Best Live Music Eateries
Great live music is special. But not all venues are good for seeing/hearing the artists. These are the better clubs.
1. Ponderosa Lounge & Grill
Portland – North
One of the best live music clubs in Portland. Food at night club can be VERY questionable and $$$. But The Ponderosa serves good food at a reasonable price. My wife had a wonderful chicken Alfredo pasta with a side salad. I’m very spoiled when it comes to steak, so I was apprehensive about ordering one at a road house. But I was very pleased with my Ribeye. Was it Ruth’s Chris? No, but it was only $34.50 and it came with two sides. That’s a good value. PRO TIP: If you like spicy, ask for jalapenos to go with your steak. The Ponderosa has a good selection of beer. The bar has a decent offering of base spirits but they use very cheap mixers. Unless you’re ordering a pedestrian cocktail like a Jack & coke, best to stick to beer. The joint is open all day. You can do breakfast, lunch or dinner there. It’s a top notch night club. The space is very well laid out with plenty of room and has tiered seating which makes it easy to see the band. The PA and lights are fab. It’s my favorite club to see live music in Portland. Happy hour is 3-7 everyday. Ample parking.
2. Billy Blues Bar and Grill
Vancouver – West
Cool road house style bar & grill with live music. Good stage. They serve beer, wine and pedestrian cocktails. They serve margaritas in a pint glass. The chow is good. The wife had a cobb salad. I had the quaso dip. Both were good. They have an amazing French dip sandwich. The band we saw were fantastic. Only 21 after 9pm.
3. The Wild Hare Saloon & Cafe
Portland – South
Saloon with live music. Volume isn’t too loud. You can hear people talk. Lottery machines. Drinks are served in plastic cups. Music is very good. Decent amount of parking.
4. 1905
Portland – Northwest
Fabulous pizzeria with craft cocktails and live jazz. This joint is fantastic! Excellent pizza, lovely adult beverages, savvy décor and groovy live music. Parking can be tough but hey, it’s Mississippi Street. INSIDER TIP: The Where There’s Smoke There’s Fire cocktail is bold and flavorful.
5. Trail’s End Saloon
Portland – South
Good bar & grill that books great live bands.
6. Cascade Bar & Grill
Vancouver – East
Good venue to see live bands. Decent comfort food. The PA is clear and the seating works well to watch the acts.
7. Radio Room
Portland – North
Radio Room has a mid 20th century vibe and is in a vintage gas station that has live jazz on Sunday’s. 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. 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.
8. Birch Street Uptown Lounge
Vancouver – Camas
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 jazz Friday and Saturday. PRO TIP: They don’t maintain their website but on Facebook they post the music schedule.
9. Wilf’s Restaurant & Jazz Bar
Portland – Downtown
Wilf’s has an old school vibe. Think Ringside Steakhouse. Dark woods, velvet chairs and leather booths set the tone for the live lounge music. The joint is a bit pricey though. Parking is in Union train station.
10. A Beer at a Time
Vancouver – Camas
Neighborhood bar & grill with live music. Good selection of beer and comfort food. Has an outside patio. Roadhouse style bands. Decent parking.
11. 99 Saloon & Grill
Vancouver – West
A bar with a focus on live music. It has a comfortable, chill atmosphere. Everyone seems to know each other. The bloody Mary is decent. If you try something more sophisticated you’ll probably be disappointed. It’s not that kind of bar. The only sweet vermouth they have is Lejon 😱 and they don’t refrigerate it. My friend had dinner. The comfort food looks good. The sound system is very adequate for the room.
-
Best Philly Cheesesteak in VanPort
The Philly Cheesesteak is arguably the most debated American sandwich. A hamburger…
-
Top 20 Burgers in Van/Port
The great American sandwich. There’s countless variations. Some are great. But there’s…
Join the VanPort Insider for free:
Read More
Dine Better and Drink Smarter with VanPort Insider
Sign up for the free newsletter.