This 75-year-old haunt’s worn, slightly sticky burgundy leather booths hint at decades of history, while video lottery in the corner proves that this bar isn’t just for yupsters. Drinks are artificially colored, sweet, and strong (with plenty of paper umbrellas to match), and though the line for karaoke can be long, it’s well worth the wait. You might even spot David Byrne belting out “When Doves Cry,” as he did here in 2018. —Katherine Chew Hamilton

4024 N Interstate Ave

Once dubbed “America’s greatest karaoke night” by the New York Times, Baby Ketten boasts a massive song catalog with everything from pop standards to obscurities—and many of the hard-to-find tracks are recorded by owner John Brophy himself. In an hour of watching Portlanders take the stage, you might not recognize a single song—we witnessed a folk song about a hippo, lashings of death metal, and a new-wave deep cut that got everyone on the dance floor. Everything on the menu is written in misspelled kitten-speak: fryz, totz, or tempurah coliflowr bytez. Feeling shy, or got a lot of friends in tow? Book a private room, each with different decade-themed décor, like the ’70s or ’80s room—one even has a photo booth. —KCH

2433 SE Powell Blvd 

Tucked into what looks like a non-descript Craftsman home, this faux Prohibition-era speakeasy is resplendent with antiques: glassware and chandeliers, a tin ceiling, and an ornate, turn-of-the-century cash register all keep the world-building air of time-travel alive. But this bar offers the opposite of cheap moonshine. Craft cocktails boast top-shelf liqueur and esoteric amaros, while snacks include charcuterie and baked brie. —Matthew Trueherz

6716 SE 16th Ave

Break out your best all-black ensemble and prepare yourself for a bit of a line on weekends to get into this horror-themed, goth-friendly bar and nightclub. Once inside, there’s a spacious dance floor waiting for you to bust out some moves to The Cure, and plenty of skull-lined nooks for sitting and sipping a beer. Check the events calendar online for concerts, DJ sets, and dance parties. —KCH

421 SE Grand Ave

Creepy’s slogan is “Not a Clown Bar,” but it’s hard to see it as anything else, with clown dolls and paintings lining every wall. There is, however, a huge John Quincy Adams portrait with googly eyes that follow customers around the bar, and a few non-clown toys that look like they’ve been haunted by a few generations of Victorian children. Come for cocktails, slushies, and tallboys, plus smash burgers (meaty or Impossible) from Lo’s Burgers. —KCH

627 SE Morrison St

Perhaps Portland’s most devout tiki bar, Hale Pele has the smoke machines and synchronized rainforest sound effects of a Disneyland ride, but you’d never know it from its beige strip-mall storefront. Getting a spot at this cozy slice of paradise can be tricky, and for good reason—its meticulous yet fun cocktails often earn it the title of best tiki bar in Portland, as well as national top-tiki bar accolades. —MT 

2733 NE Broadway

Classical music fans flock to this pocket-sized bar for live performances and the beloved once-a-month Operaoke, which take place on a tiny balcony that serves as a stage. The cocktails have a classical music bent, from Bach Talk (a dirty martini with jalapeño) to Drink Without Words (a Cosmo with vermouth). Owner Lisa Lipton is a dedicated clarinetist herself, with legitimate classical cred: she’s a direct descendant of the composer Felix Mendelssohn and the executive director of the Newport Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theater Oregon. —KCH

3955 N Mississippi Ave

Every day feels like Halloween at this haunted mansion–themed bar. Home of the fictional Dr. Raven—a mad scientist with a very vague backstory—this 5,000-square-foot cocktail lounge is decked out in kitschy cool haunted décor. Skeletons hang from the rafters, dolls sit eerily in chairs, the bathrooms are stained with fake blood, there are organs (both musical and anatomical), and creepy things pickle in jars. Pricey cocktails are served in skulls and vials. Your bartender may be in costume, or just sporting their everyday elf ears. —Shannon Daehnke

235 SW First Ave

A dive bar decorated entirely with yard sale and thrift store finds? That’s A Roadside Attraction, an eclectic watering hole with a tinge of a Route 66 theme and a pool room reminiscent of a mythical 1920s Chinatown. The leafy patio is reliably smoke-filled, the firepit reliably crowded, and the free jukebox reliably available for playing tunes to your heart’s content. All this charm does come with one old-school caveat: it’s cash only. —KCH

1000 SE 12th Ave

Women’s sports don’t get the short end of the stick here, where the TVs are dedicated to showcasing women athletes—by all accounts, the first of its kind nationwide. Owner Jenny Nguyen has created a haven for all kinds of folks—kids are welcome until 10 p.m., so youngsters see their role models on screen. It’s also become a queer haven, hosting a massive Pride block party for the past two summers. There’s a lineup of signature cocktails, including the bourbon-peach Title IX and a nonalcoholic section, plus a roster of wines from women-led wineries. Food includes Vietnamese-style wings, smash burgers, vegan options, and a kids menu. —KCH

2512 NE Broadway