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Vintage Cocktail Lounge
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 2:30 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Deanna N. said: "Ultimate quintessential date spot - uber dark zen with asian red the and the most flattering lighting. Bacon wrapped dates and creme brulee with ginger a must. Love sitting at the bar and eves dropping in on blind dates - heh!" read more »
55 reviews for Vintage Cocktail Lounge
Review Highlights
"A big plus: their happy hour runs until 7pm."
(in 8 reviews)
"Flat bread pressed sandwiches or little pizza bites were..."
(in 4 reviews)
"...cocktails that are elevated with their house made tinctures."
(in 5 reviews)
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55 reviews in English
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Review from Sarah B.
1/16/2012
I spent a few years pretending to like beer. I spent a few after that trying to like wine. From these efforts I was left only with a bad taste in my mouth and an unnerving sense of self-betrayal. That, and a couple of entertaining stories involving feather boas, spanky pants and spaghetti, but that's for another review.
Once I was finally old enough to choose my own adult beverages (no more handing a frat boy a $20 in exchange for a six-pack of Mike's Hard Lemonade with a GHB chaser!? Adulthood ROCKS!), I spent some quality soul-searching time and realized that I am simply not a beer person. Nor am I a wine person. Me? I'm a cocktail person.
I love me a good cocktail. There's a reason why we tip bartenders, folks. It's a skill the best ones refine over time - crafting innovative, unexpected cocktails; cooking up exciting mixes and practicing Tom Cruise-style flairs to impress the usually unimpressible onlookers. The bartenders at Vintage are just as serious about their booze as I am. And so is the cocktail menu. If there's a type of liquor you think you don't like, there's a drink in their regular rotation that will make a believer out of you.
As for the atmosphere? Remarkably low-key for such a fine establishment. These people obviously love their craft, and are too busy turning out fantastic drinks to indulge in the kind of irritating self-referential snobbery that would undoubtedly infest such a joint were it located in, say, Snob Hill or the Pearl. The patrons range from middle-aged ladies to scrubbier versions of the typical hipster to large groups of raucous lesbians to street urchins to *gasp* ordinary working folks.
If you don't mess around when it comes to your cocktails, Vintage is the place for you. No muss, no fuss, just superlative libations. -
Review from alexa c.
Oakland, CA
12/23/2011
Vintage Cocktails is pretty much exactly what one would expect from the name; a small, cozy, dim-lit establishment offering wonderfully creative cocktails and a nice neighborhood feel. The food menu is simple and offers plenty of light options to accompany your elixir of choice. Prices are reasonable and the space is comfortable and inviting. The staff is just lovely; they're attentive, friendly and down to earth. Hello... Portland!
Vintage Cocktails was the perfect 'first stop' after just arriving into Portland. The relaxing atmosphere, specialty cocktails and light menu was the perfect welcome to ease me right into the weekend! -
Review from Maggie and Chad T.
Portland, OR
Updated - 9/14/2011
I received a very nice note from the owner, some time ago, explaining the situation with an offer to refund directly or come back in for a redo.
I haven't taken him up on either, life happens ya know, but I really appreciate the effort and willingness to look into concerns.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/23/2010
Alright this is the kind of place that pisses me off.
First off really really spendy drinks -… Read more »
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Review from Matthew D.
Portland, OR
1/25/2012
The greatest cocktail lounge in Portland. Perhaps even the universe.
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Review from Katie P.
Clackamas, OR
12/22/2011
Beautiful space.
Truly rude bartender. When the (elderly) woman ahead of me requested water with her Old Fashioned instead of soda, he interrupted her to tell her that water was available in the back. As she tried to again explain what she wanted, he barked it at her again. Finally, he got it. Lame.
As I waited, the bartender refreshed the drinks of the people (his friends?) at the bar instead of taking my order. When I tried to order the first sandwich listed on the menu, a simple grilled cheese, he was utterly confused and impatiently called out the names of several kinds of meat. I repeated my order, giving him eye contact and enunciating, and he failed to comprehend, treating me like I was a moron. Pointing at what I wanted on the menu did not work either. Finally, he realized that there was a grilled cheese sandwich on the menu. I was stunned when he confessed that he hadn't believed me. Hadn't believed me that something was on the menu? Wow. It couldn't have been a new menu, because they were out of the Double Mountain that was listed there. Please don't try to make me feel stupid for ordering something on the menu as is.
Otherwise, the prices were fair and the ambience is lovely. If I were in the neighborhood, I might consider stopping by again if I saw a different bartender working there. -
Review from Winnifred L.
Portland, OR
Updated - 1/11/2012
I gotta say the owner contacted me right away. I do respect that. I just hope they lose the rude bartender.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/9/2012
The rude bartender referred to below doesn't make up for drinks I can easily get elsewhere. Note:… Read more »
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Review from Jordan L.
9/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Love it.... Although its a bit far for the average Portlander. They sure know how to make drinks, and he is so knowledgable about all their drinks its amazing.
The salad was fantastic as well. I did get the peanuts for $3.75, kinda not worth it but when a man needs food he needs food... am I right? -
Review from Erin K.
9/4/2011
Very cool cocktail lounge in Montavilla neighborhood. I had purchased a discounted gift certificate awhile ago and finally made it around to using it.
Yes, the cocktails are a bit pricey (most are $8 and up) but they are TASTY! And strong, so totally worth spending a bit more and just drinking less. I think this would be a great place for a cozy date or for a girls night happy hour, very cool ambiance and a variety of seating.
They have a limited food menu (just flat bread pizzas and sandwiches), as their focus is on the drinks, but the food is also really tasty and reasonably priced.
Also, service was great, very friendly and not pretentious as I thought they might be, being such a classy establishment and all, but our server/bartender was very down to earth and helpful. -
Review from Matt K.
Portland, OR
8/2/2011
The reason I am really in love with this place right now is Justin the owner/manager/bartender. He's no frills, down-home service and knows his vintage cocktails. No pretention at *all*. And, the cocktails are amazing.
I'd recommend going for happy hour between 5 and 6. After that, other staff takes over and the service just isn't as good. Or the drinks. Food is limited because they just don't have the facilities. But they do care about using local and sustainable ingredients.
Take advantage of the Montavilla area while it lasts. The Stark St. drag is really taking off and nearly on the verge of becoming 'hip'. Get in there before the hipsters take over! -
Review from Kayt d.
4/9/2011
With a name like Vintage Cocktail Lounge one would think that this establishment would be decorated in a retro fashion. Nope. Someone slapped some red paint on the wall and put up some cheap posters that evoke nothing of any golden era gone by. Were you thinking dark velvet draperies would be a nice, albeit overdone, touch? I thought so, too... and now you and I have spent more time thinking about decorating this bar than the owners have.
With a name like Vintage Cocktail Lounge one would expect it to be somewhere you could find comfortable seating and service that would make you want to, well... lounge for awhile. Nope. They have hard wooden benches, tables that are jammed too close together, an over capacity crowd and lousy service.
With a name like Vintage Cocktail Lounge one would expect there to be... cocktails. Well, yes sir, they have those, but they're nothing to write home about. In fact, we make 'em better at home, and I can lounge there too. -
Review from Keith A.
Wilmette, IL
8/8/2011
The first thought in my head when I got here was, how the hell did I find myself all the way out here? Well, it was the call of a friend of a friend and I just felt like going with the flow.
This was very old school on the inside. Infact, I was surprised that it was a cocktail bar at all as it had a more divey feel to it. The cocktail and liquor list was huge and almost a bit overwhelming for me. Cocktails aren't my normal medium of drinking, so I decided to keep it simple and went with an old fashion. This was very good, but maybe a bit more gin than I would've liked.
The scotch list was more to my liking, but it was getting late and it was time to leave. Definitely an interesting vibe and in a much different area of portland than I had been hanging out in during my trip -
Review from kelly s.
Portland, OR
10/24/2011
Vintage is definitely worth a visit. Nothing completely "visionary" about it, per se, but they do mix good drinks, and what we appreciated about them most the night we blew through, was that we were trying groupon now for the first time. When it came time to pay we were told that ours was not good for that night, which was the whole point of the "groupon now" and the whole reason we came to that bar that night. The owner immediately corrected the situation, and charged us what we would have paid had the groupon been working properly. I appreciate great services, I love a great drinks, and this neighborhood has a lot to love, if you like old timey drinks like manhattans and old fashioneds, then make your way to Vintage and enjoy some well priced friendly drinks.
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Review from Stacy M.
Portland, OR
8/2/2011
Love this place! They know their cocktails!
I like to go early, sit at the bar, and chat up the bartenders. They have always been friendly and helpful every time I've been.
My only complaint, is that I wished they would open at 4pm, at least on Fridays. -
Review from Lisa S.
8/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of the best cocktail lists in Portland. They take themselves very, very seriously. Don't expect a smile or much chatting about the menu.... it's all business here, in a way that reminds me of some areas of NYC. The servers use zero eye contact......It's a refreshing attitude that's very different from Portland service culture. If you can keep from feeling put off by the coolness, you will really love it here. The food was fine. They don't have a traditional kitchen so its limited, but they made a pretty good flatbread pizza in a toaster oven and a super fresh salad...
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Review from Crawfish N.
Portland, OR
10/17/2011
Great drinks! Great food! Great service! Perfect date night spot in the fall.. I'll be back!
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Review from Thomas N.
Portland, OR
4/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went here on a normal weeknight with my SO using a Groupon. I had somewhat high hopes for this place since it sold itself as the only legitimate place to get a masterfully done classic cocktail in Montavilla. I'm sorry to report that it's far from the truth.
My drink of choice and the standard to which I hold all bars to is the sazerac. It's beautifully simple and hits the spot in oh so many ways with its strong base of rye whiskey and sugar, complemented by a refreshing rinse of absinthe and lemon peel twist. The bartender used pastis instead of absinthe and simply said that's how he did it. That threw off the balance of the cocktail and it's remained the only sazerac I've not finished in recent memory.
I hoped that Vintage could redeem itself in other ways, but it didn't. The pizzeta was basically several-day old flatbread with some sorry toppings on it and put into a tiny toaster oven. And the girlfriend couldn't use the restroom because it was clogged, so the bartender/cook/host/janitor had to clean that up too. I sure was glad that he found time to do that before making my pizzeta!
These specific grievances, combined with an overall lack of passion by the owners/management really turned me off to this place. Go to the Observatory, Country Cat, or any other Montavilla establishment deserving of your business. -
Review from r s.
Portland, OR
12/14/2011
energetic staff moderate prices small Food menu huge selection of spirits. Ask for hatchet.....
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Review from Mark H.
Vancouver, WA
1/8/2011 5 photos
We have been buying groupons lately and visiting places that probably wouldn't be our regular spots. Being about 30 minutes away from where we live, Vintage Cocktail Lounge certainly fits that criteria.
I am so glad that we made the trip!
Although the place was packed beyond capacity, the staff was friendly and attentive. We ended up with seats at the bar which was fine as it put us right in the middle of all the cocktail mixing action!
As you may know from previous reviews, I am a bourbon drinker. I have finally found a heaven for us bourbon guys. The bourbon selection is deep and old. The selection of bourbon cocktails is fun and creative with several versions of the Manhattan and the best Old Fashioned ever created. If you are a bourbon lover then you have to try this place out!
The kitchen is a 4 foot section of counter top that they manage to use for creating some really cool dishes. Not your typical bar food but really delightful considering their space limitations.
ps - I didn't have any room left for this but the tequila selection looks pretty awesome too! Maybe I will have to visit mexico on my next stop at Vintage Cocktail Lounge. Maybe it will be a round trip!Listed in: Best Bourbon Drinks
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Review from laura h.
1/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wish I had the great experiences that others had here, maybe we showed up at a bad time. My husband and I stopped by for a few cocktails on a Sunday evening, the lounge had just opened for the evening. There was a lady there, she seemed to be the only one working. She appeared to be none too pleased with our presence.
We walked into the lounge and took a seat, besides glancing over at us quickly, our presence was not acknowledged for about five minutes. We ordered a few appetizers, the menu is very simple. I have no problem with that, it's just that none of the choices really appealed to me.
My husband mentioned that his drink was good. The drinks were a bit pricy, also considering the completely unfriendly service. I almost wanted to ask the waitress/bartender, are you okay, can I check your pulse? She must have been having a really bad day. We sorta got out of there as fast as possible because of the vibe. Sorry, no reason to return. At least we could escape to the awesome Bipartisan Cafe next door. -
Review from Ryan G.
Portland, OR
3/2/2011
I've read and heard mixed reviews about the Vintage, and I think that's reasonable. I really like the old-school atmosphere, and I like the broad selection of alcohol. I don't drink cocktails really (pretty much beer or straight booze), so I can't comment on that myself though I've heard they are good. If Susha is your server, it will be great; some of the others seem a bit short-tempered to me. I've never had bad service- but only Susha seems consistently great. I can't say it's my favorite bar, but it's certainly a good one and I always hit it when I'm in that part of town.
One quick bit of advice for the over-grown frat-boy-turned-metrosexual-douchebag who was there last time trying to impress his date (and everyone else): don't make a point of announcing over and over to the bartender (and everyone else in earshot) that you used to be a bartender and then ask, "What's in an Old Fashioned?" You already looked like an idiot, you didn't have to drive the point home. -
Review from Carly L.
Portland, OR
11/26/2011
My husband and I love this place. They serve the best cocktails and are so knowledgable! We are so lucky to live so close.
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Review from Sherry S.
12/11/2010
Love this space, it's dim lighting and reddish walls.
We just stopped in for wine but found out it is a cocktail lounge. We ordered a couple of drinks. They sounded good on the menu but there was just something about them that just did not work. We had the champagne cocktail and the gin lemon/lavender cocktail. They sound charming but..
Maybe we will come in and try something different as the ambience is nice and low key. -
Review from Cassandra D.
Portland, OR
7/10/2010
I was here a few months ago with good friend from out of town that likes to try new places with me.
Loved... Can't say that I really loved anything about this place. Nothing really stood out to me, the space was ok, the bartenders were ok and our drinks were ok. I wasn't blown away by anything, nor was I turned off by anything. I wasn't over or underwhelmed. Just 'whelmed'.
Disliked... That I wasn't more impressed.
I will definitely try this place out again, because it is close to the Academy Theatre and not far from my house. Perhaps, more will be revealed? -
Review from Kate G.
5/6/2011
Yummy drinks. Cute but small bar. Lots of attention to detail. Sophisticated cocktails in a laid back atmosphere. I'll be baaaack.
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Review from brandi p.
"Indeed, if I had a few of these I'd be sans pants. Not even necessarily in a sexy way." (Brice, after the Sans Knickers, a concoction of gin, and "some orange shit." his words. Good thing we stopped at one. He doesn't use "indeed" often.)
Calling a place vintage and painting the walls burgundy is a bit of a cliche. But Vintage delivers the goods, in a city where the cocktail bar is constantly set ever higher these days. I had the Tabor Reservoir, which we actually both agreed was better: gin, lemon, lavender. Rivals the lavender lemon drop at The Observatory a few doors down, but only because it's a little less sweet. Clearly a subjective judgment. (as they all are. In fact, as any review is. Forgive me, I'm teaching aesthetics this quarter.)
Beautiful bar, and a glance behind reveals a pretty comprehensive selection. If you're a scotch drinker you may be disappointed; no Glenmorangie, no Lagavulin, but they do have Laphroaig. FWIW I would have loved to see a house cocktail with scotch; that's a challenge that bars in Seattle have picked up recently that I've yet to see in our fair city. Maybe once we get over the absinthe moon-eyes that'll happen.
So in sum: the somewhat cliched theme is overridden by the great drinks, chill atmosphere. Really fresh ingredients, and it'd be great to see what this little place will come up with when they get a little more risky, a la Beaker and Flask. That's a much better spirit model to look to than Secret Society, which is where it feels like Vintage is going right now.
Just my subjective two cents. What's NOT up for debate? If you wanna get your date sans knickers, this is it.Listed in: ROTDs
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Review from Ron T.
8/8/2009 3 photos
A teeny tiny bar with quite some character.
The character could be bitter.
Yes, most if not all of their signature mixed drinks comes with a kind or two of bitters. This could only be the bar that I've been to that I've seen so many kinds of bitters.
I did not try anything as I am not a fan of that flavor. And plus the fact that I was on a salty phase two days straight, anything not salty would be brushed aside.
We came for a surprise birthday party for a good friend and almost got lost because of the lack of sign-age. I mean a simple readable board by the storefront is not that hard to do right?
Like the store, the sign by the window blends by the color of the furnitures inside. It does not help that much IMO. Enough of the decor (appetizing red and vintage, like the bar's name) and more on the other offerings.
We were a little hungry and ordered some food. I've had the roast beef, asadero cheese and some strong peppers on a flat bread. That was yummy. It was accompanied by pickled kale, another good bite. The salad might be lacking in the flavor department but the sandwich itself pays for whatever is lacking. Our group ordered the meat and cheese platter (the house made cumin pepperoni and one more meat plus the asadero cheese got stuck in my head as they are worth mentioning), then the pancetta sandwich is said to be good as well.
Birthday boy arrived, a friend got him the Upper Manhattan. After downing it, I ordered the Lower Manhattan for him. Good night, good birthday. He handled it well like a champion.
I wish stores and shops like these would extend to a few more blocks of goodness. The two blocks of niceness comes a bit short for me.
I love it. Simply love it.
From the servers, to the ambiance to the drinks. Love it. -
Review from Jodi C.
1/27/2010 1 photo
This small lounge nicely meshes a charming of-days-gone feel with a contemporary vibe. I'm sure Benjamin Franklin would've adored the simple antique light bulbs rustically hanging from the ceilings. They don't offer much lighting to the dim ambiance, but the candles lit atop the few tables and along the bar add an intimate feel.
Lemme tell ya, that bar tender knows his whiskeys. I hold in high regard tenders who take their liquor expertise and use it to educate and benefit the customer. "Are you sure you want to try the moonshine? It's a kicker. But the blahdeeblah whiskey is smooth as melted butter." Amen, brother.
The intimate little bar has a great liquor tasting option as well, where you can get half shots of a couple hundred different whiskeys, cognacs, wines, you name it. Starting at $2. BAM. Hit me with it.
Definitely a great place to melt into a seat and sip on some belly-warming whiskey, maybe divulge in a boardgame or two... -
Review from dan h.
6/11/2010
This is the new stop for my kickball team after our games. I did not know that until last night as I wasn't able to kick this season. Anyway the team has gotten friendly with one of the bartenders (hell, he might be the owner for all I know) and he does our team right.
An interesting mixed drink menu plus a large selection of vodka, gin, brandy, scotch, bourbon, etc at decent prices make this a place I certainly would like to learn more about. Good space, friendly bartenders, live music and girls with tattoo's. What more could a guy want? Ok. It would be nicer if it was closer to where I live, but I guess I shouldn't be that critical. -
Review from Nader A.
Portland, OR
9/24/2009
I know that Vintage Cocktail lounge is still fairly new, and I get the feeling like they're still searching for their identity.
It's pleasant inside, but I wouldn't call it swanky or elegant at all. In fact, the rustic wood floors gave me more of an old skool saloon-type vibe. Not that that's a bad thing, but if you're thinking higher-end cocktail bar (a la Vault downtown) they you may be disappointed.
Further evidence that they may be aiming their sights more at the common man: $1.50 tall boys for happy hour! They also offer up $2.50 well drinks and a selection of $4 glasses of wine...but I'm not so sure I dig the wines they were pouring for happy hour when we went. A big plus: their happy hour runs until 7pm!
We ordered up a cheese plate, which really rocked, but since they don't discount food for HH, we skipped it and decided to dine elsewhere. Menu prices seemed a bit on the higher end - not super expensive, but the little pizza bites I saw delivered to another table seemed a bit skimpy.
I think Vintage's strongest suit are their cocktails (which would only make sense given the name Vintage COCKTAIL Lounge). They have fully stocked bar with many top, mid, and bottom shelf spirits to choose from. I also love that they pour a wide variety of their own house-made infused spirits, and seem to encourage you to flex your mixologist muscles by creating your own drink recipies. Not that you can't just tell your barkeep at the neighborhood dive what to make you, but at Vintage I think they will be happy to pour something to your specifications rather than glower and begrudgingly do so.
Anyway, Vintage is a nice addition to this strip of SE Stark - which is now home to a handful of bars and restaurants that I'd be pretty happy to dine and drink at any night of the week - and I'm sure I'll be back before too long!Listed in: SE Portland
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Review from Beth M.
Portland, OR
2/28/2011
My husband and I went to Vintage this past weekend and each ordered a drink that cost $10. When I asked for a glass of water with my cocktail, the server sighed and rolled her eyes, told me that there was water at the end of the bar, but since I ordered a drink she would get me a glass.
Hello..? Your drinks are $10. Can't you please pour me a glass of water without acting like a jerk?
Overall, overpriced and crappy service. -
Review from john t.
7/3/2009
This is such a warm and welcoming lounge. Coming here you don't feel the need to fit in but rather just sit relax and soak it in. I wish i had one of the cocktails but i got lured to a whiskey which turned out to be great.
the panini and the pizzini i think it was called were awesome. Flat bread pressed sandwiches or little pizza bites were little bites i tried. This is a place i can see myself hanging out more and chatting it up with other people while sipping concoctions that Justin invents. I think it's a great place to sit and relax before grabbing dinner at the observatory or country cat. -
Review from Tom T.
Washington, OR
2/6/2010
Was very afraid this was going to be a cooler-than-thou bar that I would feel under-hip in, but it was surprisingly inviting once we got inside! Great drink selection, with some local favs (I love Aviation gin), and games in the back, so you can drown your sorrows when you get your ass handed to you in a Sorry! tournament.
Cozy atmosphere, but it could be helped with some more comfy chairs.
I'll be returning frequently. -
Review from Patrick C.
Portland, OR
7/14/2009 2 photos
This is the bar I've been waiting for.
Montavilla doesn't have a shortage of bars- rather it has a plethora of bars that lack character. Roscoe's can be great for people watching and Thatchers is worth going when Nancy is bartending, but neither is what I'd call a good bar. Sassy Jack's (or as we like to call it, Happy Flaps) is great if you're a middle aged cokehead. The Observatory is nice, but it's more of a restaurant than a bar.
And now there's Vintage. It occupies a space that has been a number of wine bars, all somewhat woeful. Vintage is neither a wine bar nor woeful, it's a kickass BAR, with an incredibly extensive booze list, amazing and cheap cocktails, and even Olympia on draft.
It's incredibly chill, intimate but casual enough to merit visiting several times a week. Not a lot of vegetarian options, but I'm there for the amazing cocktails Justin the owner has come up with-- try the Ambassador- made with absinthe, St. Germain, soda and grapefruit juice, it may be the single best cocktail I've ever had.
Check it out. I'll probably be there. And if you're in the service industry, let them know. Trust me. -
Review from Al M.
Vancouver, WA
9/1/2010 1 Check-in Here
This bar combines Moulin Rouge irony with Portland acceptance making it a hard bar to define. The drinks are OK but not overwhelmingly great, the staff is friendly. I didn't try the food having just come from a restaurant next door.
They carry a rotating selection of a ultra-local micro-brew which is much appreciated, not to mention tasty, as well as a full bar.
Perhaps my main complaint and the real reason it doesn't score higher marks is that whoever set the bar up, in some effort to look hip, I'm sure, decided to trumpet their greenness...while having wire-hanging, bare 75W incandescent light bulbs as the main lighting. Not only is this ridiculous on its face, but honestly the lighting in this place is way harsh...especially after a few.
Nevertheless, it's a decent, pleasant place. I'll probably never be a regular here, but I won't avoid it like the plague either. -
Review from cassandra c.
Portland, OR
Updated - 3/7/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Oh my gee, the Filthy Chocolate Martini is my new favorite. It's too bad I gotta keep moving through the list. Which has now DOUBLED! Forty cocktails up for sampling, varying between $5 (The Local, a tall boy and a shot of house whiskey) and $10 (stuff that gets IGNITED!). I had the chocolate martini and the Champs Elysees. I am not convinced they can make a bad drink here. Though I haven't been a fan of the Oaxacan Margarita or the Delirium (pastis=black licorice).
Listed in: Beer, My Favorite Bars
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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1/8/2011
2011 Resolution: Try all their house cocktails.
Returned and loved it again. The place was PACKED… Read more »
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Review from Jazz M.
Portland, OR
1/25/2010
Tiny bar, great atmosphere, once I walked in I knew this is the type of place where I would love to take a date. My friend and I walked over here after seeing a movie at the Academy and the chill feeling in the bar helped us settle into some nice conversation. I love the paintings they have displayed right now, and the way that the bottles of booze are lit up behind the bar.
I don't drink alcohol, but the Lounge seems to have a great variety of drinks for those who do, and even have a small variety of mocktails for a good price. I enjoyed mine, while my friend was happy with her drink. -
Review from Sarah A.
Portland, OR
10/31/2010 1 Check-in Here
This is not a place to go out for dinner and drinks. This is a cocktail lounge; you go there for drinks and they have yummy nibbles if you get hungry. Don't get me wrong, their Pizzettas are delicious - especially the green apple, blue cheese, and roasted garlic one. And at $5 each during happy hour its a good price. What you really go to the Vintage for is the incredible drinks and very knowledgeable staff. They have a great line up of classic cocktails that are elevated with their house made tinctures. They also have a cocktail of the day that is their own creation and has never steered me wrong. It's the kind of a place where you can describe what flavors you are in the mood for and they can create the drink that will fit you just right. Is it a bit expensive? Yes and no. They have $3 well drinks at happy hour. If you want a well drink, then go during happy hour, get your drink on, and be happy. But I wouldn't walk into Moonstruck and ask for a Hershey bar. Go expecting to pay between $6 and $9 for drinks that are worth the price.
On a side note, they also have free games such as Sorry, Backgammon, and Yahtzee to play while you sip. They also have purse hangers under the bar. I talked to the owner and he said that his wife told him it was absolutely mandatory that he install purse hangers under the bar. It's silly but I despise holding my purse all night and I'm not putting my Coach on a bar floor. -
Review from Courtney G.
Portland, OR
1/14/2011 5 Check-ins Here
I love, love, love it here. I had the good fortune of attending school nearby and retreated here many times with friends and classmates for a tasty beverage after a long day. Justin and the rest of the staff are super friendly and a wealth of liquor-related knowledge. Belly up to the bar and he'll gladly chat you up and educate you about the latest and greatest in the cocktail world. The drinks are always well-crafted and the simple paninis are filling and tasty. It's a great place to linger and enjoy tasty drinks whether with you're with friends or flying solo that night.
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Review from Ben K.
Portland, OR
7/27/2009
Great reviews of this place already so I won't go overboard, but this place is fantastic. As previously mentioned, this place is EXACTLY what the street needed.
It's complimentary to the revamped Thatcher's (which could still use some work inside, but is entertaining) and The Observatory (more substantial food). The drinks are the best on the street and you feel like you're truly in a REAL cocktail bar. We met the owner and he's the type of low-key, business first, chatting second bar tender that makes real drinks of true craft. He even keeps his citrus on the counter so you can see the ingredients before they're put into your drink.
The place is a gem and it's nice to see an owner who cares about the long term goals of the street and works together with the other businesses. Fantastic! -
Review from Samantha G.
Portland, OR
11/7/2009
They make the best Old Fashioned I've ever had and put on a good show making drinks. I love real bartenders.
Service industry folks get 20% off with their cards.
No lottery machines! Yes!
