Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Portland

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Portland? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Masu Sushi

4.9

4.9 (1100)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Downtown

About the restaurant

Masu Sushi has been a staple of inventive Japanese cuisine in Portland, OR for over 20 years. Executive Chef and owner Tommy Shin leads a technique-driven team of chefs who create beautiful sushi, sashimi, and dishes of the highest quality ingredients sourced from the Pacific Northwest and Japan.

Our signature dishes from the kitchen include the Gindara Misozuke (Miso and Butter Marinated Local Black Cod) and the award-winning Yakiniku Charred Pork Cheeks. From the sushi bar, try local favorites like the spicy Rip City Roll and the citrusy Lioness. We have many options for gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian guests - all are welcome.

Top review

Maja

Dined on Dec 24, 2024

One of the best places for high-quality fresh fish in Portland! Love the ambiance and low-key atmosphere, it's great for couples or large groups. Their staff is the best! Super knowledgeable, funny, lovely people.

Libre

4.9

4.9 (11)

$50 and over

Dessert

Southeast Portland

About the restaurant

Where Freedom Meets Flavor

Libre is a dessert bar and cocktail lounge in Portland, Oregon, where freedom bleeds from mezcal cocktails to mole desserts. Walk in and leave your troubles at the door, and experience a world of dreams coming true.

Our pastry chef, Gabriella Martinez, creates fantastical desserts with components ranging from corn husk meringue to bone marrow caramel. Meanwhile, our bar director, "Nan" Chaison, crafts innovative cocktails, including a mezcal-based mole milk punch.

The moodily lit, flower-adorned space with purple velvet banquettes provides the perfect setting for an unforgettable evening.

Come to Libre and experience a taste of freedom.

Top review

Diana

Dined on Dec 8, 2024

The drinks, desserts, food, ambiance, and service were absolutely amazing. This was my third time in Libre, and every time it’s been just this great. I will be back!

Kachka

4.8

4.8 (2265)

$31 to $50

Eastern European

Southeast Portland

About the restaurant

Kachka features an award-winning menu of post-soviet inspired dishes including famous dishes such as the Herring under a fur coat, Rabbit in a clay pot, dumplings and much more. The restaurant is an homage to the dishes our chef/owner grew up eating. Kachka is open for indoor onsite dining. Walk-in lounge and bar seating are also available.

Our Lavka grocery is open from 11am-9pm daily with counter service ordering from our Lavka cafe and deli available from 11-3. Seating is first come first serve on our upper patio or indoor lounge tables.

We have proudly replaced tipping with a 22% service fee in order to provide a base wage of $25 per hour and free healthcare for all employees. More information is available at kachkapdx.com/wage-equity

For more info about Kachka, and our deli Lavka please visit our website: https://www.kachkapdx.com/about-us

Top review

John

Dined 4 days ago

Never a disappointing meal. Fresh, flavorful, filling. Top-notch service. A beautiful space, packed with happy diners. Kachka is worth it, every time.

Discover more

Mediterranean Exploration Company

4.8

4.8 (185)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Northwest Portland

About the restaurant

Mediterranean Exploration is a restaurant located in Portland, Oregon that specializes in serving upscale Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. The restaurant features casual dining in an industrial setting with a chic décor.

Mediterranean Exploration serves dinner nightly and offers a variety of raw, oven, mezza, piato and grilled options on the menu for diners to choose from. The restaurant features a seasonal, market driven menu that changes daily based on seasonal varieties and the local farmers' produce available.

Top review

Lizbeth

Dined on Dec 29, 2024

Excellent food. Staff were welcoming and warm. Waitress was very helpful in marking the menu to show what foods were gluten free. Cider was super tasty. Lamb chops were delectable, highly recommend. 10/10 would visit again.

Wilfs Restaurant & Jazz Bar

4.7

4.7 (1231)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Pearl District

About the restaurant

Voted one of the top dining destinations for 20234by OpenTable!

Welcome to Wilfs...
Located at Union Station, at the foot of the Broadway Bridge. Cozy red wing back chairs provide guests with an intimate escape from the world, 'Mad Men' atmosphere best describes the lounge and it's modern menu of classic house made cocktails, while listening to the best jazz, performed up-close and personal.
Our expert staff and Chef A.G. prepare local and regional dishes with a modern twist. Tableside preparation of our award winning Caesar salad, Steak Diane or fresh local seafood, pasta and local micro brews and house shaken libations.
Catering and event planning for graduations, rehearsal dinners, weddings, holiday and more.
We accept Visa. Mastercard, American Express, cash. 24 hour security on premises. Easy street parking.

Top review

Sharona

Dined on Dec 28, 2024

We were there to see one of our all time favorite performers, the Boogie Cat, Norman Sylvester. They seated us in the perfect place to see the show, the service was impeccable and the food delicious. We will definitely be back!

Discover more

Experience

Our midweek hustle! 3-course dinner for $40

Oma's Hideaway

4.7

4.7 (147)

$31 to $50

Indonesian / Malaysian

Southeast Portland

About the restaurant

Oma's Hideaway is a vibrant, maximalist restaurant inspired by the life and spirit of Chef Thomas Pisha Duffly's grandmother, Kiong Tien “Tina” Vandenberg. Her ability to adapt, to make the most out of limited resources, and to stay creative while projecting warmth and brightness is the guiding force behind Oma’s Hideaway.

Born during the pandemic as a pop-up in the Gado Gado parking lot, Oma’s became a permanent beacon of iridescent light in Portland’s Richmond neighborhood in 2021. The menu draws from Tina’s life story, taking influence from the craveable, soul-satisfying hawker food of Singapore and Malaysia and “turning up the volume” with exaggerated yet balanced flavors in Chef Tom’s signature style. Oma’s serves dinner accompanied by a seasonal list of hand-crafted cocktails and zero-proof drinks.

Top review

JeromeVIP

Dined 4 days ago

The drinks are very good but a bit on the pricier side for the amount that you are served. The food is amazing and we tried the Chinese broccoli, won tons, pork with noodles and pork with rice. All the dishes were savory. The best part is the kitchen will cater to your culinary needs. My wife is allergic to cilantro so they took special care to keep it out of the dishes we ordered. Excellent job. The waitstaff were friendly and quick. We will definitely make the trip from SW Portland back to Oma’s. Parking is a bit rough on a Saturday night so either take Uber or give yourself plenty of time to find a spot in a crowded neighborhood.

clarklewis

4.5

4.5 (2523)

$31 to $50

Northwest

Southeast Portland

About the restaurant

A bustling eatery in the Central Eastside industrial neighborhood serving Italian-inspired, local, organic, seasonal, sustainable fare. The large oak-burning oven is the cornerstone of the large open kitchen. Clarklewis has helped define Portland as a food mecca since 2004 as a founder of our local farm-to-table sensibility.

Top review

Gregory

Dined 4 days ago

Hadn't been here in quite a few years, but went with friends for my wife's birthday and it's still very good. We started with some very good oysters (and I'm not an oyster fan). for salad I had the throwback Zefiro's Caeser. We frequented Zefiro's back in the '90s. I had the duck ragout and my wife had the Salmon - both nice. $30 corkage for the wine I brought. The noise level was sedated even though they were playing some energetic music. Parking is easy which is a bonus.

Metropolitan Tavern

4.5

4.5 (670)

$30 and under

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Metropolitan Tavern –
Metropolitan Tavern, on the top floor of Hotel Eastlund is where you’ll find contemporary dishes and hand-crafted cocktails. Come and enjoy Metropolitan Tavern’s inventive “small plates”, shareable boards, Entrees, variety of fresh hand stretched artisan pizzas, and more. Modern yet casual restaurant and bar with patio seating and spectacular views of the city.

Top review

Alina

Dined on Jan 1, 2025

One of my favorite brunch spots- beautiful environment and awesome staff. Come for the bottomless mimosas, stay for the perfect ambiance.

Irving Street Tapas

4.3

4.3 (400)

$30 and under

Tapas / Small Plates

Pearl District

About the restaurant

Happy Hour 4 PM to 5:30 PM Walk in's are always welcome!

Eat when you drink, drink when you eat is the Spanish philosophy. We have elevated tapas to the next level by integrating world cuisine in tapas form. You will find Spanish, Greek, Indian, Japanese, African and South American cuisines; all as tapas! One tapa per person and a different one with each drink is the idea, then everyone enjoys tasting, sharing and having fun

To book large groups, events and private dining please call us at +1 (971) 389-0212

Top review

Cassidy

Dined 4 days ago

This place has always been a favorite, but last night’s dinner was extra perfect. We came in as a group of 9 to share an intimate wedding dinner and the restaurant went out of their way to make everything perfect for us. The area we were seated in was adorable and very quiet - even when the restaurant was packed we felt like the only ones there. Excellent food, delicious drinks, great service. Can’t recommend IST enough for a celebration!

Toro

4.0

4 (81)

$30 and under

Latin American

Pearl District

About the restaurant

A lively, modern Mexican Kitchen + Bar
Influenced by the bold flavors of Mexico.
Featuring seasoned steaks and authentic Mexican dishes

Toro offers private dining. Treat your guests to a fun evening out in one of our two private dining areas. Our team will help you plan the perfect event tailored to your needs and budget.

Open 7 days a week
Sunday-Thursday 3pm-10pm
Friday-Saturday 3pm-11pm

We look forward to serving you!

Top review

Jason

Dined on Nov 9, 2024

The place has a good atmosphere. The service is great, They are attentive without being obtrusive a hard balance to strike. The food is good. The value at happy hour was quite good. Really do my wife and I finish dinner at around $50 and that was with 2 ciders. It was a perfect place to have dinner being only a mile from the Moda center where we saw a concert that night. If you are looking for a place to eat that is close to event centers this is a great option.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Portland

Explore more Diners' Choice lists