Really brilliant atmosphere and the bartender is amazing Be sure to tip generously The music is amazing Good beer and fun friendly people read more

Starday Tavern - Monthly Events - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

On July 11, 2026 I called to ask a simple question. The woman who answered seemed to have the disposition of someone who is eating and processing glass with her better days far behind her. The tone of voice reeked of stale cigarettes and lonely stray cats, which painted the picture of our conversation as she yelled at me for a simple inquiry. I'm not sure about the rest of the elements of the Starday Tavern, but more than likely, I won't be going here. read more

Wanna have fun with friends and/or family, get a few drinks, have a few laughs, make new friends, maybe catch a few guitar licks - well here it is, come on over. It may not be 'Cheers', but the corner bar where everyone get to know your name is the Starday Tavern! This watering hole offers licks that on any day can be Rock, Blues, Folk or Country and the feel is comforting, laid back and inviting. This clean, comfy and relaxed community driven dive offers you name it in beers (either bottle, can or draught), liquor and beverages from some of the nicest behind-the-bar folks you'll ever find anywhere! While on our last visit to Portland some pals and fam from the neighborhood invited us to join them on a visit to Starday and it was thoroughly enjoyable! Starday rate a 4.6 on Google and 4.2 on Yelp for good reason. This old building and its interior décor take you back to yesteryear of the good old neighborhood bar. I'm not a bar fan, but next visit to Portland, I'll be back! read more

If you like dive bars, you'll probably love Starday Tavern. It is as divey of a dive bar as I've been to. I came here to see a band perform, and the layout is pretty peculiar. There are literally only a handful of seats in front of the stage, with a smallish dancefloor between the two. Volume levels are entirely too loud for this small of a venue, and the lighting is terrible. Being located on Foster street, parking is a MAJOR pain in the back side. I got extremely lucky and found a parking space directly in front, but some band members weren't so fortunate, and had to walk their gear quite a way to get to the venue. The highest point of my visit was with the bar staff. They were very friendly, provided great recommendations for non-alcoholic beverages, and were very prompt. Food-wise, they server slices of pizza from Atlas Pizza right next door. This is convenient, and mine was served to me piping hot. read more

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It's a pretty common Portland-style dive bar. As a nearby neighbor, I don't love that they think blasting music that can be heard a block and a half away is okay. It's just rude. There are apartments above them. I can't even imagine. They should be better neighbors. I doubt they care though. read more

Solid pours, great selection of beers and ciders on tap, in bottles or cans. Attentive professional staff Friendly clientele A great place to spend an afternoon and/or evening. read more

Another weird ass Portland no one uses deodorant Spot but drinks were good and cheap so if you want regular price drinks it's a good spot read more

Mariah is awesome! We came here to grab a drink while we found another place to go to, BUT due to her being so awesome we stayed. Four Jell-O shots later and two drinks we're still here. This place is fun, the decor is interesting and the vibe is nice no one was rude everyone was welcoming. p.s. you get a free Jell-O shot if it's your first time here read more

Brought in an empty can, didn't find a recycling bin, bought a drink from them, was kicked out for bringing "outside drinks" by a bald man 10 minutes later. read more

Love love love this place. Great dive. Great people. Great music. Great dogs. Thank you Justin for providing such a welcoming place for the local community. P.s. Lucas is rad. read more

Love music and cheap drinks. Staff was friendly. Pizza is available from atlas pizza. Street parking and they have lottery machines.

Do you like French Bulldogs? Would you like to be greeted at the door by the sweetest one you've ever met? How about a rad dive bar? Look no further folks! This place would be my #1 hangout spot if I lived in Portland. It rocks. Go if you like genuine people & a comfortable atmosphere. Just everything I look for in a dive bar! And great eats all around the neighborhood. Just do yourself a favor and go. read more

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This bar has something for everyone. Euchre on Mondays. Music on Fridays and Saturdays (and sometimes other days), lotto, drinks, and food. There's a full bar, beers on draft and in the bottle, ciders, hard seltzer, and I even got a fresh made hot buttered rum once! The bartenders are friendly. And now they have sandwiches Thursday through Sunday! read more

Starday Tavern - Caprese sandwich from Sidebar Sandos. - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

New management and name for an old dive bar. They have live music about 5 days a week starting early, at 8. That draws a less rowdy neighborhood crowd of more varied ages than other establishments nearby. A small selection of taps included macros, Burnside Brewing and Ft George. Full bar and basic food: nachos, chili, dogs and burgers. WiFi. $1 taco Fridays. The room is long and narrow, with a small stage in front by the window, tall tables with barstools and a few booths. Great staff excited to create a new FoPo spot. read more

Portlands best kept secret. AMAZING music programming, awesome bartenders, and fair drinks. Ignore the smell.

The new owners who actually work there are some of the greatest people I've ever met! You can expect good things from these guys, and their fat little meatloaf of a dog, Ghengis. Starday is a comfy little live music dive, located in the "last bastion" of a neighborhood in Southeast, affectionately known as FoPo. Charmingly, rough[er] around the edges, this is where you go to get a taste of old Portland, and all of its friendly, inviting, small-town-feel, everybody-knows-you're-name, type of spot. This bar embodies every element of that sentiment. So, if you're down for cheap booze, live music, and a few smiles, stop in soon! read more

Starday Tavern - BOOM - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Fantastic little dive. Some of my buddies play open mic here on Thursday nights so I've been showing up on the odd Thursday. Even though the place is a little sleepy I really like the atmosphere. Plus, Blazin Ribs and Teriyaki just opened up in there so they have some pretty killer looking food options. Josh, the bartender, is super nice and down to earth and is an asset to the place. If you're ever on Foster and need a drink don't overlook this hidden gem! read more

Starday Tavern - Open mic at starday - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Thanks so much for doing everything possibly to keep us safe and able to enjoy a drink!

Love Starday Tavern. Went there for lunch the other day. Simple menu. Tasted great! It was nice chillin outside in the shade with some beverages and food. Thanks Justin for keeping it going. read more

Great divey bar with good vibes, good drinks, and good service. Great live music regularly, too. And dog friendly to boot!

Starday bills itself as Portland's Okayest Bar. They're dedicated to being just okay and they do a pretty dang good job of it. I came here to watch some NLDS games, and the ladies behind the bar handled having their quiet evenings interrupted by some loud, emotionally loaded Cubs fans pretty well. They were without question the best thing about the place, attentive and quick and just the right amount of attitude. The bar itself is pretty ordinary. It's long and skinny with some booths. There's not much of a menu (the burgers was still crossed off during my visits, dang the luck), they bring in pizza from somewhere nearby that's okay. They also sell bags of chips, which is far better than okay. They charge a fee for using cards, which is super un-okay. They're on a weird stretch of way out Foster, also less than okay unless you like playing Frogger for Hawaiian food. Not my jam. Also not my jam, live music. Why tiny bars think big amps are a good idea will never make sense to me. Still, Starday is definitely the okayest bar in Portland. read more

Have to write sort of a review of being told I had to leave from there tonight. To start things off I was coming in to enjoy the music/entertainment tonight. That never happened. So I walked in was going to purchase a drink but decided to play video poker. While I was playing video poker the male bartender came up to me. (He was really nice and understandable and took my side in this embarrassing moment) so he proceeds to tell me that Elton Cray had supposedly called or talked to me earlier in the day. This was one and not the only lie he tells because I texted him saying I'm coming to support you at your venue tonight and it's gonna be hella dope. Never got a answer back. But long story short bartender asked me to leave because this disrespectful person Elton did not want me there. Couldn't understand what I did or anything because I was gambling waiting for the line at the bar to go down. But I talked with the male bartender and we agreed that I will leave after spending money at the Starday Tavern. The only thing I could think of he wanted me to leave was because of a guy named Jerry was showing up and he didn't want this guy to know that I was there. Pretty scandalous if you may say. But I won't be back here at the Starday Tavern since Elton lies and just embarrassing me over a situation which I just got off work and wanted to enjoy a beer. read more

Super friendly service, somewhat older and very friendly crowd, lots of live and other music related events plus ghengis!

The owners: Rule. The dog: (D)rules. The bartenders: awesome. This place cultivates an atmosphere of love and fun. Lots of great music comes through here, and even when it's loud, you don't want to go anywhere because the people and this place are great. read more

Small, but a nice, fun dive bar. Lots of activities (bingo, euchre, movie night), dog friendly. Frequent live music, too. Great neighborhood bar / hangout spot. read more

Stopped here after 5 and dimes. Cool place until this goth chick showed up. Obviously she didn't want to be there and took it out on the customers. Poison for the business. Spend your money elsewhere. Management needs to handle their staff. We're just trying to have a drink. Threatening to smash a cookie in a customers face is very unprofessional. read more

Starday is the vibes!! Place has a real community neighborhood feel, even if you're not from the neighborhood. Folks are friendly and welcoming, still holding it down for live music, which is consistently outstanding. Been coming here for years every time I'm in Portland and never disappoints. 8 bucks for a shot of Old Crow is a special "only in Portland" kind of insanity. But I love this place too much to give it anything less than 5 stars. read more

Justin might just be the best bar owner i've ever dealt with in Portland, great little dive venue and a deep appreciation for FOPO bands and artists In this two block stretch you've got Da Hui, Double Treble, Bar Carlo, O'Malley's, etc. but Starday stands alone as the only place I grab a brew in this neighborhood! read more

Depending on when you go, this place might be slow, or crawling with late-night revelers. The current owners are a husband and wife team... both make their patrons feel right at home. Many a silver-tequila-hazed evening have I spent here, enjoying the fine local ambience, that is SE Foster. read more

Here now, relaxing after a tasty NYstyle slice. Come join me! Music starts 6 pm tonight, to support Save outdoorschoolforall.org Alexa Wiley at 7! Coolness includes excellent Air Conditioning! read more

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My experience can be a bit racial but I am also Asian. My group of friends and I walked in to an Asian bartender who was unfriendly to myself and said I was falling asleep when one of my male friends really was the one. As soon as my friends and I walked into the bar, you looked like you hated your job, didn't want to be there and that 'sour' face stayed like that throughout our stay there even though we were pleasant customers and bought all your Jell-O shots even for strangers walking into the door. Personally I don't think she liked females or Asians because one of my male friends said she was nice and having a rough time because she followed her boyfriend to Portland from NY and that there was trouble in paradise. Bartender 101: have some interpersonal social skills that are unbiased please. read more

Great little bar. Reasonable prices and a friendly atmosphere. I plan to make it a regular stop. read more

Starday Tavern - a bar with a red counter - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

One of the best dive bars in Portland! Staff is great, shows are great, people are great, it's all great!!

Fun dive bar on the east side! Love the cheap drinks and atmosphere. Miriah is a kick ass bartender!

Love this little neighborhood gem. They have great drinks, live music, good food and you get to cuddle with the owners dog . Happy to have this in my neighborhood. They also have video poker and game and movie nights. read more

Love it there! House night the last Sunday of each month cheap straightforward drinks. Highly recommend

I have been there a couple times to see local original bands perform on their small stage. The things that stood out for me was obviously, the big ol dog walking around getting loves from all the customers (and an occasional fry) and the bartender (Josh?) was very welcoming and friendly. Not being a big drinker, I always sample the food. It was okay, nothing special. The restrooms were okay, fairly clean for a bar. Starday has a casual, "where friends meet" kind of vibe which I really like. It is a long drive for us, but we would go again to support our friends in the music scene and the venue who allow them a place to be heard. read more

This place is great! They had live blues that pulled us in from across the street. reasonable prices on drinks too. The staff was super nice. Will def be back! read more

Absolutely my all time favorite bar in Portland. Cheap drinks, some of the best bartenders in town, and a Willamette Week voted "Best Bar Dog". What more can you ask for? Seriously though, their currant staff are some of the best people I've ever met in my life and Justin's dog is the sweetest lil pup you'll ever meet. His name is Ghengis and he will greet you at the door or snuggle next to you if you choose to sit at a booth on nights Justin is working. This place is only 3 blocks from my house but it's such an amazing community with the best people ever... I love starday. 666. read more

While the live music was phenomenal, Starday Tavern was not quite as grand. $1 Taco-Tuesdays seem exciting at first, but a hard shell with ground beef and some toppings left me rather disappointed. Drinks were pretty good and the decor is nice. I especially like the bar area. They could have a wider spirits selection, a nicer scotch would have been enjoyed by a few of us. Overall we had a good time, but unless a kick ass band is playing, I don't know if we will be going back. read more