24 of the Best Cocktail Bars in VanPort
Loads of places have cocktails. In fact most mediocre drinks cost as much as great ones. So why choose excellence? Craft cocktails are on a much higher level. Here’s where to find the best ones in VanPort.
1. Multnomah Whiskey Library
Portland – Downtown
Fabulous Portland Speakeasy and private members club. With over 2000 bottles, MWL has one of the best selection of booze liquors and mixers in world. There are three rooms. The main library, The Members Lounge and The Green Room (which is open to the public). The mixologists are very knowledgeable and create delicious concoctions on table side carts. MWL serves some food. I wish they had a bigger menu. Avoid the steak. It’s expensive and is just ok. Go with the cheeseburger. It’s wonderful and the best value. MWL is great for pre or post dinner drinks. Street parking is very challenging. Members have complimentary valet parking via adjacent the Hyatt hotel.
2. Amaro’s Table Downtown
Vancouver – Downtown
Amaro’s Table is the best places for cocktails this side of the river and they serve wonderful food. The service is excellent. Their chicken is amazing! INSIDER TIP: Sit at the bar for a bespoke cocktail by fantastic mixologists, the best service and stimulating conversation with fellow patrons.
3. The Green Room
Portland – Downtown
The public version of The Multnomah Whiskey Library. So this is one of the best places for an elevated cocktail in Portland. They don’t have the massive stock but if you want something special and ask real nice, they’ll usually go next door and bring a bottle over. Parking is tough. Plan of going around the block a few times or pay for spot in a lot.
4. Teardrop Lounge
Portland – Downtown
One of the best craft cocktail bars in Portland. An extensive cocktail menu with pages of flavor types. The mixologists are friendly and open to modifications. Most of the seats are at the teardrop shaped bar. Parking is tough to find but worth the effort. We didn’t have food this time but will definitely try it next time.
5. Scotch Lodge
Portland – Central
One of the top 3 craft cocktail bars in Portland. It’s kind of a speakeasy. The entrance is undefined. The decor is very savvy. They have minimal food. Go for the drinks. Walk-ins are rarely successful. This joint is popular. The good news is that they take reservations.
6. Cecilia
Vancouver – South
Cecilia’s cocktails are lovely but I do wish they would add a better sweet vermouth (Cocchi Torino or Carpano Antica). Their Manhattan is good but polite. Cecilia has the same owner as Amaro’s Table as is Gustav’s. It seems they’ve not let their other restaurants rise to the level of Amaro’s bar. Still one of the best bars in Vancouver.
7. Amaro’s Table East
Vancouver – east
Amaro’s Table East is one of the best places for cocktails this side of the river and they serve wonderful food. The service is excellent. Their chicken is amazing! INSIDER TIP: Sit at the bar for a bespoke cocktail by fantastic mixologists, the best service and stimulating conversation with fellow patrons.
8. The Elbow Room
Vancouver – Downtown
The Elbow Room is a bar inside Paul’s restaurant. It has a 1970’s dive bar vibe, but if you’re savvy, you’ll discover that the self-deprecating bartender—who could easily pass as a gas station attendant in Oklahoma—is actually cloaking his superpowers. In reality, he’s a superb mixologist, born and bred in Vancouver. That’s because The Elbow Room is now headed by noted veteran cocktail guru Toby Maloney, who is hiring staff aligned with his vision of a 1970s-style bar. Instead of making a big splash, Maloney appears to be growing the bar slowly. At present, their stock is decent but has room to grow. Yet the bartenders are clever with substitutions. The end results are very good.
I tried one of their “Bar Bites” called Disco Tots—tater tots with gravy and cheddar cheese. Next time, I’ll go for the “Cowboy” version, which comes with jalapeños, chili, and cheddar.
I really like the vibe of The Elbow Room and I’m looking forward to seeing where Toby Maloney takes it.
9. Witness Tree Lounge
Vancouver – Waterfront
Witness Tree is a cocktail bar on the 8th floor of the Hotel Indigo that has one of the best views in Vancouver. Drinks are decent and the appetizers are tasty but the menu changes often. It’s in association with El Gaucho…(or is it El Gouge’o?), so everything is expen$ive and there’s a 20 percent MANDATORY gratuity. Cocktails are 29 bucks plus. The staff are experienced and helpful. Parking at the waterfront is tricky, but you probably knew that. PRO TIP: Their happy hour is a decent value. They have a Manhattan, Martinez and Martini’s for just 8 bucks. It’s not the same quality as their usual drinks but a better deal. The limited chow is in the 12-30 dollar range.
10. Radio Room
Portland – North
Radio Room has a mid 20th century vibe and is in a vintage gas station. We love the joint. The decor has a Pulp Fiction feel that we both resonate with. The wife is a big fan of the fried brussels and the chicken pesto pasta. The chicken sandwich is decent. The tomato soup is perfect. The bar has excellent stock. The Take Manhattan is a good spirit forward drink. For something lighter try The Upper Deck Lemonade (vodka, lemonade, sprite and raspberry puree). PRO TIP: For an earthy variant of a Manhattan ask for a Black Manhattan with Basil Hayden dark rye and Averna Amaro and angostura bitters. It’s not on the menu but it’s fab. Sunday’s they have live jazz. They’re open 9- late 7 days a week. Bunch until 3pm. Happy hour 3-6 Mon-Sat and 3-close Sunday. BTW: Radio Room is a sister restaurant to Keys Lounge, which we also like.
11. Magnolia Tavern
Vancouver – East
The bar has a very good selection of base spirits. They have beautiful king cubes from Portland ice company that are crystal clear for creating elevated cocktails in a rocks glass. Also they have a lovely smoker for infusing old fashioneds. Try the I had the Sirius Manhattan. Nohi behind the bar does a great job looking after you.
PRO TIP: Magnolia has a new chef. The Cajun rubbed ribeye (medium) with mashed potatoes is one of the better steaks this side of the river.
12. Birch Street Uptown Lounge
Camas – Downtown
A Camas cocktail oasis. You can have a classic cocktail in a relaxed atmosphere while listening to golden era music. There’s been a change ownership. Now they free pour. But they’ll measure if you ask…which you should. PRO TIP: The Last Word is a smooth balanced drink. For a big-boy, spirit forward cocktail, order the Vieux Carre. Try the mac n cheese with bacon. They have live, easy listening music Friday and Saturday.
13. Keys Lounge
Portland – North
Cool watering hole with a decent variety of base spirits and mixers. Everything is ordered at the bar. The chow is limited but fits the vibe. They spin vinyl Thurs, Fri, Sat and have a large record collection. They play it LOUD on the weekends. You have to almost yell even when sitting next to someone. We like it much more on the other days with the savvy Pandora station. Think Oceans 11 meets Outta Sight. They also have sitting in front of the joint. Key’s Lounge it has a hip vibe. The staff are very cool. The one thing that I wish was better was how long it takes for staff to get to you. 9 times out of 10 we sit at the bar. Usually that means quicker service. Not here. It always takes longer to order and get your check.
14. Waterfront Taphouse
Vancouver – Downtown
Located above Twigs, they serve simple but well presented food and drinks. Don’t let the taphouse name fool you. Some of the better cocktails in Vancouver are served here. I like their barrel aged Manhattan. Normally I steer clear of barrel aged drink but this one is legit. PRO TIP: Ask for a bespoke, Willette rye with Antica formula Manhattan with angostura bitters. Both were $18 each. It’s a few bucks less than you would pay at Witness Tree (and without the mandatory 20% service fee). This is a good joint. It’s a great choice to take people out or a date night.
15. Expatriate
Portland – Northeast
Really great craft cocktail bar….depending on who’s mixing. If Mike is behind the bar you’ll enjoy some of the best cocktails in Portland. They spin cool vinyl records which is a perfect fit for the funky vibe of this joint. PRO TIP: The nachos are a must. They’re a fusion approach that are unique. The spicy chicken sandwich is very flavorful and one of the best you’ll have anywhere.
16. The Smokin’ Oak Barbeque
Vancouver – Downtown
A BBQ joint with a very good bar. The Ol Smokey cocktail is ok. The king ice cube is a nice touch. The Texas Mary is a 22 oz bloody Mary with a garnish of sausage, brisket, pickle and a rib…all for 30 bucks. That’s a fantastic value! Their bar has one of the best selection of base spirits in Vancouver. They have decent liquors and mixers. Their bartenders widely vary in skill and experience. To get a superb drink, you might have to ask for the right ingredients. Happy hour is 2-5 everyday.
17. Full Heart Irish Pub
Vancouver – Downtown
Full Heart is an Irish pub downtown Vancouver. It’s a small joint. Cozy is a kinder word. The vibe is spot on. Half the cocktails on the drinks menu are variations on old fashioneds ranging from $13-$24. The other cocktails are a couple of Irish coffee types drinks, etc. But craft cocktails are possible if you know what to ask for and they do have a nice selection of Irish whiskey.
The food menu is pretty limited. Full Heart is not a place to go if you’re very hungry. But it’s a fab place to have a pint or cocktail with a mate or two and perhaps a small bite to tide you over. Dogs are welcomed. Minors are not. Street parking only.
18. Eem – Thai BBQ & Cocktails
Portland – North
Epic, elevated Thai fusion. Their cocktails are good. Some are better than others. The Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda is the best by far. This joint is super popular. They don’t take reservations. Be prepared to wait. They give you a pager. It’s definitely worth the effort.
19. Ox
Portland – Central
One of Portland’s best restaurants. The food is superb and the craft cocktails are really good. The staff are top notch. It can get loud in there. They now take reservations…which is a game changer. There’s a separate bar in a waiting area.
20. Laurelhurst Market
Portland – Central
Wonderful Food and Drinks Served with Pride. Laurelhurst Market is a great place for dinner. Their food is really top notch. The cocktails are very good. Their menu changes often. The parking lot is small. Most likely you’ll need to find street parking so allow time to find a spot.
21. Bible Club PDX
Portland – South
A cool speakeasy with good but expensive drinks in unique glassware. Food is limited but very tasty. Try the meatballs. It’s an appetizer but it comes with bread and is filling. Fantastic prohibition vibe. The Remember the Maine is ok but I like the Red Hook better. PRO TIP: Ask for a Luxardo cherry and avoid the metal coupes.
22. Decibel Sound & Drink
Portland – South
This fab joint is a winner. Small menu but what they serve is great. The Sargent Peppers cocktail is outstanding. The décor and vibe have a mid 20th century feel combined with a pinch of modernism. Groovy tunes on vinyl are spun on a vacuum tubed powered stereo.
23. Oven and Shaker
Portland – Downtown
Unique pizza and craft cocktail joint. They excel at both. The pizzas are the thin crust sized for one person. The meatballs are good. Especially the sauce. PRO TIP: If your drink calls for sweet vermouth, ask for Carpano Antica.
24. Coral Club
Vancouver – Downtown
Coral Club is a great example of a what a tiki bar should be. The decor is perfect and they take pride in the cocktails they serve. In fact, I’ve had a few respected mixologists recommend Coral Club to me. They have an impressive rum list. You could just explore sipping some rums neat. PRO TIP: If crushed ice is not your thing, ask for a Smith & Scotch but on a king cube in a rocks glass. Street parking only.
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