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A Guide to Portland's Best Non-Bloody Brunch Cocktails

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Image of Broder courtesy Avila/EPDX

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Portland brunch is high-stakes business. Because half-asleep pilgrimages in the name of nursing hangovers are practically a citywide Sunday morning ritual, brunch spots are under pressure to stand out and lure hungry wanderers amidst a flurry of competing restaurants. They certainly aren't going to do that with yet another spiked coffee, mimosa, bellini, or Bloody Anybody. To help ease Cocktail Week into Cocktail Weekend, Eater presents this list of inventive and exciting morning libations for the bored bruncher. These non-Bloody cocktails are sure to start your Sunday off right — that is, of course, until they induce a midday nap.

— Taylor Thompson

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Broder Cafe

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Broder's menu proclaims Aquavit "the water of life," which probably seems to hold true after one of their infamous 1.5-hour brunch waits. The caraway-scented liqueur stars in Broder's Aquabeta, a sort of Scandinavian screwdriver comprising Portland-made Krogstad Aquavit, orange juice, beet juice, and lime with a citrus-salted rim.
>>Brunch every day, 9a.m. to 3p.m.

Metrovino

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Metrovino's unorthodox brunch elixir, the Sherry Cobbler, fits the Pearl District restaurant's refined rubric to a tee. In bartender Jacob Grier's mellow mixture, orange, sugar. and nutmeg play accomplices to Manzanilla sherry, a Spanish wine named for its strong notes of chamomile.
>>Brunch is Sunday only, 10a.m. to 2p.m.

Interurban

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Adorned with taxidermied deer heads and a whiskey collection to rival your grandpappy's, Interurban is where the bourgeois-logger crowd comes to brunch without wussying out (read: mimosas). As early as 10a.m., Portland's raw denim-heads can assert their ruggedness with a Walk of Shame, a brunch option consisting of a Rainier and a shot of Fighting Cock bourbon.
>>Brunch is Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

This consistently low-key, dependably delicious brunch joint serves zingy morning libations seven days a week. Its Morning Glory, consisting of black currant, lemonade, ginger syrup, and tequila, is an assortment of perk-the-hell-up flavors that'll leave your hangover in the history books.
>>Brunch every day, 8a.m. to 2p.m.

Irving Street Kitchen

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Bartender Daniel Jacobson of Irving Street Kitchen pays homage to the languid, al fresco breakfasts of Italy with two hedonistic cocktails. First is the Morning in Milan, comprising a multifaceted dimmi liqueur, aperol, lemon, and honey. Second is the Slow Motion, a mixture of prosecco, Plymouth sloe gin, and Combier crème de pamplemousse.
>>Brunch is Saturday and Sunday, 10a.m. to 2:30p.m.

The Woodsman Tavern

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Even when the sun comes up, the purveyors of esoteric liquor at the Woodsman Tavern make no sacrifices in the fancy drink department. Their steaming brunch cocktail, the Vac-Pot Hot Toddy, marries the autumnal goodness of applejack, rye whiskey, cinnamon maple syrup, and a secret toddy mix for the kind of mornings when your soul is hungover.
>>Brunch is Saturday and Sunday, 9a.m. to 2p.m.

Screen Door

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They say everything moves more slowly in the South — make sure to keep telling yourself that while waiting for soul food in Screen Door's massive brunch line. It'll all be worth it upon sipping one (or both) of the following cocktails: the Ramos Gin Fizz with cream, egg white, citrus, gin and orange flower water; and the local hot apple cider with spiced rum and whipped cream.
>>Brunch is Saturday and Sunday, 9a.m. to 2:30p.m.

Clyde Common

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Brunch is a brand new endeavor for this downtown outfit, but Clyde Common's golden track record should do nothing but earn Portland's trust. Resident barman Jeffrey Morganthaler has acted accordingly with his conception of Brandy Milk Punch, a premium mixture of brandy, Jamaican rum, milk, vanilla, and nutmeg.
>>Brunch is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 9a.m. to 3p.m.

Sunshine Tavern

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Between sessions on Sunshine Tavern's collection of '80s arcade games, escape the rain at the not-so-aptly-named Southeast Division spot with a ginger shandy, in which Southampton Keller Pils provides a crisp base for generous splashings of ginger soda and lime. Drink yourself sun-drenched.
>>Brunch is Saturday and Sunday, 12p.m. to 4p.m.

Hazel Room

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As far as the brunch world is concerned, spiked coffee is for the birds. Spiked tea, on the contrary, necessitates a much more delicate balancing act. The Hazel Room has an entire section of its menu dedicated to tea cocktails, but the star is the Earl of St. Germain, in which Tealuxe's Crème de la Earl Grey is laced with house Earl Grey syrup, Portland 88 vodka, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, and a flamed orange peel.
>>Brunch is Tuesday-Saturday, 10a.m. to 7p.m., and Sunday 10a.m. to 4p.m.

Country Cat Dinnerhouse & Bar

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Blame Canada for the Country Cat's cold-busting brunch beverage, the Maple Leaf. While imbibing this sweet blend of Pendleton Canadian whiskey, maple syrup, and lemon juice, make sure to resist pouring it all over your pancakes.
>>Brunch every day, 9a.m. to 2p.m.

Le Bistro Montage

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It's Sunday morning and you feel like ass — Montage gets it. Before the shakes take hold, visit the Cajun bistro for a restorative cup of Emergen-C You Next Tuesday, which combines tangerine Emergen-C, Cointreau, lemon, and sparkling wine. The c-word has never sounded so sweet.
>>Brunch is Saturday and Sunday, 10a.m. to 2p.m.

Imperial

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Vitaly Paley, Portland's patron saint of fine dining, is the mind behind the brunches at his newly opened Imperial. But it's bartender Brandon Wise who's fixing up fizzy breakfast beverages fit for an emperor. His Harlequin cocktail is as multifaceted as a crown, featuring gin, Aperol, lemon juice, honey syrup, Grand Imperial sparkling rose sec, sparkling brut rose, and an orange twist.
>>Brunch is Saturday and Sunday, 8a.m. to 2p.m.

Kenny & Zukes Deli Bar

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Brunch needn't be reserved for weekend special occasions when Kenny and Zuke's serves it seven days a week. But while its X-rated Egg Cream with NY organic chocolate, milk, sparkling water, and New Deal vodka might tempt you on a Tuesday, Eater strongly suggests saving it for your days off.
>>Breakfast every day, 7a.m. to 8p.m.

Olympic Provisions

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Meat is the mantra at Olympic Provisions, and consequently, their breakfast assemblages are about as rich as lard itself. The Loren, a mix of moscato, grapefruit bitters, and lime, acts as an immaculately acidic counterpart to all that animal on your plate.
>>Brunch is Saturday and Sunday, 10a.m. to 3p.m.

Broder Cafe

Broder's menu proclaims Aquavit "the water of life," which probably seems to hold true after one of their infamous 1.5-hour brunch waits. The caraway-scented liqueur stars in Broder's Aquabeta, a sort of Scandinavian screwdriver comprising Portland-made Krogstad Aquavit, orange juice, beet juice, and lime with a citrus-salted rim.
>>Brunch every day, 9a.m. to 3p.m.

Metrovino

Metrovino's unorthodox brunch elixir, the Sherry Cobbler, fits the Pearl District restaurant's refined rubric to a tee. In bartender Jacob Grier's mellow mixture, orange, sugar. and nutmeg play accomplices to Manzanilla sherry, a Spanish wine named for its strong notes of chamomile.
>>Brunch is Sunday only, 10a.m. to 2p.m.

Interurban

Adorned with taxidermied deer heads and a whiskey collection to rival your grandpappy's, Interurban is where the bourgeois-logger crowd comes to brunch without wussying out (read: mimosas). As early as 10a.m., Portland's raw denim-heads can assert their ruggedness with a Walk of Shame, a brunch option consisting of a Rainier and a shot of Fighting Cock bourbon.
>>Brunch is Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Toast

This consistently low-key, dependably delicious brunch joint serves zingy morning libations seven days a week. Its Morning Glory, consisting of black currant, lemonade, ginger syrup, and tequila, is an assortment of perk-the-hell-up flavors that'll leave your hangover in the history books.
>>Brunch every day, 8a.m. to 2p.m.

Irving Street Kitchen

Bartender Daniel Jacobson of Irving Street Kitchen pays homage to the languid, al fresco breakfasts of Italy with two hedonistic cocktails. First is the Morning in Milan, comprising a multifaceted dimmi liqueur, aperol, lemon, and honey. Second is the Slow Motion, a mixture of prosecco, Plymouth sloe gin, and Combier crème de pamplemousse.
>>Brunch is Saturday and Sunday, 10a.m. to 2:30p.m.

The Woodsman Tavern

Even when the sun comes up, the purveyors of esoteric liquor at the Woodsman Tavern make no sacrifices in the fancy drink department. Their steaming brunch cocktail, the Vac-Pot Hot Toddy, marries the autumnal goodness of applejack, rye whiskey, cinnamon maple syrup, and a secret toddy mix for the kind of mornings when your soul is hungover.
>>Brunch is Saturday and Sunday, 9a.m. to 2p.m.

Screen Door

They say everything moves more slowly in the South — make sure to keep telling yourself that while waiting for soul food in Screen Door's massive brunch line. It'll all be worth it upon sipping one (or both) of the following cocktails: the Ramos Gin Fizz with cream, egg white, citrus, gin and orange flower water; and the local hot apple cider with spiced rum and whipped cream.
>>Brunch is Saturday and Sunday, 9a.m. to 2:30p.m.

Clyde Common

Brunch is a brand new endeavor for this downtown outfit, but Clyde Common's golden track record should do nothing but earn Portland's trust. Resident barman Jeffrey Morganthaler has acted accordingly with his conception of Brandy Milk Punch, a premium mixture of brandy, Jamaican rum, milk, vanilla, and nutmeg.
>>Brunch is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 9a.m. to 3p.m.

Sunshine Tavern

Between sessions on Sunshine Tavern's collection of '80s arcade games, escape the rain at the not-so-aptly-named Southeast Division spot with a ginger shandy, in which Southampton Keller Pils provides a crisp base for generous splashings of ginger soda and lime. Drink yourself sun-drenched.
>>Brunch is Saturday and Sunday, 12p.m. to 4p.m.

Hazel Room

As far as the brunch world is concerned, spiked coffee is for the birds. Spiked tea, on the contrary, necessitates a much more delicate balancing act. The Hazel Room has an entire section of its menu dedicated to tea cocktails, but the star is the Earl of St. Germain, in which Tealuxe's Crème de la Earl Grey is laced with house Earl Grey syrup, Portland 88 vodka, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, and a flamed orange peel.
>>Brunch is Tuesday-Saturday, 10a.m. to 7p.m., and Sunday 10a.m. to 4p.m.

Country Cat Dinnerhouse & Bar

Blame Canada for the Country Cat's cold-busting brunch beverage, the Maple Leaf. While imbibing this sweet blend of Pendleton Canadian whiskey, maple syrup, and lemon juice, make sure to resist pouring it all over your pancakes.
>>Brunch every day, 9a.m. to 2p.m.

Le Bistro Montage

It's Sunday morning and you feel like ass — Montage gets it. Before the shakes take hold, visit the Cajun bistro for a restorative cup of Emergen-C You Next Tuesday, which combines tangerine Emergen-C, Cointreau, lemon, and sparkling wine. The c-word has never sounded so sweet.
>>Brunch is Saturday and Sunday, 10a.m. to 2p.m.

Imperial

Vitaly Paley, Portland's patron saint of fine dining, is the mind behind the brunches at his newly opened Imperial. But it's bartender Brandon Wise who's fixing up fizzy breakfast beverages fit for an emperor. His Harlequin cocktail is as multifaceted as a crown, featuring gin, Aperol, lemon juice, honey syrup, Grand Imperial sparkling rose sec, sparkling brut rose, and an orange twist.
>>Brunch is Saturday and Sunday, 8a.m. to 2p.m.

Kenny & Zukes Deli Bar

Brunch needn't be reserved for weekend special occasions when Kenny and Zuke's serves it seven days a week. But while its X-rated Egg Cream with NY organic chocolate, milk, sparkling water, and New Deal vodka might tempt you on a Tuesday, Eater strongly suggests saving it for your days off.
>>Breakfast every day, 7a.m. to 8p.m.

Olympic Provisions

Meat is the mantra at Olympic Provisions, and consequently, their breakfast assemblages are about as rich as lard itself. The Loren, a mix of moscato, grapefruit bitters, and lime, acts as an immaculately acidic counterpart to all that animal on your plate.
>>Brunch is Saturday and Sunday, 10a.m. to 3p.m.

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