Pregame a Soccer Match at Bars Near Providence Park

Discover where to hang out near Providence Park before catching a soccer game.

Updated Nov. 12, 2022 3 min read Goose Hollow

Emma Mannheimer

Emma Mannheimer is a Seattle-born, Portland-based writer and editor. Read More

Come spring and summer, Portland’s central city is abuzz with rowdy excitement, reserved exclusively for fútbol season. Major league soccer made its way to the city in 2009, and Portlanders can’t get enough. This is especially true following the Portland Thorns’ 2022 National Women’s Soccer League championship and the Timbers’ 2015 Major League Soccer cup win.

Inside Providence Park, ticket-holding fans can stay hydrated and fed with a number of craft brews and local eateries. But if you’re in need of more than 90 minutes of entertainment, pregame the match at these great bars near Providence Park. Even if you can’t score tickets to a game, you can catch the match and the excitement of watching with a crowd.

Civic Taproom & Bottle Shop

Great for those looking for a wide variety of brews, the brightly lit Civic Taproom & Bottle Shop awaits just steps from the stadium. Civic’s 22 continually rotating taps dole out a dozen beers, six ciders and four wines. Visitors can perch on tall, black stools while imbibing sour beers and seasonal ciders. Don’t forget to check out the glowing coolers, which store stellar bottles from around the world. Televisions are guaranteed to be tuned to the game, and fries can be delivered from Boise Fry Company next door.

Streetside patio seating that is covered with table heaters. — The Civic Taproom and Bottle Shop, located across the street from Providence Park, is a popular hangout for fans meeting before and after matches. Credit: Instagram

M Bar

A curated wine program resides a mere 10-minute walk from the stadium at the candlelit M Bar. Intimate and inviting, the spot operates as a coffee shop by day and transforms into a relaxed wine bar at night. The venue is perfect for small groups looking to share a quiet moment before rooting on the Thorns or the Timbers. A chalkboard menu highlights rotating reds, rosés, whites and bubblies, along with beers and other beverages.

Kells Brew Pub

Savor a slice of Celtic spirit at Kells Brew Pub, only a 10-minute walk from Providence Park. The Irish-style pub offers high ceilings, a cozy fireplace and a stained glass window featuring an image of St. Patrick. Sip from a diverse selection of house-brewed beers, ranging from session ales to chocolatey stouts. If there isn’t a local match, they are sure to broadcast others from around the world and even open early during the World Cup.

Lightning Will Bar & Grill

If you’re looking for something more thematically aligned with the evening, make your way to sporty gastropub Lightning Will Bar & Grill. Choose from an extensive tap list, ranging from Pabst to Old Town Brewing’s award-winning kölsch. In between sips, try your hand at skeeball, foosball or pool. The happy hour mini nachos and Lightning Dills (beer-battered and panko-crusted fried pickles) are menu standouts.

Pope House Bourbon Lounge

If you’re partial to a classic Old Fashioned, look no further than Pope House Bourbon Lounge. Situated in a beautiful Victorian home only blocks away from Providence Park, this Kentucky-themed lounge is a bourbon lover’s paradise. Visitors can soak up the summer sun on the patio while enjoying thoughtfully crafted cocktails and Creole-inspired dishes. (Don’t miss out on their dirty rice arancini and beet-pickled deviled eggs.)

The Cheerful Bullpen

The Cheerful Bullpen aims to please every sports fan with its 12-brew tap selection and delicious wings. And their proximity to Providence Park turns this official Buffalo Bills backer bar into an unofficial soccer pub whenever the Timbers or the Thorns are playing.

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