January 29th, 2007

Reasons to Love Portland, #12: Happy Hours

Of the three West Coast cities I’ve lived in over the past ten years (SF, LA, PDX) Portland has proven the happiest. By “happy� I mean that its bars and restaurants are most willing to offer drinks and food at discounted prices – often twice daily – which in turn makes the city’s residents more smiley.

I attribute the abundance of happy hours in this city to our proximity to the 45th Parallel. It rains more here and it gets darker earlier in the winter. Cozy gathering spots like bars and coffee shops thrive by offering happy places for residents to hunker down during months when it’s tough to hang outside.

While the more traditional happy hours of around 4-6 pm are a favorite of the Nau staff (especially when meetings can be scheduled at our local crepe-and-cocktail spot Le Happy), it’s the innovative 9-11 pm slot that keeps us coming back for more. Those just so happen to be the hours that find us rolling back into the city after a day on the mountain or in the surf. And nothing beats a four buck burger-and-beer special to nourish sore muscles before beddy-bye.
Some of our favorite happy hour spots:

1. Le Happy: Try the “Le Trash Blanc� special (Three bucks for a bacon and cheddar crepe with a bottle of PBR).
2. Andina: Four dollar drinks and Peruvian tapas at 2005’s restaurant of the year.
3. Portland City Grill: A PDX fave that’s a bit stiff, but has an unmatched view and happy hour menu.
4. Sapphire Hotel: Once a den of iniquity, now only the décor and dollar PBR tallboys hark back to the good ol’ days.
5. Pambiche: Called their “Hora del Amigo,� this highly regarded Cuban joint has beer/wine specials and snacks for under three bucks. The only thing missing is hard liqs.

- Rick

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