Room for Improvement

We were recommended by a waitress from Luke’s lobster house to go there. It was absolutely wonderful. The drinks were original and very very good. Atmosphere was cool service was great. Can’t ask for more. We were there for several hours and had a blast. The bill was average so no complaints on that end.

If there are two things you must have when you come to Portland Maine they are at Room for improvement. The Espresso Martini (Legendary) and their Snapper Dog!!!!!!! Do not leave without having these…. O and toss in a Boat for your Bartender!!!!!!! Amazing

This was the cutest bar I have ever been too. Everyone was lovely. The drinks were phenomenal. The staff are angels. I cannot wait to crawl back. 15/10

Let me tell you, as a Portland resident who turned 21 in this city; Room For Improvement is far and away the best, and my personal favorite bar in all of the greater Portland area. Beer is cheap, craft cocktails are affordable and phenomenal. Their cocktails are original, creative, and delicious. It has the safest, friendliest, stuffy (unavoidable in the Portland summer) dive bar feeling you’ll find in Maine. The staff are all friendly, helpful, and above all else, kind. If you have the pleasure of being served by Daniella, Eric or Haley, you’ll feel similarly! Thank you room for some of my happiest and favorite memories❤️❤️❤️ Aside note: get the Kraut Dog

Really fun and laid back bar! Not pretentious but more silky and cool? I guess? The bartenders were funny, loved rednecks, made so many mind erasers I’m not sure if any other customers recall being there at all. The cheeseballs with chopsticks made me feel white trash fancy and the bathrooms playing the simpsons themes song on repeat had me in a cute nostalgic like trip. They really gained respect from me seeing that they made an actual original daiquiri and a classic cuban. Super cool for a cocktail nerd like myself! Thanks y’all!

I WILL NEVER STOP THINKING ABOUT THE ESPRESSO MARTINI IT WAS BY FAR THE BEST ONE IVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE!!!!! Their other drinks are amazing too so don’t be afraid to try every single one! 🤪 Just a very cool place all around. Loved it!!

This place is truly the freakin best. The food, service and atmosphere are all top notch. But the espresso martinis will change your life. I’d mainline them right into my bloodstream if I could. And don’t get me started on the Red Snapper dog. Another life altering menu item. I love this place so much. You will too.

I recently visited this bar as part of a birthday bar crawl. I only knew the birthday girl—everyone else in the group were new faces to me. When we arrived, staff asked me if a particular person (someone I didn’t know by name) was with me. I honestly answered that I wasn’t sure, since I had just met the rest of the group. Almost immediately, I was told I had to leave, with no explanation beyond “you’re with them.” I completely respect a bar’s right to refuse service and enforce their policies, especially if someone in a group is doing something against the rules. That’s not what bothered me. What did bother me was how I was spoken to—like I was trying to pull something shady, when I was genuinely confused and trying to understand what was happening. I wasn’t trying to argue or stay; I was just trying to make sense of a situation I’d been dragged into without context. You don’t have to explain every policy decision—but you do owe people basic respect. It’s entirely possible to remove someone without being dismissive, aggressive, or demeaning. I left without protest, but I left feeling embarrassed and unfairly treated for something I didn’t even know was going on.

Fun and hipster, with a little bit of nostalgia, Room for Improvement is one of my favorite places to bring visitors when we want to go out in Portland! The drinks are reasonably priced and delicious. The shots (espresso martini shot, I'm looking at you) are dangerous. You've been warned. If you have good attention to detail, you'll find the beer menu cheeky. I found it comical and totally appropriate that their food offering was a selection of hotdogs with childhood favorites such as orange cheese balls. Staff was plenty friendly, offering our group a table as soon as one opened and no issues getting drinks at the bar on a Friday night. I'm graciously awaiting for more of their iconic merch to drop!

Very good cocktails! Tried the spicy margarita and the old fashion. Both were made perfectly. Just the right amount of spicy in the margarita and just the right amount of vermouth in the manhattan. The glasses each was served in were also spot on! The bar has a very tight fit. Bar stools are very close together. If you're not ready to get cozy with whomever you're having a cocktail with, this place not be the right fit.

Loved this bar!! Such a cool vibe and the drinks were top notch. There are tables and bar space and our server was very attentive. Would highly recommend!

Cocktails are lovely, recently rated one of the top espresso martinis, and I understand why! Lively atmosphere, gets crowded at night

TL;DR: best cocktail bar we tried in Portland, with great service, fun vibes and the most amazing drinks! We almost walked past the door to this place which made me like it immediately - it's on a busy alleyway with a bunch of other bars and restaurants and has a nondescript entrance. It doesn't try hard at all and that is what sold me on the place. It's very divey looking on the inside, and has super fun decor and played rock music amongst other things. The service was extremely friendly, helpful and fast and our server was so friendly. The drinks were really well executed and the furthest from divey I've ever tasted! The bathroom is fun - check it out when you're there. Their menu has great aesthetics and very fun to read. One of the bartenders is a bartender I've seen featured on the Food52 channel so I was feeling very positive about our drinks. And they were... So. Good. And very reasonably priced after drinking through bars in NYC and SF Aviation: I loved the addition of pomegranate and cardamom. This is one of my favorite drinks and I loved their take on it. Espresso martini: ridiculously good - they need to bottle that salty coconut foam and sell it Pimms Cup: extremely well balanced and not too sweet, this was so refreshing Oaxacan Old fashioned: not as smokey as expected since they had both mezcal and tequila, and the chili demerara added a nice kick We got seated right away after an early dinner. But the bar got packed very quickly, though they also had seats outdoors. The bar serves food too but we didn't try anything.

I loved this bar so much I went twice in three days, first time with a group of five and the second time with my partner. Room for Improvement is a spunky dive bar that serves incredible cocktails - their gimlet is the best one I've ever tasted. I also loved their "Ground Control" cocktail, which is surprising and vegetal and delicious. The bartenders are wonderful, this place has such a chill, fun atmosphere, and they've got great bar food (cheese balls, hot dogs, soft pretzels). There are a few larger group tables that seat 5-6, but this place gets crowded pretty early so the tables are in high demand. We sat at the bar the second time round, which was also a great time. We can't wait to be back!

Solid drinks. Simple without many ingredients. Food wise they have fantastic hotdog. I'm not even a hot dog person but theirs is truly spectacular. Sit by the bar if you can. Bartenders work like a factory and bang it every single time. Super quick service. If you come during dinner time on the weekend, u will get a spot immediately.

I would like to avoid giving this place a review to keep it easier to get into but it is totally worth it! The bar program is very good if not excellent! The coconut fat washed Negroni is award worthy and their espresso martini is worth all the write ups and hype. Most people who live in Portland avoid wharf st like the plague. But this is one of the few spots in this incredibly touristy area that even the locals will go to because it is that good. It's a great, hip, divey-ish bar that also has some good snacks. The bartenders are also just so nice considering the amount of tourist shenanigans that happen on that street late night.

Cool place for a late night cocktails with the girls or for date night! I love the interior vibes and the drinks were so good! Service was also fantastic!

A dive bar that actually makes well-balanced and tasty cocktails - sign me up!! Add in cheese balls eaten with chopsticks, to avoid orange fingers, and it's the cherry on top :) Vibe is definitely chill and is a great place to hang for a few before or after dinner. They do have a small food menu too if you get too settled and decide to stay put ;)

Room for Improvement is small, dark, lively, and a bit hipster. While it's definitely far cooler than me, this has become one of my favorite bars. It's the perfect solution when you're looking for a spot less fancy than a Blyth, but not wanting a full-scale dive like a Dock Fore. The owner, Arvid, created the outstanding bar programs at Baharat and Crispy Gai, so the cocktails live up to the high quality expectations. Most are classics with a twist. For instance, the Negroni is pineapple washed and coconut infused. The Martini has apricot and orange bitters. It's nice seeing more fun versions of cocktails that you recognize. Of course there's Mind Eraser shots (from a specific Mind Eraser machine?!), strong as eff Daiquiris, and other various shots and creative cocktails to ensure your day is Uber worthy. For those who won't order cocktails, there is also cheap beer, local Apres seltzer and (expensive) natural wine. It's a boisterous atmosphere, with a playlist I trust is trendy and an Instagram-approved bathroom. The staff is amazingly friendly and you'll become best buds with the bar crowd around you: I've made drunken plans with traveling salesmen twice so far this summer. Does Room for Improvement have room for improvement? As much as I love red snappers, there's not much for food, so plan accordingly. Otherwise, maybe just add "No" to the bar name?

The drinks are solid. Comparable to europe. Everyone including the bouncers were very friendly. Aesthetics are clean and well thoughtout. Overall a good place to hang out with your friends to enjoy an evening.

I love, love, LOVE room for improvement, not only because it is a great bar serving top level bar food, but because it actually is a new bar that feels like OLD Portland. Dive bar vibes with an elevated food and Bev menu. And when I say elevated I don't mean caviar. I mean red snapper hot dogs in fresh locally made brioche-esque buns with Morse's kraut, pickles, and their amazing grainy mustard sauce. The pretzels come from the same Portland bakery as the buns and were the perfect bite, again featuring that delicious mustard sauce. Will be back for sure!

Great atmosphere, unpretentious but not totally rundown, the place has character. Best implementation of classic and quality cocktails; drinks were very balanced. The Gimlet was so good that it makes me want to drink that from now on. The service was fantastic. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly. We would've stayed there longer, but it got very crowded, and the place is not big. Also, their restroom wasn't working when we needed it.

I really want to love this place, but I have been here twice and both times they weren't my favorite. It is in a great location right on wharf street and the service is super friendly. The bar tenders were great and the drinks were okay. There is nothing wrong with this place, maybe it just isn't my vibe. My friend loves this bar- so maybe it's just me. It is a hipster bar with fancy cocktails. The only food they have is hot dogs and a few apps. I would suggest checking it out but unless someone else wants to go I probably wouldn't suggest it.

Awesome little bar with great drinks and ambience! The bartenders were awesome and were on their game!

The name is a bit misleading, as I can't imagine anything about our experience improving. The drinks, snacks, and atmosphere were perfectly executed and the staff was patient and accommodating. Can't wait to go back!

Awesome spot! Really amazing drinks. Undeniable hospitality. Don't miss this on your Portland visit.

This space is pretty amazing. First walking in you think this is a hipsters dream. The place was packed, we sat then quickly got a spot at the bar. I want to say the safe was amazing, they all seemed like the really were having a great time. For sure this is a place to stop and check things out.

I'm a little hesitant to share about this gem, but that's exactly what it is- a GEM! A small space with a cool vibe and the kindest people! The bartender was attentive and friendly, and our drinks were the best. My husband had an espresso martini and said it was the best he'd ever had, and I had a gimlet I'm still dreaming about! Stop in for a chill time and great drinks!

Room for Improvement is our favorite bar in Portland! Nick and Arvid are amazing and were so helpful in accommodating our wedding party and made our wedding weekend perfect! Cocktails are excellent, food is perfect, and the overall vibe is spot on. Can't say enough how awesome Room for Improvement!

We found this bar on our second annual anniversary trip and it was quickly mutually voted our new favorite bar! We went twice in the 3 days we were there. Great service, cool ambiance, delicious drinks! The espresso martini was the best we have ever had.

Quirky and awesome. Was suggested by our server for dinner and did not disappoint one we figured out where it was.

Dope spot. Not much seating so get here early. Service is great and drinks are fantastic. Came to Portland for a bach party and we found ourselves coming here to start our night 3 nights in a row.

I'm already a big fan. The words 'hipster dive bar' will probably get thrown around and I guess you could call it that as a compliment. To me it's the perfect bar for Wharf Street that I never knew I needed. It's dark like the basement bar Maps, but while that is primarily beer (and vinyl) forward, Room for Improvement is all about the cocktails. Primarily any popular cocktail you can think of, but done really well. Think Expresso Martinis, Mai Tais, dirty martinis, mojitos, but all with a slight twist, and all relatively affordable around $12-14. There are a few specialty shots, bottled and draft beer, beer/shot combos, wine, the fun Mind Eraser. It's a low-key boozy fun park, but not the kind where you fight people and puke (that's next door). The only food I can remember is a fancied up red snapper hot dog on a Little Spruce bun and I think maybe some Morses sauerkraut for $7. We visited on a Friday night and it got busy fast. They had two bartenders that were working their asses off and I LOVED that they also had a super nice guy making the rounds checking on everyone around the perimeter tables/wall bar and seeing if they if they needed anything (the bartenders would also do this during lulls). This made the experience so, so much better than if you had to order at the bar each time, yelling over seated customers. Truly, thank you to all involved for not trying to be too cool and making everyone have to wait in line to order. Because it's so small, eventually it did turn into people just standing in the middle and drinking, which I didn't enjoy and the waitstaff likely enjoyed even less. I'm not sure how you tactfully fix that. It should be very busy in the summer even without a lot of food, and as an old man day drinker, I would love if they did the occasional afternoon hours on weekends or something, but I'm 10/10 on this place and cannot wait to go back. I've gushed enough that I should say I do not know the owners or anyone else who works here, but they may get to know me if I'm there every day pounding Mind Erasers.

This is our favorite bar in Portland (and potentially all time!). Delicious, creative cocktails and snacks and friendly service!

A must stop if you're in Portland! The BEST crew. The BEST cocktails. Incredibly fast and attentive service no matter how busy it gets in there. Start or end your night here-trust me you won't be disappointed!!

Trash place. Beyond rude service making me feel so uncomfortable and unwanted. Definitely needs improvement

Cannot say enough good things about this joint. Good vibes. Good drinks. The bartender was friendly and we got our drinks fast even though the bar was super busy. The playlist was amazing. We got lucky and grabbed a banquette seat when some folks left. If we didn't have to go to a birthday party, we would have stayed until last call. Oh - try a mind eraser! It seemed to be one of their fun specialities. No room for improvement at this divey/upbeat bar. This place rocks!

Room for improvement indeed. Very rude costumer service, didn't feel welcome. Will not be going back!!

Visiting from out of state looking to to enjoy local bars within the area. Brought my service dog today who is a chihuahua trained toward my disability and told they could serve me "outside" and concerned of my dog being "smooshed" per the manager. I've never had a problem bringing my well-trained dog into a business. He is calm and accustomed to being out in public. Shame on you for being passive aggressive and making me uncomfortable while visiting. Will not be returning.

Got a recommendation from a server at Duckfat as a great place to go get drinks. He wasn't wrong. Very cool atmosphere. Bartender is outstanding and drinks were next level. Be sure to get the espresso martini my wife raved about it. The food was surprisingly good too. Really loved this place

Fun, lively space! The service is so speedy. Got a Kraut dog and a Pimm's Cup and left extremely happy! Favorite new spot in Portland.

Amazing drinks, even better service! Such a fun spot! I only had a few hrs in downtown Portland and decided to try this based on the few-yet-solid reviews and it did not disappoint!

I guess they're trying to live up to their name because there's definitely room for improvement here. Went last weekend and overall found it to just be another pretentious hipster bar...if you're looking for the same vibe just with a warmer/kinder atmosphere from staff and patrons I recommend going to Maps instead

Don't dance while your standing in line. We were told we can't go in and can't be served. Were at the place next door for one drink prior to standing in the line. Had a night cap there a few nights before but were denied today. Both of us are in the industry so money spent better elsewhere after this experience Go to the whiskey ice bar to have a great experience. .

This is the best bar in town. Incredible service, amazing drinks as well as affordable classic domestic beers. Vibes are on. Just a special place!

Smoke shows, fab ambiance and hot dogs how could that be a bad time! Keeping wharf street fresh and funky