I have no idea if this bar has food - but when we came in a few Friday's ago - at 7 pm - and we…read morewere pretty much the only people there. The bartender said they need better signage but by 8 pm, the place was packed. I think this used to be a doggy day care or doggy spa. It's been open for 3 years and I never knew it was here. Too bad because I have moved from the neighborhood and this would have been a great neighborhood haunt. We just got a few rounds of beers but we stayed quite a while because they have a great vibe and video poker - which the guys in our group could not be torn away from. The decor is neon and chill but not hipster - like the rest of the places on this side of the river. They also have a billiard room. So, basically, there is just about something for everyone. I wish my new neighborhood had a bar like this that was walking distance.

Such a fake location this is not real. Something weirds going on. Tried to go here multiple times…read moreand call and they say they are not open yet at 9pm!!!!

If you're looking for quintessential speakeasy vibes, Driftwood Room is the place! Just inside…read moreHotel DeLuxe, it's never overly crowded, making it a great place to unwind or enjoy a date night! The cocktail menu is fantastic, and if you're curious about absinthe, this is one of the best places to try it. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable, sharing the history behind each pour and explaining the different varieties. I especially loved that many of the absinthes are named after famous poets and artists - it adds a fun touch to the experience. For dinner, I ordered the spaetzle, and it was delicious. I also love the vintage mirrors throughout the space, it makes the room feel large and grand. Whether you're stopping in for a classic cocktail, an absinthe experience or just enjoying the ambience, Driftwood Room is worth a visit if you're in downtown PDX!

A proper hotel bar. I'm just bummed I didn't get to do their…read moretasting thing. Don't even get me started on the absinthe choices. We got back in to town right at the peak of the parade and lights celebration Saturday. To say it was chaotic would be an understatement. Since roads were closed, the road to my hotel was of course blocked off. So during the first go around we couldn't get to where we needed to be and went instead on a one mile circle which then led is to an area where the guy blocking the road was nice enough to let us through after we told him my hotel was where he was. What a blessing that was indeed because we found a parking spot right across from my hotel. My friend had an hour to kill before she could check in to her hotel since the road was still closed on that side. We lucked out finding two seats right at the bar as soon as you walk in. It was first come first serve and they were busy. Lots of people were trickling in from the festivities to have a drink or two. I got the cucumber cocktail. It was so good I made my friend have a sip. As what usually happens, we ended up making friends with the two ladies next to us who were parade participants representing mardi gras. The hour breezed by so quickly. It was such a fun time I completely forgot to take photos. Hotel guests get 15% off their tab.

Great cocktails and great food! This place has a wonderful vibe and quick service. Years ago, they…read morehad this amazing dahlia salad that I wish would return though. Please bring it back!

We forgot to take pictures of our outstanding food! We were talking and laughing so much! My mom…read moreand I went there for lunch. The service, the ambiance, the background music and the menu were all top notch! It was like a McMenamin feel with a way better menu. The menu had refreshing eclectic choices! We had the oregano fry bread. So fragrant and we loved the dipping sauces. Mom had the lamb burger and she kept saying how tender and savory it was. She never has had lamb before. We were chit chatting with the people next to us about the food and then grew to a wonderful visit with a husband, wife and his mother. They were lovely! We had the lamb burger

TLDR: this is probably the best cocktail bar I have ever been to…read more I used to live a few blocks from here way back when I lived in Portland. Back then, there was an amazing business in here called The Cardinal Room (?). I loved it, they had a romantic cozy ambiance and incredible chicken sandwiches. While the food is gone, the unique, romantic ambience is back and the drinks here are next level. It's a cocktail bar that has amazingly crafted drinks but ZERO pretension about them. In fact, the service here is incredible. Friendly, fun, and frequent. They were very good at just making random creations based solely on flavors you like. But even if you are ordering on-menu, there is something here for everyone and none of the drinks are boring. I plan on coming back here every time I'm in Portland and...I WISH I still lived a couple blocks from here!

The colorful lighting here truly feel like a little dopamine boost. So fun, lively, and a great…read moreplace to end your night. The night we came in, it was super packed - limited seats already, but we were able to find a table in 15 mins. The food is fine, we got the crudo - but with so many amazing restaurants nearby, I'd eat somewhere else first and then swing by here for their cocktails! Which comes in just the cutest mugs! Great for a photo op.

Hands down THE BEST Cocktail lounge in Portland... I've been here several times and I'm always…read moreblown away with the menu, the ambiance and the music... They have a mocktail here that I thought could not be beat.... It's absolutely incredible... I came in tonight to order my dancing Queen mocktail... They offered instead an off menu. Mocktail for me to try... All I can say is in 44 years. I've never had something so delicious and I am very well traveled!!! I can't tell you the name of it. Y'all can come in and check it out but it does how fresh watermelon in it cannot beat that on a hot summer day. I've been waiting for an establishment like this to show up on the west side for over 20 years. So happy I found Wax social.

If you only hit one craft cocktail bar on your visit to Portland, make it this one…read more Wax Social is a speakeasy and vinyl listening lounge tucked inside a Best Western in the West Hills.. and I mean that in the best way possible. Super moody lighting, hundreds of framed musician photos covering every wall, warm comfortable seating, and a custom hi-fi sound system that will rearrange your expectations for what a speakeasy bar and listening lounge can be. It's a hidden gem in the most literal sense: no signage on the outside and nothing to tip you off as you enter the building. To find Wax Social you walk through the hotel lobby at 9900 SW Canyon Rd, up a staircase left of the registration desk, and look around until you find a frosted glass door marked "Listening Lounge." Open it. You'll be glad you did. Start with the cocktails. The menu is split between elevated timeless classics and original house creations, and both sections of this cocktail menu can bang. The King of Pain is rum-forward and finished with an orange coconut foam that looks as good as it tastes. The Watermelon Man showcases Japanese gin and elderflower in a refreshing and complex profile that's hard not to love. The Sweetest Taboo is a mezcal drink built around blue maize, red bell pepper, pineapple, and lime that hits that rare combination of bold and perfectly balanced. Light My Fire brings blanco tequila and Ancho Reyes together with habanero bitters for real depth. If you want to wander off-menu, they can handle that flawlessly too. Over several visits I've enjoyed a Paper Plane, Tommy's Margarita, Gimlet, Last Word, Too Soon, and others, all executed perfectly. On one visit, the guy next to me at the bar was visiting Portland from Sweden and ordered a Flip. I've been to a lot of craft cocktail bars and never heard someone order one. Clayton, one of the bartenders, didn't blink. Went right to work making a luxurious Flip from memory that the customer couldn't stop raving about. I was impressed. Clayton is also working on several rum-forward cocktails coming to the menu later this summer - I love rum drinks enough to say that sitting at the bar talking shop and the concepts he's tinkering with is worth a visit on its own. Full mocktail lineup, plus wine, bubbles, and craft beers. Now about the sound system. DJs spin all-vinyl sets of funk, soul, R&B, and deep cuts across decades on a custom hi-fi setup that sounds absolutely incredible. Even when the DJ is in full flow and the music is turned up, you can still hold an easy conversation with a group of six or eight people. I've been there with a large group in the back corner on couches and comfortable chairs and everyone kept commenting on it. The music is present and powerful and somehow never swallows the laughter and conversation happening around you. They clearly built this bar around the music. The food is a genuine surprise for a craft cocktail lounge. Think small plates/tapas in terms of dining style: you come for the drinks and next thing you know you've ordered half the menu, made a dinner of it, and somehow backed into a beautiful evening of food, drink, and music. Must-orders: ahi poke nachos, deviled eggs, braised pork gnocchi. Don't overlook the shaved asparagus and white bean salad with sherry vinaigrette, Manchego, and crispy shallots. Simple and elegant and every bit as good as the more indulgent plates. Steak bites and shrimp are worth ordering too. Bring friends so you can order more and share. Owners Sean and Travis are present most nights, greeting you at the door and checking in at your table. That care shows in everything here, including a staff that knows how to read the room. A few things worth knowing: parking is easy, the location is simple to reach from Portland or Beaverton, and the bathrooms are spotless. Open late on weekends. Whether you're planning a romantic date night in Portland, a special occasion, a group night out, or just a solo evening at the bar with someone who really knows cocktails, this is your spot. Among the best craft cocktail and listening lounge experiences in the greater Portland metro area. You've gotta check it out.

Amazing drinks and amazing vibes…read more Love finding new places that make Portland feel more like home

We went in for the aquariums, and they were the highlight of the visit. You order and pickup your…read moredrinks from the bar. The cocktails were just okay. My cocktail tasted more like a boba milk tea than a cocktail (the liquor got lost in the milk) but his was decent and had a better balance in liquor and bubbles. The aquariums though are amazing! Well maintained by the owner and the fish are docile and used the people; meaning they don't hide but are swimming around. It made for a great change from the normal cocktail scene.

It's been ages since I been back here, but I am glad that we stopped by after dinner for a…read morecocktail. It was a nice day and we were seated outside. The drinks were tasty as well as the side of fries.

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.

Date: Sunday, March 2nd, 2025 Time: around 4:45pm…read moreParty of: 2 which turned into 4 later *Ru Paul Sparkle Pony ($12) *Glenfiddich 12 yr ($18) *Soda Water ($2) We were meeting up one of my old friends for dinner. Since we had some time to kill, the hubby and I stopped by The Box Social to wait out the 30ish mins. I wanted something light and refreshing so got the sparkle pony. It was indeed bubbly and refreshing. Tho very light given there was vodka in it. The aesthetic of the place is very minimalistic. It was super quiet and bright when we were there. So the vibe can be a little sterile. Bartender was great. We just wanted a quick drink and he delivered. Once my friends joined us, one ordered a quick soda and we were on our way to dinner. Great if you want a very chill bar. Worth checking out for a round. REVIEW #3731

Great date spot, drinks are fantastic. Definitely go for the savory ones. The small bites are good…read moretoo. I highly recommend trying something new and take a chance here. Servers are very helpful and come around consistently.