Legendary bartender and founder of New York’s Please Don’t Tell, Jim Meehan took some time to start up a bar after moving to Portland, but finally found a place with the high-end Japanese outdoor retailer Snow Peak. Takibi serves as the store’s cocktail bar and restaurant, with wood-fired Japanese snacks and a compelling cocktail program run by the accomplished Lydia McLuen. The menu can be intimidating: drinks are pricey, generally closer to $20 than $10, and tend to feature a lot of ingredients. But they’re nuanced, complex, and wholly original. The Warbler — fresh and juicy take on a Jungle Bird with gin replacing some of the rum and cherry blossoms and rhubarb standing in for pineapple — is a good place to start, as is the bright and refreshing Shiso Famous, with tequila, Aperol, lime, and shiso.

Moving into the space vacated by Shift Drinks would be a challenge for any bar: making its sparse, industrial space cozy could be tricky, and the bar would have to live up to the beloved industry spot’s reputation. But City Bridge & Tunnel is making admirable strides to do so. The spacious dining room now features comfortable tufted green couches and chairs, stylish marble tables, live plants, and a massive art piece of roses along one wall. The drinks are accessible and familiar — all classics at the moment, but made with a steady and confident hand. Daiquiri lovers will be more than satisfied with the bright, funky blend of rums in the house daiquiri, and those looking for something a little more booze forward will find it in the crisp and clear Vesper. Negronis on-tap means the drink is well balanced and quickly delivered. The bar is still evolving, and will soon see additions like DJs and private dining rooms, though owner Brandon Glasser promises it won’t ever become a nightclub — just a solid, late-night spot for a cocktail, glass of wine, and some food.

Raven’s Manor finally answered the longstanding question of “When is Portland getting a spooky, haunted manor-themed cocktail bar?” It’s Halloween year-round at the Manor, and even the drinks get into the spirit with blue gin cocktails, flaming drinks, and cocktails served in beakers and flasks. Of course, all of that fanfare doesn’t mean much if the drinks don’t taste good, but luckily quality ingredients are still the focus, like a warming Old Fashioned with flamed orange liqueur or a margarita or daiquiri spiked with pineapple.

Can it still be considered a cocktail bar with no alcohol on the menu whatsoever? Suckerpunch’s temporary pop-up answers that question with a resounding “Yes.” Here, bartenders mix thrilling concoctions using potable vinegars, kombucha, teas, and other flavorful, alcohol-free ingredients. The corn tea and smoked maple syrup Straight From the Fire is a particular standout, thanks to the inclusion of grape must. Noticeably, the cocktails at Suckerpunch aren’t meant to replicate well-known boozy drinks like gin and tonics; the focus is on crafting original, captivating libations free from alcohol. Suckerpunch is open by reservation only with proof of vaccination.

Portland’s first ever all-women’s sports bar has been attracting massive crowds into its cozy, pub-like space since it opened. The sports aspect of the bar is present without being intrusive: A few flat screens air all manner of women’s sports, and Thorns and other female teams’ jerseys line the walls. Its drink program is likewise women-driven, with one section devoted entirely to Freeland Spirits cocktails, Portland’s own women-owned distillery. Most drinks are variations on classics made with local spirits, like the Pickle Ball, a dirty martini with Freeland gin. However the Goat is a good place to start, a bright and balanced cocktail which gets a nutty richness from genever and the bittersweet touch of Aperol. They can be enjoyed with a number of gluten-free sandwich and burger options, as well as ribs, wings, nachos, fries, and other pub staples.

Dark, stylish, and a little heavy metal, Estanislado Orona’s Midnight strolled confidently into the Portland cocktail scene despite opening mid-pandemic with little outside seating. Around its horseshoe bar decked out in vampiric fashion, visitors down creative cocktails like the Panzer Cocoa — a bold and chocolatey whiskey sherry drink with black tea — or the Sea of Sin, a bracing and vivid take on a martini with a tequila rinse. Those who prefer the classics will find them as well, including a solid margarita and rum Old Fashioned. Drinks can also be enjoyed downstairs at the new music venue, the Six (since six is “below” midnight on a clock, get it?).

Bellwether fits well in the old Victorian house perched on the side of Mt. Tabor. Its spacious wooden dining room and extensive back patio make an elegant setting for the stunning cocktails coming out of the bar. Bellwether’s drinks tend towards bright and strong, with an emphasis on agave spirits and rums, with plenty of citrus. Those looking for a light and spritzy highball can find those, too. Some cool and funky natural wines along with local beers round out the drink menu, while a limited but satisfying food menu leans towards pub classics with a few outliers, like a vegan chickpea curry.