Every college experience is incomplete without a good ol’ bar story to tell in the years that follow. Having a good hangout can be priceless—whether you use it for studying or for winding down with friends after a day of classes. Either way, bathing your brain cells in beer is a natural reaction to putting them through hard work all day at Portland State.
Since PSU is an urban campus, one would think that there are a number of clubs, pubs and holes-in-the-wall to choose from—however, aside from heading into the belly of downtown Portland, pickings are slim in the area immediately surrounding PSU. But don’t fear, the Vanguard is here to save you some time and shoe leather—and give you the lowdown on the selection of nightspots in the area.
The Cheerful Tortoise
1939 SW 6th Ave.
They say the key to any business is “location, location, location,” and location has served the Cheerful well. Nestled right in the middle of campus, it is pretty hard to miss. Many PSU alum have passed through the doors here, and probably have passed out shortly thereafter—this is a “college bar,” even though it masquerades as a sports bar. During the day, the bar provides a nice place to type away on your laptop and grab some lunch. In the evenings, it always has something to occupy your time whether it be karaoke, Big Buck Hunter or a game of pool (free on Sundays). For a sports bar it puts forth a pretty hefty menu, serving breakfast all day, Buffalo wings, pizza and burgers galore. The bar always has plenty of beer on tap as well, even though—let’s face it—you’ll be drinking Pabst or High Life—and there is nothing wrong with that…champagne of beers indeed!
Paccini
1717 SW Park Ave.
This little corner of the Vue apartments rests right off of the South Park Blocks. With indoor fireplaces and a hip atmosphere—damn near snooty—one may initially feel that they are soiling the place with their meager college student presence, but put that notion aside—in all honesty, college students account for a majority of Paccini’s customers. Most of the good food comes in the form of pizza, but there is also a selection of pasta and wraps that are worth a look. The main attraction at Paccini is its patio that provides a nice setting to accompany any beer.
The Candlelight Room
2032 SW Fifth Ave.
Just around the corner and down the street from the Fifth Avenue Cinema is the Candlelight Room. This is a dive bar by all definitions, and it is absolutely wonderful. Void of douche bags, eggheads or fresh-faced 21-year-olds, this place is a far cry from your run-of-the-mill college bar. Stay cool, and get set for some hardcore blues—not that pop-culture John Mayer-esque poseur crap, I’m talking about down and dirty, lewd and rude blues. Good cheap beer and excellent cheap bar food to boot!
McMenamins Market Street Pub
1526 SW 10th Ave.
McMenamins is a Northwest institution. Starting in Portland, it has spread far and wide, bringing excellent atmosphere…and that’s mostly it. I know I am spouting profane heresy when I say this—McMenamins is amazing when it comes to its unique sites of refurbished delight, such as the Grande Lodge, Crystal Ballroom or the Kennedy School, but from this reviewer’s perspective, McMenamins’ beer or bar food has never left a significant impression. Therefore, its locations that lack this unique presentation don’t bring much to the table—locations such as the Market Street Pub, whose best attraction is the fact that, well, it’s there. Its happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. is fairly decent with $2 fries and $4 burgers, so it should fit well within a student’s budget.
The Leaky Roof
1538 SW Jefferson St.
A good number of PSU students live just over the 405 in Goose Hollow, but even if you don’t reside there, a short jaunt over the bridge to the Leaky Roof is worth it. The vibe it promotes is that of a casual dining experience, which is accurate, but it comes off more as a neighborhood pub with plenty of friendly regulars and welcoming bartenders. The Leaky Roof boasts Portland’s largest collection of Irish whiskey, but it also has an impressive menu of beer and wine. Food ranges from upper-scale entrees such as cedar plank salmon or a rack of lamb to amazing deals on happy hour, such as burgers and Guinness stew. This is a laid-back neighborhood pub, perfect for building a memory.