Rolled into this place after the beerfest at the convention center. It was DH, his buddy and myself. We went in and there was a counterful of women and then us. We have been trying to get our buddy out to find a GF and he just doesn't have the sauve. Anyways, this place was great, had an old time juke box and a great time was had by all. I would love to return, but like I said I always say this and end up never going back and forgetting about the place. The bartender was super sweet and cute too. Oops did I say that outloud? This is a cash only place, so make sure you have hit the ATM already. Didn't know that until we ordered and I said can I just give you my card and the guy said cash only. That wasn't too bad, but I like using my card over cash. Cash seems to go too quickly. read more

OH NO! they put up this kind of awful wall of art! And bright lights to go with it! look dudes, this is a dive bar and NOT the kind of place you want art gallery style lighting! Or a bunch of (sorry but) kind of bad art. Just leave it to the video slots and beer signs and don't try to make the place into something it isn't! The bright lights are so altering to the atmosphere that I honestly haven't wanted to go back since they made the change. Please take them down! I'm meeellltiiiiing!!!!! read more

Let's see, pretty janky looking exterior: CHECK! Small long cramped bar area: CHECK! Cheap Drinks: CHECK! Cool Jukebox: CHECK! Dives, where you go to drink and feel good about yourself. read more

I was hesitant about wanting to go to this place but my boyfriend really liked it so i've given it a few tries. It's actually pretty nice. Not exactly a "dive" bar as far as I can tell, but rather a Portland hipster's idea of what a dive bar might be. They have miller highlife in the bottle for $2 and that is what I usually get. They also just recently started serving cocktails and wine. This place can be really crowded and loud on the weekend, and the bathroom might be occupied for long periods of time by couples and threesomes doing ... i'm not sure what. Overall, a cheap, pretty nice place to go get a beer. But don't expect anything fancy. read more

Kick it & chill and enjoy the dive bars Portland is so good with that! diamonds in the city...

Everything you could want from your local dive. Great atmosphere and an eclectic mix of patrons. No nonsense, no bull, just cheap drinks, pinball, pool and life size jenga. read more

A decent little bar and refreshing based on the other places I've visited in Portland so far. $2 Coors banquet beer is what it's all about! Everyone has PBR and the other versions of it in tallboy cans for about the same, but I was glad to find my favorite domestic at a dive while playing pinball on the five tables that they had upstairs. read more

Billy Ray's - Two of the five pinball tables they had when we visited Billy Ray's - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great dive bar, drinks were cheap and the place is cleaner than dive bars usually are. Don't let the exterior fool you, it's a perfect little bar. The back deck is ridiculously nice for such a bar. The furniture is stable and none broken, the decking is stable with no gravel or broken concrete. No hassles and most people are friendly to strangers. We stayed just up the street and made it the last stop most every night. Just know it's cash only. read more

The bartender at this place was extremely unpleasant and rude from the beginning. Seemed like she didn't want to serve us at all. Not a welcoming environment, wouldn't recommend to anyone. read more

One star. Waitress was a complete wench. She cut me off after 2 drinks, but realistically I couldn't see well in the low-lit bar because of my degenerative eye disease. Unfriendly and patronizing. read more

the rumors are true, friends. there are now a few liquors in Billy Ray's! this does change everything. hope you don't need a mixer! read more

The day i moved to Portland I began wondering around trying to figure out what my neighborhood had to offer. I walked by Billy Ray's twice and then decided I'd check it out. That was probably the best decision I've made here so far. I went from not knowing a single person in this town to feeling like I knew a bar full of people. Well, there was only like five people in the bar because it was like 2pm, but whatever. I believe I watched 3 VHS movies upon first visit while drinking 3 dollar 22oz glasses of Pabst. My initial impression is that this wouldn't be the place to meet girls, but fellow patrons have informed me that it is, I've just been coming in at wrong times. Perhaps fine young ladies aren't interested in a guy that goes to a bar at 2pm on Wednesday, or 5pm on a Tuesday... WHATEVER. Anyways, if you're looking to just enjoy yourself, drink for cheap and not feel like everyone's judging you, this is the place. You'll probably get to watch a really terrible 80s movie in the process. I believe I've seen at least six by now. read more

We walked in and the whole place stopped and looked at us, as if to say "Who are they?" Always the sign of quality neighborhood establishment. It's a little bit uncomfortable being the outsider but it only makes you want to keep going back til you're part of the gang. They don't do pitchers, but they do have 22 oz glasses in addition to standard pints, and that's perfectly fine by me. read more

This is the ultimate AMERICAN BAR folks. Appreciate, enjoy, kiss the sticky, sticky floor and thank the good lord you are lucky enough to live in the US of A where there are real bars: Bars with muscle, bars with cajones, bars with MEANING. I do not presently live in the US of A, owing to my marriage to a foreigner as well as the tricky economic situation in my homeland right now. I am an "expat" who has lived abroad for five years now. I have a job and I have state funded health care. Also there are kangaroos here. Yay. All those things are awesome, however, what I don't have is a bar like Billy Ray's. They don't exist outside America apparently. Anyway, I dream of this place when I am particularly homesick: The juke where I used to play the Sonics; the big frosty pint of cheap Oregon beer; the moody, narrow space with its perfect old school bar lined with swivel stools (at least I think they are swivel stools...it's been awhile). I'll never forget coming in here on Christmas eve 2004: The window was fogged against the icy conditions outside but inside Billy Ray's the strung up Christmas lights were aglow and the dim bar was filled with a crew of blue collar worker and hipsters, all sipping pints and watching a mute, close captioned Law and Order episode from 1993. Danzig or the Misfits were growling in the background and we were all together, communing, silently. That shit was special. read more

We have visited Billy Rays twice now and both times were great. We love the PBR on tap and the bartender with glasses and shorter curly hair is always so friendly! read more

How is it that I have never written a review for Billy Ray's Neighborhood Dive, aka, the Dive???? Probably because my attendance here over the last couple of years has been piss poor, as my time has been spent pursuing things that don't include drinking and sitting around b.s.ing with some of the best folks in town, in some unfortunate way. Anyway, having popped by a couple of times recently, and rediscovering the joy that is the Dive, I realized I must also pay respects. This place is welcoming from the minute you walk in, (unless you are an obvious crackhead, in which case you will be given a very cold shoulder by the staff), with its long, copper-topped bar and tv. The jukebox has a fabulously diverse selection of some modern pop and rock, some classic rock, some old country, some rock-a-billy, and some ancient punk. There is a loft-like upstairs complete with a large-screen tv, pool table, assorted pinball, and a pac man table, and a fairly large back patio, that in the summer offers ping pong. But, there are three outstanding features of the Dive that make it really shine: #1: The bartenders. They mostly have a smile for you, and are quick on the draw at the taps. But, don't give them any shit. You won't last long. Mara is the most special, with her cute smile and intoxicating laugh. She might even play backgammon or liar's dice with you, if you are extra nice. #2: The patrons. Some of the coolest, nicest folks hang out here on a regular basis. Never at a loss for an interesting conversation. I may come to the Dive alone some days, but I am never lonely. #3: The big beers. 4.00 for a 20 oz Lagunitas??? Nuff said. read more

Ohhhh a great dive bar! Bartenders are nice, GREAT outside area, and a fun upstairs with games! Only drawback is that it's cash only, but they have an ATM in house so no problem. There's even a pizza food cart right next door that offers deals for in-bar customers. They also have FREE pool on Sunday's and a lovely S.I.N. as well read more

I'm a dive bar fan, and I don't mind punk music but... The problem I had with it is that after paying $3 a beer at ground control, I felt a little ripped to be paying $6 for a well vodka tonic at a dive bar where the smell of urine assaults your nostrils. It's not that I'm too good for urine smells, and lime slices that have been cut so long ago that they are starting to turn brown around the edges, it's just relative to all the places nearby, their drink prices in particular should have been a lot cheaper if that's what they are offering. read more

The classiest of all Portland drinking establishments featuring the finest local seasonal ales. A sophisticated ambiance that is perfect for a first date. read more

We had a horrible experience with Chris the bartender. He YELLED at us for taking a picture by the pool table. Now granted, we probably shouldn't have sat on the table to take the picture but his reaction was completely over the top for the situation. Clearly he's an angry little man who needs to learn better people skills if he's going to be interacting with the general public. There are other dive bars in Portland - do yourself a favor and pass on this one. He's a ticking time-bomb. read more

We really loved this bar at first, we even bought tank tops...man do we wish we didn't!!!!! The bartender yelled at us for taking a selfie, what an asshole!!!! This guy obviously hasn't been layed in years! It's unfortunate that one bartender screwed up an evening for us!!! read more

Ok. As my profile suggests, I love me some dive bars. I once had an interview with the folks from Portland Picks wherein we ditched the usual, "So what inspired you to..." crap and started talking about the joys of smoking (*sigh*) in the comforting arms of a neighborhood dive. (Of course, that part never made it into print.) Billy Ray's is just one of those spots. It's never at the top of my go-to list (despite the fact that I used to live mere blocks away) and I think that's part of its charm. It's like that accidentally hot, soft spoken guy you've been friends with for years. He never really "asks" you out, but one day, you realize that you've got it bad for him. (Too which he replies without a hint of irony, "That's cool. I love you, too." But I digress...Today, I got some interesting news from the editors at Playboy who told me that my accidental crush has been named one of the Top 10 Dive Bars in the U.S. http://www.playboy.com/style/a-list/dive-bars/index.html To which I replied, "That's cool. I've always loved them, too." read more

I'm giving it 4 stars for the bartender's service. Mara is the best. What does suck is cash only. Who lives on cash anymore? I have miles to earn and I can go elsewhere and rack them up. read more

yes!! best dive ever! pinball hot dogs and huge beers!!!!! update: they stopped serving hot dogs. bummer. but they started serving booze. sweet. read more

Truly one of the best Dive bars in Portland. The staff is great, friendly and quick witted. The regulars that hang out there, mostly from the immediate neighborhood, are friendly and treat everyone that shows up to check it out, like they have been coming there for years. The prices are good and cheap, but don't expect a good meal with your drink. It's literally a banquet TV dinner. Fortunately, they let you bring food in or even have it delivered there. I can't say enough good things about this bar, or the people you will find in it. Both the staff and the regulars. If you act up, get in a fight, or are a violent drunk, don't bother, you will be kicked out, and none of the cliental will put up with it either. Everyone is there to have a great time and fun conversation. read more

Stopped in with 2 friends to have a drink. My friend had been traveling a lot and the little bit of one beer didn't set well with her. She made her best attempt to get to the bathroom. Didn't make it. She did however make sure she puked outside instead of into the bar. She was in the doorway where it leads to the patio. I told the bartender and offered to clean it up. At first he said sure. Then in seconds flipped his attitude. He complained. Told me my friend needed to leave. Continued to make comments that weren't relevant to the situation. No one was drunk. No one was rude. In fact we tipped him extra and did our best to make light of the situation. Sorry your a bartender dude. Maybe it's time for a change. At the very least the temper tantrum wasn't needed. Bartender made the comment... "We're not 16." Well we're not 4 either. read more

Billy Ray's is awesome. Large beer, pinball, pool, veggie dogs. what else do you need in a bar?

Probably the diviest of all Portlands dives. Cash only, games room upstairs, Blazers games, juke box. Definitely nothing fancy but that's what it is read more

Billy rays is my jam. Friendly bartenders cheap booze, 22oz. Glasses, buck hunter safari, patio is chill, pool table, pin ball with high scores you will probably never beat, juke box, video crack, art on the walls, hungry man dinners, worst place to poop at, sketchy characters once in a while, ping pong during not so rainy months. What's not to like? Mostly chill crowd though. Cash only so be ready. They have an ATM. read more

Stopped in tonight on a biz trip. Great place and great drinks . Cash only but outstanding service!

Went before a show at the Wonder, Streetlight Manifesto, totally cool crowd bartender was cool draught sel is small but has micros, stayed til the show. read more

Dive bar is an understatment...this place is uber dive but fun! we came here after a so-so meal at Ox which is across the street to watch a Blazers basketball game before it ended. The drinks are cheap, the service is bland, the seats are vinyl and stick to your legs, but it was just perfectly perfect for what we wanted. The crowd was lively and the TVs were functioning! Great place to watch the game. I also think they were getting ready for a triva night or game night after the game which if it werent so late on a work night we would have stayed to play! read more

This is the dive! Just read the white board: hungry man dinner + you = food. Cheap drinks, cool patio, upstairs has pinball & pool!

Cash Only, thats fine with me. It is a great dive bar. The staff was super friendly, the vibe was relaxed and comfortable. This is my kind of place. Perfect if you are waiting (which of course you are) for a table at Ox, or just stopping by for a quick drink. Decent beer selection, Good liquor, Great vibe. read more

A really great dive.. pinball machines upstairs, patio (for ppl who smoke), pool tables, etc. DJ on Tuesday nights.

This place is a great dive bar. It has all the necessary elements; cheap drinks, quirky regulars, awesome bartenders and it's real dark. There's video poker downstairs and pool and video games upstairs. Anyone can feel at home in this bar. There's also a great back patio with ping pong and plenty of seating. It's perfect for watching the game or going out for Quizzy bar trivia on Thursday nights. read more

Great bar. No BS, ok. No freakin' BS!!!! Drink and be cool. That's all you need to do. Drink and be cool. Is it that freaking hard!!! If you're snooty and If you don't like going out, stay home! If you're a jackass looking for trouble , go bang your head against some wall. But if you're at Billy Ray's- drink and be cool. That's it! read more

Love this place! Always good help and good times! My fav dive bar in Portland.

Love this place. It's a home away from home. Bring cash though! read more

They remodeled a bit and it feels a lot cleaner inside. Still a dive, still cash only. Bonus points for having pinball, but some are a bit janky. read more