Gypsy

625 NW 21st Portland, OR 97209
Phone: (503) 796.1859

Located in: Northwest Portland - Visit Website
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BarFly's Review of Gypsy

Ages ago, when Portland's scenesters could be counted on two hands and space-age retro-futuristic interiors seemed thrillingly new/old, The Gypsy was the nervy pinnacle of a burgeoning northwest cool. And, to some sort of credit, we're sure - they didn't bother to change with the times. A separate dining room must, you'd imagine, be occasionally entered while the bar itself attracts the sort of folks aiming to avoid those upon the avenue that may judge stained sweat-shirts or particularly down-market bachelorette parties puking AMF fishbowls upon vintage booths. Still-lit vintage pinball game-backs ripped from the once-bar-spanning machines have been placed upon the wall as reminder of bygone days like a wall of catseye-glasses-affixed skulls on posts. I am the Gypsy, King of Kings, look upon my works, ye mighty, and despair. Sundays: Industry Night. Mondays: Gypsy Flixx Movies. Tuesdays: $5 Nachos and Drink Specials. Wednesdays: Hump Night Happy Hour. Saturdays: Martini Madness.

Reader Reviews of Gypsy
the Gypsy

The Gypsy has changed much of its past. It used to be known for being unfriendly, frat infested drunk parties and puking, but that is no longer the case. Its now a place for you and your friends to go party, its not a place to get a sociable coctail and have a nice conversation with an old friend after 10pm. You pick up alot of the atmosphere as soon as the door opens. There are two entrances, one to the karaoke side and one to the "velvet lounge" which has its own jukebox, fair warning: if you play enya or some nsync, the bartenders will humor you for maybe 1 song and then skip it. Its all about the atmosphere in this place. The bartenders work is amazingly fast, despite the fact that the bar is usually about 6-10 people deep all the way down the bar with people hanging on the edges so its hard to get a drink when its really packed as the bartenders are trying to deal with people yelling out their half thought drink orders. It can be frustrating, but very understandable. The waitresses are up to the task, the management is excellent and really friendly and the security guys are all super friendly too. The only time Ive ever seen any of the staff slow down is when they walk off the property for a well deserved smoke-break. They have recently installed a ton of new menu items, some really amazing stuff. The pork sliders, coconut prawns, sushi, portobello mushroom burger, and the chicken chop salad is all amazing. The crowd that comes in is generally always the same friday and saturday, with a slower thusday which has been picking up alot lately. 22-28 year-old groups of friends with a license to drink and obnoxiously loud, the staff keeps everyone in check, which keeps angry testosterone to a minimum. Its not bad at all if you know what your in for. The karaoke can be anoying sometimes with sweet caroline being sung 3 times a night, but there are some occasionally amazing singers. One word of advice, if your planning to start a fight at the Gypsy, think twice. Those security guys that walk around are no joke. They are super friendly, give out tons of free smokes, call you cabs, listen to you and your drunk friend talk about whatever drunk people talk about but never try to pick a fight or push them around. It will take about 2 seconds to have 10 of them around you and Ive personally witnessed them, one on one with some 6'4 250lb roided' out meat-head and had no problems taking them down. its a rare occasion but we all know what happens with alcohol.

overall, the gypsy is no longer what it used to be, Its better, friendlier, and slightly more mellow than its previous years. Its definitely a spot to party at.

Reviewed Anonymously by Gabe on August 8, 2009, 5:15 pm
Best party on 21st

For the past four years I've been a regular at Gypsy and have always enjoyed myself. I've celebrated birthdays here, bus tours, pub crawls and karaoke binges because Gypsy caters to large groups. It isn't in their best interest to serve to the "2nd date couple" or "just wandered in to see what the noise was about". Also, stop calling the douche bags, "frat guys". They didn't go to college. They live with their parents in Beaverton.

Gypsy IS the ultimate place on 21st/23rd to take a group of friends from Thurs-Sat because it features the best K.J. in town, Capt. Kirk. The fish bowls are the only real value for drinking. The clientele is a blend of Dirty/Dixie/Marathon. There is a reason that the "light side" has a better time than the "dark side".

Food: 6, Beer: 2, Sports: 2, Service: 8

+$3 Coors Light/Pabst $6 House Wine $10 Fish Bowls (for two) $20 Fish Bowls (for four)

Reviewed By BarFly User Victornup on March 10, 2009, 4:50 pm
Fun

This place is my thursday night. I'm not sure about all those bad reviews, because I've never had a bad experience here. They have a huge selection of karaoke thursday, friday and saturday and they have nightly drink specials. Good crowd, good service.

Reviewed Anonymously by Me on February 5, 2009, 6:41 pm
So hit & miss

I get that perfection is impossible; but try to make the simplest drink close to the spirit intended by the customer when placing the order. Go crazy and use vodka not gin when the order was for a "vodka" martini. And if the terms like "up" and "olives" confuse you ask for a definition. If I was looking for the bartender's choice my dear sweet cocktail waitress who appears to know nothing about cocktails, I'd ask for "bartender's choice." So far my experiences here have been best when I've just sorted myself out at the bar. If you want a spin-the-wheel-adventure of a mystery drink in a bucket of more ice than drink, try the table service. Good luck!

Reviewed By BarFly User FionaZoe on December 26, 2008, 11:09 am
Lying bartendress

When the jukebox skips your song, it's not because the machine is malfunctioning, as the bartendress will tell you. She's deliberately skipping it. Sure, she'll give you the money back if you make a big stink about it, but that's not the point. Don't lie to my face and tell me that machine is acting up. Have some balls and tell me my taste sucks as you give me my 50 cents back. But to try and tell me that you're all innocent and the machine acts weird with any music pre-1990 is just bullshit. That's why you got zilch for a tip.

Reviewed Anonymously by smr on December 25, 2008, 2:20 am
shit with one plus

I really don’t care for the atmosphere at all, but I end up there often because its 20 yards from my front door. The one plus is I’ve been scoring free drinks by chit chatting with the bored bar tenders. I JUST HAD TO GET ONE LINE IN HERE WITH ALL CAPS.

Reviewed By BarFly User lukcifer on March 5, 2007, 2:14 am
Joeys & Toilet Paper

Yeah, for you lame frat guys that look like Joey from friends; the next time you get all railed out on the bathroom sink of the Gypsy bring a role of toilet paper with you. Your West Hills blow has talkin powder in it, a heavy laxative which they probably didn't teach you about in your last business course. The last doosch bag Joey i picked up from that rail joint puked and shit himself in my cab -

Reviewed Anonymously by Radio Cab Driver on January 15, 2007, 9:48 pm
Smell!

OK, I've lived in the neighborhood for 4 years. When I first went to the Gypsy I tried their breakfast. Once the veggies they brought me were moldy and the second time someone forgot to take the plastic off the piece of Canadian bacon that went into my Eggs Benedict. So enough said about the food. The BIG issue with this place (and one that is the most obvious to anyone standing less than 6 ft. from the building) is the smell. There is a sick cherry bathroom cleaner smell that permeates everything in the place. It is truly awful. I can't imagine how the servers there tolerate it. Even walking by the place (not entering) you can smell it on the sidewalk. My first thought was that since they have heavy drinking jock types that maybe it was to hide the barf smell. Could this be true? I even once went into the lounge side to inhale the smell of cigarette smoke so it would mask the smell and make it more tolerable....and I don't even smoke. Pleeeeese..if anyone from this bar is reading this, kill the god awful smell or don't wonder why the place is half empty all the time. It's a nice space. Too bad it's being wasted.

Reviewed Anonymously by Adrian on October 18, 2006, 3:42 pm
Price of PBR

$3.25

enuff said'

jaysus!

Reviewed By BarFly User Yamada on June 27, 2006, 5:45 pm
cool place

went on a thursday night. mini dance floor, fish bowls, karaoke. check it out.

Reviewed Anonymously by T on June 27, 2006, 1:13 pm
this place sucks

they charge like $3 or $3.50 for a pabst and frat boys fucking rule this place. go spend your money some place else.

Reviewed Anonymously by c on June 3, 2006, 9:44 pm
I'm Paying You For This?

just so you have an idea where i'm coming from - as a server by trade, i like to think that i am fairly empathetic. after entering the EMPTY BAR on a saturday night (should have been our first clue, but it was cold outside) under the instruction to seat ourselves we waited at our table for 20 maybe 30+ minutes both smiling and making eye contact with various servers who looked down and scuttled away (do i have leprosy?) after finally deciding to take a more direct approach we asked a passing barback if someone was available to serve us. we were met with a dirty look and rude response. clearly he was too busy for us and our boozy needs. at this point i introduced myself to my friends as their server (at least someone around here knows how to do this job!) and approached the bar. after being ignored while the bartender doled out some free shots to his drunk friends i asked for a couple long beaches. now for anyone who knows, let alone a bartender, this drink is almost impossible to f**k up. clearly confused with the concept of a mixed drink,(something they advertise heavily) he picked up a menu for instruction. he didnt know what was in it so i politely told him how to make my drink, he was irritable when i requested fruit(garnish to some) and charged me more than he quoted me when taking my card for payment. needless to say, we polished off our drinks, put a quick hex on the place (maybe someone beat us too it?) and promptly crossed the street to MM's where everyone, i might add, was lovely. consider yourselves warned.

Reviewed Anonymously by MammaWong on March 2, 2006, 2:26 am
Cool joint

The fact that this place is now open until 2am is very dangerous. Great drinks, great service, descent food, and a fun crowd. Can't beat it. I always enjoy making fun of the people drinking the fish bowls - especially the dudes.

Reviewed Anonymously by Non-"shirt" guy on October 25, 2005, 1:37 pm
Drink it up

I love Gypsy. The crowd is welcoming, drinks are great, the bartenders are very friendly! Come on Thursday nights fro Karaoke it's the best!

Reviewed Anonymously by ~B~ on September 26, 2005, 1:16 pm
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