Hats off to the hotel bar. The very best of them not only serve as a communal space and temporary home for thirsty travelers, but stages on which some of the best local beverages can shine. Others offer barstool traveling experiences of their own, whisking patrons away to sunny beaches or a cliffside town on the Mediterranean with a transportive cocktail.
They serve as the ultimate meeting place, often dressed to impress and full of strangers just waiting to become friends. If you find yourself in Portland, Oregon, put on your best tourist wares and be sure to peruse the following hotel bars that will transport you to another world.
High Horse | The Bidwell
Set within The Bidwell, High Horse overlooks a bustling stretch of Broadway in downtown Portland. The cocktails stress local distilleries, like Aitil House Gin, Eastside Distilling, Westward Whiskey and Clear Creek Distillery. Check out crafty options like the Tom Kha Martini (chili- and lemongrass-infused potato vodka, coconut milk, orange bitters, citrus zest) or The Lodge (mezcal, Disaronno, pomegranate, cold-pressed lemon juice). Better, pair it up with a tasty smash burger or Brussels sprouts treated to verjus, parmesan and pistachio rosemary pesto from chef Zach Bjorklu. All 10 beers on draft are Oregonian and the wine pours include the likes of intriguing local producers like Teutonic, Goldback and EZY TGR.
Meadowrue | Ritz-Carlton
Stumptown is now home to a Ritz-Carlton, in which resides the easy-on-the-eye Meadowrue. A tall, enchanting space with cascading greenery, the bar is a great place for a cocktail and some daydreaming. Sure, you can opt for the four-figure glass of Cognac, but we suggest something of or inspired by the area, like the breakfast Martini made with Aviation Gin or winter warmers made from some of the best coffee roasted in the city. Stay for dinner at Bellpine, set on the 20th floor with stunning skyline views.
Hey Love | Jupiter NEXT Hotel
Warm your bones in the tropical environs of Hey Love, an eastside bar nestled within the Jupiter NEXT Hotel. If Pan-Am Airlines had a VIP room to kill time before your flight to paradise, this would be it. The best kind of nostalgia glows brightly here and the drinks are just as vibrant. Sign up for a Mai Tai made with oolong tea and salty mango or a Oaxacan Sunrise, a mezcal passion fruit Margarita with a strawberry slushie float served in a cactus. Your palate will love the ride, whether it’s experiencing coconut fat–washed gin for the first time or laying into a tropical take on a Pimm’s Cup.
Little Bitter Bar | Hotel Grand Stark
As the name advertises, Little Bitter Bar is an amaro-forward bar focusing on the delightful Italian family of herbaceous drinks. Set in the Hotel Grand Stark, this slice of the Mediterranean makes a proper family of spritzes and Negroni. Moreover, bartenders like to mix with some of the best bittersweet Italian liqueurs, from Montenegro and Ramazzoti to Americano and Zucca. Enjoy fizzy and still wines from the old world by the glass and pair them up with some house-made pizza, burrata or arancini.
Driftwood Room | Hotel deLuxe
A bonafide classic, the Driftwood Room resides in the Hotel deLuxe. The plush leather bar stools straddle an elegant snaking bar table and the lighting is always perfect. It first opened back in 1954 and we get the sense that it hasn’t changed much since — which is wonderful. Here, the timeless drinks reign supreme, like a series of Manhattans (check out the Road to War, which features Portland’s Bull Run bourbon) and Champagne cocktails. If you really want to go back in time, opt for an absinthe like that from Oregon Spirit Distillers, served in the class French fountain style.
