Apotheke - CLOSED
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Late Night
8 Reviews for Apotheke
Apotheke is one of the most trendy and exotic places I've ever ventured into. The decor definitely steers toward the European, with its white fiberglass appearance. The music if definitely pretty cool, mostly a bunch of European ambient and dance music. The highlight of the trip was the beer. They had Chimay on tap! What place has Chimay on tap? Its such a hard find. The beer is all imported, obscure imports from Europe. Chimay is from France I believe. They also have some herbal liquors, which I have not tried. The atmosphere is unmatched anywhere I've visited in Portland.
Die Apotheke is 'the Pharmacy' in Germany. Let them be your drug provider.
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There is nothing like Apotheke in the Northwest that I've seen. I love this place, and I am a pretty big fan of "mixed drinks" (which is not what you get here), so know that before you come in. What you do get is a pretty beefy selection of apertifs, digestifs, herbal liquors, single malts, and other heady high-test adult beverages-all served straight up. Most of these come from small "craft" distilleries in Europe, and it is my understanding that the owners expend a substantial amount of effort just getting these bottles imported through the archaically stringent bureaucratic portal that all liquors have to pass through in Oregon.
I don't get "Mac Store" out of the decor as another reviewer did (although it IS just about completely white), I do get hip, 60's retro chic from the vibe.... but then that's not a difficult thing to locate these days, especially in the Pearl. Suffice to say, you will feel like you are in a place that is unique to these climes, and invites you to imbibe one of the 20 pages or so of passionately described and hard won treats in the menu-"sipping whiskeys," I believe is the term.
I should mention that they have some great, modern, sort of ethereal music spinning; very appropriate to the surroundings and supportive of the alternative style of drinking offered here. Also, the art changes with some regularity and has yet to be droll or boring.
Lastly, for those of you not wanting to partake of a 17 dollar glass of French Chartreuse that will change your life (or any of the other terrific spirits behind the bar), the owners have put together a stimulating, if short, list of wines and craft beers. I can't say what exactly is on the food menu, but my friend ordered fries the last time we visited, and they were fantastic!
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Head to Andina and go up 1 flight of stairs and you will find a hidden bar called Apotheke, aptly named for all the creative concoctions you will imbibe at this place. There is nothing Portland about Apotheke. It is reminiscent of some futuristic bar in LA, with its all-white decor and Jetson-like ambiance that is ultra cool and chic.
Apotheke is an experience for us daring individuals looking to shake up our taste buds with exotic drinks and eats. If you are looking for a bar that serves up the "usual" then this is not your place. But if you are in the mood to try out something unique with mysterious elixirs and aperitifs that sound somewhat medicinal, you will fall in love with this place.
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Imagine yourself in the mac store, with the lights low, listening to newer cutting edge music, drinking herbal liquors. The owners really understand what it means to stand out and be unique. The location is convenient, right off 405 in the pearl. And a top quality restaurant Andina is downstairs.
Carissa's review below is right on the mark.
I give it a 5 star.
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imagine sigur ros and a lounge in a space station. apotheke has got it all - decor, ambient music, designy furniture, abstract futuristic artwork, and a glass pyramid skylight when you walk up to the entrance. i am tempted to try each and every one of the tasty herbal liquors on the list. when i happened into apotheke i really enjoyed the intimate feeling created by their atmosphere and acoustics. truly a unique spot!
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Weird.
Rather spendy.
This place was put together by an architect and the one rule for the bar is -- NO MIXED DRINKS.
But, worth a try if you're up for something a little different.
They have apertifs and digestives up the wazoo - strange liqueurs made in small batches by monks in Belgium and the like. Sort of hard to find though - it's above Andina.
Rather spendy.
Weird.
Apotheke is a rare beast--it serves high end, strange and delightful elixirs, bitters, and other things made high in the mountains by European monks. Most of the drink list is unrecognizable, but has the curious appeal--and forest taste--of some sort of elven mystery drink. My favorite is Dr. Roux, a drink that takes your palate on a roller coaster of licorice, smoke, cherry, ash, and about fifteen other things. It's a great experience for a wine snob, foodie, or anyone else with refined tastes that need to be electrified every now and again.
Naturally, there are beers and wines for the rest of the group, and a selection of hearty but quirky foods including frogs legs for $9 or the ever comforting Monk meal: a cup of broth with bread and raw milk cheese for a modest $5. Pair it with Chimay tripel, a yummy beer, for $10, or go for the Belgian style fries for $4 (small) or $6 (large). If you need a little meat to get you through the dreary winter there's the wild boar stew for $7. End the night with Pear and star Anise bread pudding for $6, or $10 w/ pear brandy, or get romantic with a Chartreuse drinking chocolate for $6.
You may have realized by now that this is a place for adventurous eaters and drinkers--unfortunately, this keeps the crowds away and Apotheke is frequently empty. The decor is the modernist white with wire sculptures that has become popular (similar to Holocene), which gives the downstairs seating a too-cool vibe, but the bartenders are always sweet and happy to make recommendations for the uninitiated. Upstairs is a loft with couches and coffee tables that let you settle in to sip and savor the concoction at hand.
Apotheke occasionally features live music that tends toward the experimental with multimedia, soundscaping, and heavy laptop usage. The ever popular Music Population Project plays here and fits right in.
Occasionally Apotheke opens early for trunk and sample sales by local boutiques such as Lit (now defunct, sadly) or for benefits.
If electronic, experimental music is your thing, check out their calendar. If experimenting with food and drink to find that rare and unusual liquor is your thing, then this is your place in PDX. Prepare to have your tastebuds rocked.
(Located above Andina Restaurant in the Pearl)
Good place for exotic liquors. Can't & won't linger around for more than 1 drink though.
Update:
I heard they are re-opening somewhere in the NE. Anyone have the inside scoop??
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