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    Paymaster Lounge

    3.9 (264 reviews)
    ModerateLounges
    Closed 2:00 pm - 2:30 am (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    Paymaster Lounge Photos

    Business Info

    PAYMASTER LOUNGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Paymaster Lounge

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    Reviews With Photos

    Fancy Burger with side cup of chili
    Tully B.

    Five-star review for a weekday night at Paymaster with friends. The booths in the front room of the bar make for a great place to gather, share nachos, eat a burger, and have a Jell-O shot. A friend of mine calls the $8.50 cheeseburger his favorite burger in Portland, so I had to try it. He's right that it's great--a tasty bun, crispy pickles (near cucumber), and gooey cheese. My man got the Fancy burger and loved the bacon and balsamic. It is a special treat that you can order a cup of chili instead of fries. Had to treat my man. Service is chill, order at the bar, get a number, they drop your food, and make rounds to clean up your table. There is pinball in the annex-like back area and a full, warmed patio that is fun too. Baked mac and cheese is also legit. Paymaster is cool any day of the week!

    Inside. The Sopranos pinball machine in the back. Cool.
    Daniel B.

    We had a great time at the Paymaster Lounge in Slabtown, located in Portland's Northwest District. We did a mini bar hop from The Triple Lindy ( https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-triple-lindy-portland ) a few doors down. We visited around 6:00-8:00pm on a Friday night. This is a hip, popular spot and much bigger than the place we'd just come from. Both are good places - they just have different vibes. Here, there was a bouncer checking IDs at the door. This place is eclectic in terms of both decor/ambiance and patrons, who were mostly 20 and 30-somethings. There are several different indoor and outdoor spaces to hang out. There are two indoor bars, front and back, a room with pinball machines (including a Sopranos pinball machine which I thought was cool) and a photo booth, a spacious, covered outdoor patio, and a narrow, fenced-in, string-lit, uncovered patio for smokers. The latter was the busiest area and apparently the place to be. There's also seating in front of the storefront, next to the sidewalk on NW 17th Ave. Our group of 10 sat at a couple of the picnic tables outside on the covered patio. This place was loud (but not too loud) and busy. All of us got drinks and some got some food as well. Service was fine and the bathroom I used, by the back bar, was as clean as one could reasonably expect. Upon leaving, we bused the tables ourselves. This is a fun spot. I'd come back. Paymaster Lounge originally opened as Moonshine Kitchen & Lounge in July 2011. From an April 8, 2014 article by Rebecca Jacobson of Willamette Week: "After an Austin, Texas, bar called Moonshine sent a cease-and-desist, Moonshine became Balls the Cat's Moonshine Kitchen and Lounge, and then finally Paymaster, named after the building's previous check-writing business." https://www.wweek.com/portland/article-22303-bar-guide-2014-paymaster-lounge.html

    Pina colada slushee
    Amelia R.

    Paymaster lounge is located near the pear district downtown Portland. Street parking is available as well as nearby public transit. Paymasters offers indoor and outdoor seating. This bar is great for large groups as well as accommodates good seating for small and single person parties. I don't drink alcohol often and was pleased with their mocktail offerings. I enjoyed the lavender lemonade and the zero proof hot apple cider. I was surprised by how good their food offering were, definitely bar type food but elevated. Definitely get the nacho or queso! All of the staff were friendly and quick despite there being a decent line for a Thursday night. I will be back!

    Tasty smash burger. Esculent bun and amazing patty.
    Michael M.

    Cass and crew help create a positive vibe that welcomes everyone who walks into the Paymaster. This bar is special and has rooms out back like layers to an onion. Also the best burger in NW/SW Portland. A++!

    Nachos with artichoke hearts
    Tamara C.

    I met a couple of friends here recently and we hung out on their awesome patio. The first thing I noticed is that they have a guy working the door checking ID's. Which I thought was smart as it keeps the ankle biters out and you only show your ID once. I was here probably 7 years ago and don't remember the patio looking like this. Now it's covered and the cover is some sort of plastic that isn't clear, yet isn't so opaque as to keep out the natural light. This is a great spot for large groups. They have several picnic tables set end to end that could easily accommodate a group of up to 14 people. Me and Robert H. noticed that they also have a pool table out on the patio. When Rose E. arrived we decided we would share the nachos. I elected to have artichokes added to the nachos. What I really liked about the nachos, besides the fact that they use Juanita's corn chips, is they use fresh avocado instead of guacamole. I would totally come back here for their nachos. This was during the second mask mandate so they took mask precautions pretty seriously. You couldn't order at the bar without a mask on. The only reason they don't get 5 stars is because everything is self service with the exception of somebody bringing out the food order. You're expected to go order your drinks at the bar and the pours aren't that generous and you have to bus your own table. None of those reasons will keep me away. I really dig those nachos. 2021 - Review # 42

    Menu (Feb 2023)
    Charlie T.

    I haven't been here since pre-covid. I really like the renovation to the place. Both the indoor bars (one in the front and one on the back) are easy to get drinks from. The outside back patio is nice and spacious. They have some efficient heating lamps to help keep you warm during the cold days. The drinks are reasonably priced and are the food. We only ordered some fries and tots this visit.

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    10 months ago

    Great bartender! Good vibes and omg jello shots lol, just noticed they got food too. Will be checking that out next visit!

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    2 years ago

    A casual ambiance place for hanging out with friends if one is in the mood for drinks and some light food.

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    9 months ago

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    5 years ago

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    1 year ago

    The burgers were amazing, service was excellent, and it was such a cute spot! 10s across the board!

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    3 years ago

    Great service on front and back bar. Very neighborhood feel. Easy to meet new petiole and run into old friends!

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    4 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Funky place with two bars and outdoor seating. Great beers and food. Has a dive feeling that is really cool. Great place to hang.

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    2 years ago

    Jenny loves this bar and its people. 10 million stars from Jenny and she loved the hot dog. Great.

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    7 years ago

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Paymaster Lounge

    Our group has a lot of babies, are kiddos allowed during early hours?

    Are dogs allowed in the covered patio area?

    Are you allowed to bring card games here?

    Yes

    View All 4 Questions

    Review Highlights - Paymaster Lounge

    (Though the vending machine by the bathrooms is a great place to get a little distracted....) To reiterate: the best.

    Mentioned in 16 reviews

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    Teardrop Cocktail Lounge - Charcuterie and cheese board

    Teardrop Cocktail Lounge

    4.4(1k reviews)
    0.5 miPearl District
    $$

    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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    Teardrop Cocktail Lounge - Custom Created cocktails by the mixologist!

    Custom Created cocktails by the mixologist!

    Teardrop Cocktail Lounge - Filthy Vodka Martini from the local Timber Line distillery.

    Filthy Vodka Martini from the local Timber Line distillery.

    Teardrop Cocktail Lounge - Late check out and Saturn cocktail drinks

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    Silk Road - Mandarin wings

    Silk Road

    4.5(131 reviews)
    0.3 miPearl District

    Silk Road is sick -- honestly, that's the headline. It's one of those places that doesn't really…read moreneed a long explanation because the vibe hits you the second you walk in. The food is genuinely excellent, way above what most people would consider "bar food." Calling it a bar almost feels wrong anyway. It's much closer to a lounge -- or better yet, someone's very cool living room that just happens to serve great food and drinks. The space is intimate, low-lit, and comfortable in a way that makes you want to settle in and stay a while rather than rotate out for the next group. Drinks are fun, creative, and clearly made with intention. Prices are on the higher side, but that's city dining -- and here it actually feels justified. You're paying for the atmosphere as much as what's in the glass, and in this case the atmosphere delivers. Overall, the ambience is very intimate, relaxed, and just plain cool. It's the kind of spot that invites repeat visits, and I've found myself going back time and time again without getting tired of it.

    Looking for a late night spot with a date after a show or event? This is pretty solid! Dark,…read morebougie, lounge vibes with some pretty good Chinese food! I couldn't see it very well, but it was delicious! We got a table, but you order at the bar...so maybe sit at the bar. Dumplings and their sauce were the star! Highly recommended! General Tso Chicken pretty good! Portions small with higher price, which matches the spot. I would come again!

    Photos
    Silk Road - Inside

    Inside

    Silk Road - Cucumber salad

    Cucumber salad

    Silk Road - Salt and pepper calamari

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    Driftwood Room - Clam Chowder

    Driftwood Room

    4.3(349 reviews)
    0.7 miGoose Hollow, Southwest Portland
    $$

    Ideal dark bar vibe! Perfect place for a cocktail late night…read more Drinks were great. Our table order a variety of drinks and none of them were really sweet. The ambience is low lighting, lounge, playing Amy Winehouse. Also they have absinthe if you're in to that! Our server was really kind and was able to give great recommendations. The space itself is pretty small.

    Driftwood Room is an interesting one. If you've been watching Mad Men like I have recently, you'll…read morefeel right at home -- minus the misogyny and the occasional cringe reminder that this era wasn't actually that long ago. The room drops you straight into a version of 1950s America that's been preserved just enough to feel nostalgic without feeling like a museum. Low lighting, wood everywhere, cocktails that feel like they belong in a glass with a heavy base and a quiet sense of purpose. It works, and it works for just about anyone. The drinks are excellent, and the service is generally solid. That said, this is a hotel bar, and it's often staffed by a single bartender, so your experience can vary depending on who's behind the stick that night. I've had great visits here -- the kind where everything flows -- and I've had nights that were just okay. Nothing bad, just inconsistent in a way that comes with the territory. And that's really the crux of it. At the end of the day, this is a hotel bar. Which means drinks come with a premium -- not outrageous, but noticeable. You're paying a bit extra for the setting, for the history, for the fact that it's there when you need it. And while the cocktails are well-made, Portland has no shortage of places doing equally good, if not better, work for the same price or maybe a dollar more. Timing matters here. Weekdays are ideal -- when the room feels like it's yours, when you can actually settle into it. Weekends are a different story. Travelers roll in, rightfully ready to unwind, and suddenly you're competing for space, for attention, for a seat at the bar. So why go? Because when it hits, it really hits. It's a place to lean into the mood a little. Order something off their house cocktail list -- they clearly put thought into it -- and let yourself sink into that old-school rhythm where day drinking feels less like a vice and more like a quiet ritual. It's not perfect. It's not the best value in the city. But it is one of the more distinct experiences you can have -- and sometimes, that's enough.

    Photos
    Driftwood Room - Mirrors everywhere & cool driftwood sculptures

    Mirrors everywhere & cool driftwood sculptures

    Driftwood Room - Olives & Focaccia

    Olives & Focaccia

    Driftwood Room - Baked Halibut

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    Paymaster Lounge - lounges - Updated May 2026

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