Vote Now for Portland’s Bar of the Year

The Eater Awards continue this week, but this time it’s all about the booze. Each year, Eater sites around the world choose the best new restaurants, chefs, and dining room design, but two final categories are decided by each individual city. Here in Portland, where liquor basically runs in the Willamette, how could we not celebrate some of the city’s most important new places to get a little sauced? As is true of each of the other categories, there is a reader’s choice and an editor’s choice award winner, all to be revealed December 5. For now, here are the nominees for Portland’s bars of the year:

Palomar

A tropical bar from nationally acclaimed bartender Ricky Gomez, Palomar juggles sophisticated, nuanced cocktails with super-fun blended daiquiris.
The drink to order: Sour, daiquiri no. 4

Hey Love

This jungle of a cocktail lounge is known for its fancy highballs, but the real move is to get any of its dangerous blended drinks.
The drink to order: Either blended drink, even the two mixed together

Kachinka

The new bar from the team behind Slavic restaurant Kachka has many of the restaurant’s famous infused vodkas, plus cheerful little drinks like blended Moscow mules. You may be sensing a theme here.
The drink to order: Horseradish vodka with a pickleback, Jewish Rye

Deadshot

Former pop-up bar Deadshot finally landed its very-own space, creating a home for its wild, intricate cocktails. With unique savory notes and out-there components — think: bitter melon — a visit to Deadshot is almost always surprising.
The drink to order: Crystal daiquiri, tranquilizer

Botanist

It’s been open for a heartbeat, but in that short amount of time, the bar still stuns with smooth, olive-oil-washed martinis and gin-spiked margaritas.
The drink to order: Bright idea, martini

The polls remain open for 24 hours; vote now below: