How romantic this place. If you're looking for dimmed lights and a place you can hear yourself,…read morethis is it. Intimate and secret. If you wanna take your side chick or dude no one will know. The bartenders will keep it hush hush Enter one way get out the other way.

Its been awhile since I came back here, but a friend transfiguration made reservations here so we…read moreall went. The place is still as cozy as I remembered it to be. They do have some unique craft cocktails that I did enjoyed. I had the Found Artifact and Historical Revisionist. Both cocktails are whiskey based, but you really couldn't tell. I did enjoy them both, but if had to choose, I would go with the Found Artifact. It was full of flavor. The sesame oil washed Toki whiskey with the cold brew and soy vanilla foam went well together.

This is definitely a dive bar, however it is a great dive bar. Friendly staff, good drinks and a…read moresurprisingly good food menu. For a budget-friendly option, the fly menu is a go-to. $6 for a burger makes it an easy dinner choice. Renner's has been around forever and has maintained a really fun vibe. We were there a few weeks ago with karaoke and it wasn't incredibly fun crowd. Plus there is outdoor seating which is perfect for a summer beer.

Multnomah village is this charming combination of old school businesses, village charm and only 10…read moreminutes outside of Portland. The hidden gem in the village is renner's. They are literally in the heart of the village without door patio sitting that is perfect for summer nights. Excellent selection of beer and drinks. However, the real gem is the food you can get to go with your beverage. The fly menu which is available 7 days a week is incredibly budget friendly. I was able to get a delicious veggie burger with cheese for $6 so it is easy to go out for a meal, enjoy the outside summer seeding, give a nice tip and you're still under $20. The staff are incredibly friendly and the vibe is that old school bar. Definitely on my list of affordable go-to places for a burger and beer after work.

It's a lounge. It's a bar. It's a game room. It's a restaurant. The Silver Birch wears a lot of…read morehats and I guess, depending on your mood, that's a good thing. I'll speak to the lounge/bar part here, which also has several different sides. First, the bar is your standard, modern-looking L-shaped counter, a bunch of stools, etc. it's not quite divey -- seems like it's aspiring to greater heights, though the dimly-lit tables and booths on the other side of the room would beg to differ. There are other tables out in the open, near the big window, better lit and with more of a restaurant vibe. It's all good; you got a nice happy hour, and above- average food for any bar or pub (hence the Kitchen) in the vicinity. The bartenders have all been spot-on, attentive but not pushy and a joy at happy hour. And yep, the chow I've had here to date has been resoundingly tasty, with the cod fish tacos (three) served up nicely slathered with lines of crema and paired with lots of avocado slices. Nice. Hummus plate was a winner too, the fresh hummus working against a nice, robust mix of fresh veggies. Plenty of food here. This is from the regular menu, which also sports a lot of familiar entries --- burgers, wraps, salads, fish and chips, even vegetarian options. Im down with this side of the Silver Birch; the actual kitchen/restaurant looks like it's on the other side of building (separate), so I can't speak to that but I would like to try it sometime. In any case, I like the joint better now than what it used to be, which was a Chinese restaurant; it's airier and lighter and has a better menu. There's karaoke, and the game room has plenty of entertainment. Also, it's located right on a roundabout, so getting into the small on-site parking lot can be a bit tricky.

Sadly the restaurant is closed at this time, this was a good stop if you're in Beaverton not sure…read moreif they're going to reopen at any point.

If you're looking for quintessential speakeasy vibes, Driftwood Room is the place! Just inside…read moreHotel DeLuxe, it's never overly crowded, making it a great place to unwind or enjoy a date night! The cocktail menu is fantastic, and if you're curious about absinthe, this is one of the best places to try it. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable, sharing the history behind each pour and explaining the different varieties. I especially loved that many of the absinthes are named after famous poets and artists - it adds a fun touch to the experience. For dinner, I ordered the spaetzle, and it was delicious. I also love the vintage mirrors throughout the space, it makes the room feel large and grand. Whether you're stopping in for a classic cocktail, an absinthe experience or just enjoying the ambience, Driftwood Room is worth a visit if you're in downtown PDX!

A proper hotel bar. I'm just bummed I didn't get to do their…read moretasting thing. Don't even get me started on the absinthe choices. We got back in to town right at the peak of the parade and lights celebration Saturday. To say it was chaotic would be an understatement. Since roads were closed, the road to my hotel was of course blocked off. So during the first go around we couldn't get to where we needed to be and went instead on a one mile circle which then led is to an area where the guy blocking the road was nice enough to let us through after we told him my hotel was where he was. What a blessing that was indeed because we found a parking spot right across from my hotel. My friend had an hour to kill before she could check in to her hotel since the road was still closed on that side. We lucked out finding two seats right at the bar as soon as you walk in. It was first come first serve and they were busy. Lots of people were trickling in from the festivities to have a drink or two. I got the cucumber cocktail. It was so good I made my friend have a sip. As what usually happens, we ended up making friends with the two ladies next to us who were parade participants representing mardi gras. The hour breezed by so quickly. It was such a fun time I completely forgot to take photos. Hotel guests get 15% off their tab.

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.

I wanted to celebrate something special, so I was looking for a nice bar when someone recommended…read morethis place. From the outside, it looks pretty unassuming, so I wasn't expecting much. But as soon as I walked in, I was pleasantly surprised. The interior is beautiful, with a stylish central bar that immediately catches your eye. Although they do serve food, I wasn't very hungry, so I decided to just enjoy a couple of drinks. There are a few dining tables inside if you're planning to have a meal as well.The bartender was incredibly friendly and took the time to chat with me after I asked for a few recommendations. The drinks were excellent, well-balanced, flavorful, and actually tasted like proper cocktails instead of just juice. They definitely didn't skimp on the alcohol either! I'm really glad I chose this place to celebrate. It ended up being the perfect spot for the occasion.

I went to the club for the first time with an existing member and had an amazing experience! The…read moreclub is split between a cave of wine lockers and a tasting room, both of which require exclusive access from members. The wine cave is temperature regulated and spacious. High ceilings and lockers that require tall ladders for access. Each locker has rows that are a depth of three bottles. The tasting room is sophisticated and classy. Upscale decor with plush seating. No windows but there is a fireplace and they offer spirits for those who need a break from wine (is that a thing?). They have a server there five days per week (Tuesday to Saturday). If someone offers to take you to this club, you should enthusiastically agree. One of the most interesting places I have discovered in all of Portland in a very long time.

Sokol Blosser decided to have one of their wine pick-up parties at the Boundary. This was…read moreespecially nice because it saved my friend Jeannie a long drive out to Dayton. Perhaps some folks from wine country may have made to the Portland metro area. They provided a nice charcuterie platter. One of the cheeses was very soft and spreadable and another cheese that had a waxy appearance but was not a hard cheese. The spreadable cheese seemed to be a goat cheese with a very mild flavor, it was slightly earthy and sweet. I know, what a weird combination, but it was super good. Based on the other a cow's milk cheese and had a very mild and forgettable flavor. But it's probably for the best to serve safe flavored cheeses at such parties. The ambiance at the Boundary was really nice for a wine tasting/pickup party. There were overestuffed chairs next to a fire in the fireplace, and plenty of seating around the bar. There was always someone staffing the wine pouring stations. Hopefully other wineries will take note and hold its wine pickup parties close to downtown. The Boundary is the perfect venue. 2022 - Review # 24

Lily has the memory of a steel trap and Hostess skills for days! I'm always glad to see her when I…read morestop in for a good meal and cocktail. She has full situational awareness that she carries with her throughout said days and it shows. She need not be smiling at all time, because her sincerity is her charm. It seems the entire staff trusts her to do right by all persons and they respect her authority (as evident per their efforts). The Kitchen - WOW. Much joy in the back of the house! Beyond the bar is a small and effective protocol for exclusively in-house, fresh prepped treats; always made per order. The (cheese) sauces for chips/macaroni on everything, all the time.

Sadly, something has gone terribly wrong at Happy Hour at what has traditionally been my favorite…read moregastropub in the Westside. For the past few months or possibly more, there is a server/closing-manager (male Caucasian, glasses, ponytail) who only reluctantly provides the HH menu. About two months ago, I asked when HH started, and he said in 7 minutes (i.e., it was 9:53pm). I asked how much I'd save on the beer I was contemplating if I waited for 7 minutes, and he said a dollar or two, so I told him I'd wait until then to place my order. It seemed like a pretty light day, yet he took a full 20+ minutes to come take our order -- it felt like he was punishing me. Last night, it was 10:10pm and I asked if there was a HH menu. He said "not yet." I thought he meant that they hadn't yet been published, but when I went to the bar to say hi to someone I know, I saw a HH menu already on the bar. I'd already ordered off the regular menu, and chose to not change to something on the HH hour just to avoid the conflict. I have no idea what is inspiring this behavior. Perhaps people who order off HH menus don't tip well? In any case, this new HH attitude has definitely dampened my enthusiasm for Fireside. Which is sad since it still has a great tap list and menu.

Super fun escape room with actor elements involved. The puzzles were pretty creative…read more They had quite a few scenarios to choose from. We were in the Frozen Forest scenario with 10 people and was able to escape with 13 minutes left. The material and everything that built out the room were great quality production. I would definitely try this place again.

Yet another wonderful experience at Portal! This place is top tier for customer service and…read moreambiance! Their food (also drinks!) are so beautifully presented that it makes me want to keep coming back. This picture is from a friends drink a while back but they still have it on the menu!