Had an awesome time at The Observatory the other weekend. Unlike a lot of places, they run their…read moreHappy Hour on the weekend, which is what drew my partner and I in. You can absolutely smell the fish and vinegar as soon as you walk through the door, which I think gives the place a very homey pub feel. I ordered a spiked peach Arnold Palmer, which I enjoyed (and it was pleasantly strong) and a glass of the house white, which was good for the price. Our server was very fast and attentive. To eat I got the tomato soup with a grilled cheese, which was absolutely fantastic. The soup was so creamy and flavorful, and I cannot imagine a better meal after spending all day walking outside in the rain. The fries were super crispy and I liked the batter. My partner and I shared some of their breadsticks, which were deliciously baked (fresh!) and came with a super refreshing basil crema and a nice tomato-y dip. Wonderful all. My partner ordered fish and chips, and was surprised to find that it is one large fillet of fish, not multiple pieces like you would typically expect. He said the fish was fine, but a little tough. Overall, a wonderful experience. I definitely hope to return. I highly recommend this place as a refuge during the cold winter months!

Why do they make you write a book just to recommend this place…read moreIts good, a must try Drunk was a little weak

TLDR: this is probably the best cocktail bar I have ever been to…read more I used to live a few blocks from here way back when I lived in Portland. Back then, there was an amazing business in here called The Cardinal Room (?). I loved it, they had a romantic cozy ambiance and incredible chicken sandwiches. While the food is gone, the unique, romantic ambience is back and the drinks here are next level. It's a cocktail bar that has amazingly crafted drinks but ZERO pretension about them. In fact, the service here is incredible. Friendly, fun, and frequent. They were very good at just making random creations based solely on flavors you like. But even if you are ordering on-menu, there is something here for everyone and none of the drinks are boring. I plan on coming back here every time I'm in Portland and...I WISH I still lived a couple blocks from here!

The colorful lighting here truly feel like a little dopamine boost. So fun, lively, and a great…read moreplace to end your night. The night we came in, it was super packed - limited seats already, but we were able to find a table in 15 mins. The food is fine, we got the crudo - but with so many amazing restaurants nearby, I'd eat somewhere else first and then swing by here for their cocktails! Which comes in just the cutest mugs! Great for a photo op.

I have no idea if this bar has food - but when we came in a few Friday's ago - at 7 pm - and we…read morewere pretty much the only people there. The bartender said they need better signage but by 8 pm, the place was packed. I think this used to be a doggy day care or doggy spa. It's been open for 3 years and I never knew it was here. Too bad because I have moved from the neighborhood and this would have been a great neighborhood haunt. We just got a few rounds of beers but we stayed quite a while because they have a great vibe and video poker - which the guys in our group could not be torn away from. The decor is neon and chill but not hipster - like the rest of the places on this side of the river. They also have a billiard room. So, basically, there is just about something for everyone. I wish my new neighborhood had a bar like this that was walking distance.

Such a fake location this is not real. Something weirds going on. Tried to go here multiple times…read moreand call and they say they are not open yet at 9pm!!!!

Secret place to get your karaoke on Saturdays at 9! They've got a decent sound system and tons of…read moremusic to choose. There's also some great voices to listen to! I was amazed since it's a little place in a bowling alley. Depending on who's pouring you can get some decent drinks for cheap as well. Nothing fancy but more old school. Old school equal reals so there's that! Nothing to fear here!

A tall, thin man, wearing work boots and a denim shirt with "Mike" embroidered across the pocket,…read moreset his lunch pail and thermos on the floor of his truck, grabbed his bowling ball bag and headed into the lanes. We sat in our parking spot long enough for Norman Goldman to serve up a little justice on the head of some, star-spangeled, economic hit-man, grabbed our balls and followed the thin man. After two hours of bowling and drinking under the black-lights, we dropped into the Lava Lounge for thirteen or fifteen more drinks. The floor was strewn with bowling bags, and ex-bowlers turned bad playing video poker. Asian girls, punk rockers and wanna-be rappers were lining up for karaoke. We decided to have sixteen or twenty drinks instead and signed up for top billing with the karaoke DJ. Sherry's went first with Diana Krall's "Peel Me a Grape". She broke a leg man - not a dry eye in the house: even the punk rockers were beside themselves. I mopped up with Frank Zappa's "Dirty Love". The girl's were screaming like back in the 60s - they mobbed me and someone took my shoe. Our cash was gone so we left while some kid was bringing down the house with a rousing rendition of Snoop Dogg's "I Don't Need No Bitch".

To speak about Teardrop Lounge, I should probably start with this:…read more Ladies and gentlemen, I present my favorite cocktail bar. Not the best -- I'm not arrogant enough to claim that. I haven't been to every cocktail bar in Portland, and saying something is the best usually says more about your lack of experience than your conviction. But favorite? That I can stand behind. And I want to get that out of the way early, because of the amount of praise I'm about to pour on this place -- fully earned, completely intentional. The biggest crime here is that I only discovered it two weeks ago, after living in Portland for a year. It had been recommended to me countless times, and I ignored it. A mistake. A painful one. But now that I've found it, I don't plan on making that mistake again. I'm not typically an Old Fashioned drinker. In fact, I usually hate them. But somewhere between curiosity and too many episodes of Mad Men, I decided to try one anyway -- fully expecting to confirm my bias. Instead, it completely flipped me. Bright, almost citrus-forward in a way that felt unusual but entirely intentional. Balanced, smooth, just enough burn to remind you what you're drinking without overwhelming it. It was the first time I actually understood the appeal. I'm pretty sure I grew a few chest hairs that night. That alone would've been impressive. But it didn't stop there. The space is beautiful -- clean, intentional, but not cold. The staff are excellent: personable, engaged, and most importantly, authentic. Not scripted, not performative. The kind of people you actually want to talk to, and hopefully, eventually be on a first-name basis with. Now, all of that gets it close to a perfect score. But what pushes it over the edge -- what makes this place stick -- is the White Russian. One of the first drinks I ever had. My dad's drink. Not because of The Big Lebowski -- that came later -- but because it's just always been his thing. And at some point, it became mine too. Typically, when bars try to "elevate" a White Russian, they ruin it. They overthink it. Swap ingredients, tweak ratios, add unnecessary flair. And more often than not, it ends in disappointment. Teardrop does the opposite. They respect it -- but refine it. The coffee liqueur actually tastes like coffee. The heavy cream is properly integrated, not just dumped on top. The vodka -- whatever they're using -- is clean, present, and perfectly measured. There's a subtle complexity to it without losing what makes the drink what it is. It's the best White Russian I've ever had. No hesitation. I've gone back twice just to make sure it wasn't a fluke. It wasn't. If someone asked me what my death row drink would be -- this specific cocktail, from this specific bar, is in the conversation. Easily. Teardrop Lounge doesn't just make great cocktails. It reminds you why cocktails matter in the first place. And that's why it's my favorite.

We came to Teardrop Cocktail Lounge while visiting Portland and were genuinely impressed…read more The cocktails were excellent -- thoughtful, well-balanced, and clearly made by people who know what they're doing. One of the best parts was how approachable the bartenders were. We asked for custom drinks based on our preferences, and both came out perfectly tailored. Creative without being weird, and strong without being sloppy. What really stood out was the price point. For the quality of cocktails, the prices felt very reasonable compared to similar craft cocktail bars in other cities. The vibe was also great -- relaxed, cozy, and not pretentious. It felt like a place where you could come for a special drink experience without feeling like you had to "perform" or order off a rigid menu. We liked it so much we actually came back a second time during our trip. Highly recommend if you're into well-crafted cocktails, friendly bartenders, and a laid-back but elevated atmosphere.

Kaya has immaculate vibes and they've got a DJ turning it up after 8pm(?). I know I'm at a cool…read morespot because all the melanin in the Portland metro area is here. Love the decor and the drinks are fun and super tasty. Happy Hour is lit! We ordered a bunch of truffle/parmesan fries and the food was very hot/fresh. Will definitely be coming back here!

Stopped in last night with a few girlfriends to celebrate my birthday. Such a cute spot for a chill…read morenight out with friends. Good vibes and good ambiance with great music. Service was great. Staff was nice. They were very accommodating to our large party (8 people). It did take awhile for us to receive our last round of drinks, but we weren't sure if the bartender knew how to make the shots or not that we ordered. Before we left, a DJ was setting up to play live music. They do pay you down and check your bags/purses when they check your ID. Will definitely be back soon with my friends.

Wanted to like this place cause we can really use another nicer restaurant in Happy Valley. Sadly,…read morethis ain't it. Came here for dinner with wife and toddler. After getting sat down, we just... waited. For about 10-15 minutes, nobody showed up. Eventually a server came and took our order in a very disinterested fashion. We ordered a cocktail, the bruschetta appetizer, and then a burger, the king salmon and a plate of chicken pasta in white sauce for the little one. Everything took forever to come out (even the drink), nobody came out to check or refill waters in the 90 minutes we were there. Cocktail (Spring Break) - 5/5 great! Bruschetta - 3/5. Generally good but the bread was carbonized and as hard as a rock. Burger + fries - 3/5. Burger looked sad but was actually pretty tasty, if a little overcooked. Fries looked great (hand cut) but upon us closer inspection in the low light, you could see they were 50% those tiny peel pieces that get burned when frying. Guys! You are supposed to take those pieces out! Salmon - 3/5. Kind of... fine. A little fishy, not really what i expect for King salmon. Chicken pasta for toddler - 4/5. Actually this was delicious (if a bit overcooked) and it will my leftover lunch (toddler didn't eat it but that isn't the pasta's fault). Total bill for everyone, with tip: $126 So pretty mediocre food, downright bad service, and premium pricing. It's a pass from me!

I've been here a couple of times now and have enjoyed it. It has a lovely ambiance, good food and a…read morefriendly staff. Had a Galentine's dinner here and they can accommodate a large group. The menu consists of starters, salads, entrees and drinks. The portions are good size to me; having the side house salad, bruschetta and the starter meatballs were enough for a meal! All three were good. They also have a variety of drinks with classic cocktails, specialty cocktails and a variety of whiskeys to choose from. Parking gets a little crazy on a busy friday night as the lot fills up fast. The brunch menu sounds good so I will have to visit again!

Jamie has absolutely the best service I've had in a bar ever she's the sweetest bartender I've…read morecome across and she always makes sure my glass is never empty # best service ever

Walked in sober asked for a double of Malibu rum and a mimosa and was told No. I could have a…read moredouble but not a mimosa or I could have a mimosa and one shot of Malibu. Like Really?!