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    McMenamins Back Stage Bar

    3.9 (135 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

    McMenamins Back Stage Bar Photos

    MCMENAMINS BACK STAGE BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
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    Recommended Reviews - McMenamins Back Stage Bar

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    Feast for the eues6!
    Beth M.

    This place is definitely a vibe. A great place to drink a pint or two and play pool or shuffle board. I really like the idea of counter service at a McMenamins. It takes the typically bad service out of the picture. I was bummed that they were out of the seasonal fries with Brie, but you can't go wrong with Cajun tots!

    Jason V.

    Came for the passport stamps, stayed for the beer-battered cheese curds! Noice! My wife and I have been to a lot of McMenamins locations: we're fans of what they're about. What some would call gentrification, I would call resurrection - glory from the ashes. I know the Bagdad has been under the McMenamins umbrella for thirty-ish years, but it's not only a landmark, it's one of their best examples of their commitment to excellence and authenticity. The food and drinks are always solid here. Most McMenamins locations share a menu, or at least the heavy-hitters, so you know most of the major beats. While I'm not a beer drinker, their cocktails are usually great and priced reasonably. I enjoyed my (first ever!) negroni here, and my wife raved about the Pear Sidecar! And you're missing out if you've never ordered the Hammerhead BBQ Chicken Pizza! Sitting at a window table or on the sidewalk, enjoying a beverage while people watching (and hoo-boy, are there some characters here!), in one of my favorite neighborhoods (Hawthorne), in one of my favorite establishments, makes for a pretty great lazy Sunday! My only complaint this time around was that our waiter was a bit hard to find at times. I appeared he was saddled with serving too many tables at once, but he was friendly and personable, and I'm not faulting him for it.

    Jessica S.

    This is truly a unique experience and beyond gorgeous watering hole. I feel like most locals give Mcmenamins an eye roll but this place supersedes any and all speculation. The high ceilings, pool tables, and shuffle boards scattered throughout give you more than enough room to explore. The artwork is beautiful, the location is top notch, and the general aesthetic is so appealing, you are undoubtedly intended to have a good time! Hopefully, leaving in all smiles and possibly a few giggles.

    Selena N.

    I used to love a couple blocks away from here but haven't been back for years. I went here before another event elsewhere to get back to the Backstage Bar behind this place. It's awesome! They redesigned it since I'd last been there but has great charm. They added pool tables and shuffleboard tables. The server there was really nice and friendly and got it being close to 5pm, there were only a few people on it. I had the best Aztec salad there and Moscow Mule! Compared to other locations this was the best! I'm really glad that i stopped back in here again.

    Pool table middle floor upstairs.
    Summerlynn B.

    Had a great experience here the other night with coworkers. We went to the backstage part. It's down the side street along the building. You walk in on Sundays and go up to the counter and put your name down for a pool table. Pool tables are free on Sundays. They close at 11pm. Drinks are perfect. The white Rabbit wine is on point. Highly recommend. If you have big groups that want to play pool, highly recommend reserving the room upstairs on the left hand side as it's 100$ to reserve, otherwise when you get there go upstairs and go to the middle room that is free no reservations required, but definitely first come first served.

    Edgefield Strawberry Basil Cider
    Joanne P.

    What a way to spend our first night here in Portland! Bookmarked this beautiful location because I like to play pool... I suck at it... but, I just wanna hear music, mingle w/ locals, eat, & drink. The reason why I wanted to come here is because of the beautiful photos I've seen on Yelp. And seeing my husband's reaction when we sat at the bar- was worth it! Adam, our initial bartender, chatted up with us. I knew a bit of the McMenamins history- being brothers & the story behind the actual liquor bar display being dismantled from it's original location in downtown- to being brought here. Adam continues on about how McMenamins basically being self sufficient in the liquor/ wine industry. The only liquors they do not make themselves is tequila & vodka. Although the beer list had the Edgefield Blackberry Cider printed on the menu- I was eager to try this! But, Strawberry Basil was and my gosh!! I helped myself to 3 pints... believe me- I was buzzing when the second pint came. But, good things are always a charm a third time around. I ordered the Brewmaster Steak bites (medium well), fries, & cheese ale fondue. $17.50-- Man!! The steak was flavorful, juicy, tender as f*ck. The fries were incredible- seriously couldn't stop raving about them- and I looove me some fries. That cheese ale fondue was thick & creamy- I dunked both steak bites & fries in it! Then, let me not forget the bottle of Portland Organic Ketchup!! *jaw drops* This has seriously gotta be the best f*cken ketchup ever. It's a bit tangy & the texture is a bit thick like tomato paste.... Oh, BTW-- Pool is free on Sunday!!

    Juan F.

    Beer? Check. Pool Table? Check. Shuffle Board? Check. Happy Hour? Check. Good place to hangout and kick it. Drinks have great price at happy hour. You can get a $13 of some craft on tap beers. Establishment is clean but a bit dark. Good service.

    From here, you can see the top everyone's head...
    Humam T.

    I'm going to give this place a review even though we didn't stay there. As you can tell from the pictures, that place is pretty neat. They have pool tables on two floors, big screen TV, and some other game I think it's some kind of Shuffle game or something. This place is huge, but not in area (limited seating) but in volume. They don't have a lot of seating area, but the ceiling is very very tall. Like all other McMenamins bars, they have cool murals on the walls. Part of the charm of this place is the fact that it's narrow and fairly dark. It feels like you're going into the dungeon, as you descend the stairs down to the bar. Because you know, what happens in the dungeon stays in the dungeon... Maybe one of these days we will get lucky and snag a table.

    Adam G.

    As far as I'm concerned, Backstage is the best Mcmenamins experience in Portland. It's quaint, beautiful, fun, and the bartenders and waiters and waitresses are incredible. They have 2 shuffleboard tables and 2 pool tables. Serving all the food a normal McMenamins serve, which is very good. This place should be much more popular than it is!

    View from upstairs
    Alexander T.

    Cool environment, great drinks, great staff. Wait for pool tool forever tho since it was so busy.

    The happy hour burger is quite mini.
    Mark B.

    I am, once again, on a quest, a quest to see every McMenamins. Thats right every one from Bothell to Roseburg. Why? I am doing another passport. Another? Yes I have already been to all of them and there are a lot and most have lots of character and some they have tried to give character with varying success. This one is in the first category. Tucked behind the Bagdad theater this place is cool and has lots of McMenamins art and well done, What appear to be antiques. And really, really high ceilings (as a rule I don't talk about ceilings but these are I am guessing about 3 stories high and look higher.) Whenever I have been here the staff has been great and they have a good selection of games. Pinball and video is exiled to the entrance but the main bar has pool and shuffle board. The food is McMenamins standard with burgers, tater tots and such, that is to say it is good though nothing really special. Happy Hour is 3-6 and 10 to close has some good selections I had the happy hour burger which was good enough I wanted more (they weren't kidding about the mini...) So food 3 stars, space 5 stars, atmosphere 5 stars and staff 5 stars overall I rounded to 4 stars,

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    5 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Very friendly bartenders with a fantastic bourbon selection/prices. Highly recommend for the ambiance too

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    2 years ago

    Interesting cocktails and good service, but mediocre food. The ambiance was cozy on a cold autumn evening.

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    3 years ago

    Worst Margherita pizza I've hand in my life--strange red sauce, poor mozzarella, old basil.

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    5 years ago

    I love the vibes here. The very very tall ceiling, the pool tables, the drinks, the location, the artwork, the pinball.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - McMenamins Back Stage Bar

    Do they allow minors?

    Unfortunately not in the Backstage Bar, but we do in the pub and theater on the same property

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - McMenamins Back Stage Bar

    Backstage Bar at the Bagdad or as the kids call it, "the BBATB" gets you back stage with out any sweat at all.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Second time into this cute, neighborhood spot. Went on Friday (8/16). A few, very positive notes:…read more 1) The burger was really good, as was the meat hand pie. Food menu and cocktail menu are tight yet varied and really highlight that this is an elevated neighborhood bar. 2) Decor is super cute. Outside tables (on the side street) had a dive bar vibe at first but then you walk inside to see that it's actually a gorgeous space. And the patio out back is PHENOMENAL. Back patio is maybe best outdoor space in SE Portland. 3) Magnificent staff. Bartender was Caitlyn (I think? I'm so bad with names, sorry). I haven't had a friendlier, more bubbly bartender in all my life. Definitely not in this city. There was even a woman who was being super rude and condescending about getting IDed while I was there (her and her friends looked 19-22ish, didn't understand her gripe) and Caitlyn handled it with poise and grace. The guest/lady was genuinely awful. I can never understand how servers and bartenders take that sort of treatment. They deserve better! 4) Surprisingly impressive whiskey selection for a neighborhood bar. Not huge but certainly curated. I didn't get anything fancy but it's nice to know the options are there!! Overall: If I lived closer this would probably be my every week haunt. This is a good neighborhood bar where you can be comfortable and cozy and not spend a lot of money if you don't want, but if you want to throw the pinky up and get a bit bougie you have plenty of cocktail and spirit options with an aesthetic that is kind to the eyes. 10/10, would recommend, and will return!

    I love their back patio. The staff are average Portland, straight forward bartenders. Not overly…read morenice, not overly rude, just existing. For a bar, the food is actually pretty good. I recommend the poutine or the fries. Solid local option.

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    Reel M Inn

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    4.2
    (471 reviews)
    0.9 mi
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    You ever have one of those days when somebody comes up to you and plops a big ole tit of a chicken…read morein front of you and you just tear into the thing and realize you'll never eat anything else in your life? That is, until you turn your attention to the wedge of a jojo next to that beautiful wet-tshirt-contest winner. And by wedge, I mean you could park a god damned RV on the bank-iest bank of the Willamette, put one of these under a rear wheel, throw the RV in neutral, and open a trampoline park inside. If you canceled the lease on Playdate PDX and are reading this, don't steal my idea, you prick. Anyway, I digress. Potato jojo wedge. Back to it. I brought home some as leftovers three months ago and my eight year old is still tunneling through them like she's a mole dropped into some f-ed version of Candy Land. Look, I know the fine bartenders here promise chicken and jojos the same way cable promises service: it'll arrive somewhere between the hours of 6 and 10:00 PM. But sit your ass in the chair, get a PBR and wait. Because, much like the bygone era of cable, when the boob shows up uncensored, late at night, and wrapped seductively in paper and BBQ sauce (don't judge me! You tuned in too!), you weren't thinking of the guy with the extra long butt crack and ill fitting button up. Oh no, my friend, you were thinking about the sauce. BBQ, ranch, sweet chili, . . . or ketchup (you immature shit).

    This is another "Old Portland" establishment that still holds up. Even on a Sunday night, the…read moreplace was busy and also it was an MLK holiday. My friends were at the bar and I managed to get a seat next to them. I was smart to ask my friend to place a food order since they are known for hot fried food to take their time. I ordered a drink and caught up with my friends. There were complimentary treats which I gladly enjoyed. Once my food arrived, I enjoyed the jo jo's with buffalo dipping sauce as my go to. The fried chicken hits the spot and the staff is very friendly. It was great seeing 2 people working instead of just 1 person doing everything. My order was affordable too once I closed my tab. Old Portland for the win once again and will continue to support, cheers!

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    Interior

    McMenamins Back Stage Bar - poolhalls - Updated June 2026

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