3341 SE Belmont St., 503-754-7782, theliquorstorepdx.com. 4 pm-2:30 am daily. Happy hour 4-7 pm daily: $2 8-ounce drafts, food specials.
Established: February 2015
The mark of a great bar is versatility—a place folks with varied interests from all walks of life can enjoy at some point—and by that mark the Liquor Store is undoubtedly a great bar. For those who like to day-drink on the cheap, Liquor Store's "Kind of Magical Hour" edges out nearby happy- hour all-star Aalto Lounge with deviled eggs and 8-ounce pours of craft beer for $2 each. As night rolls on, it becomes a solid date-night spot, with dim lights, endless shelves of vinyl and the Real Good Gin and Tonic ($9), a cocktail so good it transcends the generic nature of its name. The Liquor Store has quickly become a party hub for many of Portland's most esteemed musicians, and nearly every night of the week there's some kind of music to enjoy, whether it's local indie bands and house producers in the basement or up-and-coming DJs on the decks upstairs.bar