Paymaster Lounge

I always enjoy coming here. Im not in this area often because I live and usually go around SE but if youre over on west side id check it out. They have angry hour until 6pm with some great deals! Great selection of cocktails and they always have fun jello shots that I have to get every time I come here. Food is great. I usually get their hotdogs (both kielbasa and vegan options are delicoous). Its a great option for meet ups of larger groups because it's pay at bar so people can just close out as they come and go.

Solid drinks at reasonable prices. Great smash burger—I got it on happy hour so it was only $6 or 7$. Chill vibes. Only one TV if you’re looking for sports, but otherwise fun activities and a good outdoor space.

Great spot, low key with all the right vibes. Definitely check it out and eat their food.

“Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name…” and for me, that’s Paymaster. This place is the real-life Cheers. The staff not only knows my name—they know my whole crew’s names and our regular orders. That kind of personal touch is rare and makes every visit feel like coming home. Also, let’s talk about the kale power salad—it’s ridiculously good. I crave it constantly. Whether I’m stopping by for a quick bite or settling in for a night with friends, Paymaster always hits the mark.

Paymaster is easily the best bar in NW Portland. The service is quick and efficient, the staff is very hospitable and kind. The food is great and the bartenders treat you like family. Highly recommend 10/10.

Unfortunately, our wedding party wasn’t allowed entry to Paymaster. Not sure why they wouldn’t want a group of about 20 to come in and support their business, but we were happy to go right down the block the Triple Lindy and be served with grace. The doorman had already let part of our group in until he realized we were a larger size. We could still see ample seating available on their patio as well, but Triple Lindy really ended up being a better vibe in the end. Better luck next time.

This place is epic! Two bars front and back, good drinks and the bartenders are super jamming and friendly. This is a must go to place if you're cruising around downtown any night if the week. Had a blast there even if I did get there close to the end of the night!

It's been a while since I've been back here, I believe pre-covid times. The place has gone through some renovations. Both the back and front bars are all socks and easy to get drinks from. The outdoor area in the back is nice and covered with heat lamps. It's pretty spacious and good for groups of people to hang out.

A casual ambiance place for hanging out with friends if one is in the mood for drinks and some light food.

Paymaster lounge is located near the pear district downtown Portland. Street parking is available as well as nearby public transit. Paymasters offers indoor and outdoor seating. This bar is great for large groups as well as accommodates good seating for small and single person parties. I don't drink alcohol often and was pleased with their mocktail offerings. I enjoyed the lavender lemonade and the zero proof hot apple cider. I was surprised by how good their food offering were, definitely bar type food but elevated. Definitely get the nacho or queso! All of the staff were friendly and quick despite there being a decent line for a Thursday night. I will be back!

Solid bar with a few different elements to it. There is a cocktail lounge type side, a dive bar type side, and a patio. Can get fairly crowded on weekends and if memory serves correct the beers were reasonably priced. Will come back to Paymaster.

Funky place with two bars and outdoor seating. Great beers and food. Has a dive feeling that is really cool. Great place to hang.

I had the pleasure of visiting Paymaster Lounge and I must say, I was blown away by the quality of their food and their commitment to customer service. Despite the snowstorm that hit Portland, Paymaster Lounge was open and serving up some seriously delicious eats. I got the happy hour burger and the Marshall Street dog, and let me tell you, they were some of the best value to quality food items I've eaten since moving to Portland. The burger was perfectly cooked and loaded with flavor, while the hot dog was topped with just the right amount of savory toppings. But what really impressed me about Paymaster Lounge was their dedication to happy hour. With daily happy hour until 6pm, they're giving their customers incredible value for their money. And speaking of money, their prices are more than reasonable - especially considering the quality of the food. Overall, I can't recommend Paymaster Lounge enough. Their food is amazing, their prices are fair, and their commitment to customer service is top-notch. If you're looking for a great spot to grab some food and drinks in Portland, Paymaster Lounge should be at the top of your list. I know I'll be going back again and again. 10/10, would recommend!

Jenny loves this bar and its people. 10 million stars from Jenny and she loved the hot dog. Great.

Been here a few times and still love it!The service and staff are amazing. They are kind and make a fun atmosphere. I only had drinks which were delish. Can't recommend this place enough I only had drinks but next time I'll grab some bites!

My friends and dog enjoyed this place as our nightcap. Unpretentious but effortlessly cool atmosphere. Pool table, dog-friendly, nice bartenders. Would definitely go back.

I haven't been here since pre-covid. I really like the renovation to the place. Both the indoor bars (one in the front and one on the back) are easy to get drinks from. The outside back patio is nice and spacious. They have some efficient heating lamps to help keep you warm during the cold days. The drinks are reasonably priced and are the food. We only ordered some fries and tots this visit.

I had not even had one drink that night, went in to one of my favorite bars for a good time and a fantastic patty melt, then dropped my wallet, and wasn't let in because I was "too drunk for dropping my wallet." My friend was accused of crashing a car out front that wasn't even ours??? We peacefully left and respected his decision to deny me service, then went to Yurs and had a way better time. Watch your doormen. It just makes me really sad to lose a local spot that I loved from my rotation.

It smells so bad there. It's mostly 23 year olds but the drinks are cheaper, the Jell-O shots are good and I recommend trying the spiked kombucha for fun. It's better in the summer when the back is opened up and warm. More of the place you just grab a quick beer after work and then go home.

One of my favorite bars in Portland. At first it seems like a normal cocktail bar. Then you go back to find arcade games, an outdoor patio, smoke space, and second bar. Heated lamps, dimly lit picnic tables filed with hipsters and divas, pool. Such a hidden gem. Mulled wine was delish.

This is a great bar! Was lucky to find this place not too far from Pearl. I loved that it had plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. I went when it was chilly out but still wanted to stay safe and eat outside so I loved this option. Also eclectic menu of vegan and non v options, like some tasty nachos. Perfect quasi dive fun place all around!

I met a couple of friends here recently and we hung out on their awesome patio. The first thing I noticed is that they have a guy working the door checking ID's. Which I thought was smart as it keeps the ankle biters out and you only show your ID once. I was here probably 7 years ago and don't remember the patio looking like this. Now it's covered and the cover is some sort of plastic that isn't clear, yet isn't so opaque as to keep out the natural light. This is a great spot for large groups. They have several picnic tables set end to end that could easily accommodate a group of up to 14 people. Me and Robert H. noticed that they also have a pool table out on the patio. When Rose E. arrived we decided we would share the nachos. I elected to have artichokes added to the nachos. What I really liked about the nachos, besides the fact that they use Juanita's corn chips, is they use fresh avocado instead of guacamole. I would totally come back here for their nachos. This was during the second mask mandate so they took mask precautions pretty seriously. You couldn't order at the bar without a mask on. The only reason they don't get 5 stars is because everything is self service with the exception of somebody bringing out the food order. You're expected to go order your drinks at the bar and the pours aren't that generous and you have to bus your own table. None of those reasons will keep me away. I really dig those nachos. 2021 - Review # 42

Great service on front and back bar. Very neighborhood feel. Easy to meet new petiole and run into old friends!

Really great local bar. It's much bigger than it looks inside with 3-4 ish different areas. There's the main entrance where the bar is, small group or 1:1 seating. Then go through the doors and some games, but to left of it is the next bar. That area is pretty small and can get packed easily. Lots of traffic since you'll have to go through to get to the bathroom or the large patio area. The patio area has a pool table, long picnic tables, then an uncovered area. It's a great place to grab a drink and chat.

Great food and great prices keep me coming back. Their happy hour is also great with food and drink specials. Their burgers are awesome and the fries with the spicy garlic aoli are to die for. A bar with good food and cheap drinks, with an awesome patio, what more could you ask for?

They're FINALLY open again after COVID-19 renovations. The patio is absolutely gorgeous. No smoking on the patio anymore, but they did create a comfortable smoking alley complete with bench seating, planters (there's a super cute little Christmas tree in one), and a chain link fence to lean against (in my opinion, much more comfortable on my back than the wooden fencing). You now order drinks and delicious burgers from a walk up window on the patio. All the liquor, ciders, and fun artwork have been moved to the back area. Mmmm... Jell-O shots. No more vending machine or photo booth. (I've been told that they're renovating the interior to be Paymaster Cafe... and I'm excited to see how that turns out). The ONLY reason why I didn't give them 5 stars is because after the initial lockdown, the fries that come with the burgers are now seasoned curly fries. I thought that their regular fries before (that they had for years) were delightful and the sauces accompanied them better. I find seasoned curly fries (or really any fry that has the seasoning in the batter) to be grotesque. It actually saddens me a lot because Paymaster has my favorite burger in town, but now I need to go procure edible potatoes to accompany my cheddar bacon burger with grilled onions. (Also, not sure why I was charged $2 extra for grilled onions the last time I went.) Actually, I'm quite disappointed in the fries now. Other than that, love the place.

I've been a few times so far. It gives you exactly what you would expect. It's that small town home vibe bar. I love the outdoor patio with picnic tables and lights. They have delicious vegan nachos and hot dogs. The prices are more then fair and they have great deals. The staff is very friendly and it's a very comfortable place to hang out.

Dive bar? Check Cheap drinks? Check Boozy Slushies? Check Big outdoor patio? Check Kitschy decor and vending machines? Check Check! Overall, a very "Portland" dive bar.

Paymaster is a great spot for drinks in NW Portland. Very ample outdoor covered patio, with heat lamps and a pool table. It's great in the summer because of the outdoor patio. We recently came for BURGER WEEK for the Mushroom Burger - a smash patty with grilled mushrooms, onions, pickles, mayo and American cheese. Overall it was a tasty burger and the bun held up from the burger juice. The back patio is a great hangout spot on a nice summer evening. And the ambiance feels kind of tiki bar-esque

There was a hair in my tarot tots. Waitress rudely slammed them down for some reason.

I'll admit: when my friends suggested we go to a bar named "Paymaster" I was like "Are we getting drinks or payday loans?!" But I'm glad I didn't let that snarky side of me deter from this spot, because I love it! My only complaint about Paymaster is that it's not in my neighborhood. Because, seriously, this is the perfect neighborhood bar. The bartenders are super nice and efficient, the menu is not fancy but everything we tasted was awesome bar food, I love that there is (covered) outdoor seating (though I wish I could bring my dog!) with a pool table, and two separate indoor spaces - with things like games, pinball machines, a photo booth, and all the cool kids having drinks. Oh, and I get the name now. ;) The building they're in was the Paymaster Check Writers & Signers Swingline Business Machine Company back in the day, and the old sign is still above the bar. Fun!

For when you're in Nob Hill and feel like things are getting too douchey: Paymaster Lounge. Great place for drinks out on the patio on a sunny day. The drink and food menus are fairly love, and not expensive. We did try the deep fried Twinkie. It was much better deep fried, as all things are. But the drinks in general are just perfect for when the sun is out. It does, however, feel like cigarette smoke gets trapped in the patio space with you. It's very well covered, so air can't leave the space too easily. It's not a place I'd go out of my way for, but I'll definitely come back when I'm in the area.

This dive bar has something to offer everyone. The happy hour prices make Paymasters a great option for post-work hangouts, and the spacious (covered) patio with heaters is ideal for those longing for outdoor drinks during the off-season. I would highly recommend any of the ciders, and the sparkling wines as drinks. I can't wait to come back to Paymaster when it's summer, and to enjoy evenings with friends. Check this place out!

Decent food but poor customer service. My party was black listed for bringing in an empty beer can from the streets to trash. They allegedly caught us on camera sipping on the empty can...? We requested that they review the footage because it would undeniably prove our innocence, but it was conveniently unavailable for us. I'm convinced that they just didn't like the way we looked or something. Covid has changed this place too much.

Fun place! A dive bar with a decent sized covered patio area. Drinks were reasonably priced. Staff was friendly. What more could you ask for?

Rock music blaring, big screens rolling with the Portland Trailblazers and Woman's college Oregon Ducks versus UCLA won by the Ducks in the tournament. The crowd is loud. Bartenders are pulling some good craft brew through the taps in two different bar rooms. It's a happening place on Friday at 7 PM. I'm meeting up with a couple beer buddies. Can you say crowd crowd crowd. Happy crowd. Fun crowd. Straight crowd. Lively crowd. Beer faced crowd. Cool crowd. Young or old there's plenty of room in the bar for all. As many gals as guys. It's a hipster-dive bar. Outside there is a fully covered space with walls an lots of picnic tables and lots of noisy hopheads. What's up with the pub name "Paymasters"? I don't get it. Really good brew selection. Did not eat anything but plates of grub were flying around. So, what should any smart Yelper do? Well! Join the crowd! Drink up! Party!

casper is the best thing about this place love them come here to see them give them all your money and love

Delicious drinks, great food, pool, and covered outdoor space. What more could you ask for in a bar? Seriously can't think of a thing this place is lacking.

If you're looking for a nice bar, this isn't it. The staff here is arrogant, lazy and extremely unfriendly and the bar itself is dirty and run down. In addition, their food is bland and essentially inedible. Finally, everything on the menu is way overpriced. Avoid, avoid, avoid. One star. Richly deserved.

Went there with friends about 30 min before closing time. About 10 minutes prior to serving the drinks, the bartender said something to the effect of "you better chug your drink, you have exactly 1 minute." I wasn't sure if he made the statement quite literall but I though that was a bit rude - he could have certainly been more subtle on his tone and still convey his message pretty effectively. I understand bars have a specific time to close, maybe you would want to make last calls half a hour before and spare people from wasting $7 or $8 bucks in a drink you'll then take way in a minute?? Sounds pretty fair me. Anyways, I complied and chugged my drink like a champ. But then things got out of hand and if I felt mistreated, wait to hear this: The time came for them to start "encouraging" people to leave the bar. So there were two (hispanic??) girls with whom I actually chatted at the bar before they started asking people to leave. There was also some white folks. They pretty much snapped the drink from one of the girls' hands (despite she having already been going through the motion of standing up, getting ready to leave the bar and just taking the last couple of sips from her drink). The other girl kind of stepped in to challenge the arbitrary behavior and she was told to "shut up and leave." Other individuals were not challenged about keeping their drinks. I wouldn't affirm that they acted in discriminatory fashion because many bartenders seem pretty hostile these days...but it kinds of beg the question. Perhaps they treat newcomers a little different than they treat their regulars. At any rate, pretty unpleasant experience. Such a shame because it was a nice place. I feel sorry for the owners of these places and how poorly they are represented by their staff. The staff shall never forget that this is a people's business.

What a vibrant bar!! It has two separate bars one when you walk in and one in the back near the patio. It is dark and Portland "seedy" which I don't mean in a negative way. They have street seating out front and massive patio with shade which is hopping. The only negative is that people smoke out here on the patio. I had their Pina Colada slushee...YUMM! And I have ordered the Nachos. (I kind of had to when they said that they use Juanita's tortilla chip!) This will have to be a spot when I get a crew together to come out! Atmosphere is amazeballs...the nachos are meh. Probably not their fault I am a bit of a Nacho snob. I always want the cheese to chip ratio to be greater than it is and I prefer pickled jalapeños...these slightly roasted ones are pretty good. Thank God they aren't just fresh ones cut up and thrown on...that makes me so mad!!! So lazy for a restaurant to do such a thing Just tried a properly spicy jalapeño Love It!!! Next time and there will be a Next Time!! I will get EXTRA jalapeños!!!!! And tell them to cook it longer so ALL the cheese actually melts and the dish is Hot when I get it.

Holy moly, this was possibly the best burger I've had in Portland. Plus, cool place, friendly bartenders, and the drinks weren't too expensive. Give it a go! Damn, that burger. Mmm.

This place is really dirty and the bouncers gave my friends and I very aggressive negative attitudes. Not worth the overpriced drinks at all. I would not recommend this place to anyone. Try loyal legion, white owl, dig a pony, or fortune.

This place makes people feel safe. The bartenders look out for those in need ( such as femme presenting individuals) being harassed by others. They show they care when a complaint is issued and are active in responding to it.

I am a sexual rhinoceros, a powerhouse of virility. How do I know this? Because that's what the vending machine at Paymaster Lounge determined was my spirit animal, and who am I to argue with such an official source? So yeah, Paymaster is a bit quirky. The weirdo vending machines. The old-school beer light decor. The slushies and the jello shots. The people. But for all of it's unique little features, Paymaster never feels like it's TRYING to be weird. That's a trap that so many PDX bars fall into, and I'm happy that Paymaster was able to avoid it. Instead of being all "look at me! look at me! We're WEIRD!" Paymaster Lounge just focuses on being a good dive (just one ran by somebody that I can only assume has a good sense of humor). Cheap drinks, plenty of nooks and crannies, and a huge patio. It's dark and plays good music, and generally the staff is friendly and quick. If you simply want to have a cheap drink with a friend - or completely by yourself - you could do a lot worse.

One of my favorite dive bars in NW Portland. Excellent, large outdoor patio with heaters and putt-putt golf. Bonus, they play the Blazers, Timbers and UFC. Staff are always cool and attentive and vibe is truly "Old Portland", as in authentically cool and casual.

What a fun spot! We enjoyed the vending machine (one of our party got a spirit animal and one got a misfortune cookie). Drinks were reasonable during happy hour and I also had a frozen drink after happy hour. Lots of varied spots to sit. Outside small tables. Inside huge booth. At the bar. Small pub tables. Couches. Covered patio. Pinball area. Photo booth. Lots of options. This bar can be anything you need it to be.

If you are thinking of stopping by this place, DON'T! Came with friends, we are a racially diverse group. My black friends were treated rudely, embarrassed, and were told they could leave when they asked what the problem was. No one deserves that kind of treatment ANYWHERE... let alone a chill dive bar that's trying to sell itself as a cool place to hang... Who cares about food and beer if the staff makes it too unpleasant to want to be there! I'm truly shocked!

Excellent customer service at both of their bars! A smoker's paradise because they have a large, covered, outdoor patio, including a pool table. They have 3 pinball machines and a Pacman video game. Great music playing at all times. This is not a sports bar. The clientele appears to be middle class and safe. Parking can be a challenge at peak times. Also, they only have a single unisex bathroom, so you will need to manage your biological waste needs carefully.

The bartenders are efficient, but mostly order takers that are more about churning and burning than great customer service. Great slushy cocktails, next level Jell-O shots, and fresh juice cocktails. I really really like the collection of old beer signs! They have one of Portland's best bartenders on the door at night. The patio might be the best one on the west side, but it gets super busy and becomes a brofest on weekends.

This is that local dive bar that you go to when you don't want to yet go home after a long night of drinking . This place has cheap drinks and a good patio but what really grabs your attention is the vending machine ,don't forget to check it out , I have always found something amusing .

The vibe of this place alone gets 5 stars! My girlfriend and I went in on a Thursday evening. We each ordered a beer, and burger with curly fries (which was bomb dot com). The staff was extremely friendly and helpful on helping us decided on what to get. Tip: if your a first timer, go up to the bar and order your food then seat yourself where ever there's an open seat. It can get busy so be patient. We sat at the bar and the food was out in a timely manner. They also have a pretty cool vending machine in the back, which I suggest you check out if you want a good laugh! My girlfriend and I each got a mystery bag. There's also pinball machines back there. We will definitely be back!

I really like this space. An unassuming entrance, but around the side you will find pinball machines (of course--they are necessary ) and *gasp* another bar??? Onto the outdoors, where overhead heaters keep it comfortable enough even in the late hours, and a pool table around for you know what. Bartenders were attentive and kind. A friend of mine spilled a drink, and our bartender offered to pour her another for no charge! Very impressed.

I don't think I'll come back here. The table we sat at was not clearly not cleaned. When I bumped my knee on the bottom of table I was met with a sticky surprise. I brushed my hand underneath only to find several pieces of gum that my hand and knee had made contact with. It was loud and the staff was rude. Stay away.

This is a place to go if you want to feel discriminated against. I was ignored and asked to leave by employees before even getting to order a drink. This sticky floor, unwiped table topped, germ infested place is rude and hurtful. I love Portland and have gone to many bars in the area and have never had this poor of an experience. From peers - maybe, but never staff. I heard a group of alleged minors standing in line before me and even got in with barley a glance. I am confused how this bar gets away with all of this and that there are less comments addressing these issues.

This is a great little dive bar with nicely done drinks and appetizers. I work close by, so I've been a couple of times with coworkers. The drinks are well made, and the bartenders are efficient, and friendly. The patio is definitely the place to be, it's quite popular and can get very crowded. The appetizers can vary. On my first visit, I tried the cheese fries. They don't use the typical American or cheddar, and I found this ok but not amazing. The next time, I got the loaded crispy fries, which are seasoned and topped with cheese, bacon and sauce. Now these were freaking delicious. All in all , a very solid place for happy hour!

They cut me off last night after one round when I came in with a group of friends. Ya know what? I was truly drunk and don't blame them at all. Why am I giving them 5 stars? Because for once I felt like the bartender gave a crap about his patrons and in Portland it's easy to fall into the crevasse of being just another face. This place is fun and the drinks are always perfect and served fast. Food I'm unsure about but atmosphere is great and I've never left feeling miffed. Kudos to Paymaster Lounge!

Pretentious for no reason, power-tripping jerks. Showed up to meet a group of people and couldn't find them. The door guy who checked our IDs wouldn't even tell us there was a back room. The front room was a little dumpy and we thought maybe our friends had taken one look and run away. Our friends had to come out to the street to find us after we left, confused. Once we were in, we went to the back room (the outdoor area) and picked up some beers at the back bar. The beer was delicious and cheap, and the female bartender was very nice. Once the back bar closed, the front bartender took our orders. We were all having a great time until he refused to serve one of our party and then came over to our table outside (from the front bar!) and snatched two peoples' drinks away, claiming they were too drunk. Mind you, this is a group of 30-to-45 year old professionals having a few beers around the holidays. Not some sort of hooligans. It was barely 1AM, we weren't driving home and we were pleasantly buzzed and laughing. Apparently you are not allowed to get drunk at this bar. Oh, our group was from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. Guess I understand now. We were marked from the moment we showed our IDs. If your goal was to keep us out of your precious "weird" city, all you needed to do was to show us a weather forecast.