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    Blank Slate

    4.7 (91 reviews)
    ModerateCocktail Bars
    Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    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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    Reviews With Photos

    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!!

    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 .

    Karyn E.

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

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    4 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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    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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    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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    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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    Went there yesterday for the first time. Good ambiance. Service however should improve. Our…read morebartender was very cold and rude for no reason. White girl with long dark hair has a severe attitude. At first I had some sympathy since it was a little busy for the NBA finals game but after sitting at the bar for the entire time I could overhear a lot of her customer interactions. Every customer was nice and saying please and thank you & no matter what she found a way to make unnecessary comments and rude attitude. 2nd bartender however who worked after her was very nice (curly hair with glasses). Probably wouldn't go there again. After seeing previous reviews we're all probably talking about the same person.

    Love this place, it's great to have a good old dive bar with good food and good prices on this busy…read morestreet. Nice little outdoor area, inside is dark and busy on weekends, but could be a fun date spot. Pool is always fun and the bar is long and people are friendly. Parking on Stark is hard, no matter when you go--so make use of the lot in the back. It can be a little hard to navigate as the pool area and restrooms are sunken in, and there's a few steps around, so if you have mobility challenges, just plan ahead or stick to the upper area or back dining and it's nice a flat there. I would say they need to update their website, haha, as it's still lists everything like it's 1999 prices. ;)

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    Blank Slate - cocktailbars - Updated July 2026

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