Where to Find Downtown Portland's Best Hotel Bars

With the opening of Damian Lillard's shiny new bar at the Benson Hotel, I've been thinking a lot about our city's hotel bar scene. For me, the best of the best make you feel as though you're transported through a secret portal to another world. Here are a few I think are some of the most extraordinary:

Abigail Hall at Woodlark Hotel

This is my go-to for a spontaneous Monday night out because of their all-day happy hour. Their $11 cheeseburger does it for me, but I wouldn't hesitate to throw in an order of their extra crispy skinny fries with a side of fancy sauce. You'll have to walk past the hotel's front desk to find the bar — it's discreetly tucked away in the back of the lobby, making it extra cozy.

2NW5 at The Hoxton

If you like raw fish, this place is a dream. Run by executive chef Adán Fausto of celebrated pop-up Mariscos con Onda, they serve delightful coastal Mexican seafood dishes with a fabulous array of cocktails to pair. You'll access the bar from a side door off of Northwest 5th Avenue, descend an unassuming flight of stairs, and enter into an intimate basement-level space with kind and attentive servers. I am obsessed with this place.

Driftwood Room at Hotel deLuxe

Tucked away to the left in the hotel lobby, Driftwood Room has been serving expertly crafted cocktail classics since 1954. If you're looking for something especially luxurious, I highly recommend ordering their absinthe served from a fancy French fountain — yes, they bring the entire fountain to your table, so that you can enjoy the alluring drip. The environment makes me feel like everyone should be wearing delicate gloves and smoking long cigarettes from holders. Like their website claims, it's truly magic.

📲 Your turn: Do you have a favorite hotel bar in Portland? Please share yours with us. And we’ll share your picks in a future newsletter.