The main drag of St. Johns offers a number of fine patio options — Leisure Public House for yard game enthusiasts, Stormbreaker Brewing for axe-throwers — but this under-sung McMenamins is home to a serene garden that makes for a relaxed Saturday afternoon. People often visit this location to pop into its theater, but outside, tables are scattered among ferns and vine maples, where families knock back pints while kids snack on tots. It’s a fun spot pre-or-post movie, or as a casual mid-week happy hour.

Tucked behind this Northwest Portland bar, known for its karaoke and Monday taco night, lies one of the city’s most underrated bar patios: an expansive and lush winding deck with various levels supports picnic tables and standing bars, with Japanese maples and a pond at the center. A seasonal patio bar slings vodka-spiked strawberry lemonade and pints of Portland-brewed beers, while neighborhood regulars snack on spinach artichoke dip during happy hour.

It’s no secret that downtown Portland has taken its lumps since 2019. But the receding tide of tough luck reveals surviving gems like Paymaster, Portland staples that are a bridge from its past to its future. Just across I-405 from the Pearl District, Paymaster is close enough to serve as a convenient after-work happy hour (here termed “angry hour”) for downtown office workers and neighborhood bar for Alphabet District denizens. The large covered patio is enveloped from floor to ceiling in wood and has its own dedicated bar and bartender, along with an outdoor pool table. The drinks are strong, the slushies are frosty, and the Jell-O shots are never boring.

Few Portland neighborhoods are as well-suited to bar-hopping as North Mississippi, and few Mississippi nights are complete without a stop at the Rambler. Fire pits and and a permanent patio roof keep the Rambler’s patio bumping year-round, but summertime is its real time to shine. Duck inside the converted Craftsman house for filling bar food with Southern-fried flourishes, a modest beer and wine list, and a killer happy hour margarita for just $6. The Rambler is open until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, until midnight all other nights.

It’s hard not to add every single bar on Mississippi for this map, considering all of the top-tier patios along that street; however, Bar Bar’s is worth a mention, thanks to its serious burgers, toasted raviolis, $5 happy hour cocktails, and black-and-white movies projected on the wall of the building next door. Sharing a space with Mississippi Studios, Bar Bar’s patio is often packed before or after shows — and on certain days, you might spot an opener grabbing a burger after the encore.

Rescued by new ownership in 2015, Produce Row has been nourishing Portlanders’ passion for craft beers and American whiskies in the east side industrial district for more than 40 years. The tap list is terrific, and the bartenders pour cocktails with care. The food menu isn’t the main draw, but classics like fish and chips, beet salads, and quinoa bowls won’t disappoint. The spacious patio is protected by a translucent roof, affording both protection from rain but letting in precious light on gray days. Thursday and Sunday nights feature live music from bands and DJs, and on weekend mornings the patio is a site for brunch. Produce Row closes at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, 9 p.m. on Sundays, and 10 p.m. all other days.

Just around the block from the east side’s brick-and-mortar Nong’s, and just steps from several other Eater 38 luminaries, Rontoms is an ideal place to start or end an evening out. The large patio consists of a covered section with possibly the highest patio roof in the city, along with large deck dotted with leafy trees and umbrellas providing shade. Rontoms bartender are no slouches, and will mix creative originals or expertly crafted classics. Summer food menu highlights include a melon-and-tomato gazpacho and a watermelon and jicama salad. Sunday nights typically feature concerts on the patio, so plan accordingly.

One of the livelier spots in the crowded bar scene of the inner eastside, White Owl Social Club customizes its large patio — uncovered in the precious sunny months, covered by an enormous, partially translucent tent in the rainy season — making it a vital spot all year long. The Mexican food here is legit, including a good range of vegan options that don’t feel like taste compromises. The drinks are both strong and (unless you say otherwise) well-balanced. White Owl features eye-popping values like it’s $2 for Tecate, tequila, and tacos Tuesdays, as well as DJs for both free sets and more prominent ones with cover charges — plan ahead on weekend nights by checking the bar’s instagram account.

The High Dive may not have the biggest patio on this list, but at sunset, it sure has the best view: a gorgeous vista down Madison as the sky reddens behind the KOIN Tower and Forest Park. This no-nonsense bar has a limited indoor seating, so unless the Blazers are locked in a tight game on the TV inside, most patrons flock to the covered or uncovered patios. On many nights the clientele can be a mix of neighborhood regulars and restaurant-goers grabbing a drink after enjoying the nearby top-notch cuisine. High Dive serves solid tacos on Tuesdays, and is otherwise welcoming of those grabbing food from the next door Cartopia food carts. The beer and wine lists are limited by Portland standards, but the mixed drinks are generously poured.

A Roadside Attraction feels like an almost magical discovery on first visit, a surreal oasis in an already unconventional town. Patrons enter through the large patio, full of twist and turns, hidden nooks, and inviting crannies. The décor both inside and out is as if a Victorian junk shop were dynamited next door, with each heirloom landing in unexpected but somehow ideal places to create a hypnotic atmosphere. The patio roof is just as eclectic with sections of metal, trees, and bare patches for your ideal sun (or rain) exposure. The regulars ratio is especially high here, with bartenders intimately familiar with more than a few patrons’ usual drinks. A Roadside Attraction is cash-only, with an ATM on site. It’s open until 1 a.m. every night.

Bible Club’s Prohibition-era schtick may intoxicate some, irritate others, but those in the latter category can find relief in knowing the late-Portlandia bowties and waxed mustache vibe is largely limited to the interior — the patio plays it surprisingly straight, with smooth-edged modern picnic tables and a dedicated, albeit somewhat more limited, bar outside. The patio offers both covered and uncovered sections and features DJ sets on Thursdays evenings, along with live music on most Fridays and Saturdays. (Check Bible Club’s Instagram for upcoming performers.) And don’t let the Boardwalk Empire décor deceive, these bartenders are elite and make some of Portland’s best original and classic cocktails. Bible Club closes at 11 p.m. on Sundays, at midnight all other days.

Fusing a passion for Portland (the rose) and Scotland (the thistle), the Rose & Thistle bears far less resemblance to the superficial imitation pubs that populate the states and more to the true spirit of a east Glasgow watering hole where regulars get together to watch football, trade gripes, and knock back a dram. The large, multi-leveled patio has spots for sun-seekers and shade-lovers, large groups and intimate dates. The British beer list is one of the city’s best, the mixed drinks are strong, and the menu may not be entirely entire Scottish but does boast the Portland’s rare Scotch egg. The Rose & Thistle is open until midnight, seven days a week.

Holding down the neighborhood bar anchor in a somewhat under-sung stretch of Northeast Fremont (check Red Sauce Pizza, Wonderly, and Dirty Lettuce nearby), this latest offering from the team behind Old Gold, Paydirt, and Tough Luck expertly hits all the comfort buttons a Portland neighborhood is craving. Unfussy, reliable eats with plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans? Check. Solid beer and wine list? Check. A handful of enticing signature cocktails at enticing price points? Check. And, of course inviting patio? You bet. Meet your new neighbors sitting in the group area around stumps of wood, or keep things private on a first date at one of the tables.

It’s not uncommon for a food pod to have a dedicated beer and wine bar attached, but none carve out as distinctive and beloved identity as the Portland Mercado’s Barrio. Primary specializing in wine, Barrio has a small but tastefully selected draft list. Owner Chris Shimamoto is passionate about wine, but equally passionate about demystifying it, taking attention away from the labels and putting it back toward the taste. The patio is uncovered at the front of Barrio but extends to a roomier, covered section around the side. As part of the Mercado, bringing meals from the nearby excellent food carts is more than welcome (as are well-behaved dogs). The Mercado will often feature musical performances or other special occasions, as will Barrio itself within its smaller confines. Barrio is open until 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday, 9 p.m. all other nights.

Just off the green at the Glendoveer golf course, this brewery’s lineup of IPAs and pilsners makes it a fine contender for a summer afternoon, even without considering its massive patio. Situated on a deck surrounded by trees, Von Ebert’s patio almost has more of a restaurant feel, especially considering the restaurant’s numerous pizza, barbecue, and sandwich options. This is the spot for those seeking a more relaxed bar patio experience — one that’s dog friendly, as well.