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Wax Social

4.4 (47 reviews)
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Updated 2 months ago

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WAX SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE

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Yaya S.

Saw this pop up on my phone, and felt spontaneous. I usually go places to study/do some work on my computer, and this felt like a good vibe with good food and drinks. It's nothing like what you expect to find around this area / part of town. I was super pleased, and will be returning as a repeat customer. The service can be a bit slow at times if they get busy, but trust me, its worth the wait. The menus rotate seasonally, and I opted for the poke nachos (I wasnt that hungry, but they were really nice to accommodate my request to get the chips separate, since I knew I would be packing some home) I expected the quality to be not so great, considering my experience with other restaurants and bars but this exceeded my expectations by alot. I look forward to coming back to visit again, whether it be for a study/work session, or with more reinforcement to try all of their dishes!

Kate O.

"Hidden" inside the Best Western on Canyon, this unique, speak-easy-ish room is such a treat. Drinks: excellent, inventive and well-priced. Our party was super pleased, but I will say, the Dreamweaver was missing the lemongrass advertised flavor that I was excited about, but still a wonderful drink. We really loved that they show what type of glass it's served in, what a nice touch. As sometimes drinks can be over or underwhelming. Food: nice menu, something for everyone. The rolls with corned beef ($13) were packed with brisket, but could use more sauerkraut--maybe a side would be good there. The Poke! The Poke! ($15) Omg, sell me a bucket. The fish is fresh, wontons on point and the dressing, and I'm usually not a sauce lady, ate every bite. This could be $25 and i'd still want one for myself. Steak bites were just okay at ($16). Cauliflower at ($11), nice to have a veg, but not a must get. Flat bread, nice flavor at ($14). I was nicely surprised at the portion sizes, plenty to share and you won't leave hungry. I'm coming back for those deviled eggs! Atmosphere: top notch and while a small thing, look at these napkins and flatware. Someone knows how to entertain here. Service: not sure if a hard rule, but for larger groups, make sure all or most are present to seat. We had a very nice person helping us, parties of 5+ can be challenging, and we had all the questions as first-timers. Sometimes ya just don't hit it off right away...But in the end, it was a party and it all worked out :). Thank you for your patience.

Wax Social: Dancing Queen mocktail
Chiemi N.

This is such a cool space that plays great music! It has great ambiance with that speak easy feel. The cocktails are well crafted. The first time I had a mocktail, Dancing Queen. I was just doing reconnaissance to find a place for Valentine's Day for my friends. The second time I had Light My Fire. It called to me when I read the description. I really like sweet and spicy, and the server said that would be my drink. The cocktail was really well crafted, and I loved it! A friend tried both mocktails, and the cucumber mocktail was really good, liked it better than the Dancing Queen. My friends really liked the food. In my circle of friends, there were two omnivores and a vegetarian. For me, if they had vegan options, I would bump this place to 5 stars. No reservations, but we got there a little after 5 and was seated right away. It filled up really quickly. Great ambiance and great service!

Theresa C.

A nice speakeasy bar located on the mezzanine level of the Best Western on SW Canyon Road. If you grew up on the west side, you'll remember Shilo Inn. Where this little gem is located. Nice ambiance, comfortable seating, and attentive staff. Which is always a plus. They offer full beverage service focusing on specialty drinks, craft cocktails, beer, wine, and mocktails. Prices range from $5 for a beer to $46.00 for a bottle of Argyle Brut. Their appetizers range from $10 to $15. Quite a selection from Steak bites, Sicilian flatbread, Heirloom tomato bruschetta, etc. Definitely a nice addition to the area. Service charge is automatically added to parties of (5?) 6 or more.

Doctor my eyes
Rashi T.

Definitely wasn't expecting to have a good time in a motel but here we are . This is a Speakeasy that truly is a Speakeasy and not just a fancy bar pretending to be one . There was a little bit of fun finding it which I truly appreciate because that is one of the point of a speakeasy . Plush seating and foot tapping music greet you when you walk in . They play vinyl's and the owners are passionate about the art , which is refreshing to see. We each ordered a cocktail and loved what we got . They stopped the music to wish someone a happy birthday and the owner walked to every individual table to let all of us know and join in which was extremely sweet in my opinion. I would definitely be down to try more of their cocktail menu and also listen to some kick ass music.

Sliders
Lydia T.

A friend invited me and another girlfriend to Wax Social, and it was my first time visiting after seeing it pop up on social media as a cute little speakeasy. You head upstairs, slip behind a door, and the bar appears. We were immediately greeted and seated, which was a great start. The vibe was fun and cozy, especially with the holiday decorations adding to the ambiance. One thing worth noting was the temperature--it was noticeably cold at times, with the air blowing between cold and warm, which made it a bit less comfortable than it could've been. We enjoyed some cocktails and ordered several appetizers to share. The Poke nachos and sliders were really good. The owner, Shawn, stopped by to check on us and was incredibly nice and personable. We ended up chatting with him for a bit, and he even gave us a tour. As a sweet surprise, he also comped us a chocolate lava molten cake, which was amazing. Overall, it's a really cute spot, and I'll definitely be bringing friends back--possibly even hosting a work event here. I'm especially excited to come back for some live music.

Jidapa A.

Whoa, this bar is seriously awesome! The vibe is so good, cool decor, nice lighting, and they even have dj on vinyl with great songs. The cocktails are super tasty (so many to try!) and the staff are really friendly. It's a new spot on the 2nd floor of the Best Western Hotel. I really hope more people find out about it soon, it totally deserves more love. I'd be so sad if it ever closed. Definitely one of my new favorite places!

Brown Eye'd Girl
Michael I.

What a cool little speakeasy place hidden in the Best Western on Canyon. Super good service with a friendly staff and the food was excellent and the drinks unique and good. The ambience was a cool exclusive vibe. I loved the environment and the size of it feeling cozy and fun.

Vanisa K.

Such a cool spot! We discovered this speakeasy on social media and knew we had to try it out! Upon arriving at the Best Western, we didn't know what to expect, but we went inside, up the stairs, then found what we were looking for. The entire bar space was vibey with a very chill atmosphere. Also, the music was great and the service was prompt. They walked us through the menu, provided recommendations, and checked on us regularly. We each ordered the Lay Down Sally cocktail, an order of the Deviled Eggs and the Steak Bites. The drinks were delicious - I expected them to be sweeter, based on how the server described it, but the sweetness wasn't too overpowering. A nice light taste! We also enjoyed both of the food items we had ordered. Overall a fun experience! I can't wait to come back and try some of the other cocktails on their menu!

Bennette I.

You guys! This is literally a hidden gem. No signage, an unassuming speak easy in the Best Western on Canyon Road with the words Listening lounge on the door. Thank you for a west side cool vibe option. Wax Social is beautiful, color drenched in a moody green, unique wall art and live music Fridays and Saturdays. The drink selections are 10 out of 10. The ahi tuna poke nachos and molten chocolate lava cake are a must try, a definite 5. The tri tip sliders were super favorable but just didn't come out that hot from the kitchen and the flatbread was also good. The drinks are stand out amazeballs. We met the owner Sean who is just the BEST. So personable and knowledgeable - he comped us a dessert and showed us around the place! What an upstanding guy! I am coming back again and again as there are at least 5 more entrees I want to try.

Olivia A.

Five stars for sure. This place totally fits in with the speakeasy vibe, considering where it is located. We absolutely adored the music inspiration of it all. We dropped in before Christmas so it was lit up with a whole lot of Christmas joy! We both enjoyed tequila inspired, cocktails. The food looked really tasty. I noted that they had the perfect small bites that anyone would want from anywhere! The staff was very friendly and helpful about making decisions. It's one of our new favorite spots! Definitely check it out whether you are going by yourself for a drink going on a date or taking out friends or family all of the above!

Whiskey, whiskey, and Whiskey and Brown Eyed Girl.
Alicia C.

This was a hidden gem of a find. Love the decor, and the staff is great. The owner is onsite and helping clear tables to seat people as quickly as possible. Loved the decor with the old photos framed up the wall and the drink menu is fun as they are named after songs. Quick service and overall a fun vibe. Can't wait to go again and try out the food which all smelled amazing.

Nathaniel J B.

Wow so safe to say the cigar bar go but super pleasantly surprised the new vibe!!! Love what the new owners did with this old space and really like the vibes!!! Crazy nonetheless that this is above the Bestwestern but the food and new cocktails are ridunkulous!!! Highly recommended and seriously enjoyed one of everything on the small bites menu plus all the special cocktails....Especially the beet with Mezcal!!! Dj playing the vinyls mixed it up and kept the vibe going mixing a lot of 70's 80's and 90's!!!

Left: Boy Named Sue Front: Day Tripper Right: Blackbird

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1 month ago

I had to give 1 star because it doesn't let you not give any stars. The service was disgusting, the attitude was even worse.

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4 months ago

Food and cocktails were tasty, very interesting concept inside a motel you wouldn't think to find it. Very fun atmosphere

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7 months ago

We love the food and cocktails here! It's very consistent. The dj and vinyl are always spot on.

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Ask the Community - Wax Social

Review Highlights - Wax Social

If you are wondering if you are in the right place, as you stare at the lobby of the Best Western, you are.

Mentioned in 10 reviews

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4.4(1k reviews)
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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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3.8(438 reviews)
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Wasn't sure what to expect when coming here, but it is actually a really chill spot…read more It's been in business since 1902 and has a lot of cool stuff inside. Even an older style photo booth. They have a great selection of beer and cocktails. The bartenders are cool. We came back another time during the week and were welcomed back. The food menu could use a little work as it is pretty basic--but has enough choices of your average bar food. We would definitely return!

The most un-Portland bar in Portland. I'd label it a faux dive bar. Sure, it looks great with all…read morethe neon glow from the street, but other than that, not much else to find joy in here. Like plethora of others in the reviews have mentioned, you are met with security that's far from friendly. My wife and I were greeted by security who held up his hand like he was holding an invisible business card. "ID" is all he said. Sure, no worries, we are in our forties. Hand it over. He then proceeds to ask us about marijuana products on our person..... WAIT, WHAT? This is the Pacific Northwest, my guy. I've seen legit bongs on curbside picnic tables at other bars (Thunderbird on Foster). But this guy wants to peruse your bags trying to find weed. I lied to this securi-nerd, and waltz'd past him. I'm a grown adult, my legal toking is none of your business. Took awhile to get two basic beers. We were met with smiles by staff, but they didn't ask us if we wanted a drink or menu. Finally someone came over and took our drink order. This was a one and done place for us. It has this fake feeling of a PACNW dive bar. It didn't feel legit. It felt put on. Noticed a large table of locals wearing "OREGUNIAN" sweatshirts, and the vibe at this place is just way off. I felt like I was on the East coast--not the West coast. Again, who asks patrons if thy have weed on them with zero explanation? Every single music venue I've been to in Portland could not give less of a crap about your weed vape, so why does this pretend dive bar? What a weird, un-Portland like vibe. The ick is real.

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Wax Social - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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