I live in the same building as Star Bar, in the apartments upstairs. When the bar initially opened we checked it out during the Grand Opening and have been going there consistently ever since. It has everything I look for a bar. Low lighting, good music, good food, good service, pinball and a photo booth. Super win. The closer you live to something, generally the more bored you become with it. But not Star Bar. The food is always a good choice for dinner, and happy hour is great when I get home from work. Not to mention the people - who take pride in what they do, and are always friendly. They maintain a small, cozy, friendly, yet hopping place to sit down on a big squishy couch and hang out with friends. read more

I had a terrible experience once during Santa Con at Star Bar which made me really want to give it a 1 star rating. My friend basically was looking for another friend who disappeared and asked if anyone was in the bathroom stall to see if he had passed out there or something. I guess one of the bartenders was in the stall and got pissed off, so he came out and threw a huge fit and kicked my friend and all the rest of us out. Pretty damn ridiculous and the guy was a complete dick about it, but every time I've been back I haven't seen him so maybe he got fired. This story aside, this is one of my go to bars on the close in east side. The music is always great, the decor is divey which is my prefered decor, and the food is passable. The beer selection is always good, they have a good happy hour as well with cheap beers and the food which is not bad not great though. There are several seating options outside which are usually taken, but the inside is where you want to be anyway. Gotta mention the velvet painting on the wall, many of which I have dreamt of stealing including the few creepy clown pictures on the wall towards the bathroom. I don't know who does them or if they are all different artists, but as a drink more I find myself losing myself in the majesty of them. If you get pretty drunk at Star Bar but don't want to eat at Star Bar, I've heard really good things about Robo Taco next door and especially their Burrito Al Pastor. Check it out! read more

Ok, this place has redeemed itself in my eyes. Dive? Yes. Patrons? Questionable. But, super friendly and smokin' hot bartender who is great at her job and doesn't throw an inch of attitude? I like. I may not fit in here (unless I'm wearing my leather jacket and studded boots, which happens occasionally), but it's decently priced, unpretentious, and within spitting distance of my fave taco joint. I'm over my previous disdain for this bar and they're doing alright by me. *insert that "A-OK" emoji right here* read more

Any bar that has a stack of '70s Playboys to flip through has my immediate approval. I miss the Maiden's Spanish-styled small plates, but Star Bar is a more than adequate distraction. Style-wise, it's a Portland hipster cliche - velvet paintings, a photo booth and a Twilight Zonw pinball machine, and the best jukebox in the neighborhood - but dammit, I like it. There's a reason why I live in this town. And the DJ played a song by my favorite obscure Lomita punk rockers, the Alleycats. YES. *musicgasm* My friends disagreed on the food - one thought the sliders were fantastic; the other thought the pork sandwich was dry and expensive. I'll definitely come back to taste for myself. read more

Oooh, the smell. As soon as you walk in, it's like walking into a dank vintage clothing shop. Since there wasn't any carpeting on the floor, I can only guess that it was the collective stench of the patrons (lots of leather, bikers, street kid looking folks). We headed straight for the photo booth in the back ($4/ for a strip of 4 black and white pics. Not the best quality but hey, it will have sentimental value). While waiting for the pics (3 min wait), I played the AC/DC pinball machine (50 cents for 1 play but seemed like I was given like 10 balls to play. Fun!) The velvet paintings on the wall are pretty cool too. Elvis, nekkid women, etc Didn't grab any drinks or food due to the sheer odor inside. Sorry Star Bar, I'm sure you're a fab joint but I just couldn't stand to breathe in there. read more

I'm judging by the other reviews that this place might be ok but when I went in, the bartender ignored the shit out of me for a solid 10 minutes whilst talking with someone at the other end of the bar. I stood up a few times, and waved in his direction then asked other patrons if I was meant to walk to the other end of the bar to order? Nope, dude's just fucking ignoring you. So yea, might be a good bar if dude stops ignoring you and takes your bloody order. I chose to visit one of the other 20 bars in the four block radius. read more

Can I give less than one star?! The workers were all SOOOO rude! My friend was trying to sober up, drinking water outside while we sat at the benches, then the waiter came out and snatched it from her and said she couldn't drink it outside. THEN we were sitting on the first two tables and the same freakin waiter said we had to move down to sit on the last two tables. Powerrrrr tripppppin. WORST PLACE EVER....... read more

First time in since the owner/format change. I miss Maiden, but it seems Star Bar may have a started with positive flow astern. Mmm+/- for now; didn't eat, though the menu does look interesting and tasty. Focus seems to be on loaded burgers. PBR was cheap, service was good. Nice atmosphere & interior design. Overall: new, but taking steps in the right direction. I'll be back for grub and an updated review. Welcome to the hood Star Bar! read more

Menus have now been printed and what's on them is great. Vegetarian and vegan options for those that need it. The Happy Hour food deals shine. Sliders for a buck-fifty each----pulled pork, cheese burger, caprese (in the order of their greatness-they were all very tasty). Risotto cakes, also very tasty with the additional fresh basil, melted mozz, and bell pepper. That's all I ate but the rest looked great as well. Also during happy hour are $1.50 PBRs and the $3 wells are priced right but definitely need a stronger pour if this place truly wants to bring in the "rock n' roll" crowd they seem to be striving for. If you've been to the previous "Maiden" this place is pretty much the same with the addition of velvet paintings. Still good music playing from the stereo, still great food, still same location. I hear the owners are from Seattle and what I see happening is an attempt at making a "griitty rock n' roll bar" by Seattle standards. But alas, we are not in Seattle and the grit actually takes, well, grit. I think they are on the right track. Ultimately it will probably be the people that make this place. Either way, if you are looking for good cheap eats between 4-7pm or 12-2am this is one of the best options around. read more

I went here on a semi-recent Friday with a group of friends for a low-key birthday celebration. I'd been here before once or twice when it was Maiden in the Mist. It feels pretty different now; better, I'd say. Things I liked: - They had a cute lady DJ spinning sweet, sweet tunes - They had an enticing cocktail menu, though I found myself sticking with one drink in particular whose name escapes me at the moment. It was something like Big Smokey and it was whiskey-based. Tasty! - We sat on a comfy couch - Someone ordered some fries later in the evening and they were delish - The woman working the bar was very nice read more

This little hole in the wall dive is great! Cool velvet paintings and they even have a photo booth if you're into that sorta thing. Haven't had the food here yet, but the drinks are good and inexpensive. read more

Drinks with a heavy enough pour that I could taste the vodka. A+ Photo Booth A+ (nothing like some drunk pics to make a night eternal) Staff who seem to enjoy their job A++ I really dig this place. read more

Lib is an awesome bartender . Love the vibe. Love the patio. Nachos are killer. Jell-O shots, yes please. The velvet paintings are awesome. It's a small spot. Get there early on the weekends. Kind of a punk bar. I'm not punk. I'm not cool. I don't care. Maybe that makes me punk. Whatever. Go to Star Bar if you want the Portland vibe. It's next to Creepys. Creepys is cool too. Go to both. Have fun. Get drunk. Live your life. read more

This bar is great. The owners are always nice. The food is actually really good--especially given most Portland bar food being awful. The drinks always served strong. The beer selection is somewhat limited, but a decent selection. The juke box has good tunes. This place tends to attract a diverse enough crowd to avoid the typical pretentious Portland hipster or punk-rock-dive-trash bar... again, THIS BAR AVOIDS THOSE STEREOTYPES and is therefore a comfortable and fun place. The photobooth quality is okay, but hey, most people don't care about that. Yes, the bathrooms aren't the cleanest, but hey, other reviewers, are any bathrooms in Portland bars clean anyhow? read more

Star Bar has a generous happy hour, a fun rock 'n roll vibe, and stiff drinks. Go here for great deals and great booze, but eat elsewhere, unless you're down to get the house special burger. While their beer list isn't huge, it's well-curated, with a diverse array of good local microbrews on draft for $4 (cider for $5). I'd definitely recommend the Fearless Porter they had, which was caramel-y and dark, but not overpowering, and light enough for session drinking. They've also got a PBR tap, if that's your thing. Hoping to beat the heat later on into the evening, I ordered a cheap Jamaican rum and tonic with a large wedge of lime. The bartender set the ratio just right, making it stiff, but still refreshing and summery. For $5, it wasn't at all a bad deal, especially considering the drink's strength. Star Bar's Happy Hour rocks! Microbrews are $3 per pint, cider is $4, and PBR is $1.50. Well drinks are $3 each. It lasts from 4:00 to 8:00, giving you plenty of time to drink for cheap. Just in case you needed additional deals, look for the A-frame sign in the bar that features the daily drink specials. You'll be impressed. The food varies. The fries are serviceable. My coworkers' totchos were hot, but needed more cheese on them, making them effectively tater tots with a few jalapeños and a smattering of cheese, salsa, and sour cream. The happy hour burger I ordered was pretty lame. Overcooked and lacking in flavor, I barely tasted the meat, cheese, or garlic spread. It mostly just tasted like char and bun, and it shared the totchos' cheese deficiency. That said, the house burger I had most recently was delicious! While it's got a lot of ingredients (lettuce, tomato, bacon, garlic spread, bleu cheese, caramelized onions, and crispy shallots), they work together really well. When I had it, despite the Burger Week rush, it was plenty juicy and brimming with flavor. Even the lettuce and tomato, which I normally think should be banished from most sandwiches, served an effective purpose, taming the more strongly-flavored ingredients somewhat. I like how Star Bar is laid out. It's got booths, coffee tables and stools, picnic tables, and and varying areas of light and dark. Likewise, the art is great, and perfectly fitting for a Portland rock bar--pinups, rock stars, and a picture of .44 magnum laid across a TV dinner, emblazoned with a warning to DJs not to play Warren Zevon to excess. As you would expect, the background music is great. Mostly Otis Redding and The Dirtbombs, with the occasional Judas Priest when I was there, but I suspect that it's great all the time, given who's depicted in the bar's paintings. Star Bar pours good drinks at low prices and has one of the best atmospheres I've experienced in Portland. Is it fancy, gimmicky, or gourmet? No. Is it fun? Absolutely! read more

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The Long Awaited Star Bar Update: Since my first very drunken encounter with Star Bar, I've had the chance to revisit and establish a more respectable opinion. My most recent visit, from what I'm told and what I was saw, was on Metal Night. 'Twas a Monday, I believe. I'm kind of a sucker for cute metal guys so that was ok by me. I can't really say much about their pricing since my night was being funded by a sugar daddy of sorts (my friend's actual father). They did have drink specials which is always good. Not that Star Bar had anything to do with the fact that I wasn't paying for anything, it certainly made my visit more enjoyable. Lastly, I had heard from different people that Star Bar had pretty good bar food, considering. I'm a sucker for bar food and I have to say that I was disappointed. Your "salsa" is just chopped up tomatoes and onions. Let's be REAL! read more

A hipsters dive bar wet dream come true, and this place is packed with them. I don't know what more to say. The tater tots were really, really good and the couch was fantastic for our large group to hang out and chat, yet be out of the way. Be sure you check what DJ might be spinning there the night you want to hang out. The on time we were there the DJ was the worst I have ever heard and in true hipster fashion didn't shit who he annoyed. Also, to have the music that loud in a bar that is not a dance club is counter-productive, but I don't think they care. I think that is the whole point of the place. read more

I came here recently after turning 21 (finally!) and, without getting my hopes up, asked the bartender if they carried absinthe. Not only did they carry it, but the knowledgeable guy gave me a short tutorial on how I should order it correctly and how to proportion the components to find a taste that works best for me. I managed to consume two before last call and vowed to return again. Did I mention that they sell delectable home-cut french fries there as well? Because they do, and absinthe+fried things is a new favorite of mine. Cheers, Star Bar, you're in a killer location for bar hopping and you contributed to an awesome 21st. 10/10 would yolo again, even if the 'sinthe cost an arm and a leg. read more

Wow! A real Portland bar experience! Authentically real. Velvet paintings on the wall. Dark, metal, edgy music of a particular era. No TV. Not a sports bar. Just a bar. But a bar of a bar. read more

Went on a Tuesday night for HH. Wasn't too busy at the time so service was good. As the night progressed it got a lot busier. Back to HH food was good. Black bean slider and tofu was definetly worth the two dollars! Would have paid twice that. Salad was good with citrus dressing but nuts were a little salty. Would go back! Want to see the night life and live DJs. read more

This is a great dive bar, based on the ambiance alone. I love the kitschy black velvet art, photo machine, and pinball machine.

I love this place - it's a dive bar with a divey atmosphere but the prices are great and the happy hour food is consistently delicious. Their vegan Thai chicken wings are to die for. And the totchos are amazing. And the woman who works there on weeknight happy hours is the nicest person. Great place to grab happy hour or to hang out with friends. read more

Star Bar - Tot-chos! Soo good! - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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The reason for the 4 stars has a lot to do with coming to Star Bar after having moved away from Portland 2 years ago. Being back at this grimy, hipster, rocker bar made me miss the finer things in Portland. And the photobooth is a always a plus, I think every bar should have a photobooth available to get inspired to take drunk photos with as many people as you can fit behind the tiny curtain. Great alcohol selection AND they had ginger beer (which is a hit or miss in some bars) so I was happy to have my Bulleit bourbon and ginger beer in one hand and to be surrounded with not only my beautiful long time friends but all the freaks Portland has to offer. Keep Portland Weird :) read more

Didn't have any of the food but I saw they had vegan wings made of chickpeas? Awesome. Seemed to had a decent bar food menu. The vibe was great. Super dim with the glowing red lights. Loved the velvet paintings. And of course had to use the photo booth! Possibly the coolest thing was that the old school 80s metal-rock was being played by a girl with actual vinyl! Freaking awesome. Good prices, steady stream of people in and out. Lots of open space. read more

The owner is really cool and super nice, but the last two times we've gone there we got pretty shitty service. It's seemed very elite and others were getting served before us even after us getting the bartender's attention, he continued to help others before us. It was rude and we haven't been back, but before that it had been a great place to hangout. I still have hope that it will be a cool hangout place again. Food is good and Love the velvet paintings. read more

Dimly lit metal bar always playing great tunes. $1 Jell-O shots, and cheap drinks. The bartender Liberty is always friendly and makes a killer cocktail! read more

A good mix of comfort, edge, dive and danger. The beer selection could be better, but whatever. The jukebox rocks and the service is fine. Let me know if you ever trip on acid and play the Rolling Stone Pinball Machine in the back. The photo booth will make you look your absolute worst. BEWARE! You may jump of the Burnside Bridge when you get your pictures back. The bathrooms are interesting, comfortable and clean. People seem to rave about the sliders. read more

What a piece of shit location. I was warned about putting my card on file. All of a sudden they don't have it after i ordered a beer then went back and ordered another beer. What a shitty place to do business in. No one gave a shit either. I ordered via both bartenders. She looked me dead in my oculars and said I don't have your card. Another 5-7 business days til I have the new card. If you're 49 and wanna score and wear your leather jacket. This is the spot for you. read more

Came into this bar for some delicious grub. Ended up walking out after having to walk up to the bar tender to hand her our IDs AFTER sitting down at the booth. Then having the bartender yell across the loud music what we wanted. Waited over 15 minutes for just the tot choes which we didn't even get since they took too long even getting them out. If I could give 0 I totally would. Really bummed out since the reviews seemed to be great and the food looked super good. Save yourself and go visit one of the other places within walking distance of this place. read more

Apparently the objective of this place is to not sell drinks? Went there with a party of twenty people and the 70 year old bartender just ignored me all night. I was planning on dropping some $200 in this closet. I've NEVER been so disappointed w the service anywhere. To be told I'm intoxicated after two drinks? Ha, that's funny because you're a bar right? It's not named star-playland or star-junglegym? Well, whatever star"bar", you can discriminate all you want, the plan was to spend money at your bar, instead slowbar and Morrison hotel got our business (and tips). Stay classy, and remember, it is a business, you personally don't decide who to serve because they don't look like your crew. You keep people coming back by actually serving them. Worst service ever. read more

"I'll take 2 hefeweizens and... HOLY SHIT YOU HAVE MANNY'S." ^me at Star Bar the other night. Manny's Pale Ale from Seattle's Georgetown Brewery is my favorite beer. The thing is, you can only really find it in Seattle. ... and I kind of hate Seattle. I don't want to go there. *GIF of Tracy Morgan shaking his head* Turns out, I don't have to. Oh, and my 2 hefeweizens and Manny's were only $11 total. This is the beginning of something great, Star Bar. If you get too drunk (which you should here, it's so stinkin' cheap), they have an amazing and large food menu that is even friendly to those ninnies we call vegans. The "Damned" burger is spicy with jalapeno chutney that tastes an awful lot like wasabi, while the "Big Star" is a freaking delicious 'shroomy, cheesy and roasted garlic-filled creation. They use fresh brioche buns too. Good luck finding parking, but at least our city finally has Uber (!!!) read more

This place makes me creem my genes. One of the best little bars in Portland. The food is "dang" and the staff is "mmmmmyeah" . The owners are pretty picky about the music and that is good, since they have GREAT taste in music. Always a good time to pop in here., read more

i like this place. it's convenient. the music is good...especially the french music on saturday nights. the food and drink selections are nice and priced appropriately. it's not pretentious and not really dive-y, either. i really like that about it. pretty sure i'll become a regular for saturday evenings, since i'm a francophile. read more

Tried to go here on a Saturday night around 12:30am. Emphasis on TRIED. The entire place was jam-packed with people I can only assume were all attendees of the same douchebag rally. The bar itself is kind of whatever - liquor, nachos, ironic modern art on the walls. We waited for drinks for about 3-5 minutes, and then got the f&%k outta there. Head over to Gil's Speakeasy Tavern. Far superior watering hole for people who just want to get drunk with their friends. read more

One of the bartenders at this establishment was extremely disrespectful to me when I attended. They are probably not all like that but I will not be going here again. read more

This place had some pretty big shoes to fill as we used to go to the Maiden all the time. Comparing it to other places in the area I'm going all out here and throw down the 5 star rating. The food is top notch. I got the Reuben sandwich and must say it was the best I've had in Portland. The owner can be seen working the bar which in my opinion is a good sign as there is a sense of pride here and service you wont get from some retarded fucking hipster anywhere else. There is a photo booth inside and a pinball machine (Guns and Roses) to entertain yourself while you wait for your cronies to roll in. Check it out and try that Reuben! read more

Best damn Meat in town. The burger is crumbly and delicious. The sweet potato fries are to die for! The karaoke is fabulous. Not top 40, and people are really into it, they had dancing too. read more

These fuckers brought me a Tofu sandwich instead of grilled pork like I ordered, that being said, it was still eatable which is a major prop as grilled tofu is gods mistake #3. My buddy who came with me had a burger which according to him was one of the best he ever had, the fries were really good and so I guess ill have to give the place at least 4 stars. Kudos. read more

Came here as a stop on my birthday excursion out and it was pretty chill. Drinks were good! Space is pretty limited but that can be expected. I would check this place out if you're looking for a chill bar and just want some good drinks. read more

Vegan kamikaze jello shots...can't complain there. Interesting vibe here. Eclectic group of folks and at the time I was here, they had some hardcore rock music going on. Cheap drinks though and after that potent jello shot I could have a good time anywhere! read more