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    Blank Slate

    4.7 (91 reviews)
    ModerateCocktail Bars
    Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Blank Slate Photos

    Business Info

    BLANK SLATE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Romantic
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Blank Slate

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    Frank C.

    Such a cozy spot for a nice cocktail. This is one of my top favorite cocktail bars in Portland. Love the plants! Love the music played on vinyl. Love the old movies projected on the wall. Most of all: love the creative drinks. Had the Season of the Witch a few weeks ago and had to come back for one more. Sage in a cocktail? It works! Such a delightful drink! Also appreciate the friendly service here. Everything you could ever hope for in a neighborhood bar. I drive a ways to get here and it's always well worth the trip!

    Passionfruit martini
    Morgan H.

    Such a great new spot! Went for Friday happy hour. It was pretty quiet at 4, but lots of street parking and the service was spot on. We got the passionfruit martinis and the meat and cheese board. Both were delicious (the gastrique was all we could talk about) and already want to come back to try more of the menu. The outdoor dining is small but great for people watching.

    Mark S.

    In Portland on business and decided to try this place. And I couldn't be happier. The bartender Matthew was friendly and knowledgeable with his cocktails. I don't normally order mixed cocktails but this was a cocktail bar after all. So I tried one of their specialty cocktails , the Cumin Behavior ,which I thought would either be good or terrible because it had some interesting ingredients like tomatillo juice and cumin? But it was really well balanced and was delicious! I was very surprised and would recommend it. The food menu was limited but both the deviled eggs and the mushroom toast were very well prepared and delicious! I met the owner, Kierra, she was nice and we had a good conversation. Overall, I had a great experience and if you want some great drinks and small bites I'd highly recommend this place. If I'm back in town I will definitely go back

    Amber Y.

    The night before New Years Eve, a group of us went here to pre-game a party we were going to. The snacks and drinks were delicious. We had the deviled eggs, salad, wrapped hot dogs and a dozen oysters. Kind of an eclectic assortment. All delicious. The vibe inside was dark, intimate and our server was friendly.

    Charcuterie plate with pickled vegetables and mustard
    Nico B.

    Blank Slate really is unassuming from the street, but you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't check this place out! I probably say this too much, but love really is in the details. And there is so much attention to detail in this lovely neighborhood cocktail lounge. The stage is set for a stylish experience as soon as you walk through the door. The room feels very designerly with expansive green walls, extending high into the lofty space above. Lush foliage makes an impact through the use of terrariums and hanging plants, as well as the rich wallpaper with a leafy motif. Soft lighting and candles invite hushed conversation, and perhaps even a little romance. There are a number of expertly-crafted drinks on the menu, as well as a broad selection of appetizers including charcuterie and cheese plates. The bartender and servers are knowledgeable and courteous, and accommodating for substitutions and dietary needs. Food and beverage is beautifully presented, with attention paid to every detail. Even the ice cubes are shaped and sized with care. If you are looking for an intimate setting that feels classy without being overly-pretentious, Blank Slate is sure to please even the harshest of critics.

    Classic Old Fashioned
    Andrew A.

    After rave reviews from the local community I finally had the experience. My Old Fashioned was perfect and the price point was fair. The owner/mixologist is happy to share her knowledge, I learned quite a bit about the nuances of cocktails while sitting at the bar. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with anything on the somewhat ample food menu. This is not their fault and many seem to enjoy the eats, it's more due to my peculiar tastes. The space is inviting, the outside doesn't quite look like it would house a cocktail bar. There's patio seating so that will be nice in hot weather. They are good for the neighborhood and I'm glad they're here.

    Martina C.

    Well as a Yelp Elite, I of course did what Elites do. When I needed a great, quiet cocktail bar with a hell of a good bartender and great drinks...I saught out the wisdom of those who had gone before me. And y'all were right on. This place is 5 stars. Beautiful interior, super clean and well kept. Intimate and great for a date night. Soft music but loud enough to rock to if you're digging the tunes, which I totally was. We met Matthew, the owner's boyfriend, and he was terrific. Super knowledgeable and incredibly friendly. I was bummed that this wasn't local to us because I'd be all up in there like Norm in Cheers!! The cocktail menu is shorter than some bars, but I like that. Simplicity is good. This place has such a great feel to it, a place you can relax, enjoy your drinks and chat. The food was mentioned in a few Yelp reviews but we had eaten already so we just wanted to enjoy the atmosphere. I love this place so much it will have to be a monthly date night. They're a great couple and they love their local community which rocks. I can't wait to go back!!

    Karyn E.

    The cocktails were to die for and the elevated comfort food was heaven. Thank you for a wonderful outdoor evening.

    Great selection of liquor! Sorry yelp keeps orienting this portait pic into a landscape.
    Christopher P.

    I'm so tempted to give this place four stars instead of five only because it's not closer to my house but that would make for a dishonest review. This place is great! The person who was working the bar and said she designed the place really knew her liquors and explained it them each in an approachable manner to us, helping us decide which cordials to try. We were so impressed with their atypical selection of liquors that we didn't even make it to the cocktails or the wines. We'll save that for our next visit. Also the place just has great atmosphere. I really really really wish Blank Slate was in my neighborhood. Highly recommended!

    Rashi T.

    Came across this spot when Yelp was running a user survey on Instagram asking people their favorite bars in Portland. The place looks unassuming from outside and in all honesty I might never have cared enough to come here but if the others Yelpers say go .. you go . so we came late on a Friday evening and sat on one of the outdoor patio tables .The setting inside is intimate and smallish but well kept and the wallpaper was beautiful . There were quite a few other people , even though it was kind of late. My hubby let the bartender/owner decide a drink for him and actually quite enjoyed it . I on the other hand had a mocktail , which was very refreshing and did not make me miss the booze at all . we had quite a nice chat with the bartender who talked very passionately about some of their drinks . This looks like a relaxed place that could easily be your bar next door or the neighborhood bar .

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    2 months ago

    Love it, love the ambiance, the staff, owners everything. Appetizers are good. Drinks are amazing.

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    1 year ago

    I really enjoyed this place! Cute decor, quiet enough for conversations and some NA drinks that slap! Will definitely come again.

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    3 years ago

    Amazing service. Amazing space. The owner is friendly and always on the front line. She is the reason we continue to go back.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Blank Slate

    Does Blank Slate have a happy hour? If so, what are the days/times? Thanks!

    They update it on their social ;)

    Is there nearby parking at Blank Slate?

    There is a parking lot with approximately 8 spots and plenty of street parking

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Blank Slate

    Definitely the classiest spot in this part of Glisan, but still in keeping with the neighborhood vibe.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    4.9(15 reviews)
    0.6 miMontavilla, Southeast Portland

    Abbor Hall came highly recommended by my boyfriend's brother and his partner. The best I can…read moredescribe the feeling is the theme song to Cheers. My boyfriend's brother and his partner were treated like regulars here and the feeling was extended to me and my boyfriend. Becca was so kind and friendly. She took the time to talk to us and it felt like gabbing with a friend. It's such a welcoming environment and I can really tell she really cares about this bar. She really made this feel like a cozy experience. The drinks were incredible. I'm not much of a drinker, and the drinks didn't feel intimidating at all. I tried the bees knees off of the happy hour menu and that was light with a lemon-y taste to it. I also had the panda punch and that is probably one of my new favorites. It's so light and fruity tasting with a hint of warmth to it. I realized now that I did not get any pictures of the drinks and I'm really sad. They were both very beautifully presented. All of the drinks in the group looked fantastic. I already cannot wait to go back.

    This deserves an update. My previous review all stands, but I'd give this place 6 stars if I…read morecould. I don't get to go out for cocktails all that often, but this is now my absolute first choice. Whether it's been weeks or months since our last visit, we're treated like regulars. Becca makes every visit special. She knows my favorite drinks, suggests others I haven't tried but should, and ALWAYS takes the time to explain ingredients or the story behind any given drink on the menu. A great place makes you feel like a regular, even when you're not. And everyone here does a great job of that. Finally tried the food. Pretzel was great - cheese plate also great.

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    Too Soon - Cool bottle wall

    Too Soon

    4.8(64 reviews)
    2.4 miKerns, Northeast Portland

    A small vibey bar with fun energy. Space is pretty limited so plan accordingly…read more We had a couple of drinks here and they're tasty! Craft, refined cocktails. They also have a filipino food menu when we're there but we didn't try any. Would be down to come back, especially later at night to catch their last call cookies!

    The drinks are really good and the staff was very friendly! The overall vibe/look of the bar is…read morecool as well. One thing that bothered me though (and I know maybe I'll get hate for this), is I feel like some of the decor is tone deaf. They have a bunch of colonial men ceramic decor, but they partner with and serve food from a Filipino company. I'm Filipino and it was a bit offensive to me because even if the point of having them is trying to make fun of them, it's not really funny. We were colonized for over 300 yrs and still deal with the trauma from it. Please consider removing the colonial decor. I really enjoyed the bar and want to enjoy it in the future, but I don't think it's necessary to have those things in the bar and doesn't add anything to how cool the bar is apart from that. UPDATE: the bar messaged me. They were super professional and kind in their response. I really appreciate that they were open to my perspective on the colonial items and said they will be removed. Thank you so much!! Looking forward to enjoying the bar in the future

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    Sapphire Hotel - Loved this detail on the tables

    Sapphire Hotel

    4.3(513 reviews)
    1.5 miHawthorne, Mt. Tabor, Southeast Portland
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    The Sapphire Hotel is no longer a hotel. It was in the early 1900s... And you could say the guests…read moreat that time were a little shady (let's just say some rooms were rented by the hour). The restaurant is what used to be the lobby. It is known for being dimly lit, a little romantic, a little old school. They are open late when not a lot of other places around are, which is how I ended up here after another event. They have happy hour from 4-6pm and then a late night happy hour after 10pm. The building could use some love from its landlord. The toilet was leaking, there's asbestos wrapped pipes visible on the ceiling. We got: Soup du jour House salad Meze platter Kettle chips Spicy chicken sandwich Everything tasted great. I was pleasantly surprised with the portion sizes for the happy hour items. I would definitely keep this in mind for date night or as a late night spot when not much else is open.

    Impeccable. One of the last gasps of "Old Portland" when SE bars were dark, pointed, subscribed to…read morewitchcraft, and climactically tasty. Ceilings larger than life. Servers who must all be libras due to their homeyness--slash--poignant versatility that offsets feeble-minded Portland bartender ego and impatience. (REAL Kindness, you know...*tears up*). The happy hour is really special. Get a gin and egg white cocktail for $6-8! I moved away from PDX, but Sapphire is the first spot I'd return to. (I probably won't return to PDX.) It's sort of like if Rimsky-Korsakoffee House was a real Portland bar.

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    Teardrop Cocktail Lounge

    4.4(1k reviews)
    4.5 miPearl District
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    To speak about Teardrop Lounge, I should probably start with this:…read more Ladies and gentlemen, I present my favorite cocktail bar. Not the best -- I'm not arrogant enough to claim that. I haven't been to every cocktail bar in Portland, and saying something is the best usually says more about your lack of experience than your conviction. But favorite? That I can stand behind. And I want to get that out of the way early, because of the amount of praise I'm about to pour on this place -- fully earned, completely intentional. The biggest crime here is that I only discovered it two weeks ago, after living in Portland for a year. It had been recommended to me countless times, and I ignored it. A mistake. A painful one. But now that I've found it, I don't plan on making that mistake again. I'm not typically an Old Fashioned drinker. In fact, I usually hate them. But somewhere between curiosity and too many episodes of Mad Men, I decided to try one anyway -- fully expecting to confirm my bias. Instead, it completely flipped me. Bright, almost citrus-forward in a way that felt unusual but entirely intentional. Balanced, smooth, just enough burn to remind you what you're drinking without overwhelming it. It was the first time I actually understood the appeal. I'm pretty sure I grew a few chest hairs that night. That alone would've been impressive. But it didn't stop there. The space is beautiful -- clean, intentional, but not cold. The staff are excellent: personable, engaged, and most importantly, authentic. Not scripted, not performative. The kind of people you actually want to talk to, and hopefully, eventually be on a first-name basis with. Now, all of that gets it close to a perfect score. But what pushes it over the edge -- what makes this place stick -- is the White Russian. One of the first drinks I ever had. My dad's drink. Not because of The Big Lebowski -- that came later -- but because it's just always been his thing. And at some point, it became mine too. Typically, when bars try to "elevate" a White Russian, they ruin it. They overthink it. Swap ingredients, tweak ratios, add unnecessary flair. And more often than not, it ends in disappointment. Teardrop does the opposite. They respect it -- but refine it. The coffee liqueur actually tastes like coffee. The heavy cream is properly integrated, not just dumped on top. The vodka -- whatever they're using -- is clean, present, and perfectly measured. There's a subtle complexity to it without losing what makes the drink what it is. It's the best White Russian I've ever had. No hesitation. I've gone back twice just to make sure it wasn't a fluke. It wasn't. If someone asked me what my death row drink would be -- this specific cocktail, from this specific bar, is in the conversation. Easily. Teardrop Lounge doesn't just make great cocktails. It reminds you why cocktails matter in the first place. And that's why it's my favorite.

    We came to Teardrop Cocktail Lounge while visiting Portland and were genuinely impressed…read more The cocktails were excellent -- thoughtful, well-balanced, and clearly made by people who know what they're doing. One of the best parts was how approachable the bartenders were. We asked for custom drinks based on our preferences, and both came out perfectly tailored. Creative without being weird, and strong without being sloppy. What really stood out was the price point. For the quality of cocktails, the prices felt very reasonable compared to similar craft cocktail bars in other cities. The vibe was also great -- relaxed, cozy, and not pretentious. It felt like a place where you could come for a special drink experience without feeling like you had to "perform" or order off a rigid menu. We liked it so much we actually came back a second time during our trip. Highly recommend if you're into well-crafted cocktails, friendly bartenders, and a laid-back but elevated atmosphere.

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    4.3(2.6k reviews)
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    Had an awesome time at The Observatory the other weekend. Unlike a lot of places, they run their…read moreHappy Hour on the weekend, which is what drew my partner and I in. You can absolutely smell the fish and vinegar as soon as you walk through the door, which I think gives the place a very homey pub feel. I ordered a spiked peach Arnold Palmer, which I enjoyed (and it was pleasantly strong) and a glass of the house white, which was good for the price. Our server was very fast and attentive. To eat I got the tomato soup with a grilled cheese, which was absolutely fantastic. The soup was so creamy and flavorful, and I cannot imagine a better meal after spending all day walking outside in the rain. The fries were super crispy and I liked the batter. My partner and I shared some of their breadsticks, which were deliciously baked (fresh!) and came with a super refreshing basil crema and a nice tomato-y dip. Wonderful all. My partner ordered fish and chips, and was surprised to find that it is one large fillet of fish, not multiple pieces like you would typically expect. He said the fish was fine, but a little tough. Overall, a wonderful experience. I definitely hope to return. I highly recommend this place as a refuge during the cold winter months!

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    Blank Slate - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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