If you only hit one craft cocktail bar on your visit to Portland, make it this one…read more Wax Social is a speakeasy and vinyl listening lounge tucked inside a Best Western in the West Hills.. and I mean that in the best way possible. Super moody lighting, hundreds of framed musician photos covering every wall, warm comfortable seating, and a custom hi-fi sound system that will rearrange your expectations for what a speakeasy bar and listening lounge can be. It's a hidden gem in the most literal sense: no signage on the outside and nothing to tip you off as you enter the building. To find Wax Social you walk through the hotel lobby at 9900 SW Canyon Rd, up a staircase left of the registration desk, and look around until you find a frosted glass door marked "Listening Lounge." Open it. You'll be glad you did. Start with the cocktails. The menu is split between elevated timeless classics and original house creations, and both sections of this cocktail menu can bang. The King of Pain is rum-forward and finished with an orange coconut foam that looks as good as it tastes. The Watermelon Man showcases Japanese gin and elderflower in a refreshing and complex profile that's hard not to love. The Sweetest Taboo is a mezcal drink built around blue maize, red bell pepper, pineapple, and lime that hits that rare combination of bold and perfectly balanced. Light My Fire brings blanco tequila and Ancho Reyes together with habanero bitters for real depth. If you want to wander off-menu, they can handle that flawlessly too. Over several visits I've enjoyed a Paper Plane, Tommy's Margarita, Gimlet, Last Word, Too Soon, and others, all executed perfectly. On one visit, the guy next to me at the bar was visiting Portland from Sweden and ordered a Flip. I've been to a lot of craft cocktail bars and never heard someone order one. Clayton, one of the bartenders, didn't blink. Went right to work making a luxurious Flip from memory that the customer couldn't stop raving about. I was impressed. Clayton is also working on several rum-forward cocktails coming to the menu later this summer - I love rum drinks enough to say that sitting at the bar talking shop and the concepts he's tinkering with is worth a visit on its own. Full mocktail lineup, plus wine, bubbles, and craft beers. Now about the sound system. DJs spin all-vinyl sets of funk, soul, R&B, and deep cuts across decades on a custom hi-fi setup that sounds absolutely incredible. Even when the DJ is in full flow and the music is turned up, you can still hold an easy conversation with a group of six or eight people. I've been there with a large group in the back corner on couches and comfortable chairs and everyone kept commenting on it. The music is present and powerful and somehow never swallows the laughter and conversation happening around you. They clearly built this bar around the music. The food is a genuine surprise for a craft cocktail lounge. Think small plates/tapas in terms of dining style: you come for the drinks and next thing you know you've ordered half the menu, made a dinner of it, and somehow backed into a beautiful evening of food, drink, and music. Must-orders: ahi poke nachos, deviled eggs, braised pork gnocchi. Don't overlook the shaved asparagus and white bean salad with sherry vinaigrette, Manchego, and crispy shallots. Simple and elegant and every bit as good as the more indulgent plates. Steak bites and shrimp are worth ordering too. Bring friends so you can order more and share. Owners Sean and Travis are present most nights, greeting you at the door and checking in at your table. That care shows in everything here, including a staff that knows how to read the room. A few things worth knowing: parking is easy, the location is simple to reach from Portland or Beaverton, and the bathrooms are spotless. Open late on weekends. Whether you're planning a romantic date night in Portland, a special occasion, a group night out, or just a solo evening at the bar with someone who really knows cocktails, this is your spot. Among the best craft cocktail and listening lounge experiences in the greater Portland metro area. You've gotta check it out.

My new favorite spot! I've been here twice now with a large group, and both experiences have been…read moreamazing. Each time, I spoke with the owner to make a reservation, and the process was incredibly easy and accommodating. The food, drinks, and service were excellent on both visits. For such a small place with a tiny kitchen, they absolutely crush it! The bar was packed each time, yet everything came out beautifully and the staff handled it all so well. The atmosphere is such a vibe. there's always a great DJ, making it perfect for either a date night or a girls night out. The menu is made up of smaller plates, which makes it so much fun to order a variety of dishes and share with the table. The menu was a little different each time I visited, and honestly, there wasn't a single thing I didn't enjoy. The drinks are SO good, and everything is beautifully plated. The service deserves a special shoutout as well! We had the same server both times (woman with pixie), and she was an absolute doll. I will be back soon!

Flora is one of my favorite speakeasy-style bars in the Beaverton area. It's located above Loyal…read moreLegion, and part of the fun is the experience of getting in. You need a reservation, and when you arrive, you're taken through a hidden door and upstairs into a much darker, intimate cocktail-bar setting. Depending on your reservation, you can sit at the bar or at a table. I've been a few times now, and I really like the atmosphere. It feels completely different from Loyal Legion downstairs and has that secluded speakeasy vibe I'm looking for. They also have a great cocktail selection. On my most recent visit, I tried the Rude Boy, which was a newer drink on the menu. It had great flavor and was really well presented with the garnish. I've tried other cocktails here on previous visits and have enjoyed those as well. Definitely a place I'll continue coming back to and would recommend to anyone who enjoys craft cocktails and speakeasy-style bars.

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.

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.

Special night out with my parents and they wanted fancy old fashioned cocktails and a quiet place…read moreto sip them. We were so lucky to find Teardrop Cocktail Lounge. The front patio was a nice place to enjoy golden hour and our service was exceptional. My dad got a brandy alexander, mom got a piña colada on the rocks and later a pink lady, and I got something like a Negroni (they make Negronis but I asked the server to choose something interesting and the result was absolutely splendid). Cheers to the professionals who helped make our visit even more special.

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 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

Great food. Their BLTs are the best. Great service as well. Its a great space to chill out and talk…read moreto friends

First of all i will state the ambence, service and enviroment were a 10/10…read more my waiter was amazing, attentive, warm and inviting as the place was with a resemblance to mandami, new york mayor which i found to be a postive thing, didnt catch his name tho. the wings were the negtive part of the experance, overcooked, ok as a whole tho. The stout brownie is something ill always dream about and was phenomonal as always. overall experance id give a 7/10, please for the love of the world tell your cooks to use timers for things like wings so they arnt as tough as a bone. p.s please also reopen patio area and retroduce solo dining tables so i dont feel like im preventing a 4 top from coming in.

This experience was absolutely amazing! My group had booked for the Frozen Forest storyline when…read morewe arrived, and I've got to say, you would be so surprised with how much engagement is involved. The service was very nice, allowing for free hints or questions you can ask them on a iPad, so even if you're stuck, you still have chance to get clues. The puzzles, while challenging, are very creative for anyone to enjoy and can be a memorable. The ambience in the room can feel immersive and have the whole group be cautious. Either way, if you pick (or don't pick) the Frozen Forest room, each one will bring a complicated, amazing time for your team!

Sam was super helpful and made the experience 10x better!! The area was safe and clean.read more

Happy hour: 4 to 6 PM daily. This was my first! I absolutely loved the old films and tv in the…read moreback. It was very cozy. I ordered a spicy margarita. However; there wasn't a lime or tahin or salt rim which left me disappointed. I would consider going back for the vibes. I actually really liked the chili string lights on the ceiling.

really great neighborhood bar-- vibe of a cozy dive bar without being... a dive bar. great happy…read morehour with $8 massive glasses of wine, shared the jojo's with homemade ranch, so yummy! would definitely go here again. watched when harry met sally in the back room for a perfect date night! bartenders were kind & has great service would say, it is dark inside SO if you're bringing your older parents or friends be ready for them to use their flashlight