Nil. Wine Bar
Wine bar · Sunnyside ·
Natural wine bar with DJ sets, outdoor seating, and diverse pours
Natural wine bar with DJ sets, outdoor seating, and diverse pours
"Sidling up to the blue-topped counter in this slender, minimalist slip of a wine bar, drinkers will find exactly what they love about Nil’s next-door sibling bottle shop, Ardor: an exciting mix of the obscure, culty, and up-and-coming in the natural wine world. In keeping with the trendy natty wine crowd, Nil is less a quiet place to catch up with friends and more a “see and be seen” hang-out for catching DJ sets while sipping a glass of the latest must-try producer. If the compact indoor bar area is too congested, join the crowd milling around outside and grab a seat at one of the picnic tables while enjoying a bottle or by-the-glass pour. New wine options pop up regularly, always with something new to discover and obsess over." - Zoe Baillargeon
"I’d describe it as more about wine than food, one of several Portland wine bars with an incredible vibe if that’s what you’re after." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden
"Whether they prefer a robust Oregon pinot or a natural orange, wine nerds should certainly pay a visit to Nil, Ardor Natural Wines’ accompanying tasting room. Natural wine as a scene-y category can be a bit intimidating to consume and talk about; the staff at Nil, however, makes sure that’s not the case behind its bar, offering a tight-but-straightforward menu of four to six natty wines by the glass at a given time, written on a mirror with expo marker. Step inside the equally tight space and expect to make friends. The lowkey ambiance — characterized by plain white walls marked with deep blue or pink lighting — creates a moody-yet-easygoing atmosphere to chat with the team, and likely other folks who live within a 10-block radius of the space." - Katrina Yentch
"Squeezing up to the blue-topped bar in this narrow, minimalist space, drinkers will find exactly what they love about Nil.’s next-door sibling bottle shop, Ardor: an exciting mix of the obscure, cult-y, and up-and-coming in the natural wine world. Colorful lighting and thumping DJ sets further set the club-like, hip, and happening mood. If the compact indoor bar area is too congested, join the crowd milling around outside and grab a seat at one of the picnic tables while enjoying a bottle or by-the-glass pour. New options pop up regularly, always with something new to discover and obsess over." - Alex Frane, Zoe Baillargeon
"Althea Grey-Potter uses Lao Gan Ma sauce to enhance dishes with its mouth-numbing Sichuan peppercorns and umami flavor. It is versatile, used on eggs, noodles, peanut sauce, and even pizza. Althea is experimenting with making a crunchy version." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden