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.

I wanted to celebrate something special, so I was looking for a nice bar when someone recommended…read morethis place. From the outside, it looks pretty unassuming, so I wasn't expecting much. But as soon as I walked in, I was pleasantly surprised. The interior is beautiful, with a stylish central bar that immediately catches your eye. Although they do serve food, I wasn't very hungry, so I decided to just enjoy a couple of drinks. There are a few dining tables inside if you're planning to have a meal as well.The bartender was incredibly friendly and took the time to chat with me after I asked for a few recommendations. The drinks were excellent, well-balanced, flavorful, and actually tasted like proper cocktails instead of just juice. They definitely didn't skimp on the alcohol either! I'm really glad I chose this place to celebrate. It ended up being the perfect spot for the occasion.

Such a fun atmosphere for a quick drink in Multnomah Village! Drinks were tasty and decor was very…read morefestive for the season. Seating was a bit confusing since we scouted out a couple tables for our group, waited a bit, then started clearing the empty drinks off ourselves before being told that the staff was going to take care of it, but once we were sat at a clear table it was easy to order up at the bar.

Hey Yelp - it's called Hide A While Lounge. Now that that's cleared up, I gotta say I'm pretty…read moreimpressed with the changeover to this place. More lounge-y inside, which is lovely sexy and cool with warm vibes and twinkling chili lights, but to me, it just doesn't jibe with the outdoor area aesthetic-- does it want to be a lounge or a surf bar? I might be splitting hairs here, just an observation. In any case, taken on its own merits, the sleek interior space is very nice indeed, and service was excellent; the menu is compact, but looks promising, and there is a cool TV room in the back where you can literally watch DVD on an old set. Love it! The outdoor area (upfront, overlooking Capital Hwy) is a spacious grassy plot, with a good amount of chairs arranged on either side strategically placed near heaters, and is a great spot to spend summer afternoons - there's even a covered part. To me, it just feels like a completely different business which I guess is good if you can't decide what mood you're in. I'll be back to try the food, and will update then.

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.

I enjoy the vibe at this place. It feels relaxed and rejuvenating. The bartenders are friendly, and…read moreone of them even walked up to me in the lobby area to ask if I needed anything. It was busy with a line, and I was tired of waiting, so I sat down for a while. One of the servers demonstrated excellent situational awareness; once he was done with the busy line, he came to me and asked if he could bring me anything. I was very impressed by his outstanding customer service. This is a great place for EV owners to hang out while charging their vehicles.

Kitchen closed, lack of staff. Would have been nice to know before booking a last minute stay at…read morethis hotel.

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.

Good ambiance but terrible food and most of the people that tend to come in are pretty ratchet.read more

Didn't know what to expect when I heard of this new spot. It was my first time and I went in with…read morelow expectations but now I'm hooked! The back door was open so I slipped in and had the time of my life! Must enjoy back door entrance.

It's a lounge. It's a bar. It's a game room. It's a restaurant. The Silver Birch wears a lot of…read morehats and I guess, depending on your mood, that's a good thing. I'll speak to the lounge/bar part here, which also has several different sides. First, the bar is your standard, modern-looking L-shaped counter, a bunch of stools, etc. it's not quite divey -- seems like it's aspiring to greater heights, though the dimly-lit tables and booths on the other side of the room would beg to differ. There are other tables out in the open, near the big window, better lit and with more of a restaurant vibe. It's all good; you got a nice happy hour, and above- average food for any bar or pub (hence the Kitchen) in the vicinity. The bartenders have all been spot-on, attentive but not pushy and a joy at happy hour. And yep, the chow I've had here to date has been resoundingly tasty, with the cod fish tacos (three) served up nicely slathered with lines of crema and paired with lots of avocado slices. Nice. Hummus plate was a winner too, the fresh hummus working against a nice, robust mix of fresh veggies. Plenty of food here. This is from the regular menu, which also sports a lot of familiar entries --- burgers, wraps, salads, fish and chips, even vegetarian options. Im down with this side of the Silver Birch; the actual kitchen/restaurant looks like it's on the other side of building (separate), so I can't speak to that but I would like to try it sometime. In any case, I like the joint better now than what it used to be, which was a Chinese restaurant; it's airier and lighter and has a better menu. There's karaoke, and the game room has plenty of entertainment. Also, it's located right on a roundabout, so getting into the small on-site parking lot can be a bit tricky.

Sadly the restaurant is closed at this time, this was a good stop if you're in Beaverton not sure…read moreif they're going to reopen at any point.

Fireside Lounge seems like a typical hotel restaurant / bar in that the food is passable, and no…read morefurther effort is made because they have a captive audience. There are not a lot of other dining options in the area, so Fireside is a pretty easy choice. The food is just OK. Definitely stuff that is mass-produced and heated on-site. Prices are mercifully low, so one doesn't feel as though they've been ripped off. There is a big selection of non-alcoholic beverages, which I appreciated. The real standout here was the friendliness of the staff. Everybody I interacted with was very friendly and helpful. There was a band playing during my visit, and they seemed to be as "bar band" as bar bands get. I was the only person who applauded after each song, which was weird to me. I'd have hoped that staff, at least, would have applauded as well.

Over the last few months, I've stopped in for a beverage and sometimes an appetizer. The fireplace…read moreis cozy and the atmosphere comfortable and live music nightly. In the last couple of visits, though, it's different. My past history here prevents me from giving it a 2-star review. I know there has been a management change, and it shows. Some of my favorite staff have departed, seeking greener pastures. The reason for this review now is my most recent purchase ... a $17 glass of Pudding River Pinot Gris. When I found out the price as I cashed out, I felt robbed. I can drive less than 9 miles away and buy a whole bottle for $25. My previous glass of wine that evening was an $8 chardonnay from another local winery. I figured the Pinot Gris couldn't be much more than the Chard, especially one from Pudding River, which I've personally visited so I know their bottle prices. So, before you buy anything at the Fireside Lounge, ask the price. Don't be surprised (aka robbed) as I was.

I searched high and low to find a local pizza spot for a team lunch and due to the number of…read morepositive reviews, I selected Society Pie. To maximize our lunch hour, my team decided to place our order online for pick up so that it would be ready by the time we arrived. Ordering online was super easy and I received an itemized receipt by email as well as a text message when our order was ready (all super important aspects to consider when organizing team lunches for work). When my team arrived our pizzas were ready so we were able to select our beverages, grab a table and enjoy. Because we got there shortly after noon, we got our first pick of a table inside, but it filled up soon after. The vibe is very relaxed, super casual, and it has a local neighborhood feel (with TVs and board games available). Now on to the most important part: the pizza is really good! I opted to try the Peace, Love & Parm (red sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, shaved parm, fresh basil, drizzle of balsamic glaze) with a gluten free crust and really enjoyed it. It tasted fresh and balanced with savory, sweet and salt. Very good. I'll definitely return to try their other signature pies. I'm also interested in trying the salads.

I'd love to tell you that back east is this uniform wonderland of corner pizza shops that all date…read moreback to the early 20th Century and all exist within walking distance of people's homes. But I can't sit here and pretend the last 60 years or so didn't exist. When New York, New Jersey and Connecticut followed their personal Robert Moses out of the cities and into the suburbs, the pizza shops came with them. To this day, in places like Central Jersey, Western Long Island and Central Connecticut, you'll find decent to spectacular pizza shops deposited in the middle of strip-mall hell within a tight delivery radius of acres and acres of tract housing. In Portland's western suburbs--especially the named communities like Tanasbourne, Greenway, Amberglen, and Progress--this was typically the domain of chains like Schmizza, Fultano's, Bellagio's, Odd Moe's and their national competitors. This, for years, kept me and the family away from Society Pie. Located a couple of blocks from our doctors' offices and hospital, Society Pie is tucked away in the middle of Tanasbourne's own strip mall netherworld and ringed by Elmer's, Peet's, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Killer Burger, Menchie's, P.F. Chang's, Wendy's, and Pizza Hut. We knew that Oregon's suburban strip malls hadn't cultivated promising pizza in our more than a decade here, and we didn't see any reason to believe they were about to start now. But an acquaintance told us to try it once, and made a convincing argument. She pointed to its neighbors at Prime Tap House and Biryani Corner and noted that not only were they producing some of the most interesting menus in the area, but they were succeeding where everyone else had failed. Biryani corner had outlasted at least three other biryani spots in Hillsboro alone, while Prime Tap House's fusion taproom menu proved so popular that it's now in the food court at the Ritz-Carlton. Begrudgingly, we went into Society Pie for lunch and found... slices. Yes, any Schmizza here will give you slices, but it is only recently that Portland independents beyond chains like Sizzle Pie and Hotlips would deign to make some slice pies for the lunch rush. Society Pie clearly knew its audience as well, building drink and salad combos around its slices. We arrived late in the day, so slices were held to plain and pepperoni. No problem. We asked for a slice each and varied the drinks: Some just sodas, me a pilsner. I'll say this now: Getting out of a pizza shop here with a beer and a slice for $9 is a small miracle. Back east, a war crime, but here it's a genuine deal. The $6 for a slice and soda is similarly shocking, even considering the pre-pandemic $5 specials of that kind. And Society Pie's menu is loaded with that kind of local math. As for the slice itself? I can see where the five-star people are coming from, but it's honestly the one place where I'm subtracting anything. The crust is REALLY close, but doesn't quite hold up at the edge. The sauce is just a touch sweeter than comparable places, and the cheese has less consistency than it should. That said, they're the first place I've seen offer classic pepperoni as a default instead of falling into Hormel's cup trap or following Schmizza into the strange world of salami-sized cuts. Is it the best pizza I've ever had? No. Is it the best pizza in the Portland metro? No. Is it the best pizza in Hillsboro? No, but not by a high bar. And that latter bar is what matters here. The owners make it very clear that they genuinely care about the community element of owning a pizza shop, and it's something that the absolute best neighborhood pizza shops both back east and here do incredibly well. Can you call yourself a "neighborhood" place if the neighborhood doesn't come in? Can you say you're connected to the community if they don't see themselves in your space? Does it kill you to turn on a college softball game or a random regional sports event if it helps people feel at home for a minute? Even in a place as outwardly sterile as Tanasbourne (and now Washington Square... -ish), Society Pie serves as a place where people can actually use a pizza place as a neighborhood pizza shop, have full conversations on their lunch hour, take dinners home, or plot out their order for pizza parties. Its menu doesn't expand beyond pizzas, dough-based items (knots and breadsticks) and salads, and the menu offerings (shaved parm? pineapple jalapeno? chicken alfredo?) make the build-your-own option incredibly welcome, but it meets a need. Your neighborhood pizza shop doesn't have to be the best pizza you've ever had in your life. It just needs to be affordable, reliably decent, and consistent. Society Pie fills that niche for the communities it's in, and they're better off for having it. It won't be our spot of choice (just a few miles too far), but we'll be back.