10 Coolest Themed Bars in Portland
Why hang out in some ho-hum normal bar when you could drink in a haunted house? Or under the sea? Portland embraces themed bars wholeheartedly. More than a gimmick and some token decorations, these imaginative spaces will transport you to a different world while still coming through with a great cocktail list. Here are the coolest themed bars in Portland for some needed escapism on your next night out.
1. Hale Pele
The theme: Tiki bar
Come sunshine or downpour in Portland, once you step into Hale Pele, it’s always a stormy night in the South Pacific. This tiki bar gets the details right, from the bamboo rafters to the pink and turquoise-lit puffer fish. The hefty drink list is more like a drink encyclopedia. I’ve tried maybe a dozen of the cocktails over the years. They’ve always been on point and avoid the cloying sweetness I fear in rum drinks elsewhere. The presentation brings them to another level. Expect drinks in pineapples, drinks in fishbowls, and drinks on fire. Throw in a clap of thunder and the roar of a distant volcano, you get the idea. Ambiance for days. Expect a wait when you visit. The bar is small and fills up fast.
Address: 2733 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232
2. Coffin Club
The theme: Horror (and music!)
The Coffin Club in Portland’s Central Eastside has two levels. Upstairs is a horror-themed goth bar complete with spiderwebs, pentagrams, skeletons in cages, and coffins aplenty. Downstairs is an underground music venue hosting punk, alternative, industrial, and EBM shows. Once The Lovecraft Bar, Coffin Club rebranded in name but not atmosphere. Expect all things creepy and macabre. Wear black and a thick coat of eyeliner. Bonus points for emo hair, corsets, and a deep sense of disillusionment. Or just come as you are. It’s an open-minded place.
Address: 421 SE Grand Ave, Portland, OR 97214
3. Sports Bra
The theme: Women’s sports
The Sports Bra in Northeast Portland is a great example of an idea whose time has come. This bar devoted to watching women’s sports has been a hit since it opened in 2022. It’s the kind of place that draws a crowd even during times like, say, Wednesday afternoons. On game nights, it’s hard to get a table. The drink list offers more variety than the average sports bar. Besides the generous tap list, look for cocktails, wine by the glass, and creative non-alcoholic options. Since the owner is also a chef, the food menu is strong, blending traditional sports bar offerings with Vietnamese flavors and many allergy-friendly menu items.
Address: 2512 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232
4. Bible Club
The theme: Prohibition-style speakeasy
You could easily walk by the Bible Club without realizing it. Inside this unassuming Craftsman in Sellwood is an underground world where bootleggers, bank robbers, and other scofflaws would feel right at home. Despite the low profile exterior, the secret is out on this Prohibition-themed bar. I visited when they opened at 4 PM and saw the tables fill up within the hour. The drinks are creative takes on classic cocktails and are worth the splurge (around $15). The intimate and lively interior is full of period-appropriate antiques. If you have a flapper outfit gathering dust in the closet, this is the place to wear it.
Address: 6716 SE 16th Ave, Portland, OR 97202
5. Raven’s Manor
The theme: Haunted mansion
Raven’s Manor in downtown Portland looks like the residence of a sadistic mad scientist who works from home. This spooky themed bar screams, don’t stay at this gothic castle no matter how much car trouble you’re having in a remote Transylvanian village! Candelabras drip wax as they cast a dim light over the gargoyles and disturbing portraits. The drinks offer no reassurance to the timid. All frothy witch’s brews and smoking cauldrons. The true test of your nerve comes when you head down the stairs to use the bathroom, which makes the bar look like a model of safety and propriety.
Address: 235 SW 1st Ave, Portland, OR 97204
6. Moloko
The theme: Coral reef
It may be a stretch to call Moloko a themed bar, but I’m including it because it’s one of my favorites in Portland. This cocktail spot on Mississippi Ave is wall-to-wall saltwater tanks full of strange and wonderful undersea life. While I find bar TVs to be annoying distractions, I could watch the sea creatures in Moloko’s tanks all night. Brightly colored fish dart from fanciful corals, anemones wave, and shrimp skitter. The longer you watch the tanks, the more you’ll see. The drinks are good if on the pricey side. Visit before 6 PM or all day Monday for $10 happy hour cocktails and $5 margarita pizza.
Address: 3967 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97227
7. The Alibi Tiki Lounge
The theme: Tiki bar and karaoke
Although the second tiki bar on the list, the Alibi has little in common with Hale Pele beyond the theme. Opened in the 1940s, it’s one of the oldest tiki bars in the country and well-established enough to continue operating without a website. The space is large and full of all the shell art and hula skirts you’d expect. The highlight is the room in the back devoted to karaoke, one of the best in Portland. The cocktails are pretty good and have delightfully silly garnishes, if not at the same caliber as Hale Pele. Order with discretion. I once chose a drink at random and received a fishbowl that could have satisfied an entire bachelor party.
Address: 4024 N Interstate Ave, Portland, OR 97227
8. Ground Kontrol
The theme: Old-school arcade
Ground Kontrol in Old Town Portland is not so much a themed bar as a full-blown classic arcade that happens to serve drinks. Row after row of games from the 70’s through today fill the multi-level space. I feel a little out of my depth here since I visited an arcade maybe twice growing up, but I can appreciate the variety. Ground Kontrol has over 100 retro video games and pinball machines. The snacks match the arcade theme: nachos and hot dogs, with gluten-free and vegan versions available. Visit from 12-5 PM on weekdays for half-off games. All ages are welcome until 5 PM, then it becomes 21+. There’s a full bar, which has a happy hour from 5-7 PM.
Address: 115 NW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
9. Creepy’s
The theme: Clowns and such
My main complaint about the Portland bar scene is that it’s hard to find a place where a haunted portrait of John Quincy Adams watches you as you drink. So Creepy’s was a great find. This clown-themed bar in Portland’s Central Eastside has all manner of unsettling kitsch covering its shelves. If at least one of the dolls in there isn’t possessed by a malevolent spirit, I’ll eat my hat. Despite the hokey decor and dive bar appeal, the cocktails are solid. Sit at the bar for the most atmosphere.
Address: 627 SE Morrison St, Portland, OR 97214
10. Sad Valley
The theme: Funeral
Nothing makes for a great night out in Portland quite like a floating coffin and desiccated flower arrangements. Sad Valley is a death-themed bar on Killingsworth done with tongue-in-cheek flair. The heavy theme sits lightly in the space, with disco balls and over-the-top murals offsetting the funeral parlor arches and accents. The food menu is familiar favorites like burgers, wings, and burritos. The drink list is both classic cocktails and novel creations that, much like the decor, don’t take themselves too seriously. Visit before 6:30 PM for great prices during Unhappy Hour.
Address: 832 N Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97217
Honorable mention: Treebeerd’s Taphouse
The theme: Lord of the Rings
Treebeerd’s Taphouse is an honorable mention since its theme is done with a light hand. This Lord of the Rings-themed beer bar has 36 rotating taps of local beer and cider. It has a few snacks you can order from the bar, but the better move would be to bring takeout from one of the downtown restaurants nearby. Outside food is encouraged. In the spirit of its namesake Ent, the taproom is filled with wood furniture and greenery. Expect dots over random letters on the menu and a strong cottage core aesthetic. The Shrine’s Green Dragon meets downtown chic.
Address: 822 SW 2nd Ave, Portland, OR 97204
Honorable mention: Juliett
The theme: Women in aviation
Bear with me here. The Portland International Airport has a cool cocktail bar that gives a nod to women aviators. The mid-century design is straight from the golden age of aviation. On the wall next to the bar are portraits of pioneering women pilots. The beers have names reflecting the theme, like the WASP West Coast IPA. The craft cocktails are a pleasant surprise in the generally underwhelming world of airport bars. It’s past the security gates, so check it out if you have a trip coming up.
Best themed bars in Portland, the summary:
Hale Pele
Coffin Club
Sports Bra
Bible Club
Raven’s Manor
Moloko
The Alibi
Ground Kontrol
Creepy’s
Sad Valley
Treebeerd’s Taphouse
Juliett
Enjoy your night out at Portland’s themed bars!
With love,
Emma
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