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Olive or Twist
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
42 reviews for Olive or Twist
Review Highlights
"The orange blossom martini was the strong, balanced and..."
(in 7 reviews)
"The spicy peach was my absolute favorite."
(in 4 reviews)
"Very nice set- up and good martinis."
(in 3 reviews)
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42 reviews in English
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Review from Greg W.
Portland, OR
12/22/2011 22 Check-ins Here
The problem with most bars in Oregon is that the archaic Oregon Liquor Control Commission requires establishments that serve alcohol to also serve food. There's nothing wrong with enjoying a nice glass of wine with your meal, but, as far as I'm concerned, a bar is a bar and a restaurant is a restaurant. To try to excel at both only results in mediocrity in both.
The consequence of these rules is that most bars in Oregon end up looking like restaurants - with the patrons segregated from each other in booths. It's either that, or the music is too loud to talk. There is no random social chit-chat, no making new friends at most of these places.
Olive or Twist is a real, uncompromising martini bar. They might not have the largest selection of spirits, but everything they carry has been carefully hand-selected for the season. They may not have gimmicky house-infused vodka, but you can be guaranteed that your Chopin will be served properly and unadulterated. With the way that the bar is laid out, you can't help but meet classy people that are actually interesting to talk to. Their outdoor seating across from Jamison Square is lovely during the warmer months.
If there was the equivalent of "Cheers" in the Pearl District, this would be it. Spend a little bit of time here, and everyone that works here will know you by first name and your drink of choice. These people work hard to make your experience individual and intimate, which, at the end of the day, is really what matters the most. Your secrets are safe with them!
Olive or Twist does what they do, and they do it well. -
Review from Valorie U.
Portland, OR
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
We go here for them- there "fancy" drinks. I love all their cocktails and the atmosphere is very modern and minimalistic but somehow still cozy. The drinks are pricey, but it's a great excuse to wear something other than a rain coat and boots out for a change. We'll be back when the "fancy" hits us again.
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Review from Guy A.
Portland, OR
2/4/2012
Hands down the best bar in Portland. Sam and Gabe are amazing. Stop in and grab a drink... Or food, the man making the treats in the back is Randle. I promise, you will have the best experience in the city here!
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Review from Sam K.
Updated - 6/6/2011 4 photos
Still my favorite bar in Portland.
I can't believe it's been over two years since I've updated my review. In that time I've: gotten married, gained a niece, gained a sister-in-law and lost a grandparent, not to mention stopped in to see Sam at Olive or Twist probably 20 times or so.
I try to make it in at least to say hi every time I'm in town. I am always treated like the prodigal son coming home (PDX) from living with the heathens (Tillamook County). Sam and his staff (particularly Gabe) have always treated me as if I had never been gone, even when it has been months between visits.
The drinks are still top notch. They have recently added one of my favorite scotches (Laphroaig) which has become one of my favorites. Super smokey from the peat and a pretty decent value as well.
The service is still unsurpassed and one of the main reasons I keep returning. As said, the drinks are awesome and the food menu they've put together, while limited in its selection, is definitely quality stuff.
Truly a 5-star yelp experience for me.Listed in: Wild geese that fly with the…, Nuptial Bliss (wedding…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/16/2009
This is my favorite bar in Portland. The ambience is great, the staff is amazing and the owner,… Read more »
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Review from Rachel C.
Portland, OR
5/25/2011
First off, I love the name of this place. :)
I was here recently on a Friday night for a friends birthday. There were no tables, but we were a small group and were happy to sit at the bar, as we were barhopping around anyways.
I got the Rose City Martini ($8.50, Hendricks gin, a squeeze of imported rose water, lime, and simple syrup) and it was FANTASTIC. Light and refreshing and perfectly balanced. The only other drink I tried was the Marionberry Cosmo which was also quite yummy. The other girls opted for a chocolate-y one and one that was spicy which isn't my style, but they loved it.
Our bartender was nice and attentive, the only reason I knocked down a star is that I really don't like paying so much for one drink! -
Review from Jana S.
Chicago, IL
5/12/2011
Glorious Gloria!
This place is awesome. First of all, the name sounds like "Oliver Twist"..catchy.
The service was amazing. Our server was just the perfect combination of kind, caring, knowledgeable without being obnoxious, annoying or overbearing.
We had the orange blossom martini, the spicy peach as well as their cosmo. They even made a special house virgin creation for our designated driver! The orange blossom martini was the strong, balanced and refreshing. The spicy peach was my absolute favorite! Muddled Serrano peppers, with peach and vodka. YUM! It is truly spicy though, so don't think that you can just drink it in 5 minutes. Well...maybe you can, but...anyways...
Ambiance - 5
Service - 5
Menu - 4.5
Drinks - 5
Overall - 5 -
Review from Stephanie K.
Manhattan, NY
3/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
So my friend's were completely against this place for months because apparently they kept trying to stop by and this place was always closed. Well, me and my friend didn't want to end our night just yet so we hit this place up on the way back to his place.
I would say my friend's were right about this place. We walked in and it was pretty dead and way too bright for being a late night lounge. We asked the waiter if he could turn down the lights, and he said he would, then never did. He was throwing major shade to my friend because he wanted a specific Old Fashioned. It was incredibly and unnecessarily tense, the man has got some attitude issues he needs to put in check.
The cocktails were alright, but the atmosphere was way off. It was great to see the bartender carry a super drunk chick out of the bathroom, sit her up on her bar stool, and then slyly take her drink away. Keeping it classy.
Pass on this place... -
Review from Kali D.
Portland, OR
10/23/2011
Bad Drinks. Bad Drinks. Bad Drinks.
Great waitress...HORRIBLE DRINKS.
There were four of us and every single one of our drinks was screwed up. A beginning to my husbands birthday started out as a bummer because of this place. The bartender in no way should be allowed to ever make drinks. Young kid with 90's gel spiked hair...PLEASE go back to bartending school!
The manager or owner or whoever that guy in the pink button down was actually had the balls to come over to our table in defense of the horrible bartender. Sad.
I reluctantly paid for our drinks. Good service would have been owning up to the horrible drinks.
Let me just say it one more time...HORRIBLE DRINKS. -
Review from Vi B.
1/9/2011 2 photos
Some chick motorboated the waiter with her funbags when I was here last night.
Great- now that I've got your undivided attention, I'll tell you all about Olive or Twist.
They get 4.5 stars for good alcohol and hilarious staff. The ONLY reason why I knock 'em down a half star is because of their EXTREMELY salty olives. I love olives, so I assumed a bar/lounge with this name would certainly carry good ones. And perhaps I should have ordered a side of bread, but damn! Those Olives had a Twist! (Pun intended).
Other than that, our bartender (guy with dark spiky hair) was a blast and kept his spirits high, even when a group of jackanape customers became loud and belligerant, most noticeably on their way out, when (wait for it, wait for it) the most drunken of the group, an extemely loud woman with low-cleavage decided to scream to the rest of the bar: "I haven't been laid since September! No one likes my cleavage!" (or something to that effect). When both the bartender and waiter decided to comment (hilariously, I might add), the woman decided her only way out with her last sliver or grace and humility would be to (and... here we go) grab the bartender and squeeze his head between her "saggy" (hey, she said it, not me) ladies.
And as her friends pulled her out of the bar, in a last-ditch attempt to re-claim her dignity, she screamed, "we're trashy. We're classless. We know!"
Hey- what a coincidence. We knew that too!
For this (and other) good times had that night at Olive, I will definitely be back. -
Review from Sarah T.
Portland, OR
9/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Overpriced (not unexpected in the Pearl) and not particularly memorable. Bland atmosphere, cavalier attitude. The drinks were good, but not worthy of the hype.
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Review from Mark H.
Vancouver, WA
10/13/2010
Had a chance to drop in the other day for a drink with some out of town associates and I don't mind telling you that this place is exceptional. It is a beautiful place, the drinks are great, and the prices are reasonable. Being a Manhattan drinker, I have often found it difficult to find a bartender who has mastered his art with bourbon. That wasn't the case at Olive or Twist. The martinis were perfect and a good time was had by all!
I plan on going back soon!Listed in: Best Bourbon Drinks
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Review from Wendy S.
5/24/2010 1 Check-in Here
A solid three stars. This place is A-OK alright, just not spectacular. Surprisingly, there was a major shortage of martinis on the menu. I'm talkin' the real deal, none of that appletini, cosmo BS (which were well represented). I like my martinis down 'n dirty, old school style. I asked if they had blue cheese stuffed olives (my martini fave) which they didn't, but graciously offered to make me in the kitchen. Major points for that.
The space itself is pleasant enough, and has a nice outdoor patio. The food menu detracted a star from my review. It's a mishmash of randomness, none of which we found the least bit appealing. We may pop in again for a drink, but will head elsewhere for grub.
N.B. Cougars in the hizzzzay! Surely the appletinis and popped collars lured them in. -
Review from Kyle D.
Beaverton, OR
8/3/2010
This place is much preferred to Vault or some of the other martini bars I've checked out in Portland. Very nice atmosphere, the bartenders have always been great, and the drinks are fantastic for the price.
The Godiva chocolate one was very tasty and my favorite remains the Blood Orange Kamikaze.
Been there plenty of times, never had an issue. Once went during a very slow day with my brother and a friend and we got to sample drinks the bartender was trying for free.
As always, you could show up in sandals and a tee, but this is Portland, so what the hell did you expect. Protip: Bathing is also considered "casual" though. -
Review from Jacy C.
Gresham, OR
7/27/2011
Very nice set- up and good martinis :)
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Review from Cheryl T.
Los Angeles, CA
10/3/2010
After my biking accident (see review for Waterfront Bicycles!) I finally made it to Olive or Twist. The bar is in a quiet little neighborhood with condos and a little park across the street. Let me tell you - there is nothing like a good martini to numb the pain and take care of that loss of blood - not that you need an excuse to have a good martini!
I got to the bar around 5pm and it was not busy at all, so I got to know the owner, Sam, who seemed to know all the customers there. He is from LA so we talked a lot about the two cities. Gabe, the bartender, made me an excellent - and very, very potent - orange blossom.
Overall, this is a solid, local joint, but coming from LA I don't know if there's much of a scene here.
Good news - no drunken biking mishaps on the way back to the hotel! -
Review from Lindsay S.
Portland, OR
8/1/2009
I don't really feel like going on and on so here's the gist:
It's hot. There's a nice patio. And they serve drinks. Let's go.
Good martinis. Duh. Otherwise I would have to be pissed that the name of the place is "olive or twist".
Waitstaff. Dropped the f bomb and goddamn within 2 minutes. Woah.
Then he didn't come back after we sat with empty glasses for 10 minutes. So we left. (after flagging him down to pay)
The end. -
Review from C K.
New York, NY
4/7/2009
Came here on a Saturday night and had a great time.
Not crowded, nice decor, pretty bathrooms, comfortable seating, simple yet sophisticated environment, good martinis, and really friendly staff.
Great place to come with friends or a date to just talk and hang out. -
Review from Megan A.
Portland, OR
7/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
A little pricey, but the service and the drinks are worth it!
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Review from Josh R.
Portland, OR
9/12/2008
Had drinks here tonight, sat outside. So good...the service has at times over the years been a bit blah, but some new staff tonight and they were great. Definitely recommend the Limoncello Drop, Marionberry Cosmo and Kamikaze Orange martinis...prices totally inline with the rest of Portland, maybe a little less even, and worth it. The food menu is very limited but the draw is really the martinis. Wine and beer choices also pretty limited but if you know that going into the place it's all good.
One of the reasons I have always liked this place is it's small and always quiet...there's always people there but it's a small crowd so a perfect place for having a conversation, geting to know someone (maybe a little too quaint though for a first date) or just catching up w/ friends over happy hour.Listed in: Favorite bars/restaurants
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Review from Liz T.
3/6/2010 1 photo
This place seems like a locals' bar. The bartenders/ servers are friendly and funny. The crowd seemed to be a bit older for my group of friends and I. Probably a good place for people in their mid- thirties and older. The music was mellow jazz. A good place to sit and talk to friends.
We asked a guy at the bar to take our picture before we left, but he turned out to be a creeper trying to impersonate a doctor- I guess I'll try not to hold that against the establishment itself.
The Blood Orange Kamikaze is worth trying. -
Review from Madeline B.
Burbank, CA
6/23/2011
This is a great neighborhood bar. It's a very intimate (small) spot but the bartenders are friendly and the drinks are delicious. The drinks are kind of on the expensive side and they unfortunately DO NOT have a happy hour. If you order a panini you get the option of salad or fettucini alfredo made with homemade sauce! Go with the fettcini alfredo! It's was so decadent and delicious!
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Review from Julie S.
4/19/2011
I've been missing my favorite martini bar since I moved here. Olive or Twist may not be as close to me as I would like but I plan to make frequent trips here. The Orange Blossom is good, though I could taste the gin and I don't like gin. The Red Apple and the Blood Orange Kamikaze were great and I could drink the latter until I was on the floor. Definitely trying the food next time.
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Review from Chey K.
Tillamook, OR
4/19/2009
I absolutely LOVE this place. Whenever we are in from Tillamook, we make a point to visit Sam, who treats us like family. If I could, I would kick back with a Peruvian and an Absinthe every night in the dim, cozy setting.
We went there one early evening for a quick drink before a restaurant we were going to opened, and didn't want to leave. The staff is equally inviting as Sam, who reaches perfection on many of his drinks. He can even create a drink for you based on your mood on any particular evening (and nail it, by the way).
We have tried the outdoor seating as well, and were delighted we could sit in the sunshine with our dog and still get the same great service. Staff even brought out hypoallergenic treats for her as well as fresh water. They even offered to put mango puree in her water if we wanted it (jokingly, I think, but they still would have done it if we agreed).
If you are looking for a delightful sweet dish, try their grilled pineapple with peppercorns and brown sugar. Incredible! Thanks, Sam, for creating the perfect place to relax and enjoy time with friends! -
Review from Sarah L.
Portland, OR
12/27/2010
Hello, my new favorite slinky, sexy bar! I think that's the perfect description. I got there right as they opened on a Thursday. The owner hadn't even taken his coat off yet, but he ushered me to a nice table and complimented me on my shoes - and not in a cheesy skeezy way. My friend showed up shortly after me and he made a point of circling back and checking on her. The drinks were perfect. I could have drank several more. But alas, I only have so much money and Olive or Twist didn't have a happy hour. I'll definitely be back for the occasional drink, and try to drag all my lovely friends with me!
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Review from Ryan R.
Seattle, WA
8/31/2009
This place is wonderful. Before we headed back to our hotel for the night, we wanted to find a nice place for a nice drink. Well, we found just that at Olive Or Twist. The friendly bartender served up one absinthe (w/ a traditional fountain) for me, and one dirty classic martini for the lady. Both drinks were amazing! After finishing my delicious absinthe, I decided on one more drink that we could share, and ultimately decided on a gimlet. I've tried making these at home before and thought they were great. Then I tried the gimlet at Olive Or Twist, and it totally put my homemade concoction to shame! It was soooo delicious!
I look forward to coming here again next time we're in Portland. -
Review from Ravena B.
Santa Barbara, CA
2/17/2011
Great cocktails! The Peruvian, the spicy peach and the Gibson are top favorites. Also try the Ceviche with lobster, halibut and shrimp. Great owner named Sam. Super friendly guy!
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Review from Dave R.
Irvine, CA
12/11/2010
Great place to get a drink or 2 and maybe a light snack. make sure to go on a nice weather day as well and sit on the sidewalk and people watch while you get great service and drinks. nice staff, and very attentive. good work
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Review from mel e.
Portland, OR
2/18/2011
Not much of a Happy Hour however the staff and atmosphere are an 8-9 and for those who love a little heat I highly recommend the Peruvian Martini. A MUST! So bloody good.
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Review from Kas D.
Portland, OR
9/18/2010
I went there this past Friday with a group of friends celebrating...I wasn't impressed to say the least. The drinks were solid, but the service was sassy and unprofessional. I can't say all the servers deserved this insult, but one in particular was sarcastic and clearly not happy with his job. Note to the management - be careful who you hire because they reflect on your establishment. Needless to say because of this guy I wouldn't go back again.
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Review from Kyle F.
1/10/2010
Had two Orange Blossom Martini's which were strong and refreshing. Made with gin and OJ, back in prohibition the OJ was used to mask the taste of bootleg bathtub gin. Interior was nice, quite crowded. Similar to Teardrop, but a little smaller and drinks a tad cheaper. 3.5 Stars
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Review from Lisa W.
6/2/2010
Olive or Twist was one of our favorite Portland finds! I'm usually a wine person but I could be turned onto the occasional martini drink after checking out Olive or Twist. The vibe inside was hip, yet unintimidating, and the bartenders/servers really added character to the whole experience. They were funny and interactive with everyone there. Between the 2 of us we tried the Peruvian (Mazama pepper vodka, mango puree, lime juice), Orange Blossom (Tanqueray, muddle orange, splash of OJ) and Spicy Peach (peach vodka, muddled Serrano chilis, simple syrup and lime). All very yummy, but my favorite was the Peruvian. If you like sweeter, there are so many choices, but if you're more for the spicy, I would say Peruvian! There is also a food menu, some small bites and a couple of entrees. If you're hungry, they'll set you up but I say come here for the delicious martini concoctions.
Listed in: Portland weekend
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Review from Sara G.
6/27/2008 2 Check-ins Here
I have worked next to Olive or Twist for eight months, and last night was the first time I stopped in for a cocktail. Two things kept me away: the cheesy-as-hell name and the frosted glass windows. What is the point of positioning your bar in the people-watcher's heaven known as the Pearl if you are going to frost the glass on your front windows? Well, after last night, now I know why. Olive or Twist is surprisingly relaxed, understated, and a welcome retreat from the insanity of the kid-infested area surrounding Jamison Square. It is a perfectly serene place to go with your grown-up friends for a grown-up beverage. We didn't try any food since we had just eaten dinner, but the boyfriend, another friend, and myself really enjoyed our respective cocktails: a Spicy Peach, Blood Orange something-or-other, and an Orange Blossom. The two orange-related cocktails were tasty but nothing earth-shattering, but the Spicy Peach was a really unique and interesting blend of peach and serrano chili infused liquors. Yum! I wish I had tried Olive or Twist earlier, because even at eight o'clock on a Thursday night it was relatively empty. Sometimes you want an empty, classy cocktail lounge. But if you do crave the ungodly sound of children's laughter with your martinis, Olive or Twist does offer some patio seating across from the square.
One star removed for the oddly dominating smell of curry that filled the whole place. Our courteous and helpful server informed us that it was from a batch of curried potato appetizers, but it still seemed out of place and excessive in a martini bar.Listed in: My neighborhood- the Pearl…
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Review from Heather K.
Portland, OR
8/27/2010
I didn't pay much attention to the food menu and their prices, so take that into consideration. I ordered the orange blossom martini and my boyfriend had the rose city. Both were delicious. I think the orange blossom was a little too orangey and overpowered the gin a bit too much but the rose city martini was perfectly balanced. I look forward to trying more of their drinks, but I do think they are a tad on the pricey side.
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Review from Sherry S.
7/28/2010
Just went in for one drink.. friendly bartenders, trendy, minimalist looking place. Good martini though expected more gin choices since it is a martini bar. They have the tradional water fountain that drips in to a glass for making those special absinthe drinks there which is kinda cool.
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Review from Ann S.
Portland, OR
8/14/2010
List of martinis seems rather stunted given that it is a Martini Bar. However, what sold me is the bartender created a custom martini with muddled herbs after I mentioned to my companions about a fabulous little place in San Francisco called Alembic in my former upper Haight neighborhood. The mixologist there makes drinks with whatever fresh herbs are available that week at the Ferry Plaza markets. Anyway, I couldn't have been more pleased. :-)
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Review from Wendy A.
Gresham, OR
8/17/2008
Fun place to go to sit outside on a nice day, have a drink and people watch. The food, even though a limited menu, is really good! Also they are more than willing to work with you if you want something slightly modified from the menu. The owner, Sam, is very friendly and usually comes around and checks on everybody to make sure you're happy. The outside area is also a good dog-friendly place for cocktails--it's off the main sidewalk so you can relax and not feel like your dog is blocking everyone's path.
Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Ryan D.
Portland, OR
6/30/2009
Premium spirits! Great wine! Amazing staff. The drinks here are potent and tasty. The atmosphere is upscale without being snobby or uncomfortable. Gabe and Guy are very friendly!
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Review from Teresa J.
Portland, OR
9/3/2009
Gabe is a great bartender and Sam, the owner, who I didn't know till I started going here, is super-nice. Olive Or Twist always has good jazz playing. Atmosphere is comfortably swank. The chocolate truffle flight is tres delicieux!
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Review from Karen C.
7/29/2008
Came here when I visited and LOVED it! The food is excellent and the cocktails are so much fun!
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Review from Rick S.
Milwaukie, OR
11/17/2009
The martinis I've had were all great. The salad and cheese platter was nice. I've been there several times and would recommend it. Sometimes they don't seem to be open during normal business hours. It's great when they are open.
