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A picture of the Multnomah Whiskey Library The Multnomah Whiskey Library/Facebook

Warm Up at These Cozy Restaurants and Bars in Portland

These snug spaces will have you braving the elements

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Winter’s wet, grey days are here and for the foreseeable future, and Portland’s denizens must (and will) brave the elements to find great food and drink. From restaurants with wood-burning fireplaces to snug, intimate spaces, the list below includes of some of the warmest, coziest dining spots to ward off winter’s chill from now until spring. For those seeking something on the dingier side of cozy, Eater PDX’s dive bar map is here to help. As always, the points on this map guide are not ranked; rather, they’re organized geographically.

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DOC Restaurant Portland

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Every diner has a view of the tiny space inside this romantic, farmhouse-inspired restaurant in the Concordia neighborhood. While a la carte options are available on certain nights, it’s the multi-course, Italian-inspired tasting menus that really shine. Dishes and menus change weekly and follow the season. 

McMenamins Chapel Pub

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Lauded as one of Portland’s finest architectural specimens in the early 1930s, this chapel-turned-pub in North Piedmont is home to a mahogany wood tugboat-shaped bar, intricate ironwork, wooden booths, and a vintage wood-burning stove in the main dining area. Warm up with a pint of Terminator Stout and a pile of Cajun tots.  

Interurban

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The rustic, 1800s-style interiors of this Mississippi bar make it a prime environment for whiskey and boar burgers, complete with mounted taxidermy and unfinished wood paneling. Even its patio feels homey and comfortable in the winter, with plenty of fireplaces and string lights.

El Viaje cocktail at Interurban
Interurban/Facebook

The Box Social

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Perfect for a girls night out or a date night, this Boise neighborhood bar slings cocktails and inexpensive dishes amid a lush, candle-lit ambiance. The mulled wine or hot toddy pairs well with baked brie. 

The Fireside

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It’s all about the open flame at this gastropub, which offers not one but two large fireplaces: a round campfire-esque one in the dining area and a large hearth in the bar space. Enjoy the flickering flames with one of the many grilled or fireside-themed dishes and finish off with an order of s’mores. 

Ringside Steakhouse

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Old school institution Ringside Steakhouse remains a favorite for fireside dining, with intimate lighting and lamps at each table. The 70+-year-old restaurant is an immediate choice for celebration dinners, but its super-cheap happy hour makes for an inexpensive-yet-ritzy date night.

Ringside Steakhouse
Ringside Steakhouse/Yelp

Noble Rot

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At Noble Rot, guests nestle into elegant white booths to enjoy wide-angle views of downtown, classic comfort foods, and thoughtfully curated flights from its acclaimed wine program. Thanks to its well-cultivated rooftop garden, the menu changes frequently, with got-to dishes such as extra-sharp mac and cheese and crisp onion rings. 

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#portland vibes #shotoniphone

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Doug Fir Lounge

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This bustling hotel diner is many things – restaurant, tavern, music venue – but in the bar proper, the rustic log cabin theme dominates, with a fireplace, antler chandelier, and lots of comfy couches. For a quieter, more intimate experience, go during off-hours, before 6 p.m.

The restaurant space at the Doug Fir.
Doug Fir Lounge
Doug Fir Lounge/Facebook

Multnomah Whiskey Library

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Reminiscent of an Old World-style gentlemen’s club — think toasty fireplaces, plush armchairs, and crystal chandeliers — this membership-based bar is renowned for its extensive collection of whiskies, from Scotch single malts to Japanese blends. Non-members are welcome as walk-ins only, so expect a long wait time during peak hours.

Huber's

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Roast turkey is a century-long tradition at Portland’s oldest restaurant, which sports a casual vibe amid dark wood paneling and grand arches. Along with those succulent slices, you’ll find all the traditional fixings and one of the best Spanish coffees in town. 

Huber’s
Huber’s/Facebook

The Rookery Bar

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A marble-topped bar, wood beams, and plush leather chairs dominate Raven & Rose’s lounge, tucked above the main restaurant in the renovated Ladd Carriage House’s former hayloft. Along with creative cocktails and single-barrel spirits, find seasonal British-themed fare such as Welsh rarebit and shepherd’s pie.

Sapphire Hotel

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Once a shady hotel lobby populated by sailors and sex workers, Sapphire is dark, eclectic, and casual, a wood stove nestled near one of the seating areas. Mulled wine and house cocktails with names like “Hot Buttered Whatever” and “Whiskey Business” warm by the fire, complemented by bacon-wrapped dates and, on Saturday nights, live music.

Ava Gene's

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Red booths, a ceiling of hanging lights, and soft curtains give this celebrated Southeast Portland Italian restaurant a snug, romantic atmosphere, but a seat at the restaurant’s chef’s counter, warm from the ovens and burners, is downright therapeutic.

La Moule

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Best known for its mussels, frites, and knockout cocktails, this sultry, blue-wallpaper-clad bistro and its French-inspired dishes please family, friends, and that tough-to-impress date. For those looking beyond the mussels, more seafood and steak options are available. 

DOC Restaurant Portland

Every diner has a view of the tiny space inside this romantic, farmhouse-inspired restaurant in the Concordia neighborhood. While a la carte options are available on certain nights, it’s the multi-course, Italian-inspired tasting menus that really shine. Dishes and menus change weekly and follow the season. 

McMenamins Chapel Pub

Lauded as one of Portland’s finest architectural specimens in the early 1930s, this chapel-turned-pub in North Piedmont is home to a mahogany wood tugboat-shaped bar, intricate ironwork, wooden booths, and a vintage wood-burning stove in the main dining area. Warm up with a pint of Terminator Stout and a pile of Cajun tots.  

Interurban

The rustic, 1800s-style interiors of this Mississippi bar make it a prime environment for whiskey and boar burgers, complete with mounted taxidermy and unfinished wood paneling. Even its patio feels homey and comfortable in the winter, with plenty of fireplaces and string lights.

El Viaje cocktail at Interurban
Interurban/Facebook

The Box Social

Perfect for a girls night out or a date night, this Boise neighborhood bar slings cocktails and inexpensive dishes amid a lush, candle-lit ambiance. The mulled wine or hot toddy pairs well with baked brie. 

The Fireside

It’s all about the open flame at this gastropub, which offers not one but two large fireplaces: a round campfire-esque one in the dining area and a large hearth in the bar space. Enjoy the flickering flames with one of the many grilled or fireside-themed dishes and finish off with an order of s’mores. 

Ringside Steakhouse

Old school institution Ringside Steakhouse remains a favorite for fireside dining, with intimate lighting and lamps at each table. The 70+-year-old restaurant is an immediate choice for celebration dinners, but its super-cheap happy hour makes for an inexpensive-yet-ritzy date night.

Ringside Steakhouse
Ringside Steakhouse/Yelp

Noble Rot

At Noble Rot, guests nestle into elegant white booths to enjoy wide-angle views of downtown, classic comfort foods, and thoughtfully curated flights from its acclaimed wine program. Thanks to its well-cultivated rooftop garden, the menu changes frequently, with got-to dishes such as extra-sharp mac and cheese and crisp onion rings. 

View this post on Instagram

#portland vibes #shotoniphone

A post shared by Jeremy Johnson (@jeremyjohnson) on

Doug Fir Lounge

This bustling hotel diner is many things – restaurant, tavern, music venue – but in the bar proper, the rustic log cabin theme dominates, with a fireplace, antler chandelier, and lots of comfy couches. For a quieter, more intimate experience, go during off-hours, before 6 p.m.

The restaurant space at the Doug Fir.
Doug Fir Lounge
Doug Fir Lounge/Facebook

Multnomah Whiskey Library

Reminiscent of an Old World-style gentlemen’s club — think toasty fireplaces, plush armchairs, and crystal chandeliers — this membership-based bar is renowned for its extensive collection of whiskies, from Scotch single malts to Japanese blends. Non-members are welcome as walk-ins only, so expect a long wait time during peak hours.

Huber's

Roast turkey is a century-long tradition at Portland’s oldest restaurant, which sports a casual vibe amid dark wood paneling and grand arches. Along with those succulent slices, you’ll find all the traditional fixings and one of the best Spanish coffees in town. 

Huber’s
Huber’s/Facebook

The Rookery Bar

A marble-topped bar, wood beams, and plush leather chairs dominate Raven & Rose’s lounge, tucked above the main restaurant in the renovated Ladd Carriage House’s former hayloft. Along with creative cocktails and single-barrel spirits, find seasonal British-themed fare such as Welsh rarebit and shepherd’s pie.

Sapphire Hotel

Once a shady hotel lobby populated by sailors and sex workers, Sapphire is dark, eclectic, and casual, a wood stove nestled near one of the seating areas. Mulled wine and house cocktails with names like “Hot Buttered Whatever” and “Whiskey Business” warm by the fire, complemented by bacon-wrapped dates and, on Saturday nights, live music.

Ava Gene's

Red booths, a ceiling of hanging lights, and soft curtains give this celebrated Southeast Portland Italian restaurant a snug, romantic atmosphere, but a seat at the restaurant’s chef’s counter, warm from the ovens and burners, is downright therapeutic.

La Moule

Best known for its mussels, frites, and knockout cocktails, this sultry, blue-wallpaper-clad bistro and its French-inspired dishes please family, friends, and that tough-to-impress date. For those looking beyond the mussels, more seafood and steak options are available. 

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