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Categories: Lounges, American (Traditional) [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Southwest Portland, Goose Hollow"My absolute favorite place to eat! Every month has a different themed special from another country. Check the website for the current…" read more »
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During a stay at the Hotel deLuxe we decided to start our night out in the Driftwood Room and venture from there. When we got there we were immediately greeted and had conversations while mulling over the choices for our drink order. The bartender, Mike, was so knowledgeable, congenial and gave great recommendations for bars to visit. His warmth and mixology skills made for a great experience. We had our drinks and left with recommendation in hand to take on the town. Yet while we were out, all we could talk about was the Driftwood. So we went back and caught the late night happy hour before retiring upstairs.
Words of caution about the happy hour food: you will become addicted! We both ordered a drink from the happy hour menu (I had the Elizabeth Taylor, I love champagne cocktails done right!) and also the mac & cheese and mussels to munch on. The mac & cheese was stellar! Much yumminess! The mussels were A-MAZING! I almost stole them from my boyfriend and I don't even like mussels!! Even though he was cleaning up to close up for the night, Mike was attentive and took good care of us, not rushing us out and keeping great conversation.
This place is classy with dark woods and low lighting. Comfy bar stools and cuddle perfect booth seating. This is a place I will always drop by when I'm in Portland, it's top notch in my book!
I'm not trying to hype kill here. Honestly. But I've had better service AND better food in malls than I did here.
Brandon and I rolled in a Saturday afternoon, there was one waiter, two bartenders and maybe four customers. After some overpriced beers, solidly blah mac & cheese (except for the charred stuff on top) and about twenty new people there was now one single, solitary staff member in the bar. Tickets were confused, orders were forgotten and it was all managed with a blithe gracelessness that made me wonder if the one dude left behind had something better to do. Shit happens, tickets get confused, but all we got from homeboy was "I don't know what's going on back there." He certainly didn't attempt to give the runner a hand.
Classy? Not here. Not here at all.
This place reminds me of the time Frank Sinatra and I got shot-cockled at the Tropicana and woke up in the desert dressed as a gorilla and a banana. I, of course, was the banana. I also oddly remember that my pockets were filled with olives?
Weird night.
The Driftwood is a classy joint. Do yourself the favor.
Checked out the Driftwood Room while staying at the Hotel deLuxe - what a neat little place. Service was attentive, my martinit was a kick in the seat, and food was good - since it was Thanksgiving, originally the kitchen was going to be closed, but they opened it, and I had an organic beef cheeseburger (chedder is always better, as it is here), fries and a pickle spear. The burger was good - huge! The bun was fabulous and lettuce took on a life of its own - it was huge! The fries rocked, and that was one damn good pickle! Love the feel of this place.
The Driftwood is a small space with a great retro vibe and some very good cocktails. I loved the attention to local distillers and started off with a martini made from Martin Ryan vodka, which is made from grapes like Ciroc. Definitely off to a good start, I moved on to a sazerac and then a Cary Grant, which was made with bourbon, vanilla cognac, and bitters, and packed a punch. There is also an extensive happy hour food menu, which looked like a very good deal, but after dinner at Pok Pok, I was too full to try. The place is just right with a few friends so avoid large groups.
As a child, I used to sandwich a sugar cube between 2 rose petals from my mom's garden and happily munch away.
Many years and dentist visits later, I still have an utter weakness for floral tastes. Violet, Rose, Elderflower... I'm a sucker.
Other things I'm a sucker for:
Champagne Cocktails
Intimate Cozyness
Friendly and knowledgeable bartenders
Round green buttery olives
Hotel Bars
Happy Hours
So yes, come here, if you like any of the above items, and especially if something like the Elizabeth Taylor (cassis de violet and champagne) sounds good to you.
Mike the bartender is the man.
Mike hooked me up with one of the better mojitos (French Mojito, to be exact) I've had in a LONG time. Yes, on a cold winter night in Portland, I ordered a mojito and it was fabulous. Not too sweet, not too watered down, tons of mint and lime, just the way I like it. Served in a extra large glass :). The St. Germain added an extra something special, too!
Oh, and their "happy hour" that basically spans the entirety of the night. Food is SO good! The mac and cheese, for $4.50, was some of the best I've had in long, long time. Large twisty pieces of pasta, very strong cheese flavor (none of that wimpy bland stuff I've had far too often), nice and crispy on top, ooey and gooey in the. My new friend Mike from Seattle shared this with me, as well as whole roasted garlic with grilled country bread and Gorgonzola "cheesecake". It really didn't taste too strong of Gorgonzola... much more pleasant tasting then some varieties I've had. The roasted garlic was sweet, and the bread it was served on was toasted, brushed with olive oil, and the perfect compliment to the cheese and garlic.
The atmosphere is old school. Not really hip, but different and fitting for the hotel deLuxe.
Fantastic evening!
I am so glad they kept it the "Driftwood Room" when the Mallory became Hotel Deluxe.
When hubby and I were part of the ART (Artists Repertory Theatre) crowd, we would go here for a well-deserved relaxing drink (well, they did. I just watched the show).
The lounge is in an odd shape, but it totally works.
Service is good, but if it's busy they can be understandably slow.
This place is just special. I don't know how else to say it. You walk in, and feel like you've never been anywhere like it (certainly nowhere in Portland compares), but at the same time there's a familiarity (for me, I think it comes from having watched too many Rat Pack-ish flicks).
It's so intimate and sexy - you just want to wear a fabulous dress, amazing heels and sip a martini...but not in a pretentious or "Pearl District-y" kind of way - it just feels like it's what the space DESERVES. (That said, when I went in last night I certainly wasn't dressed to the nines - more like the fours - and clearly was NOT out of place. Again, it's not pretentious. At all.)
For me, the Driftwood Room is 50% ambiance, 50% knowing that you're going to get the best version of whatever cocktail you order. And that makes it worth every penny.
I'm a huge Sidecar fan and last night, the bartender Michael made the most amazing version I've every had. I can't even describe it, nor will I ever hope to have better until I find myself back at the Driftwood.
It used to be a pre-show tradition at the neighboring Artists Rep to pop over to The Driftwood on opening night. I still like to do that. There's something about a little nip of gin that helps me sit through whatever the next 2 hours will throw at me.
I got to participate when The Driftwood invited members of the media to sample a number of cocktails (6 in two hours!) and then vote on which would become the lounge's signature cocktail.
The winner, hands down was The Woody (Crown Royal, Pama, bitters and an amarena cherry). I admit that I enjoy the Woody so much, I haven't moved on. The combo of the drink with their sliders makes my tummy happy. However, upon the last visit, a friend shoved an authentic gin martini in my hand and I now understand why cocktail enthusiasts thumb their noses at folks that think anything involving vodka can be a martini.
Okay, I would have given this place 4 stars if it were fall or winter... but, it's summer! Yay, it's summer! This establishment has no exterior windows & it's very dark inside. You would have no idea that it is summer outside... not sure if you want to forget that on one of our few sunny days out of the year!
When you walk in, you instantly start racking your brain for your favorite warm pear brandy or hot toddyish drink. The atmosphere is warm and inviting (a much needed improvement from the last time I was there a couple years ago when the whole place blended together & you couldn't tell where one piece of driftwood ended & the bench seating started). Again, had it been raining outside I would have wanted to cozy up on one of the bench seats & snack on their yummy happy hour cheese platter (or mac & cheese... see a theme... I like the cheese!) & sip on a warm beverage. Since it was 85 degrees out, I went for the Portland Something-or-other which basically persisted of champagne & pear brandy! Yum! My friend had the happy hour champagne drink that had absinthe in it... interesting... not exactly yummy. It tasted a little bit like cough syrup (I am sure some people like it... just not my cup of tea... or champagne for that matter).
The service was great. They were very attentive & also left my friend and I alone when we were chatting. All in all, it was a great evening & I wll definitly keep the Driftwood Room on the list of places to go in the Fall & Winter!
WOW. just WOW.
Roomie & I headed here during the last Elite event, to get some cheap eats at Laura N's suggestion. I will likely be forever in her debt for this one.
Probably THE BEST mac n cheese I've every had. Ever.
Pulled pork sliders were amazing (and we all know I'm a pulled pork snob/addict)
Calamari was tasty.
Roommates burger was delicious.
All this and an $18 bottle of super tasty house wine and we got out of there for under $40.
Staff was knowledgable & helpful to boot.
If I owned a house, I'd have a spare bedroom just like this place (called the pimp room) where I'd bring only my most special of dates.
Isthat Courvoisier?
I've agonized today over whether or not to write a review for this place, as I really like it and don't want to give it away. Oh well, if you love something let it go I guess.
There are a lot of reasons to go to a bar. Personally, I go to a bar for two reasons: 1. Drink. 2. Talk to friends. That's it. The problem with most bars is that there is too much going on. Either there are tons of TVs or there is music blaring too loud or it's just a plain old fashioned dive and its too smoky (less of a problem now, of course).
I give this joint five stars because it is has a cool atmosphere and vibe, there is only one TV, the staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and quick with a recommendation if asked. The menu is simple and streamlined, and I've yet to encounter anything that wasn't tasty. They have a good mix of interesting drinks... Well, you get the point. If you're going to grab a drink and chat with some friends, this has to be one of the best places in town to do it.
so many great things about this bar, not sure where to begin.
I feel that I am inside a larger version of one of the early Bond car's, where a compartment opens up and it is like a livingroom, filled with low lounge chairs and driftwood.
And a bartender who is attentive and nice and made me drinks that weren't on the menu.
We came in about 20 minutes before the 9- close happy hour and it wasn't busy. by the time we left (? hour?) it was packed.
We will be back tonight!
The only thing I would change is the friggin TV above the bar. James Bond would not stand for viewing a tampon commercial while sippin his martini, i am sure.
I love this place....
I just always seem to forget that it exists...
Help! I'm stuck in a dark apostrophe! literally.
Ok, who am I kidding: I adore the Driftwood Room...and the only reason for my initial warning is to keep the masses away from my sexy little hideaway. A swanky place, oozing with unintentional charm, hiding deep secrets from the fifties and maybe condoning a couple of shady business deals...is it charmingly discreet, and I'd like to keep it that way, thank you very much!
While at first I was upset that they had ripped out the authentic swank to replicate faux-swank, I also realized how everything from the carpets to the upholstery would have all reeked of cigarette and cigar smoke, and I no longer had complaints. I like breathing.
The $4 happy hour burger garnered looks from every surrounding table, and my rum and coke was so light that I thought they brought me a ginger ale. Feeling sexy? Want to bring the swanky out of someone you love? Need to put a hit on someone's life? Head here. NOW.
3/15/08 Update:
Wow. Happy Hour Food. Incredible. That $4 burger? So big and juicy that my friend could only eat half. The caesar salad was perfectly dressed and again - HUGE. The Mac'n'cheese was a bit too rich for my liking...but I'm a wuss when it comes to sharp cheese, so take what you want from that.
Hmmm. This was one of those places where I liked the concept they were going for, but they just didn't quite nail it in my eyes.
The vibe (I think) they are going for is an old dark "Aren't you just the cat's pajamas" kinda lounge with rock walls and dark walls. It's the kind of place that you'd think you'd hear some Sinatra or maybe even some Captain & Tennille as you sip a martini or a nice glass of wine. But what you got was kind of a lame hotel lobby bar and a $15 glass of red wine. You also got a lot of dorky business casual hotel guests having inane conversations that were quite the bore. The bartender was very sweet though.
Maybe it's the kind of place that is better on certain nights than others, but it was nowhere I would rush back to.
Five stars around summer/fall of 2006
Loved this place when they first re-opened! The happy hour was a great deal. We could not go a week without the sliders, or the Kobe burger.
Not sure what changed. Staff turnover revealed a less attentive and friendly place. Then little things changed. The sour mix was not fresh, the cherries weren't soaked in amaretto any more.
The crew surfaced elsewhere and we moved our barstools down there. We will probably try it again.
Other Yelpers like it...
We were on a Mai Tai quest, so why did we end up here? I really can't say, but the era seemed like a match and driftwood and tiki bars at least seem to have beaches in common. I know, I'm reaching.
I can't complain about the bar itself. Yes, it is a bit awkward, particularly AFTER the drinking. I don't really notice a huge change from the Driftwood that was to the one that exists now in the Hotel De Luxe. If anything, I think they might have reversed some minor updates from the seventies to complete the trip in the way-back machine to 1961.
But was it a good idea to order a Mai Tai here? I'd have to say, No. What we received looked appropriate and large - in a pint glass for god's sake! But the rum was nearly undetectable in a barrage of sweetness and fruit. That's not the point, friends. Rum comes first & fruit is just to provide fiber and prevent scurvy. Priorities!
On another night I might come here and try a different drink -- perhaps a bourbon and milk -- but I can't recommend the Driftwood for a Mai Tai. Also, the music started off with BeeGees and didn't improve a lot from there. Please, some Brubeck would be welcome.
Tried their lemon drop martini which was good. I've tried lots of Lemon drops now and it was middle of the line. At least this one was filled to the brim which was nice in comparison from the one earlier that night. Also tried the rose city drop which was good. I thought it was weird at first but then I really started to warm up to it. I would go back for that martini. I also liked how dark and intimate it was. Sweet old time music to listen to in there and really just relax and drift away into the past. Makes you feel like you're out of the city and somewhere far away.
I take out-of-towners here a lot--if you're looking for "old-Portland" feel, what better place than nestled in the (beautifully) renovated Mallory--now the Hotel de Luxe.
Hidden gem with a Mad Men feel--due to popularity, seating is tricky, but if you hang in there, you'll have a fantastic, loungy evening.
Is this best burger in Portland?! Kobe beef with a foie gras butter, dee-lish.
Could be. Funny enough their steak was just so so.
What makes this tasty experience even better? Their friday nite happy hour lasts pretty much all nite and the bar food menu is discounted to half off.
We also had the popcorn shrimp, which was shrimp along with popcorn in a bag you tear open and drizzle melted rosemary butter at the table. In the end I liked the idea of this presentation over how it actually tasted.
I've heard it's difficult to get a seat at the Driftwood Room, so I'm happy I was there with friends on the day after Thanksgiving. We noshed on some very good happy hour food, including inexpensive burgers, and I had three or so concoctions with Tuaca that left me feeling quite satisfied. The lobby of the Hotel deLuxe is fun and fresh and funky, and that vibe continues seamlessly as you enter the Driftwood Room. Sensually curved bar and booths, rich wood tones, and well-placed wall sconces. My only complaint was that it was a tad dark in there. I'm all for ambiance, but when I can't read the menu that's a bit too dark.
Meh. I agree with Laura N. when she says its a little like a dark apostrophe. I think they just tried a little toooo hard to bring the swank factor up. It also gets really packed out very quickly so I start to feel claustrophobic. Nothing to write home about.
"Social Hour" Tues.-Sat.…
Neighborhood: Old Town
Coffee Happy Hour Mon - Sat
Neighborhood: Southwest Portland
Neighborhood: Southwest Portland
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Northwest
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Southwest Portland
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Southwest Portland
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: North Portland
Category: Hotels
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