Portland Spoke – The Official Blog of Travel Portland

Portland’s weather isn’t always sunny, but we are fortunate to have a handful of tiki bars that serve fruity tropical drinks and help give the illusion that you’ve escaped to a South Pacific island for a quick blast of warmth, even if the effect is only temporary.

Portland has three great tiki establishments to visit. The first, and most widely known, is The Alibi in close-in North Portland. With a neon sign that’s impossible to miss, friendly staff, a full menu, access to MAX light rail, karaoke seven nights a week and, of course, plenty of cocktails, The Alibi will have you longing for the beach in no time.

Thatch Tiki Bar is another gem nestled into a row of businesses on Northeast Broadway. Upon entering you must stop and admire the exceptional water feature before taking a seat at the sunken bar for some of the best mixed drinks around. Plan ahead and you and your friends can grab the VIP table in the back for a private tropical gathering.

Lastly, we have a new — but classic — addition to the lineup: Trader Vic’s. With a great location right in the heart of the Pearl District, tropical paradise is only a short walk away from downtown. We may be a long way from the South Pacific, but Portland’s tiki bars help will get you there in no time.

I’ve got a beer in one hand, science in the other, and I’m in a museum where the only kids are 21 years or older. Such is life at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry’s monthly After Dark series, where adult beverages and food accompany live music, dance and circus-like performances.

On this last trip my inner nerd was uncaged upon stepping into the temporary exhibit, Game On 2.0,which features a history of video games from the clunky handheld units of the past to state-of-the-art virtual reality. Temporary exhibits and After Dark themes change, but the fun remains constant.