Free House

Free House in Northeast Portland, Oregon’s Irving Neighborhood is a must! Beer. Wine. Cocktails. Mocktails. …and the food?! Visit. Eat. Drink.

Best neighborhood bar in Portland! Best mac & cheese in Portland! What other wonderful things can I say about this fantastic bar? Super easy and no pretense. Great drinks, great food, great service. What more do you need?

We dropped by after a show and were happy we did! Bartender was really nice and the food was delicious. Generous portions for a fair price and really fresh ingredients. We definitely will be back to hang out and explore the menu. Go Blazers!

The atmosphere was nice. We ordered the $20 burger and fries both of which were comically salty, I definitely wouldn't order them again.

All food and drinks are on point. Plus it’s a fun place to hang out. A reliably good neighborhood bar/restaurant is hard to come by so this is appreciated by most.

Awesome! Drinks, food, service!! Ordered the burger and brat and everything was great! The homemade ketchup is top notch and the cocktails were refreshing!!! Will be back again!

Came here for an after work dinner. The cocktail I had, I loved! (Room key) it was great! The burger was another story; quite bland and not very good. Overall the staff was lovely and we had quick efficient service. I’d come here again, but not for a burger :(

Very disappointing experience. Unbelievably rude bartender. Went in on friday night, will regret it all weekend long. Have never been spoken to with such intensity and disrespect. Will absolutely not be returning. Will encourage all my friends, family, acquaintances, and even enemies to avoid at all costs. No one deserves an experience like that. Such extraordinary condensation and superiority. Disgusting.

I had a pretty good experience here at free house. The vibe was very cozy , and the drinks were good. They had a good selection. Seating can be a bit hard to find in the winter, we had to stand at a small table in the back. But the drinks were reasonably priced. Service was good too, the bartender was pretty nice. Overall, I'd probably come back here!

The ambiance in this bar is everything. It would make a great first date spot. The star of the show was definitely the smoked mac and cheese. The cocktails were lovely as well. The staff was friendly and attentive but still gave us our space to enjoy our meal. We will definitely be coming back for another date night!

Came by after watching a play in Irving Park and had a really good time. It was super chill, and the staff were all really friendly. They had a decent range of drink options and many tasty food options. Their back patio was gorgeous with a nice mix of outdoor space with adequate cover. I got the Sweetheart Ham Salad, and it was definitely in my top 5 most beautiful, delectable salads I've gotten at a bar place ever. I would totally come back some time.

I liked the patio seating option and the veggie sandwich I ordered was good. Limited menu. You order at the bar. I had a glass of red wine and it was quite warm and didn't have a fresh taste to it. I would stop by again in a pinch but there are so many other great options in Portland.

Self serve water! Ordering at the bar. Yummy finger foods. Polite and kind staff. Beer selection is phenomenal and finger foods are scrumdiddliumptious. They have the main sit down area of the restaurant inside but a wonderful spot that's really nice is their outside heated and covered patio. It was really nice in cold rainy weather during our visit. Beverages were great. Foods were great. Self serve water was stellar. No complaints from us for our visit. Thank you for a positive experience.

What a great and cozy local spot in Irvington - great bar selection and while not a huge menu, it has a bunch a great items - the Mac n cheese was amazing! Very friendly staff - will dedicatedly go back soon!

I liked this place more than I imagined I would. Trendy indoor space with a spacious, shaded, outdoor patio, with hipster string lights that I have a weakness for, and a good number of tables. It seemed they could make a large number of cocktails, but I am a craft beer drinker, and the selection was better than the average predominantly cocktail bar. I had a fabulous Hazy Belgian White IPA by Crux Fermentation Project. The menu is order at the bar, and it features Olympia Provisions meats, which are of course fantastic. This sold me on ordering the Mac and Dawg, a mac and cheese with cut up frankfurter. The Mac and Dawg was surprisingly good, much better than I expected bar food to be. I would absolutely order this again...it's some of the better mac and cheese I have had in town. It was only $11, and really reasonable for containing a high-quality local meat product within.

Amazing craft cocktails, great food/snacks that are high quality and a beautiful heated patio! An absolute neighborhood gem

Not since I've move to Portland have I encountered a cocktail so we'll crafted. Seriously well made drinks that are obviously thoughtfully put together. The food is isn't too shabby either. If you're looking for an adorable cocktail bar that really can deliver it all. This is the place.

I would give it five stars except the service was not particularly warm and friendly, as if the servers and we were robots, instead of real humans. But perhaps senior citizens are not their demographic. The drinks were excellently crafted, and the food, the chopped salad and charcuterie were exceptionally well prepared and delicious.

For group night we decided to meet up for a few beers before we went to dinner. (That way everyone is actually on time for dinner) couple by couple we started showing up each ordering a round of the local brewed beers they had to offer. After a few rounds we headed for our dinner location. The bar was clean and conservative. The staff was helpful and pleasant. I could see this being my hang, if I lived in that neck of the woods.

A surprisingly happening happy hour spot, plus a good number of people wearing scrubs, if medical garb is your thing. It's small enough for table-service-only to make sense. There's some booths up by the door for large-ish groups and some half chair/half bench tables in the back. There's also a patio out the back door. It's right on the line between crowded and snug depending on how busy it is. The snug factor extends to the kitchen. It's less "open air" than "tucked into the corner" but the cook makes the most of the limited space and avoids filling the place up with smoke and smells. The chalk board helpfully warns not to make eye contact. Could be a joke. The menu is of a size that matches the fun size kitchen. Okay, it's small. I just get the burger. There's also a fancy schmancy cocktail list if that's your thing and the beer selection includes PBR long necks. I guess there's other stuff if you wanna be a snob. I've had a four star draft sitting in my profile for a while. After visiting Friday night I reduced it to three stars because you can not see in this place. The bar is sufficiently illuminated (especially if your eyes function well in yellow) but the tables are downright Elizabethan. Customers should not need to hold candles up to the menu (or use their infernal cell phone flashlights) to read it.

My new hometown bar. Sports, great fans and delicious beer. We came in here on a whim waiting for Acadia and found a beer that is sold out across the city, I was instantly happy. Then with the blazer game and avid fans it was another level. Thank you for the great service and great atmosphere. I'll be back with a huge smile on my face.

Expert cocktails. It's completely obvious that the quality of ingredients is stellar and the craft is perfected !

I don't know how this place doesn't have at least a 4.5 average. It is AMAZING. One of my favorite bars. The food is great - I've probably had most of everything on the menu over the years. The smoked mac and cheese is my favorite but you can't really go wrong - the bratwurst, the charcuterie, the wedge salad - it's all delicious. The cocktails are also well done. Finally, a place that knows how to make a quality whiskey sour with egg whites. Plus, the atmosphere is solid. Not pretentious, not too divey. Long story story you short go here.

The cocktails were good. The food was bland and gluey. The house made ketchup tastes like marinara. I could overlook the negatives if the bartender wasn't so unprofessional. Clearly he was having a bad night, but repeatedly snapping at your barback within earshot of customers is not a good look. At one point the guy was literally throwing oranges and saying "if you could literally do anything for me that would be great." As one of very few outings in the last year and a half, I cannot stress how unbelievably uncomfortable our entire experience was. Definitely won't be back.

Food is great; booze is slightly over priced. Sad to be my last time, now very kid friendly and no smoking on the patio. No longer a place for the 20-30 somethings to blow their money look else where for a place to unwind.

Amazing cocktails. One of the best burgers in Portland and vegetarian options as well. Nice patio with covered spaces. Charming staff: if you don't know what you want they'll suggest something and it will likely become a new favorite.

This is by far our favorite spot in the hood. We had our first date in the left front booth and got engaged a few years later in the right front booth (with lots of date nights in between). Cocktails are fabulous and we love the food menu - especially the burger and wedge salad. The outdoor space is heavenly, weather permitting. We love having Free House in the neighborhood!

Excellent drinks and very good appetizer outweighed the less than perfect service and questionable playlist. Drinks: 5 : The cocktails were stellar mixology. Creative and tasty. Food: 4 : Great Olympia Provisions appetizer of three different hard salamis, french bread, mustards and pickled vegetables. Very good for a little bar. The selection was very narrow however. Service: 2 : High end prices for drinks deserve high end service. Not here. They are attentive, but a bit cold. You have to order at the bar. The worst was the yahoo who took the food away too early, literally as our hands were grabbing the food and the drinks were not finished. Atmosphere: 2 : Upside was the bar was a cozy little place. Downside: soft rock from the 70s and 80s? Like Darrel Hall & John Oats. Yikes!

There is nothing better than a hidden gem of a patio....and that's totally what this place is. Dog friendly? Check. Mix of sun and shade? Check. List of rotating delicious tap beers to quench your thirst on a hot summer day? Check check check. The set up is order at the bar, which CAN be annoying when this place is busy, but i've never had to wait too long. The food is decent, but not somewhere I'd come to seek out any specific dish. Come here for the patio, stay for the patio! (And maybe the beer...and those cocktails don't look too bad either!)

My favorite bar in Portland! I always come in thinking it will be an hour or less, but end up leaving after three, happy and feeling awesome, like I just walked out of the salon with an awesome new 'do. Drinks are top notch. Cocktails made by pros and I've never had a bad one. If you are one of those cocktail orders who hems haws, don't. Trust that whatever drink you order will be delightful. Draft is always stellar, though my friend noted they mixed up their regular Boneyard IPA selection. The ambiance is chill, you will see a good Portland mix, maybe even someone you know but never see anywhere else in town. Yes, they are here and it's o biggie. The outdoor area is key, you will want to hang out here, rain or shine. The food looks good, but all I've ever ordered were pickles and they were tasty, of course.

Why can't this bar be in my neighborhood? It's definitely a drinking establishment after my own heart. Chill vibe, warm, comfortable design, tasty drinks and good food. There's attention to detail without feeling over-organized. But alas, it's in a weird part of town that I never go to unless I have a specific reason. It's not really on the way to or from anywhere. But I guess it's my fault for living somewhere else? This little neighborhood hangout serves up a downright sexy cocktail list. I've perused a mighty number of cocktail lists in my day, and I have to say it's rare for me to find a list that has more than 3 or 4 drinks that truly excite me. The style of alchemy that goes on here trends toward interesting combinations of bourbon, mezcal, amaros, apertifs and the like, without crutching on lime juice or really too much of any juice. Since I favor brown+bitter+stirred in my glass, I'm immediately a huge fan. Oh, and they're made with a smile, which is always appreciated. As far as food goes, I've had some pretty decent fare here but I haven't really tried much of the menu. It's upscale bar food (sandwiches, burgers, mac n cheese, charcuterie, etc) that's made with care. Not your usual greased-up action. I can't say I'd make a destination out of it for a dinner, but damn if I lived nearby I'd be in often for a casual meal. I've only become acquainted with this bar in the cold of winter, but there's a patio out back for warmer times, and at least from a glance looks to be a good spot to post up for an evening of drinking al fresco. Open one of these near me, please!

2010 is here so it was time to try something new. The work week was wearing me down with record support calls and employee reviews adding to the intensity. In need of some walking distance chillaxing, Robin and I strolled on down to The Free House Bar as my bank statement now reads. A few peeps up in the place this was my first step in the spot but Robin had kicked it here a few times. Decided to stick with beer although they had a long list of cocktails to serve, I wasn't feeling like getting too crazy. They were serving up a Upright Brewing IPA (can't remember the name and hope I got this right...) so a round of that it was. Back to a corner table to kick it with my girl and as The Uniques say in the classic reggae tune 'Conversation' of the days of old 'All I Need From You Is A Good Conversation'. After a round or two it was time to open up the Yahtzee box in the pile of games and start getting our roll on. Robin had never played Yahtzee and it had been a long time since Mama Change had kicked my ass, so I ended up calling her to refresh myself with the rules. As we got rolling, the barteender encouraged the yelling yelp of YAHTZEE when we got so lucky and round after round was drank. Even had a local show us some really bad dice tricks that caused dice to fly around the bar but it was entertaining to say the least. After that we rolled over to the local Taco Hell to cash in our Chalupa coupons from the Blazer game the night before and all was a good night. It was a little strange having my back to the wall of The County Cork all night but was a nice change from the norm, and shite I even Yelped about it. Go deh. sc

The drinks here are ridiculously balanced, complex and should have a deified name above "cocktail." Amongst us, we had five different drinks and they were all spectacular. We didn't eat but the food we saw being served looked super tasty. Patio in the back is a lovely spot to relax with an artfully prepared beverage.

Service, food and beverages i would give a 5 star. Allowing smoking on tbe patio out back I give a 2 star. Not sure why smokers trump non-smokers.It's a lovely, yet small back patio, so smokers tables are right next to non-smokers and the back entrance to the bar. I thought bars weren't allowed to have smoking so close to their interior.....

We've been going here a lot lately, excellent burgers, Mac and cheese is good and Smokey, beers are cheep during happy hour which I believe is every day. Okay with kids if it isn't busy which it generally isn't when you go early. It seems like a better place for going with friends or on a date, its dark but elegantly lit which is nice in a bar, and it's very clean which I appreciate more as I get older.

A hidden neighborhood gem. Cocktails are on-point and beer selection is solid. Back patio is great when it's nice out and I've never been disappointed by the burger.

Ambiance is dark but it's a comfortable pub like atmosphere. Order at the bar drink have some laughs even some tasty food.

Great margaritas by the guy in the blue who asked if we were writing a yelp review, but to unknown bartender in the corduroy hat -- the girl who ordered the Mac and cheese (not the friend who asked for an extra fork to share) is single and interested. 952-334-0835

Cozy bar with patio in the back, and some outdoor bistro seating in the front. I appreciate they let you breeze through the bar with your *dog* to sit at the patio. I gave 3 Stars because they are seriously lacking in draft beer, and there were lots of fruit flies out on the patio. Otherwise very cute inside the bar, and a neat neighborhood spot.

Huxley loves it here - great food, beer selection and cozy outdoor patio. A good spot to catch a blazer game too

Just got back from chill'n with my friends at The Freehouse in lower free, and allz i gottsa say is.....this is one fine watering hole. My girl and I are in town celebrating our tenth year of wedded bliss so we're in town and we hooked up with my boi - we split the meat and cheese platter, and the prosute - panini, and the grilled-cheese of the day (which turned out to be TWO grilled cheese sandwiches of the day - one was an industry standard cheddar grilled and the other pecorino ramano - BOTH WERE OUTSTANDING) Fresh scene, fresh eatz, and a fresh vibe - five steps up from Moe's Tavern. Besides Duff and Duff-lite their rock'n a full barski. Next time your in the hood or looking for a qool spot to drop in on, freehouse is well worth a shout - challah at cha freehouse.

To echo some other reviews, I wish this were in my neighborhood! I believe this was recently revamped and you can tell. A little subway tile here, artful use of chalkboard there, but mainly a fantastic outdoor space facelift. There is a great cocktail list as well as specials including a fantastic summery beer cocktail (I can't remember what was in it, but it was great!) For how clean and "fancy" it feels inside, the prices are just as those you would find at a dive. I guess what I'm trying to say is that this place feels like a great deal! A wonderful atmosphere, great drinks, very good price. Most snack items were $3-4. I didn't eat much here, just had some pimento cheese (ooh the hottest trend right now), though I noticed they had some great charcuterie options as well as several sandwiches and mac n' cheese. If you live in this area and like to go out you shouldn't hesitate to visit. Since I don't live in the neighborhood, I don't see myself coming by too often but when I do want to venture out, I will surely make the trip to this lovely establishment and try out one of the sausages!

Love this place, super chill .. good food, ... very very friendly bartenders outdoor patio.. what more do you need ?

cool non-descript speakeasy. You almost miss it if you walk by. I entered into a nice, dimly lit bar that offered some local beers and cider. I just missed happy hour when everything's a buck off. They have charming coasters with some different creatures on it...like a Buck or a Wolf or Bear. I did not have food here, but kitchen and food looked real legit----small in the back area. Attractive bearded men tending bar. I thought it was a great touch to have a TV monitor showing the Blazer game up in the corner, but it was not a Sports Bar and the volume was off. Good Hospitality, Ambiance.

Just went there last night, after planning to go to County Cork. We actually looked into the window here before we went to the County Cork. I love the Cork, but as we stepped in on a Friday happy hour, the place is much like I suspect it is in Europe. Crowded with all manner of ages and kids. While I love this in principle, my wife and I were not in the mood, we needed some more space with less noise and high-chairs. So we popped next door since we didn't want to hunt for anything further. We were pleasantly surprised. $1 off of nearly everything during happy hour. The few draft beers were unique and I suspect they rotate. Our artichoke heart dip was refreshingly good and not too creamy-cheesy, as with most. We just hung out and played scrabble. The staff was very friendly and the general vibe was good. While we didn't have any of the cocktails they looked promising. Will come again and adjust my review in the future if it calls for it.

Free House is a good-to-great, if not great-to-excellent, neighborhood bar. It may even inch past "neighborhood bar" and approach the category of "destination bar". It's clean, hip (NOT "hipster") and not so loud that you can't hear the person next to you telling you they'll get the next round. What's good? The Old Fashioned is, in my not-so-humble opinion, the best in town. Rare is the bartender (Oh, for the love of Pete, stop calling yourselves "mixologists") who knows the subtleties and complexities of making a decent Old Fashioned. Free House has nailed it! So much so that when I move out of the neighborhood next month, I'll still venture over to FH for a decent OF. What else is good? The patio is great: smallish but comfy. The fries and house-made ketchup are some of the best in town. The dawg is pretty noteworthy, too! The staff are always friendly and easygoing. Never a bad service experience, which is saying a lot for Portland! What could be improved? Some of the food is a bit bland (I'm looking your way, House Burger) and over priced (yeah, you Mac-n-Cheese) for what you get. Also, some of the drink prices are a bit excessive. Extraordinarily high for a bar in Free House's league? Nope! But if I'm on a budget, I'm probably heading next door to the County Cork, where drinks are a little more reasonable. But am I going to travel out of my way to get anything at the Cork? Probably not. There are nights, however, when I will move mountains to suck down a Free House Old Fashioned!

We stumbled upon this place while waiting for our table at Acadia. We were greeted quickly, sat down at the bar, and ordered and enjoyed our pints. We didn't order food, but the menu looked appetizing. Then we saw some items being delivered to tables and secretly wished our reservation was a bit later, so we could too enjoy some!. The Pimento Cheese with bread looked great, as did the Mac 'n Cheese. Our Bartender was friendly, service was great. It's a great little neighborhood space. We'll definitely be back to try!

I've asked about the cheese plate, actually I've harassed about the cheese plate. Turns out there won't be one, but I'm ok with that. I'm a big fan of Freehouse, so much so that I didn't want to write this 5 star review because I'm one of those jerks that doesn't want this place getting too crowded. The cute patio is still cute, and it is now heated in the cool months. Drinks are still clever and tasty. Meats are still delicious. I haven't moved, so the place is still close to my house. Mac Dawg is still really good. So what's changed? I've decided the fairly friendly service is downright friendly...I mean, they put up with my repeated questions about a cheese plate. Plus the bartenders have no qualms explaining drinks, offering samples, and pouring a short beer if you decide a pint is just too much. The only thing this place is truly lacking are some hot chicks to serve me my drinks :)

Small selection of taps, however they are good choices. The food is a simple selection of sandwiches and the the like - perhaps just a hair expensive for the portions, but it was of quite good quality. Unassuming and comfortable, a really nice addition to the neighborhood...

I have been to Free House a couple of times now and I really like this place, especially the patio. I hope they add some heat lamps for winter. I really like the decor and overall feel of the place. The faucet for water coming out of the wall is really cute. I do wish they had more than one bathroom though. Service has always been friendly and quick. And on a fun note when my friend and I shamefully left our credit cards and forgot to cash out the previous night upon our return the next day the bartender was super friendly and fun about it. I will be back for more drinks and I really want to try the food.

So this is where all the young people of Irvington are hiding! Living in the Irvington neighborhood, you could accidentally think that everyone in Portland is in their 30's with young kids. And that everyone goes to bed at 9pm. A friend and I wandered down to The Freehouse late on a Saturday night and I was pleasantly surprised to see this place packed with people in their late 20's and early 30's. It was busy enough that it was fun and lively (or was that just the acoustics of the high ceilings?) but not so that we couldn't find a place to sit down. Drinks were on what I consider to be the expensive side but they were delicious. I got a Greyhound because I noticed they had a juice press. Fresh squeezed grapefruit and oranges? Yes please! I'll definitely be coming back here again.

If an upscale bar could be said to "slum", this place would fit. It has smart drinks and small plates in a spare, picnic tabled room. It has an absolutely dingy patio out back with cheap chairs and ashtrays everywhere. It's just terrific for Irvington/Alameda parents wanting to hide out away from kids.

Geeesh, I need to leave my street more. I only live a neighborhood away on Alberta and never heard of this place until last weekend. Went for drinks and some light fare last weekend. Sat outside on a gorgeous Portland evening. The staff were nice, some more than others, but that's typical. Drinks were good, though can't say I ordered anything too exciting. They have a few good veggie options, I went for the veggie sandwich and we also ordered fries, which were yumms (as are most fried things). Best part for me is the patio. They also have a tv inside that was playing the NBA playoffs. Only down side, no servers and needing to order at the bar. That being said, the place is small so it's not a big deal, but on a busy happy hour evening that means crowding the bar (and this place seemed to empty out quite a bit after HH).

Seriously the best sandwich I have ever eaten. The Pate Bahn Mi was so good my stomach was saying "Your full" while my brain was saying " I do not give a S..; I want another one". The smoked Mac and Cheese may be the best I have ever stolen off my wife's plate and believe I have nagged more than a few bites off her plate over the years. Service is interesting. We arrived right at opening time so staffing was a bit thin. Two guys, one bartender and one cook / waiter were running like mad men to keep up. The cook / waiter was moving like a house a fire. I am not sure how the guy is not a basket case by the end of shift given his pace. With that said service was excellent, the atmosphere is simple but comfortable, parking is easy, the food is killer and the happy hours prices are rock bottom. Fabulous experience!

The Free house is my people. Not only do they remember your face but they also remember your name and your drinks order. Gin and tonic and a veggie sandwich for me thank you.

So I will start off with the positives: -nice patio -nice staff -good food But....... The food was good, I was disappointed by the portion size of what I ordered. Though the fries and the mac and cheese looked like a better size. The pickle pot was full of pickled veggies, I wish there were more of the pickles...pickled cauliflower just not my thing. This is in a friend's neighborhood so I most likely be back if I want a patio to drink on.

The food is good, drinks and service are good. Atmosphere and clientele is way too rude and hipster for my taste.

Nice neighborhood wateringhole. small, but good draught beer selection. good original cocktails affordable friendly staff nice lighting and atmosphere. No kids I'm becoming a regular.