If this modest beer house and eatery were any better camouflaged, even bloodhounds would have trouble sniffing it out. Tucked inside a bland yellow bungalow on SW Jefferson St, the Leaky Roof has been tracking Goose Hollow foot traffic since 1947. New owner Seamus Blaney, who grew up in the shadow of the Bushmills distillery in Northern Ireland, has spruced things up considerably with a hearty menu that ranges from fish-and-chips to osso buco—brunch is highly recommended, accompanied by a revivifying mimosa—and liquid imports from the island of his birth. The cozy corner bar has a fair number of beers and assorted spirits, but the wall of whiskey draws the most attention. “Any Irish whiskey available in Oregon, I’ve got it,” the amiable Blaney announces with pride—and with his plans for bourbon and whiskey tastings in the works, Portland palates may soon grow accustomed to the tastes of the Emerald Isle.
Match your pint of Guinness with a bowl of Irish stew for $3.50 during the Leaky Roof happy hour from 3:30 to 6 during the workweek. If that’s not filling enough, add a third-pound burger for $3.