As the year’s end approaches, Portland restaurants and bars — especially bars — have begun dropping like so many autumn leaves. The good news: All 40 places in our ranked guide to Portland’s best restaurants remain open (though Astral did return to its pop-up roots). And after closing in August, Slow Bar quickly reopened under new ownership. Still, recent closures have included a 39-year-old Italian joint, a taqueria nearly that old, plus a six pack’s worth of watering holes — from the city’s last lesbian bar to a creative cocktail lounge that hosted several notable pop-ups through the years.
Grand Amari
This Italian restaurant, a sister to Olympia Provisions, represented a rare ambitious swing for both its neighborhood and Portland at large when it opened with squid ink bucatini and a rolling amari cart in 2023. Grand Amari and its sister (Little Bitter Bar) closed their doors at the Hotel Grand Stark, 509 S.E. Grand Ave., in early October.
The Richmond Bar
After more than a decade, this Southeast Portland bar from Grand Amari co-owner Nate Tilden and other partners also called it quits in October. Opened across the street from Pok Pok in 2013, The Richmond Bar, 3203 S.E. Division St., was best known for its good drinks and pub grub, including a signature white cheddar mac and cheese.
Deadshot
After more than seven years at 2133 S.E. 11th Ave., this creative cocktail bar announced it would close at year’s end. “The truth is simple — sales just aren’t there anymore, while costs keep climbing,” owner Adam Robinson wrote on social media. After Deadshot’s final service on Saturday, Nov. 8, the bar will reopen as the holiday pop-up Miracle. “To every guest who sat at the bar, to every staff member who poured their time and energy into this place, to every industry friend we’ve collaborated with over the years — thank you,” Robinson wrote.
Cliff’s
This neighborhood gem in Northeast Portland announced on social media that the building’s owner had chosen not to renew its lease after six years under the Wonder Ballroom. “So many bars and restaurants have struggled throughout the years to stay afloat, and we’ve lost so many great spots, yet we’ve managed to hang in there with your support, which makes this an especially bitter pill to swallow,” owners Josh and Sierra Luebke wrote on social media. Cliff’s, which hopes to find a new location, will close at 128 N.E. Russell St. at the end of the year.
Doc Marie’s
Opened just three years ago, Portland’s self-described “lesbian bar for everyone” closed its doors at 203 S.E. Grand Ave. last month. “This has been a devastating year for small businesses and for our community, and we don’t have the finances to keep our doors open,” the bar wrote on social media. Named after Oregon physician, activist and out lesbian Marie Equi, Doc Marie’s was the latest in a string of LGBTQ+ spaces to close in the city over the past year, including Southeast Portland’s Crush Bar and Sissy Bar in 2024 and Scandals in August.
Upright Brewing’s North Portland taproom is closing.Mark Graves
More bars
Other recent bar closures include Backyard Social, 1914 N. Killingsworth St., aka the bar that took over from Hop & Vine way back in 2016; Cider Bite, 1230 N.W. Hoyt St., a dedicated cider bar that opened in the Pearl District more than a decade ago; and Upright Brewing, one of Portland’s best breweries, which announced that it would cease brewing operations and close its original Northeast Broadway taproom by year’s end.
Lil’ America
The pod that originally promised to only host BIPOC- and LGBTQ-owned food carts isn’t closing completely, but an upcoming expansion from neighboring Dos Hermanos bakery, 1015 S.E. Stark St., has pushed out several of Lil’ America’s original carts: Hawker Station, Speed-O Cappuccino and Makulít. Meanwhile, Frybaby — our 2023 Cart of the Year — relocated to the popular Heist pod on Southeast Woodstock Boulevard last month.
Giuseppe’s
Back in 1986, Linda and Joe Panza opened Giuseppe’s with a mission “to serve delicious and authentic Italian food holding true to the values and flavours of Calabrese Cuisine.” Last month, the restaurant on the Gresham-Portland border, 17937 S.E. Stark St., closed after nearly four decades of “laughs, tears, great food and wonderful memories” to allow Linda Panza to retire.
Bandito Taco
In other retirement news, Bandito Taco owners Sahar and Ahmad Kouklani have closed after 35 years serving crunchy tacos, big burritos and smiles in Portland’s suburban Cedar Mill neighborhood. According to social media, the restaurant at 13571 N.W. Cornell Road closed at the end of October.
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Dining and Cooking