Where to Find Good Bars in Portland, Oregon?

Portland, Oregon, is one of those cities that quietly sneaks up on you. It doesn’t scream for attention, but once you make the time to visit and explore in-depth, you get completely mesmerized by the vibe, the restaurants, and the variety of its nightlife.

During our recent trip, we spent a lot of time checking out the local scene. If you are planning a visit and wondering if there are genuinely good bars in Portland, you are in the right place. In this quick guide, we are sharing the standout spots we discovered. As a special bonus, We’ve also included two of our absolute favorite local coffee bars at the end of this post.

Map of Good Bars in Portland

Whether you are exploring the Eastside or the heart of the city, here are our top recommendations:

How to navigate this map: Click the menu icon in the top-left corner to view all pinned locations. To see a full-screen version, click the icon in the top-right corner, or select the Share button to send this map directly to your email for easy access during your trip.

1. Abigail Hall Portland Oregon

Abigail Hall is tucked away out of plain sight in the back of the Woodlark Hotel lobby. This secret bar is the kind of place that seems strictly reserved for those in the know, giving it an incredibly authentic, neighborhood feel. Inside, the moody, low-light atmosphere makes it feel just like you’ve walked into an elegant vintage parlor, complete with plush couches, coffee tables, and intimate seating areas.

A striking green brick wall surrounds a gorgeous fireplace, adding to the cozy aesthetic. The crowd exuded that effortless, laid-back energy that perfectly captures the true spirit of Portlanders. We sampled a few different drinks, and the grapefruit gimlet off their happy hour list was easily my top pick!

2. Bullard Tavern Portland Oregon

Bullard Tavern opened in 2018, and it is located inside the Woodlark Hotel in Portland. Although it operates primarily as a restaurant, it has a spacious, fantastic bar area and several TVs showing games, which makes it a super popular hangout among locals. If you are searching for the best bars in downtown Portland, this atmospheric spot should be on your radar.

The entrance it shares with the hotel is super beautiful, featuring an incredible dark blue bookshelf lined with classic books and a bohemian-style sofa—we even spotted a wedding photoshoot in this area! It gets super busy during happy hour, which people visit to enjoy not only drinks but also pairings with dishes. Happy hour includes bubbles, white or red wine, cocktails, margaritas, beer, and old fashioneds. We did not eat at the Bullard Tavern because we did not spot any plant-based options on their menu.

Read more: If you are wondering where to find plant-based options, check out our guide for vegan options in Portland when visiting this incredible city.

3. Prime Tap House at Flock Food Hall Portland

Flock opened in February 2025 as an indoor-outdoor food hall concept located on the ground floor of the Ritz-Carlton hotel. The Flock is packed with different food court stalls, but we also discovered the Prime Tap House, which has a variety of local beers and ciders.

The vibe was super laid back. There is plenty of table seating, which gets cleaned very often (right after it gets vacated), and the bartender was super friendly and able to recommend different cider flavors to us. If you love a vibrant, modern setting, this is definitely a strong contender for the best bar Portland, Oregon has to offer.

4. Straightaway Cocktails Portland

We discovered Straightaway cocktails because we were wandering the Portland streets, and we were amazed by the concept of this bar. Straightaway opened in 2018 and quickly became a favorite, and is an award-winning bottled and canned cocktail brand.

So yes, the concept is literally that they meticulously craft classic cocktails like the margarita, old fashioned, and espresso martini (just to name a few), and the whole deal is that you can enjoy the cocktail with the same quality as being mixed by a bartender right in front of your eyes, but in a can, as you would enjoy a beer or a wine.

They have different locations, but we visited the one located at 901 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214, right in the Central Eastside neighborhood. The locale is cozy, and we sat to enjoy a couple of their cocktails.

We tried the gimlet and old fashioned—both very flavorful and with a perfect alcohol content. They also have a “no secret menu,” which is very popular among locals. If you are specifically hunting for unique cocktail bars Portland style, do not skip this one!

Bonus: Our Favorite Coffee Spots in Portland

1. Coava Coffee Roasters

We visited the Coava Coffee Roasters Flagship location at 1300 SE Grand Ave in the Central Eastside (though they do have other locations, including downtown). This particular space is gigantic, featuring a striking, industrial warehouse vibe. Because the building is so massive, it feels like it could easily accommodate some cozy, living-room-style lounge areas with plush couches and coffee tables.

Currently, the setup is mostly large tables with metal chairs—which fits the industrial aesthetic perfectly, even if it’s not the most comfortable for lounging for hours. Seating aside, the coffee is incredible. I ordered a cortado with oat milk, and it had the most amazing fruity and nutty flavor profile. As a bonus, this location is very close to Lilla, making it the perfect stop before or after a meal there.

2. Roseline Coffee

We discovered Roseline Coffee simply because it is located right in the lobby of the Woodlark Hotel, where we stayed during our Portland trip. I was thrilled about this find! Not only do they serve a beautifully creamy cup of coffee, but the large, spacious seating area in the lobby was a fantastic spot for me to sit down and work on the blog.

The coffee was so impressive that we ended up buying a bag of beans to take home with us. During our stay, we noticed a constant stream of people stopping by the café, so you can definitely tell it’s a highly popular and beloved spot among locals.