I've only heard good things about room for improvement and I was so glad to finally make it there! This low ceiling, cozy bar has moody, lighting, booths, bar seating, and an outdoor standing bar. It's such a vibe for a late night drinking or grabbing a quick bite as they have such good food! They've made using the restroom fun as it's decorated with Polaroids from guests, and another funny item (you'll have to see for yourself) You need to get their espresso martini. The cold foam topping it off is the most delicious thing I've ever had. read more

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I enjoyed the bar that use to be located here that was called Jager. It was all German themed and I mostly went for the beers. Room for Improvement has been around for quite awhile at this point and I have heard nothing but positive about it. My wife and I finally made the time to come here and glad we did. With it being Halloween they have a special theme this week called Doom for Improvement so we thought it was the perfect time to visit! We showed up at opening for a spot to beat Halloween crowd on wharf street. I was reminded of Jager right away in the sense it felt familiar while also feeling new. They decked it out with Halloween decorations and bartenders were dressed up. We had Bojack Horseman serving us who was a top notch bartender, friendly, answered any questions and had good vibes! My wife tried their Pineapple Daiquiri and their Espresso Martini. I went with the Halloween themed drinks and got the Rest In Peeses that was a peanut butter (Reese's) themed Old Fashioned. Secondly I grabbed their Plenty Evil that was inspired by the Good & Plenty candy Absinthe Frappe. My wife's drinks were phenomenal and would both be go to orders for her and we both found a new favorite Espresso Martini. My first drink nailed the perfect mix of peanut butter flavor with a classic Old Fashioned. Secondly despite not being a huge licorice/good & plenty candy this drink was delicious! I look forward to returning for a non Halloween themed visit but we were both extremely impressed. If you are looking for a bar to grab drinks and want a nice and chill vibe this is your spot. Expect friendly bartenders who make high quality drinks! read more

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Cool vibe here. However it's like a speakeasy, not easy to find. The directions from Waze put me on the wrong street and the sign in the alley wasn't clear. Cool bar good cocktail and atmosphere. read more

Room for Improvement - The cocktail bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

I had visitors in town and this spot was on their list. This is a funky little bar, that must be jammed on the weekends with the Old Port crowd. We made a stop before a concert at The State. What a great way to spend a warm late afternoon! Our server was super helpful, friendly, and kind. The bar inside is unique and looks like a dive bar. They make super cocktails and while we didn't eat, it looks like there are a few great choices for bar food. Also, I was told that the bathroom is IG-worthy. Plan a stop! read more

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Room For Improvement was such a fun place. They took over for Yeager. It can accommodate one or 5 people at a time (potentially more). They have some rounded booths as well as seats at the bar. The service was impeccable. Both the bouncer and server tried to make our experience good. We also got some red hot dogs and the soft pretzel with mustard. Everything was exceptional. It may feel pricy with wanting to order many things, but it is very decently priced. It's in a great location - walking distance to many other places. It is not handicap accessible unfortunately. There are a few steps to enter and no designated parking. The best bet is to park on commercial street or fore street. I would definitely come back! read more

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Nice quaint local bar in downtown Portland. Youthful crowd (25-35) of folks, most of which seemed to be locals or regulars on a Monday night. Bar tenders were quick and attentive. Made a great old fashioned and clearly enjoyed working there and spreading cheers. Great tunes playing in the background but not too loud either. I'd definitely go back the next time I'm in town on business. Cheers ! read more

Fun and hipster, with a little bit of nostalgia, Room for Improvement is one of my favorite places to bring visitors when we want to go out in Portland! The drinks are reasonably priced and delicious. The shots (espresso martini shot, I'm looking at you) are dangerous. You've been warned. If you have good attention to detail, you'll find the beer menu cheeky. I found it comical and totally appropriate that their food offering was a selection of hotdogs with childhood favorites such as orange cheese balls. Staff was plenty friendly, offering our group a table as soon as one opened and no issues getting drinks at the bar on a Friday night. I'm graciously awaiting for more of their iconic merch to drop! read more

TL;DR: best cocktail bar we tried in Portland, with great service, fun vibes and the most amazing drinks! We almost walked past the door to this place which made me like it immediately - it's on a busy alleyway with a bunch of other bars and restaurants and has a nondescript entrance. It doesn't try hard at all and that is what sold me on the place. It's very divey looking on the inside, and has super fun decor and played rock music amongst other things. The service was extremely friendly, helpful and fast and our server was so friendly. The drinks were really well executed and the furthest from divey I've ever tasted! The bathroom is fun - check it out when you're there. Their menu has great aesthetics and very fun to read. One of the bartenders is a bartender I've seen featured on the Food52 channel so I was feeling very positive about our drinks. And they were... So. Good. And very reasonably priced after drinking through bars in NYC and SF Aviation: I loved the addition of pomegranate and cardamom. This is one of my favorite drinks and I loved their take on it. Espresso martini: ridiculously good - they need to bottle that salty coconut foam and sell it Pimms Cup: extremely well balanced and not too sweet, this was so refreshing Oaxacan Old fashioned: not as smokey as expected since they had both mezcal and tequila, and the chili demerara added a nice kick We got seated right away after an early dinner. But the bar got packed very quickly, though they also had seats outdoors. The bar serves food too but we didn't try anything. read more

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Great cocktails and very attentive staff. Great dive bar ambiance with excellent cocktails. Didn't try the hot dogs. read more

Room for Improvement - Entrance - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

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We had a great time here! All the bartenders were beyond nice--super friendly and welcoming. Dan was the greatest made our experience phenomenal. The hot dogs were delicious, and we loved the upbeat vibes and great music. It's definitely a fun spot to hang out. Just a heads-up: the space is pretty small and fills up quickly, so it can get crowded fast. But if you're okay with that, it's totally worth it! read more

Room for Improvement - Hazy IPA, Raspberry Lemons Drop, green tea shots - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

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I loved this bar so much I went twice in three days, first time with a group of five and the second time with my partner. Room for Improvement is a spunky dive bar that serves incredible cocktails - their gimlet is the best one I've ever tasted. I also loved their "Ground Control" cocktail, which is surprising and vegetal and delicious. The bartenders are wonderful, this place has such a chill, fun atmosphere, and they've got great bar food (cheese balls, hot dogs, soft pretzels). There are a few larger group tables that seat 5-6, but this place gets crowded pretty early so the tables are in high demand. We sat at the bar the second time round, which was also a great time. We can't wait to be back! read more

Room for Improvement - gimlet - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

Very good cocktails! Tried the spicy margarita and the old fashion. Both were made perfectly. Just the right amount of spicy in the margarita and just the right amount of vermouth in the manhattan. The glasses each was served in were also spot on! The bar has a very tight fit. Bar stools are very close together. If you're not ready to get cozy with whomever you're having a cocktail with, this place not be the right fit. read more

This cocktail lounge is perfect to end your night and I must say, the drinks were great! It's got a hipster vibe to it and after trying all the other cocktail places in town, this one was great to end on as it is on the busy strip and was also fun to people watch. read more

Do not sleep on this place. We got right in when they opened, and glad we snagged a spot at the bar! It's a small place but worth the wait. Their gin martini and white negroni was two of the best cocktails I've ever had. Loved the vibe in there and the bartenders were awesome! Definitely a must for your trip to Portland. read more

Room for Improvement - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

Solid drinks. Simple without many ingredients. Food wise they have fantastic hotdog. I'm not even a hot dog person but theirs is truly spectacular. Sit by the bar if you can. Bartenders work like a factory and bang it every single time. Super quick service. If you come during dinner time on the weekend, u will get a spot immediately. read more

Room for Improvement - Espresso martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

Very cool little back alley bar. Amazing staff, super fun atmosphere, ROCKIN music, and just an overall cool place. My wife and I absolutely loved the drink menu and the espresso martini, as many have said, is epic. Unfortunately, the few other drinks we tried leave some "room for improvement," pun intended. I can't remember our other drinks (and having trouble finding current menu on here right now), but I believe I got a piña colada, among others, which was a traditional recipe plus poblano. This was really solid... until the poblano hit and it completely overpowered the other ingredients. The other drinks were similarly less-than-balanced. I'm all for trying new things and twists on classics as they are doing here, but it seems like maybe trying to push the envelope a little too far. A pair of girls next to us did the Mind Eraser and were likewise less than enthused with the end result. Don't get me wrong, we will absolutely come back here, but I hope they can dial in some of the flavor profiles a little and put this place into 5 star territory. read more

Loved this bar!! Such a cool vibe and the drinks were top notch. There are tables and bar space and our server was very attentive. Would highly recommend! read more

awesome little bar. expansive cocktail and shot list. excellent service. highly recommend read more

Room for Improvement - espresso martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

Great dive bar feel with cool decor, yummy cocktails, and a great bartender. The drinks were reasonably priced for Portland. must get the espresso martini shot!!! read more

Room for Improvement - Espresso martini shot - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

Cocktails are lovely, recently rated one of the top espresso martinis, and I understand why! Lively atmosphere, gets crowded at night read more

Room for Improvement - Ube cocktail, espresso martini, spicy margarita - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

Awesome cocktails, quick service and authentic atmosphere if you can get in. Winner winner daiquiri dinner

A dive bar that actually makes well-balanced and tasty cocktails - sign me up!! Add in cheese balls eaten with chopsticks, to avoid orange fingers, and it's the cherry on top :) Vibe is definitely chill and is a great place to hang for a few before or after dinner. They do have a small food menu too if you get too settled and decide to stay put ;) read more

Room for Improvement - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

Cool place for a late night cocktails with the girls or for date night! I love the interior vibes and the drinks were so good! Service was also fantastic! read more

Room for Improvement - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Room for Improvement is small, dark, lively, and a bit hipster. While it's definitely far cooler than me, this has become one of my favorite bars. It's the perfect solution when you're looking for a spot less fancy than a Blyth, but not wanting a full-scale dive like a Dock Fore. The owner, Arvid, created the outstanding bar programs at Baharat and Crispy Gai, so the cocktails live up to the high quality expectations. Most are classics with a twist. For instance, the Negroni is pineapple washed and coconut infused. The Martini has apricot and orange bitters. It's nice seeing more fun versions of cocktails that you recognize. Of course there's Mind Eraser shots (from a specific Mind Eraser machine?!), strong as eff Daiquiris, and other various shots and creative cocktails to ensure your day is Uber worthy. For those who won't order cocktails, there is also cheap beer, local Apres seltzer and (expensive) natural wine. It's a boisterous atmosphere, with a playlist I trust is trendy and an Instagram-approved bathroom. The staff is amazingly friendly and you'll become best buds with the bar crowd around you: I've made drunken plans with traveling salesmen twice so far this summer. Does Room for Improvement have room for improvement? As much as I love red snappers, there's not much for food, so plan accordingly. Otherwise, maybe just add "No" to the bar name? read more

My sister and I stopped here for a night out in Portland on a roadtrip in July and are still fixated on the gimlet months later. The ambiance/service and other offerings are also fantastic, but we seriously do exchange texts about this cocktail on a regular basis and I have been chasing the high ever since. A must stop for anyone looking for a funky night out downtown read more

I love, love, LOVE room for improvement, not only because it is a great bar serving top level bar food, but because it actually is a new bar that feels like OLD Portland. Dive bar vibes with an elevated food and Bev menu. And when I say elevated I don't mean caviar. I mean red snapper hot dogs in fresh locally made brioche-esque buns with Morse's kraut, pickles, and their amazing grainy mustard sauce. The pretzels come from the same Portland bakery as the buns and were the perfect bite, again featuring that delicious mustard sauce. Will be back for sure! read more

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Great atmosphere, unpretentious but not totally rundown, the place has character. Best implementation of classic and quality cocktails; drinks were very balanced. The Gimlet was so good that it makes me want to drink that from now on. The service was fantastic. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly. We would've stayed there longer, but it got very crowded, and the place is not big. Also, their restroom wasn't working when we needed it. read more

I really want to love this place, but I have been here twice and both times they weren't my favorite. It is in a great location right on wharf street and the service is super friendly. The bar tenders were great and the drinks were okay. There is nothing wrong with this place, maybe it just isn't my vibe. My friend loves this bar- so maybe it's just me. It is a hipster bar with fancy cocktails. The only food they have is hot dogs and a few apps. I would suggest checking it out but unless someone else wants to go I probably wouldn't suggest it. read more

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I would like to avoid giving this place a review to keep it easier to get into but it is totally worth it! The bar program is very good if not excellent! The coconut fat washed Negroni is award worthy and their espresso martini is worth all the write ups and hype. Most people who live in Portland avoid wharf st like the plague. But this is one of the few spots in this incredibly touristy area that even the locals will go to because it is that good. It's a great, hip, divey-ish bar that also has some good snacks. The bartenders are also just so nice considering the amount of tourist shenanigans that happen on that street late night. read more

Great bar, good atmosphere. The espresso martin was the best any of us ever had, we must have ordered 100 of them in 3 days last week. We were on a guys trip for 3 nights and spent more time here than the other bars. Every drink was good, bartenders were fast and made consistent/great drinks. Staff was friendly Tight place for a large group but worth it read more

Awesome atmosphere, fantastic drinks! The bathroom is a must visit, everything I read about the espresso martini is true. Try it

Awesome vibes and delicious drinks!! Service is efficient and everyone is friendly. Would definitely recommend the Gimlet (10/10)

This space is pretty amazing. First walking in you think this is a hipsters dream. The place was packed, we sat then quickly got a spot at the bar. I want to say the safe was amazing, they all seemed like the really were having a great time. For sure this is a place to stop and check things out. read more

Room for Improvement - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

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The drinks are solid. Comparable to europe. Everyone including the bouncers were very friendly. Aesthetics are clean and well thoughtout. Overall a good place to hang out with your friends to enjoy an evening. read more

Dope spot. Not much seating so get here early. Service is great and drinks are fantastic. Came to Portland for a bach party and we found ourselves coming here to start our night 3 nights in a row. read more

I'm already a big fan. The words 'hipster dive bar' will probably get thrown around and I guess you could call it that as a compliment. To me it's the perfect bar for Wharf Street that I never knew I needed. It's dark like the basement bar Maps, but while that is primarily beer (and vinyl) forward, Room for Improvement is all about the cocktails. Primarily any popular cocktail you can think of, but done really well. Think Expresso Martinis, Mai Tais, dirty martinis, mojitos, but all with a slight twist, and all relatively affordable around $12-14. There are a few specialty shots, bottled and draft beer, beer/shot combos, wine, the fun Mind Eraser. It's a low-key boozy fun park, but not the kind where you fight people and puke (that's next door). The only food I can remember is a fancied up red snapper hot dog on a Little Spruce bun and I think maybe some Morses sauerkraut for $7. We visited on a Friday night and it got busy fast. They had two bartenders that were working their asses off and I LOVED that they also had a super nice guy making the rounds checking on everyone around the perimeter tables/wall bar and seeing if they if they needed anything (the bartenders would also do this during lulls). This made the experience so, so much better than if you had to order at the bar each time, yelling over seated customers. Truly, thank you to all involved for not trying to be too cool and making everyone have to wait in line to order. Because it's so small, eventually it did turn into people just standing in the middle and drinking, which I didn't enjoy and the waitstaff likely enjoyed even less. I'm not sure how you tactfully fix that. It should be very busy in the summer even without a lot of food, and as an old man day drinker, I would love if they did the occasional afternoon hours on weekends or something, but I'm 10/10 on this place and cannot wait to go back. I've gushed enough that I should say I do not know the owners or anyone else who works here, but they may get to know me if I'm there every day pounding Mind Erasers. read more

Awesome little bar with great drinks and ambience! The bartenders were awesome and were on their game!

The name is a bit misleading, as I can't imagine anything about our experience improving. The drinks, snacks, and atmosphere were perfectly executed and the staff was patient and accommodating. Can't wait to go back! read more

Quirky and awesome. Was suggested by our server for dinner and did not disappoint one we figured out where it was.

Awesome spot! Really amazing drinks. Undeniable hospitality. Don't miss this on your Portland visit.