Gold Dust Meridian
3267 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Undeniably a high-class establishment, the Gold Dust Meridian is reserved for the hipster with fat pockets. Designed in chic midcentury-modern fashion, the Meridian sheds all the trappings of your typical hipster bar. No pinball or jukeboxes to be found here (still quite a few fixies chained up outside, though). The menu hosts a great selection of wines, cocktails and local microbrews, but you’re undeniably paying a premium for the atmosphere. Gold Dust does, however, shine as a hotspot for a romantic date. The lighting is low and the noise is minimal, making intimate conversation a staple of the bar’s appeal. With deejays spinning every Friday and Saturday, and a happy hour that runs from 2 p.m.–to 8 p.m., you really can’t go wrong.
Slabtown
1033 NW 16th Ave.
It doesn’t get much more dive-y than Slabtown. This grimy hole-in-the-wall has all the basic amenities you’ve come to expect at your local hole-in-the-wall. The bar is decent, but seating is severely lacking. Once you’re a few drinks in, you can try your hand at one of the many pinball machines, which act more as flashy decorations than actual entertainment. The ping-pong
table, however (with the net suspended by forks, of course), is a surprisingly popular attraction, if you don’t mind waiting in line, then chasing the ball through the crowd when it finally is your turn. With Pabst and Rainer on tap, as well as a choice selection of cheap mixed drinks, you can afford to knock em’ back all night without breaking the bank.
Red Flag
344 NE 28th Ave.
If you’re actually looking for this one, you probably won’t find it. With a complete lack of signage from the street, the Red Flag looks like every other run-down neighborhood bar—mostly because that’s what it is. This completely no-frills watering hole offers very basic amenities, but the price reflects it. With wood-paneled walls and vintage beer advertisements on display, it has the look of a place where grumpy old men reminisce about “the good old days,” but that’s not the case. Four pinball machines and a seriously kick-ass jukebox keeps the hip young crowd entertained well into the wee hours, and several TVs play old cult classics movies on repeat. The atmosphere is rowdy, and the unapologetically in-your-face attitude makes up for the lack of anything to do here but drink. They also have a margarita machine, which is worth trying for the novelty if nothing else.
Tiger Bar
317 NW Broadway
Lying just outside of Portland Pearl District, the Tiger Bar is pretty upscale for a hipster hangout. The atmosphere inside is fairly elegant with a stylish Asian décor, but the crowd is very down-to-earth. The drinks at the Tiger are solid, nothing outstanding, but the happy hour is worth the outing—$3 dollar well drinks, $3 Absolut Press, $3.50 Jacks, and an excellent menu every Tuesday through Friday. If singing badly in front of strangers is your thing, then Thursday’s “karaoke from hell” will probably be your new favorite excuse to go to the bars on weekdays. If listening to people who don’t sing badly in front of strangers is your thing, then check out the lineup of “real” musicians that frequent the Tiger’s stage as well. The giant booths are insanely comfortable, as well as accommodating for large groups. Be prepared, however, to go hoarse yelling over the stereo, as it tends to get pretty loud.
B-Sides
632 E Burnside St.
Borrowing its name from the era of vinyl, B-Sides Tavern is hipster to the core. The dimly lit dive, just a stone’s throw from the Hawthorne district, feels much airier than your average local tavern due to the vaulted ceilings (adorned with a giant painted vomiting unicorn, of course). Boasting bike racks inside for the fixie crowd, as well as a wall of awkward ‘70s/’80s portraits, B-Sides ratchets up the irony factor to new heights. Besides the atmosphere, these guys pour stiff drinks on the cheap. Comfortable booths, sweet vintage pinball machines and overall quirky atmosphere make for a worthwhile local hangout.