Sway Bar
627 SE Morrison Portland, OR 97214Phone: (503) 719.6025
Located in: Southeast Portland
BarFly's Review of Sway Bar
Brand spankin' new bar from longtime Portland bartender-about-town/certified hottie, Dallas, exudes a quiet cool. Neo-vintage look with small, low-lit, polished concrete bar, offset with curvaceous black naugahyde booths. Adjoining pool room with two tables, pinball, etc. Sharp, all-pro, staff (is that BarFly's Lil' Jimmy 'tending?). Serves full menu until 2:30am, or later.
Hours:
11am-2:30am, everyday.
SIN: $1 off select drinks, at all times (with OLCC/Food Handler's Card).
| Sway Bar's Happy Hours | |
|---|---|
| Monday | $1 off select drinks, $2-$3 menu served 4-7pm |
| Tuesday | $1 off select drinks, $2-$3 menu served 4-7pm |
| Wednesday | $1 off select drinks, $2-$3 menu served 4-7pm |
| Thursday | $1 off select drinks, $2-$3 menu served 4-7pm |
| Friday | $1 off select drinks, $2-$3 menu served 4-7pm |
| Saturday | Alas, no happy hour today. |
| Sunday | Alas, no happy hour today. |
Andrea's Cha Cha Club, Base Camp Brewing Company, Beaker & Flask, East Bank Saloon, Gil's Speakeasy, Grand Cafe, Grand Central Bowl, Green Dragon, Holocene, Lovecraft, Maiden in the Mist, Morrison Hotel, Rum Club, Side Door, Slow Bar
We went into the sway bar last night and found it to be fun. I could actually taste the alcohol but it didn't overwhelm the drink (how often does that ever happen.) The bartender was Fun, very pretty and pleasant, the environment was simple and neutral, the clientele was college to middle age. The alcohol could have been better stocked but it flowed all night just fine. The music was to my liking (rock blend). It wasn't until I heard music from a game that I realized there was a game room with the all important pool table (wish I know it was there sooner I might have enjoyed a game.) There weren't too many people there when we arrived, just a couple hot numbers at the bar and a fellow at the end, so it was not crowded but as the night moved on it got busy. I'll definitely go back again.
7 partial bottles of alcohol left on the shelves. Looks like something out of "The Stand". Really nice bartender. No carbonated beverages, no food menu, but the bartender did say that she would be happy to make us eggs..........it was 10 pm and it was just the 3 of us *that includes the bartender). Not what keeps Portland weird.
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.
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.)
