Little Bitter Bar

Yesterday was our first stop into the Little Bitter Bar since we've been in Portland. The first thing I noticed was the atmosphere: very modern, chic, and inviting. The service was impeccable; I felt well tended, and the drinks and food were lovely! My husband and I ordered the arancini, which is a dish I hadn't had in so long! This didn't disappoint at all. It had crispy fried breading on the outside, and the *perfect* gooey, cheesy, lightly riced inside. The flavors of the arancini and arrabiatta sauce worked together in harmony. All in all, an enjoyable experience!

The drinking experience here is phenomenal. Their house cocktails are on another level. The selection of amari is to my knowledge best in the city. Definitely stop in here and have a beverage. The service is impeccable and the staff are extremely knowledgable. The food does not match the same level of quality, good for snacks but I might skip the pizza or other dishes. They're getting started so I imagine this will improve over time.

I’ve yet to be disappointed by their selection of handmade cocktails; some of the best drinks in Portland and paired with an incredibly welcoming bartender and staff. My only concern is how busy it’ll get once the locals discover this spot. For now, this is our go-to happy hour and casual group dinner spot. Also, unlike the rest of the city, you won’t go broke ordering their delicious pizzas. Also makes for a great hangout spot before heading to dinner at The Grand Amari restaurant in the same hotel.

Great happy hour and service! The focaccia was to die for!

The bartenders are great and very informative about bitters and the cocktails they serve. Love the atmosphere in the bar. Would I go back? Probably not. Got food at the bar (prepared by Armani - the restaurant attached.) Woodfired pizza was burned - I mean BLACK on the bottom and the crust. Insalata Verde, is just greens and a light dressing. No other anything. No other veggies, no croutons, nothing. VERY salty dressing. I should have, but didn't, complain about anything. Based on my experience, the food is terrible! But the bar and tenders are great!!!

We came to Little Bitter Bar mostly for cocktails and the amari selection, and ended up ordering food too. I’m so glad we did! The margherita pizza was incredible (and I say that knowing we’re in a city with SO many great pizza options). The arancini, burrata, and meatballs were also great additions to our table’s spread. I loved the selection of amaro-based cocktails (we tried 4 or so - all very different and tasty), and service was great. Plus, we got right in on a Friday evening. I’ll definitely be back!

A fantastic selection of amaros, with lots of martini options. Bar food was really delicious, including the salt cod fritters. Yummy tiramisu for dessert.

Between me and my friends, we’ve shared and tasted 10+ dishes and 10+ cocktails and amari. All of them amazing. Not a single dud. The staff is so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about great Italian flavor.

Little Bitter Bar had a nice craft cocktail menu but the drinks themselves were below my expectations. I asked the bartender if he would recommend a different liquor in a cocktail I was interested in because I am not a fan of gin, he basically told me the cocktail won't be good without gin which I found a little odd. The espresso martini is also SO small considering the $15 price. The atmosphere was a 10/10, quiet, chatty, and very Portland. I probably won't be back but I do recommend trying it out especially if you are staying in Grand Stark Hotel.

Cute bar, delicious food! We came for a drink then found out about happy hour! Got two glasses of wine, the margherita pizza, and beef carpaccio from happy hour and then the spaghetti pomodoro and fritto misto from the regular menu. My sister's favorite is the pizza and mine is the pasta! The patio was nice with shade on a hot day. Next time we will have to try some cocktails!

About two blocks each way from the restaurant is big time sketch, so seriously consider not parking and take a ride share. Beautiful bar and overall decor and inviting seating. However, the patio definitely needs some attention. The Compulsory Daiquiri was refreshingly delicious albeit small. The cold by design Scallop Crudo was light and satisfying. I was mixed on the Arancini: excellent crisp, but bland. And I rather have more small portions than two giant ones. The bartenders were cool. For the price points it seems out of place in this part of town. ** They partake in the crappy money grab trend of charging a "health and wellness" fee. This is wrong on many levels. Spare me the "we're all in this together" rhetoric, especially from a high-end venue. Probably one and done.

Such an exceptional bar; I've now been here twice. First off, I just love the beautiful space and ambiance. It is a little slice of Italy within the bar, and they'll serve you if you'd prefer to sit in the cool, sleek lobby with your friends. It's a classy joint for classy peoples! And, what a gift - the playlist is both perfectly curated and not blasting your ears off; my girlfriends and I were noting that this is a rare bar where you can actually talk and hear each other, no shouting needed. Bring your date here. Great service - staff are always attentive. Drinks and food, I can speak less too since I'm just a wine girl. I do appreciate that they have a big list of non-alcoholic and low-alcohol options; last time I did one of the lovely spritzes. They were able to accommodate my friend's wacky request for a spicy margarita (not on the menu!), which she loved. Food is very tasty; we split a pizza and salad and were happy. It's upscale so imagine thin Italian pizza, no gut bombs in sight. Parking - I got lucky and didn't have to search too long for a spot. There is a valet available, since this is a hotel bar. The only downside is that yes, the surroundings are a bit rough. Ladies, might want to walk with someone to your car. Patio - can't speak to this at all; both times I've been I assume it's closed or maybe just not something one wants to be on due to construction of a new building happening about five feet away (which is also making parking a little harder than it needs to be at the moment). Not a noise problem during bar hours, at least.

Absolutely loved this place. It was perfect for our group of 8 celebrating a birthday. They were so attentive and brought something special for the birthday girl. The food was unexpectedly awesome. I loved the cod fritter, tuna crudo and tagliatelle bolognese. The cocktails were equally good. Very balanced and creative. We would love to come back soon!

Love the cocktails and Italian snacks, but I personally prefer to eat the Grand Amari pastas while dining here. They are the best! Amazing service, chill space easy for groups large or small.

I love this place! The selection of spritzes reminds me of traveling in Europe and the pizza is fantastic. Happy hour specials are reasonably priced, which is perfect for a happy hour with friends on a budget. When we went it was quiet and perfect for a catch up. Highly recommend!

Newly opened, but certainly not lacking in expertise and unmatchable hospitality from the team at Little Bitter. Went for drinks with a friend last week, and left with a new top cocktail spot where I can't wait to take all my summer flings. Mortadella pizza had incredible flavor, bartenders were professional, knowledgeable, and (dare I say) easy on the eyes. With all due respect to the owners and associates of Grand Amari and Little Bitter Bar, mind-bending, semi-orgasmic experience all around. I feel refreshed and reborn

Service and drinks were great! Would have given 5 stars but this piece of art really didn't fit the vibe