Ship Ahoy Tavern
2889 SE Gladstone StPortland, OR 97202
503/ 239.0868
Located in: Southeast Portland
BarFly's Review of Ship Ahoy Tavern
Once a year, the Pub At The End Of The Universe closes early for rug cleanings, and a certain sort of forgetful Reedie, staring beer-thirty in the face and full of adventure, suggests trying out the nearby Ship Ahoy - it's still inner south-east, right? Looks like a funky old dive? And totally undiscovered! Of course, there's a distinction between undiscovered and avoided, and not all local color enjoys appreciation. It can be a right good time some weekend nights, especially if the wonderful bartender takes a shine to you, but a late-stage alcoholic bitterness has stained the ramshackle interior like so much unventilated cigarette smoke. And there's a lot of cigarette smoke.
It not my first choice or even my 10Th but Every one is friendly and the service is fast and delivered with a smile. great place to get some cheap bear and play some pool or sit and talk.
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Stopped in on my way down the hill and can't say anything bad. The bartender was friendly and attentive. The beers- standard selection- were fresh and inexpensive. Yes, the regulars are an older crew but they don't bite and they were upbeat. The smoke is a bit thick- not sure if there is ventilation.
*And the men's room is many years closer to code than at PATEOTU.
The Ship is amazing. Yes, it is full of regulars. We are there because we love the bar, the bartenders, the wicked pool-games and the ability of the whole bar to stop and sing along with the jukebox and get up and dance. (And, for the record, not all of us are late-stage barflys.)
But, I'm glad that so few people seem to like it, because the places that everyone else goes to are the places where someone is likely to grab you inappropriately, talk to you pretentiously about some hipster shit you never cared about, or try to out-cool you in one way or another in an amazing display of self-centered, self-consciousness.
So, really, I'll let everyone else have their other bars. I love my dive bar with its awesome and entertaining patrons, rockstar bartenders and smokey-den status.
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OK this place is a dive, full of late-stage alcoholics and retired hippies. But one of Portland's best bartenders - Maizy - works here. She is everyone's friend and always has a good joke and a sympathetic ear available.
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There is virtually no incentive to go to this bar other than if you live within stumbling distance. Locals only kinda place. Now I know.
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