brain freeze

Our Favorite Boozy Slushies for Summer Sipping

Turn up the party with these grown-up answers to the seasonal Slurpee.

07/24/2025 By Alex Frane and Portland Monthly Staff

Dining Alfresco

Portland’s Top Restaurant Patios

Portland has plenty of beautiful, sunny spots to eat outside. These are the places where the food matches the vibes.

06/25/2025 By Portland Monthly Staff

Drinking Alfresco

Portland’s Best Bar Patios

From the dives and watering holes with outdoor pool tables to the cocktail bars with DJs and Fanta-glazed pork belly tacos.

05/15/2025 By Alex Frane and Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Dining Picks

Portland’s Essential Outdoor Dining Spots

Seven places with a singular blend of food and fun. Backyard rhinestone bar with fish sauce caramel ribs, anyone?

05/11/2023 By Karen Brooks

Dining Picks

Portland’s Essential Outdoor Dining Spots

Behold: a wine-lovers' patio den carpeted in Astroturf, a hidden spot for sashimi and next-level cocktails, and a strip-mall A-frame with one table only.

04/24/2023 By Karen Brooks

Food News

A Jeffrey Morgenthaler-Backed Rooftop Bar Is Now Open

The Sunset Room at Kex Hotel promises to be the wild-child cousin of the newly opened hotel bar Pacific Standard.

07/29/2022 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Bars

4 Must-Try Outdoor, Snacky Happy Hours

Good riddance, Zoom happy hours. Hello, drinks and food in the sun with friends!

06/17/2021 By Nick Townsend

Patio Primer

5 Things to Consider as You Plan Your Perfect Backyard Escape

Tip no. 1: Get really into drainage.

05/30/2021 By Marty Patail

Eat This Now

I Am Going to Live at Lao Beer Bar Cully Central This Summer

Bring the kids. Brings the dogs. We’re having Lao crispy rice salad and tater tots for dinner.

06/27/2018 By Kelly Clarke

Summer Eats: Fun in the Sun

11 Amazing Ways to Savor Summer in Portland

Garden bowers. Yacht-side patios. Slurping banana pudding milkshakes and swilling beers with llamas. We’ve got ideas.

06/19/2018 By Karen Brooks, Kelly Clarke, Rebecca Jacobson, Sam Pape, Benjamin Tepler, and Sarah Williams

Dining Guide

27 Portland Patios for Blissed-Out Summer Dining

Like food? And sun? This list is for you.

06/19/2018 By Eat Beat Team

Summer Eats

Ox Box Gives You a Chimichurri-Slathered Excuse for a Long Lunch

Ox restaurant's new outdoor pop-up is devoted to Argentine choripan hot dogs. But its wood-fired grill holds even tastier wonders.

06/13/2017 By Kelly Clarke

Pour

5 Essential New Portland Patios for Summer 2017

The sun is coming. Here's where to soak it up, drink in hand.

05/15/2017 Edited by Benjamin Tepler By Fiona McCann, Kelly Clarke, and Margaret Seiler

Beer

Breakside Unveils Humongous, Hop-Focused Slabtown Brewery

With two stories, two indoor bars, and a rooftop bar soon to come, the local beermaker calls it a “showpiece pub in the middle of the city."

03/06/2017 By Elise Herron

Hit List

Portland’s Best Patios for Outdoor Dining

These are some of the city’s top spots to eat and drink alfresco.

08/02/2016 By Michelle Porter and Kasey Cordell

Breaking News

Backyard Social Opening in Old Hop & Vine Space

The beloved restaurant, bottle shop, and outdoor dining space on N Killingsworth will be reborn thanks to its employees.

07/28/2016 By Benjamin Tepler

EAT HERE NOW

Where to Eat This Week: June 22–28

Amaro floats at Burrasca, brunch at Autentica, and “21+” ice cream at Fifty Licks are your required eating.

06/22/2016 By Eat Beat Team

GAMES

You Can Rent These Giant Lawn Games for Your Next BBQ

A Portland-based designer crafts oversize games for the people.

05/10/2016 By Sylvia Randall-Muñoz

BEER

10 Barrel Brewing Shows Off New Rooftop Pub in Pearl District

We can't wait for summer.

03/23/2016 By Marty Patail

FOOD NEWS

Breakside Brewery to Open in Northwest Portland

The beloved craft beer maker plans a third location (and patio) in Slabtown.

11/23/2015 By Benjamin Tepler