Apotheke (CLOSED)
1314 NW Glisan St.Portland, OR 97209
503/ 241.7866
Located in: Northwest Portland
BarFly's Review of Apotheke (CLOSED)
Now closed, but there was our old review
Hey handsome, tired after a big day working on the Nike account at Wieden & Kennedy? Head down to Apotheke to de-stress in style. The stark white decor and coolly pulsing electronic music is classy and hip, without being overly pretentious - despite a drink menu of fancy-pants herbal apertifs and digestifs. Worry not, the knowledgeable staff will concoct just the right tincture for what ails you.
Reader Reviews of Apotheke (CLOSED)
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by j to the h on January 18, 2008, 9:34 am
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A New Experience
Informative menu, amazing ancestral herbal infusions, flights of liquor served with a question and answer period following - amazing! Talk that they will go out of business for their spartan decor and not mixing yur martini? Sigh... EVERYBODY ELSE WILL MIX YOU THAT MARTINI! These guys do something different - they bring dozens of new kinds of booze that you cannot find in Portland, and serve it up with some honest education! I like to come here for a few shots of herbal bitters before having a big meal out - Delicious!
Informative menu, amazing ancestral herbal infusions, flights of liquor served with a question and answer period following - amazing! Talk that they will go out of business for their spartan decor and not mixing yur martini? Sigh... EVERYBODY ELSE WILL MIX YOU THAT MARTINI! These guys do something different - they bring dozens of new kinds of booze that you cannot find in Portland, and serve it up with some honest education! I like to come here for a few shots of herbal bitters before having a big meal out - Delicious!
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by S. Grapes on August 6, 2007, 2:25 pm
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Great change of pace
Best Belgian beer selection I've seen in the U.S. It's a sparse, modern, Eurostyle interior. A great change of pace from the rank-and-file hipster bars in PDX. Service, although it feels understaffed, is friendly.
Best Belgian beer selection I've seen in the U.S. It's a sparse, modern, Eurostyle interior. A great change of pace from the rank-and-file hipster bars in PDX. Service, although it feels understaffed, is friendly.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Andrew on November 23, 2006, 12:56 pm
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unique flavors, something really different
You don't go to a barber to get your car fixed, and you don't go to Apotheke for a martini. People, please buy a clue.
This is the only place I know of in Portland where you'll find many, many liquors you have never heard of. On Friday night, I had a heavenly Czech liquor called Becherovka. Perfectly blended flavors of nutmeg, cinnamon, and hazelnut.
Yes, the room is too big, but the music (electronic) was melodic and well-chosen. The bartender was knowledgeable without being overbearing, and friendly. Great company and a completely new drink experience = a very good time.
You don't go to a barber to get your car fixed, and you don't go to Apotheke for a martini. People, please buy a clue.
This is the only place I know of in Portland where you'll find many, many liquors you have never heard of. On Friday night, I had a heavenly Czech liquor called Becherovka. Perfectly blended flavors of nutmeg, cinnamon, and hazelnut.
Yes, the room is too big, but the music (electronic) was melodic and well-chosen. The bartender was knowledgeable without being overbearing, and friendly. Great company and a completely new drink experience = a very good time.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by christopher on October 22, 2006, 10:21 pm
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apotheke
Went there a few times this summer and had the opportunity to try some really interesting liquors from Europe (get the taster). I found the staff to be helpful, friendly, and good with suggestions. It's got a well-designed minimalist interior, and it's never packed and the music is good.
Not really a normal pub/bar experience (it's not a meat market and they don't server cocktails), but that's on purpose.
If you're looking for an indie hipster cocktail joint, this isn't it, but you'll definitely find some liqours here that you probably won't be able to find anywhere else in Portland.
Went there a few times this summer and had the opportunity to try some really interesting liquors from Europe (get the taster). I found the staff to be helpful, friendly, and good with suggestions. It's got a well-designed minimalist interior, and it's never packed and the music is good.
Not really a normal pub/bar experience (it's not a meat market and they don't server cocktails), but that's on purpose.
If you're looking for an indie hipster cocktail joint, this isn't it, but you'll definitely find some liqours here that you probably won't be able to find anywhere else in Portland.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by alex on September 26, 2006, 9:23 am
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they try
Nice decor, but the only person in the place was some annoying french fag who would not take a fucking hint. Creepy and drinks were expensive as shit. This place will be done for in the next 3 years.
Nice decor, but the only person in the place was some annoying french fag who would not take a fucking hint. Creepy and drinks were expensive as shit. This place will be done for in the next 3 years.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by blah on May 12, 2006, 8:58 pm
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apotheke
Disappointing. Completely empty. Unwilling/unable to a make a martini. Fine, that’s their style. Had the said euroTrash or self-aware W+K types been there then at least it would not have been so painfully depressing.
Disappointing. Completely empty. Unwilling/unable to a make a martini. Fine, that’s their style. Had the said euroTrash or self-aware W+K types been there then at least it would not have been so painfully depressing.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by bee on April 6, 2006, 10:41 am
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EuroTrash
An underhyped Scenester's nirvana--cool folk and food abound. The owner spent some time abroad, and my only complaint is all these ex-exchange student/tourist types who start out their conversation with, "Oh, I spent (3*6*9*etc.) months in EUROPE (emphasis mine) and BLAH BLAH BLAH...." Like, don't be so American: who really gives a shit? (ME ME ME! Look at ME!) Okay, off the soapbox. Very pseudo Euro, and the minimalist thing works very well aesthetically here, except for practical reasons (like the angled bar which causes a patron to constantly bump knees against it whilst sitting there). The food is ambitious, and carried off well (okay, like when is Nutella NOT delicious?).... Seriously, I've only grazed, but there must be a semi-serious foodie somewhere behind the scenes (there are offerings for pickled herring and Hasenpfeffer, for God's sake!). Cool staff, but not too cool for you, like some places suffer from. Hip & definitely will be more happenin' when word gets [further] out.
An underhyped Scenester's nirvana--cool folk and food abound. The owner spent some time abroad, and my only complaint is all these ex-exchange student/tourist types who start out their conversation with, "Oh, I spent (3*6*9*etc.) months in EUROPE (emphasis mine) and BLAH BLAH BLAH...." Like, don't be so American: who really gives a shit? (ME ME ME! Look at ME!) Okay, off the soapbox. Very pseudo Euro, and the minimalist thing works very well aesthetically here, except for practical reasons (like the angled bar which causes a patron to constantly bump knees against it whilst sitting there). The food is ambitious, and carried off well (okay, like when is Nutella NOT delicious?).... Seriously, I've only grazed, but there must be a semi-serious foodie somewhere behind the scenes (there are offerings for pickled herring and Hasenpfeffer, for God's sake!). Cool staff, but not too cool for you, like some places suffer from. Hip & definitely will be more happenin' when word gets [further] out.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by HereNowDesign on March 17, 2006, 2:44 pm
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kickass
This is the only place in town i know of to get imported liquors of all kinds - fine liquors from everywhere. 6-8ish per drink, and the theory is that mixers of any kind dilute the true essence of the drink, so they dont mix anything. a fine choice in my opinion, and im a punk rat. but i appreciate good firewater. i go when i can afford. never had the meat market experience there, just chill. definately clockwork orange-esque.
This is the only place in town i know of to get imported liquors of all kinds - fine liquors from everywhere. 6-8ish per drink, and the theory is that mixers of any kind dilute the true essence of the drink, so they dont mix anything. a fine choice in my opinion, and im a punk rat. but i appreciate good firewater. i go when i can afford. never had the meat market experience there, just chill. definately clockwork orange-esque.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by suckenit on January 25, 2006, 9:11 pm
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apotheke
Intresting book for a drink menu. remindes me of the milk bar in clockwork orange. nice place to stop for a drink but not somewhere i would want to stay all night.
Intresting book for a drink menu. remindes me of the milk bar in clockwork orange. nice place to stop for a drink but not somewhere i would want to stay all night.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by a big bad baby on October 9, 2005, 10:28 pm
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