Wasn't sure what to expect when coming here, but it is actually a really chill spot…read more It's been in business since 1902 and has a lot of cool stuff inside. Even an older style photo booth. They have a great selection of beer and cocktails. The bartenders are cool. We came back another time during the week and were welcomed back. The food menu could use a little work as it is pretty basic--but has enough choices of your average bar food. We would definitely return!

This was my first time performing here, and it was a blast! The sound quality in the venue was…read moregreat and made for an awesome experience. The service was a bit hit or miss. I stood there waiting for a while and were looked at a few times, but no one acknowledged me before walking away. Food service was also on the slower side. I ordered the veggie burger, but unfortunately the patty was pretty dry, and the fries were hard, so I probably wouldn't order the food again. That said, one of the staff members who helped me was incredibly friendly and provided excellent service. The security guards were also super kind and welcoming, which definitely made the overall experience more enjoyable. I'd come back for the live music and atmosphere, but I'd skip the food next time.

Interesting place which feels like it straddles a line between a club and a restaurant. High Horse…read morewas our third or fourth stop in search of a late nite and saved us. There is a dining area just off the bar with some table seating; larger 4- and 6-top tables are closer to the right side of the bar as you enter. To the left, 2-tops transition to more open lounge seating. We shared delightful dishes from the late-night menu: the Brussels sprouts, the chicken tenders and the smash burger. I recommend all of them if those kinds of snacks are to your taste. I enjoyed a couple of good, ice - cold martinis. My beloved told our server that she couldn't find anything that quite called out to her from the sophisticated mocktails menu and asked if something sweet and cherry-flavored could be made for her. The bar delivered with an impressively balanced drink garnished with a cured cherry. "Because," as our server told us, "everyone deserves a swizzle stick." The food, drinks and service all were wonderful. For a restaurant, the thumping house music was a little oppressive. That was the club aspect of this place's identity. Still a great place to get a late night in downtown Portland.

I had lunch at the High Horse restaurant on the second floor on a Friday. This is a review of the…read morerestaurant and lunch only. They have some improvements to make which are attainable. On entering for lunch, the customer journey is unknown. We should not be an explorer without a map! In front of the stairs is a stand one would logically consult on seating. You would usually have a sign, which today should span languages, on seating. "Seat yourself" or see front-ofhouse person. But no, the stand in front of the stairs is not the front-ofhouse person. They are dedicated to providing utensils and napkins. How does a new arrival even know where the front-of-house person is? Restaurant 101. The front-of-house is behind the bar and not very attentive to new arrivers. New arrivers are your customers! That person is also the final bill person. By observation they seemed idle much of the time. Next, the upholstery of my seat was stained. Either clean it to invisibility or replace it. Any restaurant should check the condition of tables and chairs daily. At this level of restaurant, it is basic. We are not a dive. I was there for their loss leader crab sandwich special but ordered more, so I was not a loss leader customer. Bring a real napkin because a dish with small pieces will have small pieces fall out. The server from the kitchen brought small paper cocktail napkins. Instead I had to get a napkin and fork from the utensils and napkins cart myself. I guess, oddly, becoming familiar with where napkins were, thinking they were front-of-house, was useful in disguise! No refilling water. The dishes seem to be served by kitchen staffers. There was no checking on customer experience mid-meal or on billing. "Is/was everything OK?" Wow! I would have told them what I am writing. The menu was pretty standard today in items and price. I would say my sandwich was unnecessarily salted. I'm in favor of flavored by ingredients. I would say this is a fine hotel bar among many choices downtown. It is on the second floor, aside from the stains, pleasant, and there are public spaces in this hotel for meetups and meetings. But it needs a review of customer experience design, who does what, and the customer journey, stat. If Marriott is doing this nationally, they are failing. Good design is not expensive, it can operate at any price point. Maybe robots will improve things? None of the staffers should be blamed, it is design and management which are lacking.

Really enjoyed stopping in for a drink. The butter beer is…read moredelicious and they have great alcoholic beverages as well. Love the Harry Potter Theme

I love Harry Potter so had to check this out! Very cool…read morespot for a quick cold and sugary drink. Definitely had a buttery , super sweet taste. Not much else to order, I saw a few drinks ; no food on the menu-the butter beer is the focus. We found a table at the top of bus , enjoyed the cool breeze and view of the neighborhood. The bartender was nice he suggested a few photo ops in the bus before we headed out. Glad to have stopped by but wouldn't stop by again. Tip- try to check out this spot during the day, not the best area. A few food trucks in the area if you want a quick bite.

Jockey Club was one of the first places I came once I got to Portland (flew in 8pm Saturday night &…read morewas at karaoke by 10pm). It's my friend's fav spot near her apartment & had a fantastic vibe Sat. night. Unfortunately, we tried to go for karaoke round 2 on my last night before I fly out, and my Real ID was denied by the female bouncer. -10/10 for denying my last Portland karaoke experience :( Also, as a bartender in a California college town, who has to check every ID at my bar, I understand out of state IDs causing hesitation... but I literally flew here with that & sang here three days ago!? Real IDs are a mandate now- maybe keep security staff updated on what they look like:..

Cheap drinks, nice workers including security, karaoke and gambling! Great little dive barread more

Oh wow! Stopped in Portland during our 2 week roadtrip through the PNW for dinner with my sister in…read morelaw - we decided in Bullas as it was close to our hotel and had an interesting menu. Wow we were in for a surprise! The waiter was very friendly and efficient, and kept the service moving. We never waited too long for anything either, whether it be cocktails, water fills, the bill. The food was delicious! Unusual combinations and flavorful, I wish I could remember what each dish was - I do remember we loved each one and wish this restaurant was in SF so we could come back regularly. Very happy with this restaurant and their entire staff!

In Portland for a few days, I was looking for a breakfast spot that was comfortable and not too…read morecrowded. Enter Bullard's Tavern on the corner of SW Alder and SW 9th. It's a relaxing space - well-designed, with spacious half-moon booths in a room with floor-to-ceiling windows and soothing folksy blues on the sound system. I had the Bullard Breakfast and went the virtuous route with the avocado option. Beautifully presented, served with a trio of condiments: butter, jam, and ketchup. The potatoes were delicious. One star off for the cold, rock-hard toast. One surprise on the way out: a "Kitchen Appreciation Fee" of 3% appeared on the itemized receipt, but not on the menu, the website, or any visible signage. Service was attentive throughout.

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.

We stopped into Momo after seeing a movie and realizing how late it was and that nothing else was…read moreopen for food. I'm glad we did. It's kind of a funky place. They have indoor and outdoor seating, a small food menu, and full bar. We shared a small nacho, which was still very large. The drinks were well made and the staff was prompt and friendly. I would definitely stop in there again if I'm in the area.

3.5 STARS Date:…read moreSunday, March 2nd, 2025 Time: around 11:30pm Party of: 4 By the time we got here, I was completely done drinking. The boys got me a jameson, but the hubby saw I didn't want to touch it, so one of my friends ended up drinking. From what I recall, it was a generous pour. The bar is, I'd say, divey. Feels a little gritty and dirty. From what I recall, the bar was a pretty good size. Granted it was a Sunday night, but we had no issue finding a table. In fact, there were open tables everywhere. The had a photo booth so one of my friends and I decided to take some pix. They print two which is nice. Cuz who takes photobooth pix by themselves? The filters are funny, We ended up picking a cute cat one. Convenient if staying downtown and open late on a Sunday. REVIEW #3735

I've always loved Badlands--great vibes, fun video bars, and usually a solid variety of music. The…read more$20 covers on some nights are a bit surprising, but I get it--welcome to today's economy. That said, no amount of cover charge seems to fix a recurring issue at many fun gay bars: the takeover by straight women. Both times I tried to get a drink, groups of women blatantly cut the line. Maybe the first time was an honest oversight--they might not have noticed me in my wheelchair (even though they were short and definitely should have). But twice? That feels like more than an accident. Most folks were awesome, though. Many moved aside or made space once they saw me, and the staff has been nothing but kind and attentive. Unfortunately, a few disrespectful patrons really soured the night--and as a disabled person, it makes me question how often I want to put myself in these spaces that should feel safe but too often don't.

So, while Badlands is listed as an LGTBQ+ bar, the majority of the crowd (at least on weekends) is…read morestraight with bachelorette parties. Yeah. No. And even on those nights that the bar isn't very straight, the G's of the LGBTQ+ aren't in sight. Gay men go elsewhere. DJs are good. Drinks are too expensive. Food is very mid. I was excited when it first opened and it is a cool space. And the dance floor is great. But the crowd just isn't.