Someday Lounge
Downtown Portland's Someday Lounge is a great place to catch a drink and a show. With monthly open mics in the Incubator series, fashion shows, and music performances, the Someday Lounge is a creative haven. An upstairs balcony lounge, paper lanterns and a combination of brick and aluminum walls make for a modern and cool ambiance. The lounge is spacious, but still retains a cozy and intimate feel thanks to plush chairs and warm lighting. Someday has one of the longest happy hours in town, with discounts on food and drinks from 4 to 8 p.m.
Someday Lounge
125 NW 5th Avenue
Portland, OR 97253
(503) 248-1030
somedaylounge.com
The Observatory
Southeast Portland's The Observatory is a friendly lounge that encourages its patrons to spread out. With big tables, couches, and a high ceiling, The Observatory avoids the cramped feeling of most popular bars. Cocktails are key at The Observatory, and the list is long and exotic. You could have a Bloody Morimoto, made with indio wasabi vodka and sake, then shaken with house sriracha-soy bloody mary mix and rimmed with wasabi-salt. Or if you're in the mood for something sweet, an Apricot White Sangria, made with house white wine, grand marnier, pernod, and wine soaked apricot and star anise. The comfortable, classy observatory is a great location for relaxing with a small group.
The Observatory
8115 SE Stark Street
Portland, OR 97215
(503) 445-6284
theobservatorypdx.com
Olive or Twist
Northwest Portland's Olive or Twist is a new addition to the Pearl District's already full selection of fine bars and lounges. This small, chic lounge has had no problem establishing itself as one of the go-to places in Portland for martinis: it was even featured in Portland Monthly magazine. Olive or Twist serves classic martinis, such as a dry martini using a 1920s recipe, in addition to a range of exotic martinis. For chocolate-loving martini aficionados, there's the pearl: Vodka, Godiva White chocolate liqueur, and Stoli Vanilla vodka with a white-chocolate rim. The music in Olive or Twist is soft and jazzy, and frosted windows keep a feeling of privacy.
Olive or Twist
925 NW 11th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 546-2900
oliveortwistmartinibar.com
About The Author
Michelle Wishhart is a writer based out of Astoria, Ore. She has been writing professionally for five years, starting with her position as a staff arts writer for an alternative weekly paper in Santa Cruz. She has a B.A. in fine arts from the University of California in Santa Cruz and a minor in English literature.
