Clinton Street Pub
2516 SE Clinton St. Portland, OR 97202Phone: (503) 236.7137
Located in: Southeast Portland
BarFly's Review of Clinton Street Pub
Former old man hole in the wall cleaned up and expanded by new owners, but still retains much of its former dumpy dive charms, like its adorable lunch-counter style bar. Populated mostly by Reedies and a younger neighborhood crowd.
"The hipster contingent can be a bit of a pain in the ass sometimes, but is one of the few bars in the city that you can read a book at or have a conversation with random strangers at the bar.'
You, Agit, seriously need to get out more. There are fucking assloads of bars in this town where you can chat with folks at the bar and escape the hipster hordes rampant in certain areas of the city. Unfortunately, you live in one of their most fave stomping grounds and choose to drink in their clubhouse. And yet you complain. Too Fucking Bad.
That said, I like the Clinton St. Pub.
I started going to this place a few years ago when I moved to SE, and pretty much didn't go to any other bars afterward. The hipster contingent can be a bit of a pain in the ass sometimes, but is one of the few bars in the city that you can read a book at or have a conversation with random strangers at the bar.
Bartenders: I tend to go on Mon, Thurs, & Fri when Sepal is slinging drinks because she ROCKS the garage punk and pours stiff drinks. Not enough places in this city play garage rock. Tues, Wed, & Sat Phil jams the post-rock, and Indie, the man can make a WICKED old man Drink or cocktail. Sundays Jenny plays pretty much everything.
Now for the negatives... You leave smelling like smoke and OLD fried food. I'm a smoker and I'll tell ya, sometimes it even overwhelms me.
Stumble in around two in the afternoon when the real barflies have enough elbowroom to read, smoke and hoist a drink. Seriously, pitch in on the crossword, talk about midget porn with the regulars, get a good start on stifling that sobriety before it gets too annoying, making you think of bills and shit. This is one of my favorite places when there’s no one in it. Great pinball selection. Love it. I think I’m going there right now, in fact.
nice neighborhood pub which has changed a lot since i started going there about 10 years ago. if you haven't been there since the previous owner sold it you might be in for a little shock. only pop in once in awhile now. staff & owners seemed very friendly
oh, in regards to the person who wonders why no jukebox. the old owners had a lot of noise complaints from the people who lived upstairs. i'm sure it's no better for the new owners
Try the 2 Corn Dogs, and Fries for $3. Always Lively. Pinball, Pool, Good Bartenders. Word!
The service is great, but this place is so nice & boring. I almost miss the dive it used to be. It would rule a lot more if it had a jukebox. Where is the metal in Portland?
Nice neighborhood place when its not over run by hipster light weights and amateur drinkers. Best hit AFTER 12:30 when the kids start to go home. They need a better smoke eater too. The one they have sucks ass.
Nice neighborhood bar to drop in for a drink and a game of pool or pinball. 5.5- pitchers of Rainier/Hamms (10- pitchers of micro) and cheap frier food, if you need it. Good canned music (at least when Phil's working) and unobtrusive TV audio offer a balance between watching sports and socializing.