My Father’s Place523 S.E. Grand Ave.503-235-5494Breakfast is served all day at this staple bar, and the bar is open almost all hours of the day. Cheap beer, laid-back environment, and a good place to spend time with friends.
Slow Bar533 S.E. Grand Ave.503-230-7767Delicious food, especially the burgers. Very stylish, but still a comfortable and fun environment.
Doug Fir Lounge830 E. Burnside St.503-231-WOODA Portland favorite, Doug Fir is a melting pot. Shows in the downstairs bar, and food served upstairs, the lounge is a trendy hotspot. Drinks are a little pricey.
Starky’s2913 S.E. Stark St.503-230-7980Hosting a full-bar and food specials almost every night of the week. Happy hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
Crush1400 S.E. Morrison St.503-235-8150Perfectly serviceable upscale bar, with all the drinks you’d expect and a good selection of wine. Mood lighting and soft décor makes the atmosphere stand out.
Holocene1001 S.E. Morrison St.503-239-7639A deceptive warehouse-turned-bar with a ornate full bar and modern decor. Dance floor with a set-up for DJs and bands in a separate rooms.
Egyptian Club (E Room)3701 S.E. Division St.503-236-8689An expansive dim and smoky bar with a dance floor, pool tables, and a karaoke room. A hallway lit with black lights leads the brave few to the dance floor.
Bonfire2821 S.E. Stark St.503-232-3704A wide-open dive bar with pool, delicious and healthy food, and friendly bartenders.
Goodfoot2845 S.E. Stark St.503-239-9292They host open-mic nights, concerts multiple nights a week, and pool is free (tournaments every week). The bar also converts to a gallery once a month, and trivia once a week.
Aalto Lounge3356 S.E. Belmont St.503-235-6041Hipster-central on Belmont, this smallish chic space looks like a converted Stumpdown. Quickly jumps from practically empty to packed. Expect slightly more spendy drinks and eclectic tunes.
Side Street828 S.E. 34th Ave.503-236-7999A very small locale with decent beer and perfectly normal drinks.
The Vern (Hanigans) 2622 S.E. Belmont St503-233-7851The delightfully trashy Vern is a dive bar lover’s dream, complete with (free) off-balance pool tables, a couple of pinball machines and plenty of formica tables. Has rotating beer specials, but no well drinks.
9muses Music Tavern2715 SE Belmont St. 503-236-3848One of PDX’s best kept secrets. Live music almost every night of the week (and it’s actually really good). Upstairs can be really intimate if you get there mid-evening. Also has pinball and video games.