I've only been here once, visiting from Seattle, but I really enjoyed my experience at Kells Irish Pub. The vibe was fun and welcoming, and it felt like a great place to hang out with friends. The spicy margaritas were definitely a highlight--$12 and really good, though they may have been a daily special. Either way, they were worth it. Overall, it was a great stop during our time in Portland and a fun place to relax with my besties. read more

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub - Irish Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I always want to like it more than I do. I always want to come in, look at the lovely downtown pub (I don't bother with 21st Street), and say "you know what, it's about on par with anything I've seen in Boston, Hoboken, New York, Philly, Baltimore, or Chicago." I want to say it's on par with the better Northwest offerings like the Irish Heather in Vancouver, The Irish Times in Victoria, or Murphy's in Seattle. But I can't. Because every time I'm here I'm just reminded of all the things it isn't. The menu looks somewhat right on paper, but it's little things like the spice and bake on the sausage rolls, the fact that they won't give you curry and chips without ordering the whole chicken entree ordeal, the somewhat dry and mealy burger. Then there are the drinks: There's a Guinness on, but the Magners is in the bottle. And then there's the whole brewpub element that was introduced a few years ago that baffles me. There are so many breweries in town, and so many quality Irish breweries, that I have no idea why you'd brew a middling beer lineup of your own AND make an Irish stout and red, of all things. But the most disappointing part of The Kells is that it's all the worst parts of the pubs in cities I just mentioned without containing any of their finer points. Stripped of history, taplist, menu, and other comforts, it's just a place where suburbanites come into the city, get loud for a few hours, pay their few quid, and leave without doing much else in the area. Compared to the Leaky Roof, T.C. O'Leary's or the city's English pubs like the Rose and Thistle or Moon and Sixpence, The Kells seems detatched and at arm's length from anything. that might resemble a community. I've heard they've done (double-decker English) buses to Timbers and Thorns matches, and I hear they're basically propping up the city's St. Patrick's Day festivities, but there's something artificial to it. It's a shame. I know the founders came from Belfast and I know the family is still very much involved, but although the staff is always pleasant when I come in, there's very little about the place that makes me want to return. It doesn't repel me, but a pub should draw me in more than this one does. read more

I don't generally give 5-star reviews, but Kells is a Portland treasure. I've never had a bad meal there. From fish and chips to sausage rolls to Irish stew, it's a rustic Irish Pub that does itself proud every day. Speaking of the fish and chips: They are to die for. The batter is crisp, and the fish is light and tender. The tartar sauce is not cloyingly sweet, and compliments the fish nicely. The fries are delicious as well, and they stay crisp through the meal. in the past, I have had the Reuben, the Sausage roll, and the Irish Stew among others. I recommend them all. Stop by, you will enjoy the rustic atmosphere and the excellent service. Be sure to ask them why there are dollar on the ceiling. read more

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I went to this place at St. Patrick's Day to have corn beef and cabbage and shepherds pie and listened to some great music. It was quite an adventure. The service was great and the music was great and we all had a wonderful time. We stayed there till they close, which is pretty unusual for a bunch of us old ladies we really appreciated all the hospitality and getting to know lots of new people that night. We have been there since for a few drinks and it is a nice cozy place to sit outside. read more

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub - Me and Barkley at the Beach Sr Patrick's weekend - Irish Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Came in on a Friday afternoon. Pretty empty customer wise. Staff were attentive. We sat at the bar and started a conversation with the owner. We said we like bourbon, but she let us sip some Irish whiskeys that were amazing. Redbreast is where it's at my friends. So smooth, flavorful, without the burn. Corned beef soup was to die for. I would bathe in it. Mac n cheese was creamy but with a bite from the cheddar cheese. So delightful. Stop in if you have the chance. Great atmosphere and they have music most nights. Also an extensive whiskey selection. Check it out! read more

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub - Corned beef stew - Irish Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Good service. Spacious. Dinner food option available. It's in downtown so it's down street parking or parking lots. Live music on Saturdays. read more

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub - Irish Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Wow! I only paid $16 for these at Happy Hour! That's a damn good deal. Irish Stout and Pretzel with Cheese Sauce and Mustard. Amazing and simple as one. Very spacious atmosphere and bar. Brighter ceiling lights than the one in Seattle. Bartender was direct and professional. Thank goodness! I would ate here again! read more

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub - Irish Stout - Irish Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Good music, ambiance and food. Drinks were mixed up a couple of times, but might have been due to the soda tap. Food and snacks are tasty! read more

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub - Sausage roll appetizer - Irish Near Me - Portland, Oregon

My boyfriend and I went for happy hour and enjoyed the pretzel and smash burger. We also ordered the classic sausage roll, that lives up to the hype. For my first time in, it was a wonderful experience :) read more

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub - Irish Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We came in on Valentine's Day to get a quick snack and some cocktails before our dinner reservations and we were thoroughly impressed! The owner was making sure all the guests were happy and even though it was busy the staff was very polite and friendly. The sausage roll was seriously delicious! read more

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub - Ballycastle Sausage Roll - Irish Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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great service and I love the live band, highly recommend! also fries are great! beautifully decorated for the holiday season! a little slow around the holidays but live band makes up for it. read more

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Amazing and so welcoming always!! Live band plus cigar bar downstairs plus heavy handed beverages.....Say less!! Highly recommended!!! Staff are amazing!!! read more

The last couple of times I've been to Kells have been for large group events accommodated in a private space. Kells has always been fun and I'm surprised how well the private spaces always work out. The catered food was good and I was excited that there were a couple of near-beer options. Service was excellent. I'd like to come back again for some music sometime and enjoy the main bar area. read more

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub - They have NA beers including Guinness and Heineken as well as soft drinks. - Irish Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Shawna was a great rep for this place....very friendly, great bartender! We will be back because of Shawna abd Malice!

Came in to this establishment with high hopes and got let down. When first entering my friend and I were greeted right away by a very friendly gentleman. We were told we can sit wherever we like, so we did. After that we were given our menus by a second person who seemed very uninterested in her job which was unpleasant. My friend and I are bar hopping downtown so I only ordered a cocktail and my friend just had her water. The bartender seemed offput by only having one drink and no food ordered which set the tone for the rest of our visit. There was barely anyone in the restaurant and we were only checked on three times in a span of over an hour. There was supposed to be live music but the overall setting of the bar just wasn't what we were expecting. read more

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Old school Irish pub. We came in for a Guinness and we were greeted by dashing ladies eager to give us one. The inside of this spot was that of an old Irish tavern and looked to be super old. Instead of a Guinness, we had a Kells Stout and it was incredible! They brew all of their beers and I want to try them all! Normally, we would get a Reuben or Shepards pie, but I am a sucker for BBQ pulled pork. Smacked! With the slaw on top, you can't go wrong. read more

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My husband and I always stop here whenever we visit Portland. The service is good, the environment is casual and the food is tasty. We typically get seated right away. The server or bartender is very quick to order your food and drinks. My husband always gets a Guinness while I opt for a cider. For food, we like their soda bread, soups and sandwiches. They're consistent and you always know what to expect. read more

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub - Irish Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Wow the staff here is amazing! So wonderful and friendly fast vibes even when busy and helpful. Love it thank you from a momma and her young boys. Good food too and lots of happy customers it seems! read more

Love Kells in Pdx. Good vibe. Irish menu is decent and overall good quality. Bit pricey.

My fiancé and I went downtown this past Saturday (3/14/26) for a little bit of Irish fun!! Needless to say Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub DID disappoint.... Waited 90 minutes for our food while 2-3 other tables got food and they cashed out. When we FINALLY got our food, initially the order was wrong but out came what we ordered very quickly. All the compensation/explanation we got was from the server saying to us, "something weird happened to the ticket, but the kitchen got yelled at for it!" So not professional! They didn't ever offer to make it right... just told us the employees got yelled at! I even went as far to tell the table next to us what happened and not to order, just as an employee walked up to apologize... honestly it was too late for that. No one checked in with my fiancé, in 90 minutes, if he wanted another beverage either! 90 MINUTES! Needless to say he got one in 90 minutes, meanwhile, the servers were focused on bigger tables and the ones that looked intoxicated that probably should have been cut off!They were too occupied with being friendly with the rowdy groups of young men that should have been cut off.  We then walked to the waterfront to where the festival was happening.... It was not happening (fun/electric/exciting)! 1/4th or less of the tent had people, porta-potty was DISGUSTING (did I say disgusting?!) and they must not believe in non-alcoholic beverages for people who don't drink/designated drivers! Huge menu and drinks ALL had alcohol. No menu for non-alcoholic beverages which is odd this day in age.  Also odd, it was 10:30pm when we walked in, the festival didn't end until 11:45pm... Cardboard sign read "bar closed."  1 hr 15 minutes before the end of the festival?! I could see 30-45 minutes but 1 hr 15 minutes?! Last call-in bars aren't even that far in advance... So, yet again, my fiancé went without a beverage, as did I.... We spent long enough in the tent to use a gross porta-potty and look for non-alcoholic beverages... that's literally all that was in the tent: a stage, snack bar and a huge bar.. really?! For $30/person! What a racket!! Needless to say, we paid $30/person to barely hear the music, not get checked on for 60 minutes, have our food ticket have something "weird happen" to it, and not have it made right.  Kellys Olympian was FANTASTIC and so professional and kind!! Kelly's Olympian nice work on the mocktail list! Chefs kiss! We will be back! Kudos to the 3 bartenders working Saturday night (3/14/26)! They deserve raises! Needless to say, we won't be back to Kells for their St. Patty's day event as it's not worth the cost to have service like that, be treated like we/our money doesn't matter and nothing special about the festivities... We totally understand stuff happens but come on, make it right! We barely got to do anything else but sit in a restaurant for $30 each plus dinner!! (refund? something?) All that said, the food was super good, but it was overshadowed by the experience! Like I said; we won't go to the St. Patty's day festival again and will frequent the Stillhouse's St. Patty's festival  and just for dinner in Oregon city! It was/is def better! I NEVER leave reviews, a total of 2 (including this one) reviews written in my lifetime! I just feel these businesses need feedback, good and bad! I mean... we got some fun photos of my fiancé!!! Lol! But that was it! What a bust, Kells. Kelly's Olympian saved the evening!!! Take notes, Kells! read more

We took our (reserved) annual Christmas dinner party of 10 people on Saturday night. Service was decent. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres fine. However, when main meals arrived, we were underwhelmed. Especially the Fish & Chips platter. Thrown on a plate, sad fries, mayo instead of real Tartar sauce with tacky paper mini cup of ketchup on side. No Cole slaw, or side offerings. No effort, no taste. After. any years of making Kells our holiday destination ... won't be back! Sad read more

1st time here. What a find! Food, service and environment were excellent. Waitress was attentive and had a great personality. Live Celtic music was a nice touch. Was super impressed with the hearty lamb stew with generous amounts of stew, potatoes and carrots. Was a little salty for me, but our friend loved it. Could have eaten here more times on our weekend visit. read more

Great food I had the sausage roll in my wife had the Ruben both meals where delicious The bartender waiter was excellent Had money on ceiling you donate and they match it. Can't go wrong and once a year they take the $ and give it to the kids Beer made there was good, free samples Ambiance was a typical Irish pub very comfortable read more

This place has been my fav for 30 years. The owners are awesome people. Highly recommend even if you are not Irish! read more

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We started our evening at Kells because it was an easy walk to our concert destination. The drinks were great! Huge selection of whiskeys, beer and everything in between. The atmosphere is really fun and authentic pub. The food! One of our party had the reuben and said it was easily one of the best he'd ever had - that's saying a lot as that sandwich is his go to test for whether or not an establishment is worth returning to. Kells passed the test. Another of our party had the corned beef and cabbage dinner and she ate the entire plate, her husband said something along the lines of i haven't seen you clean your plate like that, ever! My husband had the Chicken curry and i couldn't resist using it as an insanely tasty dip for my chips, the ones that came with my fish. The fish and chips were HUGE, and the fish was really nice, sweet and flaky. I highly recommend this place. The staff was really friendly, attentive, and helpful, and the clientele was friendly too. We'll be back! read more

A most celebrated space and local Portland business for decades, Kells Irish Pub is loved among many. The St Patrick's Day festivities are extra fun with tons of activities, music, food and beer, very good beers. My first time at Kells to celebrate St Pattys and it was a hoot. The staff were friendly and check in for the event was easy. $30 per person with a free t-shirt. We were early enough and grabbed a high table at the tent area. Music was already playing and the first round of beers was enjoyed. The smooth frothy finish of a Kells stout was incredible. The food station was still preparing so we enjoyed more music, dance performances and yes a little interlude with sweet Caroline (bum bum bum) yeah the throwback song from college days at last call, haven't heard that song in ages. It warmed the heart truly. Everyone was in good spirits there's a little gift area too with light up hats, necklaces and other merchandise. Finally the food station was open and I wanted to order everything. The pretzel with beer cheese, wow the butter coating and just the right amount of salt. Soft chewy pretzel to dunk in cheesy beer sauce what's not to like? The sausage roll was actually ground pork with gravy and spices wrapped up in a buttery flakey dough. Delish! The Shepards pie was the winner. Layers of tubed whipped potatoes with butter and garlic, the fork plunged below the potato mountain into ground beef and sauce. I could eat that everyday. After a few more rounds or Kells stout beer and some Irish mule I was feeling pretty good. The music was playing and the crowds were growing. It's a magical experience for me. I may be stuck in 2020. People laughing and having a good time. That's worth celebrating. Kells really had a welcoming atmosphere. No pretentious BS or exclusive vibes. When you're a POC maybe you tend to look around and catch someone staring or hearing negative comments. But none of that nonsense here just a fun St Pattys Day celebration, Welcome to all! Kells IG highlights a farm to table commitment. Fresh ingredients and produce. Hope to make my way back to enjoy some dinner inside the restaurant at Kells and sip another glass of frothy stout. Thanks for a memorable celebration read more

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Lively bar area, Way more mellow dining room. Food was good, didn't like the french fries though. read more

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub - Dranks - Irish Near Me - Portland, Oregon

First time here, beautiful restaurant, had that Irish pub feel to it, good place to watch the game, fireplace and all! Service around lunchtime seemed a bit strained/ slow, drinks took forever, the server didn't check back after food was dropped until we were finished. We enjoyed our food (corned beef & shepherds pie), both were delicious! read more

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub - Corned Beef & Cabbage - Irish Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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There's something about pubs in another city and Kells is one. I've been here during somber times, at night to listen to music, and now in the quiet of the afternoon. The Shepherd's Pie was a smaller serving than most but it was actually, just right. It had more potatoes than meat and vegetables but I'm not complaining about that either. The mashed potatoes on top had a nice crust. The aroma beat out the flavor but I would order it again in a heartbeat. I had a red ale to begin with and an Irish stout, for 'dessert'. Both were average but they were good. read more

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub - Shepherd's Pie - Irish Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Kells has become somewhat of my new neighborhood go-to spot since I've moved to the NW area. After attending a Yelp event here a couple of years ago, I was charmed by the festive decor and homey Irish pub vibes, and even did a mini photoshoot here with some friends! Currently, it's a favorite stop for a pint and a shot of Irish whiskey - perhaps with a sausage roll on the side! The space is very cozy, with dark woods and memorabilia on the walls, and even a fireplace - the perfect spot to hole up in on those grey Portland evenings. There's also a little side patio for the rare sunny day, should that feel like the move. The service has always been friendly and welcoming, especially as I've been coming by more frequently and getting to know the lovely staff that keeps the beer flowing. Speaking of beer, they have a decent selection of their own brews, and I particularly appreciate that a good number of them are low-alcohol, making them perfectly sessionable. The food is solid as well, Irish comfort foods like sausage rolls, fish and chips, and some hearty things between bread. I'm quite partial to the sausage roll and the boneless 'wings' myself - tasty and comforting! Kells also has live music, although I prefer to come on quieter days as it does get rather crowded and lively. For a chill night sipping on an Irish whiskey and enjoying some stick-to-your-ribs goodness, Kells can't be beat. read more

Service was outstanding, but the live music wasn't good on 8/9/25. John Denver songs. Total bummer.

The Shepherd's Pie is a must have, but we enjoyed the pretzels too. Now we want to see if we can get a dollar to stick to the ceiling! read more

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub - Couldn't stop to take a proper picture before we devoured this! - Irish Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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The BLT was very tasty and the service is top notch. Love the smoking area downstairs. Has some good things in the gift shop. read more

A fun place to gather for a drink! The staff was accommodating and attentive. Didn't get any food, just drinks but the drinks came out promptly and tasted delicious! I hear it's the place to be for St Patrick's Day! read more

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The food here is insanely good. Especially when it gets cold out and the Kell's Irish Stout is SO good. The service is incredible and everyone there has always been so friendly and on top of things. We usually go for Irish session night on Thursdays and the vibe is fantastic! Fun music, great food, and great beer! What more could you ask for? read more

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub - Kells Shepherd's Pie Corned Beef & Cabbage - Irish Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Had an absolutely RACIST experience on st Patrick's day - my first one in America in five years of living here. Went with five people (all brown) and we were denied service by the bartender lady. Here's how it played out. It was st Patrick's day, there was a line outside and a $20 cover to enter. We paid and entered. It was pretty packed and two of us went to the bar to order. We stood there about 30 mins in total, right next to the bar counter and in clear eyeshot of the bartender. She served at least ten other people who came after us (all white). We called out to her a bunch of times over 30 mins and she would not make eye contact. At one point, there were no other customers ordering and she had no excuses left. So she picked up random orders coming from tables and started making those. I'm not saying this is representative of the whole bar but we had a racist experience beyond reasonable doubt and you're responsible for it. We walked out and when we told the person at the door, we got non answers and when we asked for our money back, they mumbled and said nothing. If you're not white, I'd stay the hell away from here. read more

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub - Proof that we were there when we had a racist experience - Irish Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Popular spot for St. Patty's Day, where they host a Festival and have live music. Beers are not cheap though fair warning

Last night in the city with friends and enjoyed the beer food and service at this unique and historic pub. Drinks and food were great! Stayed until closing because the environment was so warm welcoming with friendly service. Our waitress took the time to share history of the city and ghost stories as well as invite us into the basement cigar lounge you have to go it's so creepy. The owner also lingered at our table telling us stories about the survival of this pub. Had so much fun didn't take many photos but if ever back in Portland we shall return definitely. read more

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Came to Kell's for a small dinner hangout before embarking on a "Haunted Pub Crawl". Service and ambience were great. Good music volume and comfortable atmosphere. We enjoyed the Reuben sandwich, Irish Nachos, Boneless wings, and the Sausage Roll especially. It was so good we ordered another! Finished it off with a few beers as well. We'll definitely return for future friend get-togethers. P.S. Head downstairs and check out the Elusive Cigar bar. You just may find a few characters here and there.... read more

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Originally (many years ago), I did not know there was more than one Kell's. Over time, I have stumbled into several, including the one near NE 23rd, and the one in Post Alley in Seattle. I'd be hard pressed to tell you which is my favorite, but I can say with authority that I have frequented this location on 2nd Ave more that the rest; this is mostly due to proximity than anything else, but I do love this location. Things are only now starting to return to pre-COVID levels of normalcy, but in the Before Times, live music (frequently, but not always Irish or Irish-adjacent) was a frequent, if not daily, occurrence. The food here is phenomenal: the kind of comfort food you'd hope for and expect from an Irish pub: corned beef & cabbage, shepherd's pie and the like. And the beer cheese soup? Heavenly. You know how people say some things are not "worth writing home about"? Well, that soup is. Find yourself an Irish relative or pen-pal, simply for bragging about how good the soup is. You want drinks? Sure, they have a full bar...but they also have an entire whiskey library and cigar shop, so if you're not holding a Guinness in one hand, there's better be one of the other two in it. Irish whiskey, scotch, bourbon...it's all here. Kell's St. Patrick's Day parties are the stuff of legends. In fact, they end up blocking off several blocks with tents, firepits and noisy, drunken revelers. And despite being overwhelmed to near bursting, they still manage to crank out food and beverage orders at unheard of speeds. The management here know what they're doing: how to plan ahead, how to hire competent staff, and how to make a mean cocktail or a fantastic meal. Easily one of the best pubs in Portland, hands down. Haters can kiss my Blarney Stone. read more

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