by Ashley Gartland - 183 Reviews - 53 List
Patio dining is old hat. Upgrade your alfresco experience this summer by drinking at one of Portland's rare rooftop bars. From old favorites like the McMenamin Hotel's top story bar in wine country to swank lounges, here's where to booze with a view.
Updated: June 29, 2009
This sports-centric Pearl District bar's second-story patio can't lay claim to having the best views in town but it makes up for it in its size alone. In contrast to the dining room's showy flat screens and polished bar, the rooftop courtyard is distinctly casual with its umbrella-topped tables and plant-lined deck. College kids and condo dwellers gather here for long afternoons spent washing snacks of mozzarella sticks and garlic fries down with one of 12 beers on tap.
Perched on top of the cherry red building on East Burn's main drag, this fourth-floor wine bar attracts regular crowds of oenophiles, and newcomers who spot the outdoor deck from the sidewalk below. Patio eating pairs nicely with small plates of marinated olives and crisp panini and flights of carefully selected wines.
This historic 1905 hotel sits on a quiet corner on McMinnville's historic main street but the scene inside is not so peaceful. Once the warmer weather strikes, beer lovers and wine country tourists take the party to the rooftop where the Legendary Rooftop Bar (yes, that is its real name) offers 360-degree views of the little town.
