Generally a decent bar, though when 2 friends and I recently left a $6 tips for a (so far) $15 bill, they refused to serve us, and the owner (while I do generally support an owner backing up his employees, and told him so) supported this. they 86'd us from the bar for leaving our final dissatisfied tip of 3 cents, which was well warranted, and proceeded to threaten us with a myriad of un-supportable police/seemingly physical threats. The only reason I will ever go back to the area, is to protest.

nice layout, fun, good deals on drinks.

Nice to see Jaime Cooley's smiling face !! Great hire!!!!

This place has a lot to offer in a section of portland that seems to shut down around midnight. I live in the apartments above the SWAY BAR and go there at least 5 times a week. The service is always great and the food and drinks are always top notch. Add to that the $1 PBR's from open to close and the fact that they serve the entire menu until 2:30 and you've got one great bar!

Dug the whole place. food was great, drinks were stiff enough, cocktail waitress was hot, good vibes all around.

I visited Sway Bar on a Tuesday evening, and was bitterly disappointed. It was near dead (2 others in the bar when we walked in), but it took 25 minutes (and 2 people working in the kitchen!) to get a slice of pizza and an appetizer. The pizza's sauce was lukewarm, sweet and bland, and tasted like elementary school cafeteria pizza. The potato appetizer was meager for $5.50. And they don't have a happy hour. WTF? Bartender was nice. We felt bad for her, as everyone else that walked in was just inquiring about job openings.

my first impression is that this place is pretty rad. dead on a tuesday night, not surprising for a place that just opened, the barstaff was super friendly, the layout and look of everything inviting, especially the bar itself-- it's easy to see what's available and there's a good selection of beer and spirits, and good house wine.

the back/gaming section feels a little industrial, but it's done right-- if you want to play pool or pinball you aren't going to have to vie for space, as the two pins are separated from the two pool tables by a rail with a touch screen machine, and both pinball and pool tables are in good condition. enough room that it doesn't feel cramped, without wasting any space.

i had a fucking great slice of veggie pizza, made to order, loaded with toppings, tasty sauce, fair prices, and they serve their full menu til 2:30. hard to beat-- aside from pizza there are burritos, dolmades, sandwiches, good variety of right priced, quality eats.

the stencil lettered backlit sign and minimal decorations give the place a kind of hot rod/rocker vibe (check out the rad pinstriping all around the bar,) but not in an elitist or scenester way. overall seems like a great hangout for folks that like to be at a real bar, but know how to keep their shit together (i.e. not looking to puke on the floor, fight, or be a pain in the ass. just right for the person that likes to drink and doesn't like yuppieish spots, but who's been around the block enough to know how to keep their shit together.)