Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock wrote and edited content for Travel Portland from 2014–2020. Read More

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Migration Brewing’s 2,000-square-foot (185.8 sq m) rooftop bar stands nine floors above Providence Park soccer stadium, offering views and brews aplenty.

Credit: Justin Katigbak, Travel Portland

Portland’s Best Rooftop and Patio Bars

Soak up the Oregon sunshine at these outdoor drinking destinations.

Updated Jan. 24, 2023 3 min read

Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock wrote and edited content for Travel Portland from 2014–2020. Read More

Home to a crowd of craft distilleries, urban wineries and more than 70 breweries, Portland has no shortage of world-class watering holes. And when the weather warms and the days grow long, imbibers flock to these picturesque rooftops and bar patios to pair a shot of sunshine with their summer drinks of choice.

North Portland

Hip North Mississippi Avenue offers a handful of top-notch patios. Order grass-fed cheeseburgers at roomy picnic tables and buy pints from an outdoor order window at Bar Bar, then catch a live show at adjoining Mississippi Studios.

Down the street, locals cheer on the Portland Timbers with Cloud Ripper IPAs at StormBreaker Brewery, where outdoor seating options include a large tented area outfitted with a TV projector. For a quick European getaway, check out Prost!, an authentic German pub with a spacious back porch, where patrons pair imported bier with traditional bratwurst and Bavarian pretzels.

A few blocks east on the popular cycling corridor North Williams Avenue, Vendetta offers a gigantic back patio with Zen-inspired landscaping, hanging lights and plenty of tables. Hungry? Nearby, The Waypost serves “Arizona-themed” fare like plantain tacos and habanero lime margaritas in a patio space that doubles as a community garden.

Northeast Portland

The lush, sprawling rooftop garden at Noble Rot provides the Central Eastside restaurant with some of the freshest organic veggies in town — the fourth-floor view’s not bad either. Grab a seat outside and enjoy views of the sun dipping behind downtown Portland and the woodsy West Hills. Not to be outdone, Northeast Alberta Street’s Radio Room offers two airy options: a family- and dog-friendly street-level garden warmed by a gas fire pit, and an adults-only rooftop outfitted with heaters and a wood-burning fireplace. The latter is a perfect perch from which to sip sugar-rimmed vodka lemonade and watch the colorful characters of the Alberta Arts District.

Credit: via Instagram

The sunny rooftop patio at Laurelwood Brewing is a bit of an insider secret, so you might have the whole space to yourself as you sample flights of flagship ales brewed right downstairs. Availability varies by season and weather, so check the pub’s website for the patio’s current hours.

Southeast Portland

Summer means live music and frequent dance parties on the back patio at White Owl Social Club. The menu boasts a great selection of gluten-free and vegan grub, and revelers can even roast s’mores on tabletop campfires.

For a boot-scootin’ good time, grab your cowboy hat (or trucker cap) and head to the Landmark Saloon to play backyard cornhole and horseshoes accompanied by live honky-tonk tunes. Super picky about your beer? Apex keeps 50 drafts on tap — and about that many picnic tables out front.

Named one of the country’s best grilled cheese sandwiches by Food & Wine, the bacon-and-fontina sando is reason enough to visit EastBurn. The cozy fireside tables and quirky swinging chairs only add to the appeal.

Southwest Portland

Perched atop the 15th floor of The Nines Hotel, the rooftop bar at Departure boasts panoramic views of downtown, including an aerial view of “Portland’s Living Room” (aka Pioneer Courthouse Square). Settle into the comfy outdoor couches and order Asian-inspired small plates, craft cocktails and indulgent desserts. Another downtown rooftop bar can be found at Xport Bar & Lounge. Perch on one of the expansive decks, craft cocktail in hand, and you’ll feel transported to lands unknown (the cozy booths indoors offer sweeping views as well).

Northwest Portland

Cool off with pints of Apocalypse IPA and Cucumber Crush at the Portland outpost of Bend-based 10 Barrel Brewing. The brewery’s Pearl District location features an expansive rooftop deck with festive twinkling lights, chill summer vibes and stellar views of downtown.

Craving sophisticated pub grub? Peruse a long list of Belgian beers, gourmet small plates like mussels and frites, and more than 150 whiskeys at North 45 Pub, whose tucked away brick- and tree-lined patio feels like it was transported from a town square in Brussels.