I once love this placed. Loved it. I mean I was a regular for booze and eats. I live right across the street. Now, I don't. It's meh. Just another PDX bar, just with new staff and shitty service. One of the beer bettys has over charged me three times, and she talks to like I'm in idiot... but she never seams to talk like that to my white counterparts in front of me or after me, isn't that weird. Maybe she doesn't recognize it. Anyway. Worse is that, it no longer has that coolness, it's just filled with yuppies, and techies. Now I just take my business to 23rd for burgers and booze at Lil biggie. read more

This place, formerly known as Moonshine, is awesome. Sometimes the servers can be unnecessarily bitchy, but there are a few who are really pleasant and all of them in my experience make delicious cocktails (which is more important than attitude, really). The beer selection is interesting and while the cocktails can be a little expensive (though cheap for the neighborhood), the beer is reasonably priced. Furthermore, the cocktails are seriously delicious and usually decently strong. Happy hour isn't the greatest deal, but it's a good excuse to order one of their outrageously delicious burgers, which are something like $9 with fries during happy hour. Other happy hour food involves a $3 tostada which does the trick though is a bit unimaginative. The regular food menu involves various absurdly delicious cheese fries, "spicy balls" (way too expensive for the portion size but they are still damn good), and more. A $9 happy hour burger might seem expensive, but Paymaster Lounge has the best burger I've had in Portland, no joke. The meat is perfectly cooked and the patty is the appropriate size (not a giant mound of meat you have to choke through). The bun they use is absolutely delicious--I forget which bakery it comes from--it's soft and complements the burger perfectly. You can get a variety of cheeses, and also add bacon and sautéed jalapeños for an extra price. Do this. Seriously. A bacon-jalapeño cheeseburger from Paymaster Lounge is one of the most perfect foods, ever. I don't know how the cook prepares the jalapeños so well--it's like they're seared at a high heat for only a few minutes, because they retain their bright green color, are not bitter and remain spicy--but they add a lot of flavor to the burgers. The fries are freshly cut each day and are actually worth the price, unlike a lot of other bar fries. In other words, if you find yourself in that vapid hell-hole known as NW by the I-405 underpass, get yourself to Paymaster Lounge. read more

Great spot with a large heated patio. The bar itself has a great local tap selection. Good vibes. All that to say what I came here to say. EAT THE CHEESEBURGER. I don't know why it's so good but it's one of the best burgers in Portland. You'll get hooked. read more

Great please and atmosphere. Sadly, they tried to double bill me. My bank caught that and killed the dupe, but the one that went through padded my tip by $0.50. It's not a big enough deal to dispute the 2nd transaction but it does mean I won't be returning here. read more

Such high hopes when you come here. Really cool things to do. The staff BLOWS. It's funny when people work in the service industry and act like such douchebags. read more

Fun bar with good vibes. Only 4 stars because the line to get drinks moves pretty slow.

Have been coming here a while but aggressively, physically had my can wrestled from me at 2.29am by two bar staff. Stupidly over zealous with just four of us quietly drinking in the bar. Unfortunate experience. Never again. read more

I really wish I could just choose no stars. We have gone here a number of times each time with worse and worse service. Last night we went in to get a beer and go home. On second thought we also got the nachos. We sat down and then felt like we were tired and so I asked to cancel the nachos. The gal said no. No it's too late.......there we sat for 20 more min then it finally came. Also with no guacamole which we paid extra for. They just sliced up an avocado. Come to find out the owner was the gal behind the bar. Sad. read more

Used to be awesome. It's now the hipster, smoker hang out. They under poor drinks. Run through employees like hot cakes. The food has gone downhill. Great for the owners! It's not a dive don't be fooled. Bartenders are fairly amateur. Meh read more

Best burger in Portland. Not even shitting you. Signed up for yelp simply to say that...

If you were to have a bar that was near your apartment in NW Portland, you'd want it to be this one. The Paymaster Lounge has never played a bad song the entire time I've been going in there. It's pretty curated, no crazy moves. It's mostly in-tune garage and psych, with some new wave and punk, a lot of great obscure stuff I haven't heard before. That's exactly what I want out of bar music. There are no televisions at the bar. The food is great, and fast. You can get jack cheese on a hamburger. The decor is interesting and unobtrusive. The staff is fashionable dressed, good looking, friendly, and attentive. Pinball. The outdoor smoking area may be the best in the city. Clean modern bathrooms. Heat lamps. Sidewalk tables. 6 person booths, sit down arcade, outlets, and a downplayed, tasteful outer shell. It feels relaxing and casual in there, no pretension to anything, just a modern, honest, working class bar. Just quit screwing around and go there. The only thing I would change would be rotating the IPA or offering an alternative sometimes. It's a good IPA, but other IPAs are good too. And that TV room needs better lighting and some personality, like maybe some giant theater posters of old westerns, or a strobe light, or put one of those fortune dispensing machine-genies in there right next to the door, all spooky like 1988's Big, starring Tom Hanks. And I'd like to have coleslaw on my hamburger with cheese, and on the side as well, but that's asking a bit much, I know. Quit screwing around. Go to the Paymaster. read more

Nice place- low key and good service. They had a really good and decently priced Belgian beer on tap that was worth the trip!

How did a bar like this end up in NW? It must be lost! But I think that's a good thing. This place felt very east sidish to me. There were a lot of pinball games and from what I could tell a pretty cool patio. We only stopped in for a quick drink, but I was pretty excited about it. Can't wait to go back and hang there for awhile! read more

This place has the most amazing hidden patio in the back that I'm almost afraid to write about because it's such a hidden gem! Tucked away right outside the Pearl on 17th and Lovejoy, you also benefit from free 2-hour parking instead of paid parking. The bright blue building is a trip and the signage isn't great (nor is the name, let's be real), and when you walk inside it's super dark and divey and you must order at the bar. But then walk the confusing twist and turns into the magical patio to enjoy your drink! Who knows maybe a mysterious person will throw mini kit kat bars over the fence to you so it's literally RAINING kit kats like happened to us! You could be so lucky! read more

The first time I was here, I thought it was a so so divy bar. Nothing impressive but relaxed and some decent food and drinks. The second time however I was introduced to their brand new back patio area...which in so few works...IS AWESOME. Nice patio seating area, pool table, and chill atmosphere to hang out with some friends on nice days and nights. read more

Love this place! Sure, it has a 'manufactured nostalgia' feel to it, but that's alright because when they put together this place they picked the cool stuff from the decades they're throwing back to. Animated beer signs, funky old furniture, and games in the back, just feels right. Pretty yummy, if standard, assortment of bar fare served up alongside strong cocktails and a small but always interesting set of rotating beers on tap. Super cozy and and it's always fun guiding an out of town friend to meet you here :P read more

Burgers so good they're addictive. Fresh beef, mouthwatering Tillamook and sliced onions that make the burger to die for.

Awesome chilli, good happy hour (4-6 50c off draft beer). Food until really late 1:45 in the morning. Good place indeed.

Won't be returning here. Beer wasn't so great but then the service was flat out rude. Hipster bartender with the bleached mustache almost pushed it too far. I'll take me, my friends and my money elsewhere. read more

Neat place - a rarity for the neighborhood, which was quite nice. Drinks and service were both pretty good - worthy of more than 3 stars. My experience was dragged down because of smokers on the patio. The patio is pretty great, but it is loaded with a bunch of disgusting smokers. It's 2014 - who smokes anymore?! Anyway, the overhead fans did a semi-decent job of pushing the smoke around - while they were running. I don't know why they turned off, then turned on, then turned off again... At the end of the night, my clothes and hair smelled like cigarettes. Gross. Will not return. read more

best burger in portland. there, i said it. simpler than skyline, bigger - with a better bun than little big burger. + grilled jalapeños? game over paired with a side salad (amazing dressing) and an ice cold tecate tall boy, or a fresh squeezed greyhound = perfect meal. read more

Came to portland for a working vacation and looked on yelp for a highly rated bar to hang out at on a saturday night. Came in about 9 and it was just the right amount of busy. Not too crowded and was able to get drinks right away, but still a good amount of people there. Drinks were pretty cheap for the quality and the downtown location. Good cocktails for 6 bucks and they offer crappy american adjunct beer for dirt cheap. They also have about 10 rotating craft drafts. Bartenders were nice and fast and smiled which is great since some of the bars in portland make customers feel like they are a bother. BEST PART-the back patio is rad. Covered and enclosed patio with smoking permitted (fans all over blowin it out). Pool table. Trees surrounding it. Just a really relaxing place to sip a drink and hang out. This is my third time to portland and im upset I didnt know about this gem before. Will definitely be back read more

5 Stars when the place is a bit quieter, but when it's busy it's a bit crappy. Chill main bar area, pinball machines, surreal TV lounge area with no natural light, and a fantastic patio (if you don't mind cigarette smoke). Only issues are when it gets busy, the line for drinks snakes around the main lounge and is regularly ignored by people who just sneak in and order along the bar. Can take a while to get served at those times, otherwise - love this place! read more

What a bunch of pretentious bartenders. Super unfriendly and honestly would've kept walking except my friends wanted to drop in and say hi to some friends they spotted through the window. Overpriced food. Lame service. Oh yeah, and the drinks were watered down. read more

Moonshine is a great, mellow neighborhood bar. A friendly, chill vibe, big picture windows, interesting soundtrack that still allows for conversation, delicious-but-not-too-fancy cocktails, outdoor seating when the weather permits, and pinball. What's not to like? read more

Fantastic. If you're an out of towner, drinks are incredibly cheap, and atmosphere is laid back. Food options (although I had no room for a cheeseburger) looked solid, and the name of the place is epic. Seek this place out, and plan on leaving drunk. read more

A hidden jem. A clean bar, low key vibe, "antique" beer mobiles, and cheep cheep drinks. All hail paymaster, all hail.

This place is FRESH. They have freshly squeezed cocktails in the summer and winter, and the prices are very reasonable. The decor is great, with a barrel of whiskey, industrial juicer, old school bar signs and nice lighting. Booth and bar seating. My favorite bar in Portland right now. read more

Very happy. This is everything I hope for in a dimly lit bar. Full but lowkey even on a Monday night. I could stare at the miller lite light effect for hours. Good Beer good nachos, had fun, and I don't feel like my wallet needs an ambulance. Thank you, Paymaster. I'll be back~ read more

This is one of my favorite bars in town. Very friendly bartenders, great NW location, and it's open until 2:30 am which is great for late night festivities. There is also an outdoor patio that feels cozy even in the winter. read more

Best burger in Portland. Great people. Good cocktails. Decent beer list. Casual NW bar feel. What more could you want.

Their nachos gave me food poisoning and I feel like I'm dying. Otherwise, I like this place a lot.

Worst bar I have ever been to!!! The bouncer was unprofessional and extremely creepy. This is not a bar I would visit if you want to feel safe. I was extremely disappointed with my experience. read more

Great prices, good beer selection, and excellent happy hour burgers. Plus, a lot of vegan choices. Staff was friendly and the different sections were interesting. A cozy little blue collar option in a white collar district. read more

Fun spot for after work or late night. Dive bar with a huge patio Outback. Hilarious vending machine full of random knick knacks and one night stand necessities lol. Fun vibe, great cheap slushy drinks and hipster swamp water beers. read more

This is a terrific new eating/drinking establishment in Portland. The young owners are delightful; he told us that she designed the interior, and he did the construction work. She's a knowledgeable bartender and recommended a delicious drink for this inexperienced customer. My hamburger ($5!), made with Cascade Natural beef, was perfectly cooked. (The lettuce inside could've been picked an hour before we arrived.) We were there on their 12th day of business, and he says they already have regulars--not surprised. Outdoor seating is available. Minors served until 9 p.m. The menu will expand in a few weeks. We enjoyed it so much, we're going back tomorrow! read more

The place is beautiful, atmosphere is great, there is outside seating, she uses fresh squeezed juice in her drinks and they have very reasonable prices!!!!!! The burgers there are fucking amazing, handmade and delicious, a super good deal for $5!!!! read more

I always have a great time when i go here. I have a few friends that live in the area and we have been going here since they opened. Josh and Sepple are a great couple with a cool little place to get a burger and a beer and talk with some friends over the occasional pinball game. To know more I have a critique on YouTube (http://youtu.be/x_F5gB1Qyto) if you're interested in getting a peek. read more

Not a bad little place. They don't wait on you, so you have to order from the bar. No big deal. They need signage out front. Difficult to find if you're not from the area. Good drinks! read more

One of the bartenders is a real douchebag. Older guy with a newspaper boy hat. Obviously didn't want to be at work or care about any customer at all no matter how much money you have to spend. Mediocre beer selection. Mixed drinks made okay. Don't recommend this bar at all. read more