Nestled in the Pearl District, the bustling brewpub 10 Barrel sports a spacious rooftop patio that can fit dozens of diners. Visitors can knock back beers from the massive taplist, most of which are made on site, while watching the passersby traversing the neighborhood. Best of all, there’s a rooftop bar, so no one has to retreat back inside for another round. 10 Barrel also outlines its COVID-19 practices and guidelines online.

Portland’s most famous rooftop bar, Departure’s sleek, dual white patios overlook downtown Portland and offer a beautiful view of the river and bridges. The eastern balcony is reserved for those coming in for dinner—at the moment it’s best to make a reservation for the dining experience. The western balcony —overlooking Pioneer Square but with an ample view of the downtown skyline and the river— is open for those dropping in for a cocktail and bites.

After a long hiatus thanks to the pandemic, Xport and its twin rooftop patios is back open for business. This chic downtown bar has serious nightclub vibes in the evenings, especially on weekends, but those looking for more chill vibes and an amazing view of the river and the surrounding blocks can head in for happy hour. The drinks lean more towards cocktail bar than nightclub, luckily, and there’s always some choice selections of wines and beer, as well.

Altabira Tavern was one of the earliest restaurant casualties in the pandemic, and for over a year the Hotel Eastland’s upper floor was empty. However, in October, the Metropolitan Tavern quietly opened in its place, moving into the spacious, glass-enclosed rooftop patio. It still offers the same view of the river and its bridges, as well as the convention center and parts of downtown, to accompany the pizza, pastas, and sandwiches served there.

Jackie’s prefers to call itself a “bar with sports” rather than a sports bar, but it’s still not letting its customers miss a moment of a game, not when it can line its sprawling upper patio areas with TVs and greenery. The patios aren’t as elevated as others in town, but still provide a nice view of the surrounding neighborhood for diners to enjoy while they down mimosas and chicken and waffles for brunch. Evening visitors can instead opt for tequila drinks and birria nachos.

At one point, Radio Room could boast that it had never closed its dining rooms on any day, as it was open 365 days a year. Like many other places in Portland, however, 2020 changed all that and the cafe and bar spent most of the year closed. Now, it’s back, with dining seven days a week available inside and on the multi-tiered patio. It doesn’t provide as dramatic a vista as some others, but offers a view of the crowds on Alberta below.

The appropriately named Roof Deck at Revolution Hall is only open in the sunny, summer months, and it’s always worth dropping in before a show downstairs. The tall rooftop patio provides one of the most impressive views from the east side, with Mt. Tabor, the Willamette River, downtown, and a good swath of Southeast PDX, including the pups playing in the field below.

The newest addition to Portland’s rooftop scene is Lolo Pass, a cute and cozy hostel with heavy Spanish influences and an Ataula alum, Emily Metivier. Diners can start the day with coffee drinks and pastries on the patio, or come in later to enjoy shareable comfort foods and cocktails, while taking in the verdant trees and residential sights around East Burnside.