Cocktail bars, wine bars, dive bars and gastropubs: drinking in Portland for grown-ups.

Where to drink

Multnomah Whisk(e)y Library ★ 4.6

Whiskey loungedowntown

Portland's whiskey library and membership lounge on SW Alder, with 1,500+ bottles on rolling library ladders, leather wingbacks and cart-pulled cocktail service.

Signature drink: Old Fashioned with library-pour bourbon

Food: Charcuterie and small plates

Tip: Members reserve ahead. Non-members enter via the standby line at 17:00 (or Mon-Wed walk-ins more reliable).

Jacqueline ★ 4.5

Cocktail and oyster bardivision-clinton

Heather Lawless's SE Clinton Street cocktail bar in Portland, with classic spec martinis, Pacific oysters on the half-shell and a relocated 2024 dining room.

Signature drink: Martini paired with Pacific oysters

Food: Seafood and oysters

Tip: Oyster happy hour 16:00 to 17:30 weekdays. The bar walks in; the dining room books on Resy.

Reel M Inn ★ 4.3

Dive bar with fried chickendivision-clinton

Portland's most famous dive bar on SE Division, with fishing-lure-encrusted resin tables, poker machines and the city's best broasted fried chicken.

Signature drink: Cheap beer and broasted chicken

Food: Fried chicken and jojos

Tip: One deep fryer means the chicken can take an hour at peak. Order at the bar and drink while you wait.

Departure Lounge ★ 4.3

Rooftop cocktail loungedowntown

The 15th-floor lounge at The Nines hotel in downtown Portland, with two outdoor decks, the city's largest sake list and views of Mount Hood at sunset.

Signature drink: Sake old-fashioned

Food: Pan-Asian small plates

Tip: The outdoor decks open in May and close in late September. Reserve outdoor seats a week ahead.

Bar Vivant at Pix ★ 4.4

Champagne and sherry barmississippi-williams

Bar Vivant sits inside Pix Pâtisserie on E Burnside in Portland, with a Spanish tapas menu, deep sherry list and an award-winning Champagne programme.

Signature drink: Grower Champagne flight

Food: Spanish tapas

Tip: Open until 02:00 Friday and Saturday. Order the tortilla espanola with a copita of fino.

Bars in Portland, FAQ

When is the best time to eat in Portland?

Peak food season in Portland is year-round.

What time do people eat in Portland?

Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.

How does tipping work in Portland?

service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.

What is the one dish to try in Portland?

Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Portland rewards trust.

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