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Cocktail Bars

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No matter the season, there is a cocktail that will perfectly complement the weather. For me, summertime screams for an Aperol Spritz and winter makes me crave an Old Fashioned. No matter what the time of year, Portland has some positively incredible cocktail bars to fix you whatever you desire (and introduce you to some new delights)! Here are our favorite cocktail bars around the city!

Blank Slate

7201 NE Glisan St Suite C, Portland, OR 97213

Open Tuesday-Thursday 4 pm-10 pm, Friday and Saturday 4 pm – 11 pm.

Check out their latest offerings Here.

Deadshot

2133 SE 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97214

Open Wednesday – Saturday 4 pm – 12 am

Check them out Here.

Hey Love

920 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214

Open Tuesday – Friday 3 pm- 1 am, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am – 1 am.

Check them out Here.

Teardrop

1015 NW Everett St, Portland, OR 97209

Open Tuesday-Thursday & Sunday 4 pm – 12 am. Friday and Saturday 4 pm – 2 am

Read more Here.

Vault & Vintage

Vault at 226 NW 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97209 and it’s sister spot Vintage Cocktail Lounge at 7907 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215

Vault Weds- Sat 4 – 11 and Vintage Tues- Sun 4 – 11

Check them out Here and Here.

Wonderly

4727 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97213

Open Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday 5 pm – 10 Saturday & Sunday 5 pm – 11

Check them out Here.

Do you have a favorite spot to grab a cocktail in Portland? Let us know in the comments so wee can check it out!

For our other Portland’s Best lists click Here.

Portland’s Best Decks

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Springtime in Portland is unbelievably beautiful! Flowers are blooming all around and the blue skies are finally showing themselves again. One of our favorite activities is sipping a drink or two and enjoying some delightful bites while sitting on one of Portland’s best decks! Portland has a few elite options when it comes to dining in the sunshine. We could only choose a few to make our list so we took into consideration the outdoor space, the food, and of course the drink quality! In no particular order, here are our favorites!

Hammer & Stitch Brewing

2377 NW Wilson St., Portland OR 97210
Menu Here
Open Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday 12 pm – 7 pm
Friday – Saturday 12 pm – 9 pm
Minors allowed

Revolution Hall Roof Deck

1300 SE Stark St. Portland, OR 97214
Menu Here
Open Monday – Thursday 3 pm – Late
Friday – Saturday 12 pm – Late
Minors allowed until 7 pm

Botanist

910 NW 14th Ave. Portland, OR 97209
Menu Here
Open Wednesday – Thursday 4 pm – 10 pm
Friday – Saturday 10 am – 2 pm & 4 pm – 10:30 pm
Sunday 10 am – 2 pm

Tope

15 NW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
Menu Here
Open Thursday – Sunday 4 pm – Late
Minors allowed

Radio Room

1101 NE Alberta St, Portland OR 97211
Menu Here
Open 7 days a week 9 am – 11 pm
Minors allowed

10 Barrell Brewing

 1411 NW Flanders St, Portland, OR 97209
Menu Here
Open 7 days a week 11 am – 11 pm
Minors allowed

Warm weather has already hit us this spring, so it’s about time to bust out those sandals and hit one of Portland’s Best Decks! Any of these places are guaranteed to show you a good time. If you didn’t see your favorite deck on our list leave us a comment and we will check it out! We also have several other Portland favorites Here.

Portland’s Best Re-Opened Bars

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2020 was a rough year for most people. Unfortunately, Portland had to say goodbye to some of its favorite bars, restaurants, and local shops. They will forever be missed. However it’s 2021 now! We are ready to celebrate Portland’s Best Re-Opened Bars. Portland has too many amazing bars to be able to name them all at once, So this week we are featuring the ones that we are most excited to welcome back! In no particular order.

Palomar

959 SE Division St. Portland, Ore. 97214
Open Wednesday – Sunday 4pm – 10pm
Authentic cuban food and cocktails.
Website Here

Bantam Tavern

922 NW 21st Ave Portland, OR 97209
Open Monday – Friday 3pm – 11pm
Saturday – Sunday 12pm – 11pm
Interurban’s sister restaurant, Providing high quality pub classics with a twist.
Website Here

Scotch Lodge

215 SE 9th Ave #102 Portland, OR 97214
Open Wednesday – Saturday 4pm – 11pm
A cocktail bar for whiskey lovers, with a french inspired menu.
Website Here

Sapphire Hotel

5008 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97215
Open Tuesday – Saturday 4pm – 11pm
Sassy cocktails of all sorts, and dinner to please every crowd. Home to the best cheese plate in Portland in our opinion.
Website Here

Tropicale

2337 NE Glisan St., Portland, OR 97232
Open Tuesday – Friday 12pm – 10pm
Saturday – Sunday 10am – 10pm
Home to the pina colada king! Serving Caribbean and Latin American small bites.
Website Here

5 & Dime

6535 SE Foster Rd Portland, OR 97206
Open 7 days a week 4pm – 10pm
Exceptionally done classic cocktails and light snacks.
Website Here

Someday

3634 SE Division St. Portland, Oregon
Open Thursday – Sunday 3pm – 10pm
Classic cocktails and a variety of small plates
Website Here

If you’re not quite ready to dine-in at these bars, that’s ok! Most of the bars listed above will do food-to-go as well. It’s so exciting to see some of our local favorites come back to life, and we are ready to celebrate them again! If you think your favorite bar needs to be on our Portland’s Best Re-Opened Bars list, leave us a comment and we will check it out. Head to our website Here for other featured Portland favorites of ours.

5 & Dime

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Our hot spot of the week this week is my favorite patio in FoPo, the 5 & Dime! It’s been almost 2 years since this rad neighborhood spot opened. I am still as excited about it today as I was on opening day! The drinks are cold and the service is warm. What more could you ask for??

First off, I love the decor in this place. From the Anthony Bourdain portrait to the Blazers art and neon signs, everything in here feels hip and effortless. Currently, you will only be able to see it on the way to the bathroom with your mask on, but I applaud the owners for the efforts they have put in to keep everyone safe! They have expanded their outdoor seating area so that there are more tables. All of them have proper spacing and sanitizer as well.

The Seating

The cocktail menu at 5 & Dime is always rotating, and always fabulous. With different themes for each like ‘High School Reading List’ or ‘American Gods’. The seasonal list right now is music-based, and I have been loving the Mary J Blige nod to the Aperol Spritz. If I’m feeling less bubbly (as if) I tend towards their delicious draft Negroni.

While current restrictions mean that their delightful snack boards are on hold for the time being, you can still order some pizza or knots from Atlas pizza next door to soak up all of those tasty libations.

My favorite thing about the 5 & Dime is that they have something for everyone. You can get a cheap beer or a finely-tuned cocktail, a dive bar aesthetic that’s elevated just the right amount, great service with a sense of humor, and most of all, a friendly neighborhood welcome!

Check them out here!

What is your favorite neighborhood haunt? Let us know in the comments!

Valentine's Day 2020

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Valentine’s Day 2020 is fast approaching and there are so many amazing things to do to celebrate with your loved ones! You can always go the route of a special dinner out or you could perhaps take your sweetheart dancing. You could go for a walk in one of Portland’s amazing parks or you could sip a delicious cocktail in a sultry speakeasy. Check out the list below for some fun ideas to make your day or evening special!

Where to Dine

Ava Gene’s – Italian eatery serving cocktails & upscale fare, including family-style options, in a chic space.  3377 SE Division St

Blue Hour – Upscale eatery with 16-ft.-long drapes & an outdoor patio serving Mediterranean-New American dishes. 250 NW 13th Ave

Canard – Dishes take their inspiration from all over the world at this stylish venue mixing fresh cocktails. 734 E Burnside St

Davenport – A regularly changing eclectic American menu served against a warm, industrial-hip backdrop. 2215 E Burnside St

Jacqueline – Seasonal, seafood-centric New American fare is offered in an intimate setting with quirky artwork. 2039 SE Clinton St

Urdaneta – Comfortable, chic choice for creative Spanish small plates paired with craft cocktails & wine. 3033 NE Alberta St

Where to Sip

5 and Dime – Playful cocktail menu, draft wines, and yummy bar bites in a Portland-chic neighborhood space. 6535 SE Foster Rd

Box Social – Casually elegant, candlelit bar featuring creative cocktails, nibbles & light bites. 3971 N Williams Ave

Circa 33 – Prohibition-themed cocktail bar with a patio & secret back bar hidden behind a swinging bookshelf. 3348 SE Belmont St

Fireside – Striking gastropub with dual fireplaces serving New American fare, wine & cocktails. 801 NW 23rd Ave

Kask – Cool craft cocktail bar with rustic accents featuring clever, hearty small plates & a nightly punch. 1215 SW Alder St

Wonderly – Classic and creative craft cocktails in a chic, colorful space, featuring a focused but delicious bar menu. 4727 NE Fremont St

Where to be Different

Take your sweetie for a soak at one of Portland’s many soaking pools. Kennedy School, Common Ground, or Knot Springs are all good options.

Challenge your cutie to a puzzle-solving extravaganza at a fun escape room. Both Escapism Portland and Escape Games PDX are top-notch for a brain-bending good time.

Take a hike with your honey within the city limits. Forest Park, Mt. Tabor, or Tryon Creek are all beautiful spots to take in nature and each other’s unique beauty.

Dance the night away with your darling at one of the great dance parties around town. The Goodfoot, Holocene, and Dig-a-Pony all have delightful get-downs going on this weekend.

Does your baby like beer? Take them to Zwicklemania on Saturday for free tastings and brewery tours all over the city!

Where do you plan on celebrating this Valentine’s Day 2020? Let us know in the comments!

Karaoke Bars

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Not all karaoke bars are created equal. Luckily, Portland has a wide array of different types of karaoke bars for your every mood. On the tail of our Hot Spot this week, Capitol, I started thinking about all of the great places in Portland to belt out a ballad. Check out the list below for our picks for best karaoke bars in Portland, OR.

Best Dive Bar Karaoke

The Trap

This no-frills, cheap booze SE Portland dive bar has nightly karaoke and video lottery to boot. 3805 SE 52nd Ave

Best Classy Karaoke

Capitol

Elevated neighborhood cocktail spot with craft drinks & vegetarian bites in colorful surrounds. 1440 NE Broadway St More info here.

Best Private Karaoke

Voicebox

Private rooms for up to 16 people, with a huge song catalogue in multiple languages. 734 SE 6th Ave and 2112 NW Hoyt Ave More info here.

Best Performance Karaoke

Chopsticks

Want to put on a show? Check out this hopping bar offering nightly karaoke & Chinese-American fast food, plus pool tables & a patio. 3390 NE Sandy Blvd More info here.

Best Tiki Bar Karaoke

The Alibi

Long-lived tiki bar with island-themed murals, tropical cocktails & nightly high-energy karaoke. 4024 N Interstate Ave More info here.

Best ‘Only in Portland’ Karaoke

Stripper-aoke at Devil’s Point

Portland’s rock n’ roll strip club hosts Stripper-aoke every Sunday night at 9pm, where Portland’s finest dancers strip while you TRY to sing karaoke. 5305 SE Foster Rd More info here.

Best Indie Karaoke

Baby Ketten Klub

Quirky space with off-the-beaten path song selections you won’t find anywhere else. 2433 SE Powell Blvd More info here.

We know there are many, many more places in Portland that host either nightly or weekly karaoke. Did we miss your favorite spot for karaoke in Portland? Let us know in the comments and we’ll happily go check it out!

Chinese food on Christmas Day

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Like many Portland transplants, my Christmas Day traditions are somewhat… non-Christmas-y. One that I started several years ago was to get Chinese takeout and Champagne and binge on cheesy action movies. Die Hard? Check! The Long Kiss Goodnight? Absolutely. Sometimes, I’ll even throw in something newer, like John Wick. If you are thinking, ‘Heck, yes! Sign me up,’ then here is a list of where to grab Chinese Food in any of Portland’s wonderful neighborhoods on Christmas Day.

Did we miss your favorite spot to grab Chinese Food on Christmas Day? Let us know in the comments! Also always taking suggestions for good cheesy action movies 🙂

Photo credits to: @duckhousepdx, @bigdcharm, @gisellesheeran, @eaterpdx, @sambakall