar, and Hale Pele gives you an authentic taste of the island in one of the best bars in Portland. With small plates that are crafted from locally sourced ingredients, Hale Pele aims to give you a true taste of how tiki is meant to be experienced, with amazingly bold flavors and handcrafted cocktails from juices, in-house syrups, and carefully selected spirits.
33: Expatriate
You’ll never find a place quite like Expatriate, one of the best bars in Portland. A menu full of delicious, bite-sized meals that aim to accommodate your deliciously crafted cocktails, Expatriate aims to give you a place of collaboration, relaxation, and enjoyment as you dine, drink, and progress with your evening. Cocktails are made with local ingredients whenever possible, as is their food, and Expatriate gives you a place of calm before the storm.
34: The High Dive
A neighborhood joint where you can enjoy beer and cocktails is The High Dive, easily one of the best bars in Portland. With a place to watch the game every night (go Rip City!), and an encouragement to bring food back from carts and food trucks along the streets, The High Dive maintains its appeal as a local hub to eat, drink, and enjoy a casual night on the town. Additionally, enjoy a traditional Taco Tuesday every week!
35: There Be Monsters
Classic cocktails, local beers, and Americana food with a hint of British nostalgia find a home in There Be Monsters, one of the best bars in Portland. A neighborhood bar, There Be Monsters offers a lively, yet comfortable, atmosphere to enjoy a low-key night of drinking, merriment, and fine dining as you explore the Portland area. There Be Monsters is inclusive of all people, from any place, anywhere. When you’re here, you’re home, and their roomy atmosphere holds true to their inclusive philosophy.
36: Aalto Lounge
A staple neighborhood bar that’s been around since 2000, Aalto Lounge is certainly one of the best bars in Portland. With a modern design, the atmosphere of Aalto Lounge is forward-thinking, while remaining comfortable and inviting for your night on the town. Their drink menu is, in their own words, spirit forward, with a heavy emphasis on cocktails that’ll introduce you to new and inventive flavors. Of course, bottled beer is always available, as well as wine by the glass that’ll give you a sense of enjoyment and relaxation.
37: Flipside Bar and Carts
A bar that brings the best of the Northwest into one amazing location is Flipside Bar and Carts, one of the best bars in Portland. With eight food cart vendors to choose from, your food options are limitless, while giving you a true taste of the Northwest. Once you’ve gotten your food, hop inside to grab some drinks, and enjoy what makes Portland… well, Portland! Oregon local beers are best paired with amazing local food, and Flipside Bar and Carts is easily one of the best ways to experience the city.
38: The Cavern
A small, intimate setting makes The Cavern one of the best bars in Portland. With a full menu that offers things from bite-sized appetizers to fully plated meals, The Cavern gives you everything you need to properly stock up for a night on the town. Enjoy their pub style food alongside carefully crafted cocktails and local craft beers, and see what Portland has to offer!
39: The Rookery Bar
A historic bar with a landscape that gives them a true sense of American history, The Rookery Bar gives you a British influenced atmosphere and is easily among the best bars in Portland. Attached to a wonderfully crafted restaurant, Raven & Rose, The Rookery Bar is a 21+ exclusive club that gives you the best of what Portland has to offer, with craft beers and amazingly articulate cocktails, as well as an array of live music and events to get you involved within the community!
40: 10 Barrel Brewing Co
The Portland location of the 10 Barrel Brewing Co gives you a chance to taste some of the best craft beer that Oregon can offer, making it easily one of the best bars in Portland. With a full menu that allows people of all ages to visit, enjoy some tasty and delicious local food while indulging in rotating seasonal taps. The best part? If you like it, you can take some home! That’s truly what the Northwest is all about.
And… that’s all she wrote! I know, it seems like a lot, but in an area that’s so heavily populated with bars, breweries, and restaurants, narrowing down the best parts in Portland is harder than it seems. These amazingly wonderful places all have something unique to offer, making them wonderful places to start when looking for a place to go on your night out with friends, family, and loved ones. Keep an open mind, try some of the amazing local craft beer, and—most importantly—enjoy yourself, because truly, that’s what a bar is all about!
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