Moonbeam Cafe: for the night owls. We are not afraid of the dark. Pour a drink and stay a while.
Favorite Bar
I do love going to a good bar or pub. And it got me thinking why do I like some bars better than others? Is it loud or quiet. Is it classy or a dive. Does it matter what sort of alcohol they serve?
So I wanted your opinions. What do you value the most in your local bar?



Somewhere relatively quiet (but not too quiet) that serves coffee and will allow me to lurk at a table in a corner and write.
Soooo.... basically, a coffee shop.
I have coffee and tea daily and alcohol maybe 1-2 a week. So maybe I do like coffee more than alcohol.
Sounds like the lounge I was a server and bartender at. Retro diner by day, local lounge at night. I used to love customers like you. Hehe
When I'm not drinking I order tea and coffee in bars. The coffee is typically awful, but the tea selection is usually a safe bet.
It's all about crowd. I hate crowds. One of my least favorite social activities is trying to get the attention of a bartender in a crowded bar.
At the same time, I don't want to be literally the only person at the bar.
I like the scenario where there are just a handful of people. And I can be there and do my thing without feeling the need to engage in a dialogue with the barkeep.
I know what you mean. When the bar is empty and the bartender tries to talk to me, it's like "OMG don't you realize I hate people!?!?"
YES!!! Or, like, I feel bad for the bartender and I feel compelled to chat a little. Which is not the end of the world but... sometimes, I just want to chill out and not deal with peeps. Or I'm with someone I'd rather talk to.
Ditto. Busy bars are good for dancing or bartending.
In the end I went with proximity. Closest bar is best bar.
What do you usually order there?
So I like alcohol. Pretty much all of it.
Some of my favorites are Riesling, Malbec, Whiskey, Cognac, Wiezenbock, and pretty much any cocktail.
A fellow Malbec drinker. I like! I too, vary my order. It pisses off a lot of servers who would love to show me they remember me, but it's how I'm built. :) I may need to get some cognac recommendations from you.
I drink cognac like I drink Whiskey. Though it's a little bit sweeter.
It's like the most snobby drink in the world. So people will totally look down on you if you don't drink it their way. But fuck it. Just drink it and enjoy it.
Yeah, whatever. I like whiskey without age statements too. Let's always do it our way!
Portland is a foodie destination. So I have to say that the food on offer makes a difference. I don't usually drink in bars anymore unless I'm also eating and our gastropubs are fabulous. I'm also partial to whiskey bars. ;)
See also: Bridgeport Brewpub Rogue Brewing Highland Stillhouse
Oh good point. I should have added some food options.
But then I wold have just voted instead of posting and I wouldn't be getting all this attention. ;)
I agree! If you're just going to drink, its much cheaper to pick up in bulk. There's a lovely Irish-style pub up the street that serves a massive baked lasagna to die for, including banana peppers. Mmmm...
Yum!!! Want! What beverage do you pair it with?
Can't go wrong with a nice beer. Though it's also nice with a malbec. :)
It was a toss up between divey and close. Luckily, in the Venn diagram of neighbourhoods I have lived, there's been lots of overlap.
In my last neighbourhood we had a place that felt like it was all regulars. People would just sort of swing in and out. If you wanted company there was always someone you knew enough, and if you didn't, no one insisted.
ETA: Also, it smelled terrible. That's important. I don't trust bars that smell pretty.
Haha. Bad body odor means good beer.
I like it kinda quiet, because I love to go for a night out for a drunken discussion with the SO, and I want to be able to hear him!
I tend to lean quieter too. At the very least quiet enough that I don't have to yell.
Exactly! I have a little-girl voice and get drowned out easily. If I'm drunk enough I'll get mad and do my best Vin Diesel impression. Which is not very good.
Reasonably quiet with beer. Close by. Divey OK.
So picky. 😆
😄
Well since you specifically mention "local" I suppose proximity makes the most sense hehe.
You're totally right. A local bar in the town over doesn't make sense.
I'm so spoiled to have so many fantastic pubs within walking distance of my abode.
Walking to a bar greatly increases enjoyment. Because worrying about driving home when you're drinking is one of my least favorite feelings.
Bingo!
i chose fancy
Oh shit. I should of put Sultry as an option for you. My bad.
HEEEEE
good to know that's what comes to mind, lol!