Driftwood Room
729 SW 15th (inside the Mallory Hotel) Portland, OR 97205Phone: (503) 223.6311
Located in: Downtown Portland & near Northwest Portland - Visit Website
BarFly's Review of Driftwood Room
Beloved little kidney-shaped bar had a little work done and looks all the better for it - newly replushed, but retaining 100% of its casually swank, Rock Hudson bachelor pad charm. Perfect for closing deals of all varieties. In the lobby of the former Mallory Hotel, itself made-over in grand old Hollywood style and renamed Hotel deLuxe. Personable servers, good convo at the bar. Upscale well from $4.50.
Closes by 12am (9pm Sundays).
12th Ave Bar And Grill, Cassidy's, Cheerful Bullpen, Commodore, Crystal Ballroom, East India Co. Bar and Grill, Lola's Room, Marathon Taverna, Ringler's Pub, Scooter McQuade's, Tequila Muertos, Tony's Old Time Tavern
Correction, this bar is located inside the Hotel deLuxe, not the Mallory Hotel. It's a sweet bar in a really nice hotel, located in DT Portland, OR. The correct location is:
Hotel deLuxe - Downtown Portland Hotel 729 SW 15th Ave. Portland, Oregon 97205 Phone: (503) 219-2094 www.hoteldeluxeportland.com
This is really a lounge and not a bar. So, if you want a bar you'll be a sad little beast. Don't order beer here. Don't order a milquetoast lemon drop. If you aren't up for a unique, well-crafted beverage then leave it for another night. Yes, the beverages are an investment. But you can get things here you won't find anywhere else. Rare alcohols and a bartender's choice worth taking the gamble on. The Emerald City and Elizabeth Taylor are truly fabulous. So wear a crazy-fabulous outfit and stop by for some glamour.
Great atmosphere for a TINY bar, rather relaxed service if you are not at the bar, good bar eats during happy hour...but $10.50 for a Grey Goose Martini is a new league record for Portland. Go around the corner to the Commodore and you won't have to worry about maintaining your stylish slouch...you can get blasted and enjoy the great 'box for peanuts.
Intimate atmosphere. Drinks are spendy, but creative (I recommend the Niven). Late night happy hour (9 to close) includes half off their extensive bar menu. The Swiss cheese fondue is delicious and a good value. Comes with a generous selection of bread, potatoes, sausage, and apples. Ravioli was good, but a little on the cold side. Pleasant service. Ideal location for a date.
This is one of my favorite places in Portland for Happy Hour. The food is excellent and the service is always great. Terry, the bartender and our usual waitress are always friendly and serve a great drink. They have a new chef and his Kobe Beef Burger is my newest addiction. Well worth checking out!
Despite the "official" review, the Driftwood Room did in fact lose 100% of its charm in the makeover. It's not the changes to the bar, per se (though the purple-lit frosted glass and driftwood "sculpture" is a notable exception), but the corporate stench of the servers, the menu, the "concept"... I too bemoan the loss of Henry Ford's, but at least it wasn't ruined in a take-over. Too bad the Aspen Group, or whoever the clever new owners are, listened to the outcries, and didn't let the Driftwood die with dignity.
This bar isn't a bad bar. It just lacks a couple of things. Better music for one. This one detail failed makes me slightly annoyed. Even "cocktail" Music should be well considered and not just a steady dribble of crooner b sides. The edge between ironic and slaphappyy senile is razor thin already. Another reason this bar completely sucs is the help. I only say HELP because they need some here at The Driftwood Room. Not that there isn't plenty of suitable candidates paired in corners mocking the payers or pestering them about the Hapless Hour menu. Maybe the management of the former Mallory Hotel should rethink the required Glengarry Glennross screenings. Like I say this isn't a horrible bar. But I just started drinking again ( odd years ON! baby) and this dump grew fat and lazy and geriatric in my absence. I don't need singing bartenders but I need you to express that serving me is your pleasure and you will so fully prove this that it shames my wallet into apologizing for this drunken mess sitting on it; so undeserving. Speaking of wallet you better bring a couple if you plan on even catching a buzz. Nothing Special Beer: 5$. Give me a freakin break. And there isnt any wireless to email your buddes with. Maybe Drift somewhere else.
Great "lounge" atmosphere, cozy, good drinks and well above average bar food. Reminiscent to the dearly departed Henry Ford's on SW Barbur. Still miss that place, but the Driftwood does a commendable job filling that void.