Tablet Magazine #97 - Columns - Portland Behind the Bars

Portland Behind the Bars

Dorit Bartends at Vault Martini Bar 226 NW 12th Happy Hour: Mon-Fri 4-7pm, Sun 4pm-12am 503.224.4909

Portland martini connoisseurs are celebrating the birth of the sexiest, most innovative martini lab to hit the city in decades. If you want a fashionable crowd, good service and a photo shoot-worthy lavatory, check out Vault. It may turn into a hot new love affair.

So Dorit, a common description of Vault is the Brazen Bean’s cousin with better drinks, friendly, super hot service, and clean air. Do you think that is accurate? It’s a different atmosphere. The neighborhoods are different. The bars are different. The last time I was at the Brazen Bean, our “friendly” waiter described one of their dishes as a “plate of crap that I could eat”. Do you have that? NO!!!! What is the happiest part about your happy hour? Everybody is happy at Vault during happy hour! Seven ounce martinis for $4. What’s not to be happy about? Is it just a coincidence that your entire staff is über hot, intelligent and a lot of fun? No. It was thoroughly planned by the owner. Every single menu option is immaculate in taste and name. My very favorite drink is the Poohtini (a vanilla/honey infused vodka martini). Who designed your drink menu? The owner, Casey Hopkins. There are some Ani options because he likes Ani. Why does your “Blood Orange” make a free thinker free? It’s an ode to Scarlett O’Hara. If you were a rock star, what would be your signature cover song? “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” Hands down, they call me the Rock Star!!! Text and photo: Maria Perry

ALADDIN 3017 SE Milwauke Ave (503.233.1994)

ALESSANDRO'S 301 SW Morrison (503.222.3900)

ALEXANDER'S 921 SW Sixth Ave (503.220.1161)

THE ALIBI 4024 N Interstate (503.287.5335)

ASH STREET SALOON 225 SW Ash St (503.226.0430)

AURA 1022 W Burnside (503.597.2872)

BAR 71 71 SW 2nd (503.241.0938)

BERBATI'S PAN 231 SW Ankeny St (503.248.4579) — berbatis.com

BEULAHLAND 118 28th Ave (503.235.2794)

BIDDY MCGRAW'S 6000 NE Glisan St (503.233.1178)

BITTER END 1981 W Burnside Ave (503.517.0179) — bitterendpub.com

BOXXES 1035 SW Stark (503.226.4171)

BRASSERIE 626 SW Park (503.224.5552)

BRAZEN BEAN 2075 NW Glisan (503.294.0636)

THE BRIG 1035 SW Stark (503.226.4171)

BUSH GARDEN 900 SW Morrison (503.226.7181)

CANDLELIGHT CAFÈ & BAR 2032 SW 5th (503.222.3378)

CC SLAUGHTER'S BAR 219 NW Davis (503.248.9135)

THE COMMODORE 1601 S Morrison (503.224.0051)

CONAN'S PUB 3862 SE Hawthorne (503.234.7474) — conans-pub.com

CRYSTAL BALLROOM 1332 W Burnside (503.225.0047)

DANTE'S 1 SW 3rd (503.226.6630) — danteslive.com

DRIFTWOOD ROOM 729 SW 15th (503.223.6311)

THE DIRTY DUCK 439 NW 3rd (503.224.8446)

DUFF'S GARAGE 1635 7th Ave (503.234.BEER)

DV8 5021 SE Powell (503.772.2907) — ashstreetsaloon.com/dv8

EAGLE PDX 1300 W Burnside (503.241.0105)

EGYPTIAN ROOM 3701 SE Division (503.236.8689)

EMBERS 11 NW Broadway (503.222.3082)

FERNANDO'S HIDEAWAY 824 SW 1st (503.248.4709)

FEZ 316 SW 11th (503.221.7262) ext 41

GOODFOOT PUB & LOUNGE 2845 SE Stark (503.239.9292)

GREEN ROOM 2280 NW Thurman St (503.228.6178) — grpub.net

HOBO'S 120 NW 3rd (503.224.3285)

HOPPERS PUB & GRILL 11119 SE Division St (503.256.9521)

JASMINE TREE 401 SW Harrison (503.223.7956)

JAX 826 SW 2nd Ave (503.228.9128) — jaxbar.com

JOQ'S 2521 NE Broadway (503.287.4210)

KELLY'S OLYMPIAN 426 SW Washington (503.228.3669)

LAURELTHIRST PUBLIC HOUSE 2958 NE Glisan (503.232.1504)

LOLA'S ROOM 1332 W Burnside (503.225.0047)

LUSH 610 NW Couch (503.223.5874)

MADAME BUTTERFLY 425 SW Stark (503.525.0033)

MARY'S CLUB 129 SW Broadway (503.227.3023)

MEOW MEOW 320 SE 2nd (503.230.2111) — themeowmeow.com

MOMO BAR MAXIMO 725 SW 10th Ave (503.478.9600)

MOTHER'S 206 SW Stark (503.4641122)

MT TABOR THEATRE & PUB 4811 SE Hawthorne Blvd (503.238.1646)

OHM 31 NW 1st (503.223.9919)

OLD CHURCH 1422 SW 11th Ave (503.222.2031) — oldchurch.org

PANORAMA SW 10th & Stark (503.223.4171)

PORKY'S PUB 835 N Lombard (503.283.9734)

PRODUCE ROW CAFÈ 204 SE Oak (503.232.8355)

RABBIT HOLE 203 SE Grand Ave (503.231.2925)

RED CAP GARAGE 1035 SW Stark (503.221.7262)

SAUCEBOX 214 SW Broadway (503.241.3393)

SCANDALS 1038 SW Stark (503.227.5887)

SHANGHAI TUNNEL 211 SW Ankeny (503.220.4001)

SILVERADO 1217 SW Stark (503.224.4493)

SPACE ROOM 4800 SE Hawthorne (503.235.8303)

THREE SISTERS TAVERN 1125 SW Stark (503.228.0486)

TILLICUM CLUB 8585 SW Beaverton (503.292.1835)

TONIC LOUNGE 3100 NE Sandy Blvd (503.239.5154)

TUBE 18 NW Third (503.241.8823)

TWILIGHT CAFÈ AND BAR 1420 SW Powell (503.236.7668)

VIRGINIA CAFÈ 725 SW Park (503.227.0033)

XV 15 SW 2nd (503.790.9090)