Cool Places to Hang out Downtown or in NW?

YoursTruly · January 2012

I have a crew of ladies coming into town for a reunion of sorts, and they are all staying in a hotel downtown. It's up to me to plan our evenings, due to my insider knowledge. Obviously it would be ideal to hang out near their hotel since none of them will have cars, but I kind of feel like there are no mellow Friday-Night-Zones in downtown. Am I correct? This group of ladies wants to have drinks and chat, not listen to super loud music or dance.

So I'm asking for any recommends! If there's no suitable zone in SW/NW I can totally figure it out on my own as I know lots of cool places on the east side. So it's fine. But if there is a cool bar with food that is downtown can you tell me?????

ThickeningAgent · January 2012

the bar at Higgins is really nice, as is the bar at the Heathman Hotel. but they are not your cheapest drinks in town.

for something a bit cheaper consider the Virginia Cafe- it can get loud but has managed to avoid becoming too much of a bridge-and-tunnel destination.

swamp_knobbler_mahan · January 2012

The Driftwood - http://www.yelp.com/biz/driftwood-room-portland
In the Hotel Deluxe. Small but cozy and not loud.

Joe's Cellar - http://www.yelp.com/biz/joes-cellar-portland
Divey. Old people. Awesome. Cheap.

I second Big Mac on the Virginia Cafe.

Departure! - http://departureportland.com

What about Clyde Common? It gets crowded on the weekends, but if you have a table, that is a really nice place to get food and good drinks.

Amazing pizza and drinks at Oven & Shaker but I bet that place could get loud:
http://ovenandshaker.com

Loose_Thread · January 2012

Get high on chocolate
Cacao chocolate cafes

414 SW 13th Avenue in Portland
Between Burnside & Washington, 2 1/2 blocks West of Powell’s Bookstore

at The Heathman
712 SW Salmon St

distant_shoe · January 2012

bar at hubers, valentines gets loud later, virginia cafe, jakes grill in the benson or is it in the govenor, the one with the elk head on the wall.. chillish. berbatti's retaurant side (enter on 2nd ave) is still open and chill greek food old school restaurant bar vibe. then you wait for your friends to get donuts at voodoo after.
friday night is gonna be lame downtown after 10 no matter what you do.
hop a cab to the east side and go to classic old man dives like basement pub (trivia nights?), the place next door called roadside attraction, my father's place or the place next door slow bar if you need nicer environments and they need great local beef burgers, or grab dinner at nicolas' mediterranean restaurant, or sizzle pie on east burnside, go to ron toms if the weather permits sit in the patio in the back, or go to that deeply "heritage" designed dig a pony, which will fill up with bridge and tunnel after 10pm on weekends.
driftwood is tight call too. the heathman bar is chill with a tv and small plate entrees right? ummm
what else

MirandaJuly · January 2012

I've never been to Central, but I've heard it can be real empty in there.

Leland · January 2012

I second the clyde common if you can rez a table for little plates and drinks. Some of their tables are super long, they seat like twenty. stuff is so good, not cheap, but also not crazy money. place is efficient modern classy casual. even if it is an illusion, and you just drink an ice water and munch seasoned popcorn, you feel smart and beautiful for belonging there for a minute.

YoursTruly · January 2012

these are good y'all, THANKS!

ThickeningAgent · January 2012

i am curious if anybody has been to the bar at Higgins? i think it might be a special secret place. or maybe i just have bad taste!

Hubers is classic!

Leland · January 2012

I have been to Higgins. Sweet spot, no doubt!

Loose_Thread · January 2012

Alexis greek restaurant

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Cool Places to Hang out Downtown or in NW?

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