I've been going to the VC for almost as long as I've lived here. Lost track of how many locations they've had. But they persist, and they continue to offer a meal and drink menu that easily meets expectations. I'll have to remember to look to see if the happy hour French onion soup and black or white Russians are still available. read more

Stopped by on a Sunday afternoon for a sip and snack. Ordered a Kentucky Mule w fries and t'was a happy camper. I used to frequent the VC when it was in its ooooold place but this locale and staff didn't disappoint. Even though it's a downtown bar, it has a neighborhood vibe where all walks are welcomed and plenty of regulars. Come for a stiff drank, fries and video poker and you'll prob leave having made some new friends. read more

Virginia Cafe - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Upon entering, I was greeted warmly to sit wherever I choose. The ambiance felt vintage pub with comfortable booth seating, it is a bit small inside though so if you have a large party I'd recommend calling ahead to ensure they can accommodate. The bartender came and took my order, allowed me plenty of time and was very kind. Certainly appeared like a place that many people frequently visit. The ranch tasted homemade, not what I'm use to on the east coast but was exponentially better. I'd definitely recommend stopping in! read more

Virginia Cafe - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We were in town for the weekend and looking for a late night bite to eat near our hotel. Food was fast and delicious! Friendly service and a nice mix of diners. read more

My wife and I both had a great visit to the Virginia Cafe. We were in Portland for the art museum and after the viewing, we were looking for a restaurant that was casual but had excellent burgers. We found it. Our server Steven was perfect. He was extremely friendly and timely with the beverages and the food. My wife had the SW Burger, garden burger style, with the accompanying tator tots. She loved it. I had the classic cheese burger and it was also very good, served with hot and crispy french fries. Both also came with an excellent pickle spear. Thanks Virginia Cafe. read more

Virginia Cafe - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

Good, unpretentious food. Had the club sandwich with fries. Better fries than McDonald's. Great service, prompt and friendly. This place is an old school oasis. read more

This is one of my neighborhood bars. Usually I frequent MOMO, but I wanted a burger and say the last few food reviews were good. If I do order a burger again, I will definitely order it well done. My came out rare/mid-rare and was very greasy. The meat patty also did not have much flavor, missing seasoning. The bartender was very nice and mad great drinks. Dog friendly inside. Three TVs hanging above the bar, which is something MOMO is missing. Video poker inside as well. read more

I love this place!! I used to come here in my twenties. It's even better than I remembered. Great place to stop for food and drinks. Close to shopping! Service is spectacular! Cheers! read more

Love everything about this place. But the music! Bartender had the best playlist: Gand Of Four; Buzzcocks; The Cramps; X! And she didn't have the signature pretentious air about her that we've grown accustomed to here in Portland. Also, best cheeseburger in Portland (according to my bf) and the tomato soup was wonderful! Love it here! read more

This place has been around for a while now. We stopped by for just a quick drink or two to help with our thirst. We were pretty much the only ones here and sat at the bar. The place is smaller and has video lottery. The bartender was nice and quick with our drinks. Overall, it was a good experience. read more

See all

We found this place from a video poker search but it's so much more. A true piece of history. The lighting is perfect for a chill atmosphere. Our bartender Ana was amazing and cool. We had an appetizer, chips and salsa which were so fresh and delicious. We'll be back to try more of the menu. The perfect old school spot! read more

Virginia Cafe - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great atmosphere, friendly service, and delicious well priced food. I can't express how far beyond my expectations this place was. I found my new favorite beer there; def going back again read more

My husband and I were in town for some personal time and celebrations. We happen to come across this place because we were staying in the area. We have been to a couple of other places, but oh my gosh let me tell you we had one of the best nights we've had in a while. Our time here was everything we didn't know we needed. If you get the chance to come to this establishment, I hope you get to have Shane as your bartender. He's so genuine, authentic, and so personable. It felt like we have known him forever. This was hands down one of our greatest experiences on this trip! Thank you Shane for just being yourself and so attentive. We hope our paths cross again. I'd come back just for him and the ambiance. We also got some food and it was also delicious. Over all, our time here was truly gifted to us thanks to Shane! read more

Virginia Cafe - I call it Shane's special, but he called it something else. - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I was starving after a concert and needed something delicious. Expectations are VERY low when you are looking for food after 11PM. This place delivered. The bartender was running around like a busy bee and had a great attitude. We were surrounded by great people and the tables were being bussed as we walked in. Great place! read more

Virginia Cafe - The place you GET to go when nothing else is open. - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Honestly, I truly truly would have given this place a 5 star review, but being a chef I've never come across a rueben sandwich that contained cheddar. Swiss but cheddar? Party foul x4. The ambience was great. The bartender was a vibe, she threatened to kick someone out during the day, and it turned me on to the max. Could have been the lemon drop shots, but it was definitely her vibe. Everything was good until I noticed a different taste in my sandwich. Opened it up....boom cheddar. The level of confusion led to this 3 star review. read more

Virginia Cafe is a old school bar with a lot of Portland history. It is one of my go-to places to meet up with people, because it is right on the transit lines, and yet still feels homey and accessible. The happy hour burger was good (8/10). read more

This is one of last bastions of old dive bar culture in downtown Portland. The food and drinks are still dive bar priced. You can get a local microbrew and a burger with fries for under $20!! (in 2024) They have all the mid-shelf favorites on the bar. There are 5+ slot-machines spread through the bar. The Bartender was very friendly and provided wonderful service. If you are thirsty or hungry for some old Portland community at old Portland price this is your place. read more

In the 90s there were a ton of dive bars in downtown, Northwest, and the pearl. All of them had awesome happy hour food and drink specials... Slowly they've gone away, but Virginia Café remains. This is one of my favorite dive bars of all time and it's amazing that they have been able to survive with how much things have changed in downtown PDX. Great music, great menu, great service, $4 well drinks, video crack... What more could you ask for in a dive bar? read more

The Virginia Cafe is a Portland icon. It has been here since the 70's when I came to Portland. So much history here. I had not been for many years but decided to get a bite before a show. The friendly bartender took our order and the food came fast. Perfect timing if you are trying to catch a curtain. I didn't have any expectations except a quick burger and beer, but surprise, the food was delicious. The burger was thick and juicy. My husband's club sandwich was the best I ever tasted. It is really big enough for two. And, OMG, you have to try the tomato soup. It is chunky with tomatoes and could be a meal by itself. They have someone very talented back in the kitchen. Don't be put off by the somewhat scruffy exterior of this place, it is a gem. read more

The VC been around since the 1914. They started out on SW Stark between 11th and 12th, then moved to SW Park between Morrison and Yamhill in 1922, and since 2008, they are now located on SW 10th between Yamhill and Taylor -- across from the Central Library. They are awesome all the way around: staff are friendly, food is awesome (try the London Broil), tasty libations (full bar), & their service is excellent! Stop by. Enjoy the hospitality! We do!! (We've been going since 1976.) read more

I had a chicken sandwich at the V Cafe and got sooo sick; explosive diarrhea to be exact. I won't be returning which is too bad because as dive bars go, I liked it. read more

Didn't get any food so can't judge that, but service and drinks are great! Very cosy place, with fair prices, they even made a drink for us that wasn't on the menu. read more

I spend thousands at this place every week. I was harrassed and accosted by an employee this evening. I was told immediately upon arrival that he didn't want me there nor would he service me based upon the fact I had a previous conversation with Management in regards to his discriminatory behavior towards a paying African American customer that I have witnessed prior. This is absolutely unacceptable and would like to speak with the owner/ Management. If this is the position of Management please let me know in advance and I will spend my money elsewhere. Mo Turner President/CEO NW Management 503-714-9083 NWM read more

A seat yourself type of joint. We met some friends there. Which was a good location for a meet up. We rode the street car from SW Moody so the location was fabulous. I injured my foot (doing something stupid) so walking far was not an option. We had the nachos and potato skins. We still got the happy hour price at 7pm. Which is a good thing. The nachos come separately so you must put them together yourself. Not my favorite but you can pick and choose what you like. All and all a good place to hang for a bit. read more

Love this place. There's a bar, video slots, and good food. I just need the food and get the California club and Cajun tots -- every time, and every time that hits the spot. Price is good. Service is fast and friendly. There's a corner booth at the front that's good for people watching. Portland's main library is across the street if you're one of the last readers left alive. Powell's, Target, theatres, Timbers/Thorns, TriMet, are all close... So if you have plans and need a quick bite Virginia's is about perfect. read more

A classic Portland stop & a great place to visit after a show at The Schnitz! Have a drink or some late night grub!!

My kind of place! Awesome atmosphere. I've met some good people here. Cool music, good food. I love the candles at night. You can even sit outside at one of the tables. And it's right off of the streetcar line. Right by the Galleria Max stop. A few blocks from Pioneer Square and the South Park Blocks. I've been in Portland for about two weeks now and I've been to Virginia Cafe nearly every day! read more

Virginia Cafe - Virginia Cafe - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

always enjoyed coming to this classic bar restaurant/sometimes dive bar. I did have drinks in the past at the old address - and then this one, very, similar, just moved across the street. It's a steady, reliable drinking and eating establishment. Met a friend couple weeks ago - and it was great. Bartender, friendly, attentive. I settled for a Crux Pilsner and my friend had a Spanish Coffee. They have lotto machines, still lots of old pictures on the walls from previous, current clientele and the LIP PRINTS art ! Check these out when you use the facilities. Had good grub in the past, just nothing lately. Old wood bar top and genuine service (sometimes rare these days). read more

After walking the streets of Portland for a hour or two, we found ourself here. I ordered a burger and it was awesome!! Bloody Mary was on point too. Good night read more

Virginia Cafe - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Just a great hole in the wall bar. Yes, I am from out of town, but they couldn't have been nicer there! Since I'm back in Portland, this place is on my "must stop in for a beer" list!!!! I hadn't had the food yet, but after tasting the wings... amazing. Definitely my top 10!!! And I'm a wing snob, so that's saying something! read more

My back ached. my feet did too... I was lost in the city trying to find some place to eat and I refused to settle for fast food. I was cold. starving. tired. grumpy. ready to snap on my boyfriend at any second if I didn't get food FAST. That's when I saw the sign "Virginia Cafe" I swear angels started singing as I entered. Ahhhhhhhhh Seat Yourself! So we did, in a big comfy booth. The low lighting matched with the dark woods and warm atmosphere really hit the spot and put my back in a good mood. I ordered a 3 cheese grilled cheese and tator tots (comfort food). The grilled cheese was ok, nothing special. I couldn't get the same thing at a dive for half the price. The tator tots were off the chain! You pay for the atmosphere, it's a nice place to relax, eat , drink and chit chat. The drink menu is expensive with a lot of specialty mix drinks (without prices, beware!). My boyfriend got fries, which were gross, stick to the tator tots. The service was friendly and fast. I'd go back ... after all they did save me from a hunger melt down. read more

I love this place. It's a very affordable old town pub. Again, it is what it is. If you're expecting haute cuisine, this is not the place to come. But if you want really good pub food I highly recommend Virginia café. Try the Reuben. It was fantastic. Let me also add that the service was excellent. I was there for lunch and though there was one bartender working serving the bar and tables, he was friendly and attentive. I can't wait to come back and try the other menu items. I actually ate here last week, but I forgot to check in. That's why I checked in today. read more

I definitely have a soft spot for the VC. It's a Portland institution and worthy of your patronage. I've been coming here for years. I'm an east sider, so I don't drink downtown too much. However, and here is my confession to all of you on Yelp, I have a ritual involving the Virginia Cafe that probably dates back a decade now. You see, the VC is near my dentist's office, and several times a year, when I'm due for a cleaning or whatever, I leave work early to catch an afternoon appointment close enough to the end of the workday that there'll be no going back to work afterwards. Then, when I finish my appointment, I walk down to the VC and have a cocktail. I usually get "The Boss's Spanish Coffee", which is a Spanish Coffee that replaces the Triple Sec with Maker's Mark. The boss claims a traditional Spanish is "too sweet", and I tend to agree with her. Speaking of the Boss, you should chat with her when you're there. She's friendly and interesting and usually there in the afternoon on workdays (the hour I typically visit). But I digress! Did you know that the Virginia Cafe is almost 100 years old? No shit! It opened in the early 20th century when downtown Portland was wild and woolly and full of whores and gamblers and persons of ill repute. You can read all about it on the menu when you go there. Until just a few years ago the Virginia was on Park, but all of the businesses got booted so they could upgrade the real estate. I think they're building some huge freakin' skyscraper on that block now. At any rate, the Virginia managed to scavenge a lot of it's furnishings--booths, chandeliers, the bar, and so forth, to recreate the old feel of the previous location. On the last day at the old place they asked the customers to grab a chair and walk the few blocks to the new location and have a seat there. And they've done a pretty decent job of preserving the spirit of the place. It looks like it's been there forever. And best of all, unlike the previous location, there is NO SMOKING, so you can actually breathe. Every Valentine's Day the Virginia has a lipstick print contest (women kiss a napkin), and the evidence of the winners are framed all over. There is also an annual napkin art contest, which is awesome, and those winners are framed and mounted on the walls too. This is a fun, friendly place--not in a pollyanna-ish way. This is a drinking establishment. The cocktail are good. There are decent taps. The food is really quite good (for pub grub that is). I stopped in last week--not due to the dentist but after a job interview in the area. I had a hankering for an old fashioned BLT. I got it on whole wheat with avocado and a side of the soup of the day (chicken tortilla). It was everything I was hoping for. And I had the Boss' Manhattan AND the Boss' Spanish Coffee. And the Boss and I chatted a good long while. It was nice. read more

Thought I was going to a bar to hang out and have a drink BUT within 5 minutes realized that unless you're a regular... they will treat you like a second class citizen. If you are traveling from out of town, I advise you to stay away. Bartenders have a crappy attitude unless they know your name. I assume the locals might find this place enjoyable but as a visitor to Portland they did nothing to make my group feel welcomed. I suggest going to Departures if you're looking for friendly staff and good food. read more

Lights turned down, ambient, relaxed vibes. The fries were better than any I've had with a $60 steak frite plate. I'll be back - many times to come read more

This place has been a fixture across from the library for as long as I can remember. It was one of those places in Portland that I had always wanted to check it out so when my friends and I were looking for a place to meet up in downtown, this place came up. The interior is old Portland complete with black and white photos of Portland back in the day. I love seeing these pictures. The place is definitely hipster-ish. I don't know how often you need to be there to be considered a regular but the service is definitely warmer if you are a regular. The food is okay. It's your typical Portland hipster food. Nothing to write home about. read more

In need of some food after a concert last night, Virginia Cafe was suggested to us by the bartender at the Hilton. After a quick walk, we spotted the picnic tables outside and entered a funky bar. A wide mix in the crowd, punk, the usual hipsters and the obvious out-of-towners like us. With Depeche Mode reminding me of grade school days, we grabbed a booth and I headed up to the bar to grab drinks and see if they would take pity on us and let us order cheeseburgers. The bartender, working the place by herself, was super friendly and didn't let us go hungry or thirsty! Fun place, fantastic people watching and great burger and fries! read more

Won't accept foreign ID's. Require passports. Who carries their passports with them? What kind of establishment requires passports as opposed to a regular ID card regardless of residence?! read more

Stopped in late night needing a cocktail and hoping for a bite to eat. The club sandwich was massive and did not disappoint. Pretty standard, yet friendly dive bar in downtown Portland. Friendly staff, excellent service read more

Good food. Good drinks. Downtown near the theaters and where all places lot their soul to make yuppies happy, the Virginia stands with a smile. read more