Star Bar

This is a simple but very pleasant bar. The music is very indie but good stuff. The patrons and staff were all easy going. I've been here twice now and both times did not disappoint. Good place to relax and have a drink. Prices aren't bad, either.

This bar is nice and simple and located in a section of local bars and eateries. It may seem line a drive bar, but the interior is pretty clean and the service is friendly. We had some drinks and snacks here. The totchos are tasty and you can't go wrong with jello shots.

Slept on. Good pours with average drink prices. Currently (April 2025) they give $1 off well if u ride ur motorcycle there. Food is ok but nothing to write home about. They have board games and super cool velvet art on the walls. Great place to chill alone or with friends. I like how they have a retro tv in the corner playing random vhs movies. Music is random (which I like), will they be playing punk? 80s? 90s? Rock? Heavy metal? Who knows!! They also have tables outside and speakers so u can hear the music while smoking/vaping

Great funky DJ... drink was good. Nice and chill atmosphere with felted artwork all over the walls

Burger week 2023 review - Divine Intervention: Terrible. I'm giving 1 extra star for trying something outside the box, but someone should've taste tested it first. Couldn't taste the Nutella at all and the burger itself just tasted strange. I love strange food combos, but this was not it.

I was here with my partner for a "drink and draw" promo benefiting the Portland Insectarium and we had a great time!

Been going to Star Bar since they have opened and thru changes in management it's maintained it's place as a rocker hub. Good to know some things don't change in Portland.

3 beers and the best Quesadilla I've ever had for only $20! This place is a Portland staple!

i stumbled across this place while bar hopping and it was my favorite spot of the night. it was not too busy or crowded, and i love how eclectic the decor was. their prices are also super affordable. i only stayed long enough to order and finish 1 drink because i wanted to explore around the area but i neeeeed to come back. they have daily specials which i didn't get to try but i definitely would love to come back for. i also didn't get any food but the entire menu sounded super good. i was tempted to get something but i was planning to eat at a different bar so i saved my appetite. overall conclusion is that i wanna return one day

Dive bar near my house. Food sounds okay but haven't eaten it. They have some outdoor seating which is nice. Not the biggest fan of the vibe or crowd but it's whatever.

If you are a tourist that just checked into their hotel, it's 1am and you are hungry. Then come straight to starbar and get you this. Just make sure you ask for extra green sauce or whatever that is because it's absolutely delicious and makes the quesadilla amazing Pd: don't mine that staple I made sure to get it out of the quesadilla before I ate it

On election night, I was ignored at the bar for 10 min, then my food that I got to go was missing fries, when I was charged for fries. I've been to star bar many times and this is my last time. Unacceptable

This place was super creepy. Bizarre music, shady characters, and bad food. I invited some friends that ended up not being able to make it, and what a bullet they dodged. Go to any other bar on the block over this place.

Chick with glasses serving the bar was extremely rude/unprofessional in the way she spoke around the two people there she was serving. Gossiping to random customers about a person she just cashed out. And I quote, "I'm not supposed to remember everyone's fucking name." After he asked for his friend's card. This is not a place I feel welcome in as a local who just came in off the block. Thanks, but no thanks. Keep your barkeep in check.

I have come here before but haven't ate the food but tonight after work , I came to eat! The staff was friendly and greeted me right away. They had a metal night on Monday, the dj and his friend thought they were really cool but the real cool ones was Eric and Kerby that were working there. I wasn't drinking but I still couldn't leave Star bar when I said I was going to! The burger and fries were still warm by the time I got home and I gotta say getting a side of the house made cheese sauce with it was the perfect move for a mid 30s person going home to watch season 17 of SVU. I'll be back!

I was gunna leave a 5 start until my order was messed up. I liked the chicken wings waited an hour for my food and they ended up giving me the wrong order. I like vegan food but I didn't want vegan wings I wanted the regular wings. Very dry. It's very upsetting when you order something and your looking forward to it only for it to not be correct.

Had dinner here with a partner recently as we were in the immediate neighborhood. I ordered a beer then was told that they were out of it, so I ordered a different beer; I did not take the time to check the receipt in that moment. When I did check it later (after we had left), I was charged for the beer that was out! I reached out to Star Bar by phone, they took my contact info to follow-up, yet blew me off (similar to the service that we had initially).

Quite a vibey place. You have to just take a step back and appreciate the decor. The drinks were better than I imagined and even though they had some delivery issues that day the waitress was very nice suggesting alternatives. The burger and fries were delicious. It will make you come back for more, they have pinball.

Love it there Poker games , food , drink is reasonable price Friendly workers People nice too You need to try it

A dive bar type atmosphere, but very chill and clean. The place has a good cozy atmosphere and we were able to enjoy inexpensive drinks and have a good conversation with each other. The also have daily drink specials and happy hour. A good place to stop by for drinks and hang out for a bit.

What a fun dive bar! All the kitschy portraits on the wall add whimsy. The real star of this bar is the vegan food menu they have! All my friends got the vegan burrito and it was tasty and quite filling.

Cool atmosphere, cool sign! Unfortunately the barmaid (heavy eye makeup, neck tattoo, black bangs) was extremely rude and unpleasant. We were both disappointed with the service we received and don't plan on returning.

30 year old punks everywhere. I thought other reviews said the walls were covered in graffiti, which would be cool, but it's just a normal bar inside. Weirdly bright inside. Got bored & left for Crush. Probably not a bad spot, just wasn't our speed.

My favorite new dive bar! It was such a fun night hanging out with friends, drinking, eating, chatting/debating about music and cramming into the photobooth that someone forgot to close the tab and left their debit card there. Oops! Well it was retrieved no problem. I can't wait for my next group of friends to come and visit. I want to go back there soon!

Cheap drinks and awesome art work of velvet pictures through out the bar. They have a pinball machine of Iron Maiden!!

Star Bar seems to be popular for the drink specials - they have one for each day of the week, plus cheap happy hour specials. The food, like at many divey bars, is not great though. The Caesar salad and mini mac and cheese were lacking in flavor and really would have benefited from more lemon juice, than the single slice on the side as garnish. I would not get food at Star Bar, but it's okay for drinks. The frozen margarita was tasty, as were the Jell-O shots ($1 for regular and $2 for vegan). They also have Manny's on tap.

A great dive-ish bar in an area where we're quickly losing great bars, especially dive-ish bars. I say Star Bar is dive-ish because it can definitely get lively at times and they have great DJs spinning vinyl quite often. The food, although not great, is definitely a step above your typical dive. The drinks remain stiff and reasonably priced and the lights dim. The great DJs spin records here on the weekdays as well and I've never seen it overly crowded on a weekday so it's easy to get a booth to yourself and enjoy a drink and a bite to some great music. It can definitely get packed and "hip" on a Friday or Saturday night, but what do you expect from a punk bar that is centrally located.

I come here a lot. I really love this place. The negative reviews seem to gripe how 'hip' it is here. It's a rock and roll bar guys, of course you're going to feel out of place if that's not your scene. Go back to Hillsboro if you don't like it. The drinks are strong, the barkeep are always nice, and I've never had a bad experience here.

They have changed a bit with the hood. I don't know if I'm impressed or dismayed. Music is the same, but drink prices went up. But they also are being eco friendly with paper straws which I appreciate. But a $6 well vodka tonic with short pour is a lot. Also, I don't feel like I'm going to be taken advantage of in the bathrooms as they have painted over the graffiti in places which is a bummer, as it's my backdrop. Who wants to go to a dive that they feel safe in? Maybe they are just making room for new art?

Owner is super friendly! Dont get the food (sorry) but definitely grab a picnic table outside and drink your heart out. Music is dope too.

Literal racists. A biracial friend of mine was stuck outside of the bar after going out to make a phone call. Doorman told him they were at capacity and my friend offered to to wait until there was room. Two people leave, nobody else is outside waiting to get in with him, and guy still won't let him in. Then his girlfriend (white) comes out to see what's up, and is let IMMEDIATELY back in while he's still outside. While he was waiting for her to come back, a party of four white people get let into the bar. Four more people never left, for the record, but between the actions and the fact that the owner just keeps saying they were in the right...find another place. This one's gross.

I'm conflicted because I probably just didn't have a good experience, but I'm sure this place has some potential. The good reviews really have me thinking hard to try and find the redeeming qualities- all of those people can't be wrong, right? However, I came during happy hour on a Saturday. There weren't many people here. The music was a bit aggressive and unrelenting. I get that it's punk rock, but there wasn't much relief from screaming and head-banging beats. I love that they have vegan and vegetarian food, but I just cant call their vegan wings "wings". They are described as chickpea fritters, but I felt like they could use a good batter and deep-fry to at least have a crunchy outer skin. They were just mushy ovals, and the different flavors are pretty subtle. I feel like I could have overlooked all of these negatives (and just have been thankful for vegan/veggie options at a bar) if it weren't for the rude service that really solidified my two stars.

I had the best, thickest, loaded nachos here I have had in a loooonnngggg time. Well done! My hubby had a grilled chicken sandwich and said it had really good flavor as well. The inside is eclectically decorated and reminds you of a fun SE dive. Music was a little nails on chalkboard, but I'll go with the flow - what the hell. I'm sure we'll be back. Prob my only wish is I'm a lover of table service when I'm eating dinner, but otherwise staff was great and we enjoyed ourselves,

I guess this is a pretty typical Portland bar. I wish I'd had more time to hop around, because I would have liked to compare it to other places. Service seemed pretty scattered-- I wasn't sure if there was more than one queue or if people were being served across the entire bar. I did appreciate that the bartender who took my order seemed pretty good at monitoring a first-come-first-served type system. Their house cocktails seemed inventive, though I didn't end up trying any of them. Plenty of seating inside, including low and dark couches. Red/orange lighting and velvet paintings reminded me of one of my favorite Seattle bars. Bathroom was pretty gross. I liked the patio seating, though, and patrons seemed really nice. Having a DJ there on a fairly slow Friday night was interesting. I'd definitely return.

Some friends wanted to meet here for happy hour and-wow-it's definitely a rock and roll dive bar! Though I realize it's a dive, they have quite a few tables and no table service, which I hate. Also, I love rock and punk, but it's too, too loud. I know it's a bar, but this is one of the loudest places I've ever been in. I coudn't hear half the conversations from people sitting directly across from me. I had to mainly speak to the person seated beside me and even we had to raise our voices. So one star off for too loud music and no table server. Otherwise, it was pretty enjoyable. A good mix of people and good drinks. The bartenders were fast and friendly. I did feel a bit awkward because I kept mis-hearing what the bartender was asking. Did I mention this place is SUPER loud? Our table split an order of tot-chos, which were divine. It was a large order of tots, topped with melted cheese, guac, sour cream and other good stuff. Very, very tasty. It's a fun place and I'd probably go back, but they really need to tone down the music volume a smidge and hire a server. Over and out!

This little hole in the wall dive is great! Cool velvet paintings and they even have a photo booth if you're into that sorta thing. Haven't had the food here yet, but the drinks are good and inexpensive.

Lib is an awesome bartender . Love the vibe. Love the patio. Nachos are killer. Jell-O shots, yes please. The velvet paintings are awesome. It's a small spot. Get there early on the weekends. Kind of a punk bar. I'm not punk. I'm not cool. I don't care. Maybe that makes me punk. Whatever. Go to Star Bar if you want the Portland vibe. It's next to Creepys. Creepys is cool too. Go to both. Have fun. Get drunk. Live your life.

Oh Star Bar...just what a bar should be...but with better food. I'd be lying if I said my love for Star Bar was automatic. it was more like a slow simmer to a rolling boil. I have been quiet a few times at this point, had my way with the menu and libations, and I have no complaints! You can order a Sparks for god sake, Not that I do often..but I like to know the option is there should i get to that point. The pulled pork sliders..oh my goodness the sliders. Get one, shit get three. I've also had the mac and cheese, a burger, ruben, and picked at things here and there. They don't have ranch..gasp..but they have this garlic aioli that made me even say "ranch who?". They really up the ante when it comes to your standard bar food, there is nothing "Standard" about it really. Star bar has DJ's most nights, Karaoke on Sundays and a jukebox that's nothing to scoff at. As I near my 500th review I'm really running out of creative ways to describe bars. If you've read any of my past reviews on them, you know I like dark, sleek bars. The Star bar is this, plus some velvet paintings. Okay and if none of that sold you, come for the naked babes on the menu.

A little more my speed after my trip to Dig A Pony nearby. I went in, the mood was cool, there was food available, lots of attractive but not 'glossy' people, we ordered and even found a table. The music was right up our 'hey, we're old but not dead' alley and the patrons ranged from punk to 'day job but still punk' The cocktails were a'right and the food was also good-ish, we did try in vain for 15 minutes or more to get some tartar sauce for our tots and despite the initially fun and flirting bartender's saying we would get some, we didn't. Overall, I'd go back anytime but this time, I know it's BYOTartar.

Wow! A real Portland bar experience! Authentically real. Velvet paintings on the wall. Dark, metal, edgy music of a particular era. No TV. Not a sports bar. Just a bar. But a bar of a bar.

As mentioned previously, I require a few cocktails to overcome my completely rational and not at all crazy clown fear thanks to their ironic collection of velvet paintings. Just try getting a cocktail within a reasonable amount of time here. I don't know what happened, but service has become spotty at best, abysmal at worst, and usually somewhere in between, whether the place is hopping or a ghost town. They used to have a damned fine Reuben sandwich, but they gave that up in favor of...a hotdog. Really? Isn't that a kid's menu food item? I can take or leave food when I go out for some drinks, so the meh menu changes are not the end of the world. The nail in the coffin for me is the decline in service. That is unforgivable in an area of town that is replete with other options.

I love this place - it's a dive bar with a divey atmosphere but the prices are great and the happy hour food is consistently delicious. Their vegan Thai chicken wings are to die for. And the totchos are amazing. And the woman who works there on weeknight happy hours is the nicest person. Great place to grab happy hour or to hang out with friends.

My first visit to Star Bar was like my first crush with a boy. It's easy to look at, handsome, with a sassy attitude. Happy hour drinks were tasty and strong and happy hour food were delicious. I had the Bacon, Banana, and Nutella sliders. Those sliders tasted like heaven (yes I'm pretty sure heaven is sweet and full of fat). Service was good and it was like a fun first date. However, my second visit was pretty much like an uncomfortable second date. There was only one bartender and no server. My friend's food didn't come out until 25 minutes after we ordered. The bartender was by himself and waited tables, so I could understand his frustration. Food weren't as good as the first time and no refill for coffees. At this point, I'm not sure if I'm into Star Bar as much as I want it to be. I would like to have a 3rd, 4th, 5th, and to infinity and beyond dates with Star Bar. I'm just undecided.

I'll definitely be keeping my eye on Star Bar. Why? 1. There's a naked woman on the menu. 2. Once I bothered to read the menu (it took a while), it actually looked like they have some pretty solid grub to accompany their drink menu. 3. The cocktail list looks okay, but I think it still needs a little bit of fine tuning. 4. The service. Our waitress was so cool I felt guilty sitting in her section. She wasn't extra fast, or super friendly; she was just super...freaking...cool. Sorta like a mod female Fonz. Did I mention the naked woman on the menu? Oh, yeah... I guess I did.

Ewwwwww! Peeeeoooooo (picture me holding my nose). The bathrooms in this bar are worse than a Honey Bucket at the end of the day at the Portland beer festival! Curled my nose hairs, I am tellin' ya! I probably would not have eaten a veggie dog had I first used the toilet because if the bathrooms are that bad, it is a pretty good indication that the kitchen isn't much cleaner. Dog was fairly tasty, service okay but there are better and definitely cleaner places to get your belly filled and a buzz on.

Had a rather rude confrontation with one of the cashiers... Went in hoping to get some smokes and ended up getting swindled out of extra money. No one would listen to my complaint or help me get my money back. Very upsetting experience, and my group of friends with me thinks Star Bar is in the wrong. Not sure why you guys are trying to over compensate for the Lack Luster Hipster atmosphere. The situation was startling and eye opening. Will not be coming back,and will not recommend Star Bar to anyone. I am sure my networking can easily turn a few cheeks on the cr*p Star Bar pulled.

French Pop + Velvet Paintings+$1.00 Jello shots? I pretty much felt I had died and gone to wherever it is you go after you die. My own personal Happy Place? BIIIIG booths for you and your idiot friends. Photo booth for you and your idiot friends. Cheap, delicious, ambitious drinks for, you guessed it! You and Your idiot friends. I do recommend coming with a bunch of folks. I don't recommend coming on the brink of blacking out. It's not as fun. You are not as cute. I do recommend coming every other Saturday for DJ Cecilia. She is pretty amazing.

Full disclosure - I have am the reigning champion at publication of check ins at East End. I like the East End well enough as place to hang out with friends and grab a bite to eat. It's not my favorite venue of all time, but my biggest complaint about the East End is the hipster explosion that seems to happen no matter what kind of night it is. The see and be seen crowd so to speak. So, when I heard about Star Bar and it's popularity with the East End sorta crowd I was bitter and hateful. I don't know about you, but sometimes I just wanna hang out in a bar with my friends on laundry day and not worry about having Portland's finest moustaches judging me. I was finally dragged kicking and screaming to Star Bar. I didn't want to like it - but I did. It's a comfortable bar, with neat stuff to look at. Pinball, photo booth, nice jukebox. Things to keep me occupied while my companions get smashed. The staff is really nice and unpretentious. Chatty and friendly and remembered who I was the second time through the door. I'm from a small town, and I appreciate that kind of interaction. The food is excellent - similiar in style to East End, but leaps and bounds better in execution. The sliders were some of the best I've ever had and the french fries are perfection and the nachos are some of the best I've had. I do have one complaint, they don't have ranch as a dipping option. Now, the menu is classy and maybe they don't want to spoil that by having a can of Hidden Valley 'round back. - but COME ON! If I've had a few drinks and I wanna stuff my hole with deep fried potatoes let me have the option of dipping them in some ranch. OK??? All and all I'm impressed by this place and hope it does well.

I love a good wall full off velvet paintings. I love a photo booth. I love cheap jello shots. I don't love $5.00 vodka sodas, but I will overlook this due to the above. DJ on Friday night (I mean I-pod). Overall, pretty rad.

I liked the dark lighting and the decor of the bar, but otherwise it's not my favorite. The bartender seemed too cool/too busy to be kind and friendly - even though the bar really wasn't that busy. It's definitely a trendy little spot with "scene kids" and what not. The floor was filthy when we were there...spills everywhere...and gross bathrooms. It did have a photo booth, but some punker kids were using it the whole time we were there so we didn't use it. Didn't get the greatest vibe here and ended up leaving shortly after to go back to The Slammer :]

Dimly lit metal bar always playing great tunes. $1 Jell-O shots, and cheap drinks. The bartender Liberty is always friendly and makes a killer cocktail!

Do you like being ignored by the bartender, yelled at, and then kicked out because you bought a drink and then tried to use the bathroom? If so, this is your go to bar. Portland has way to many wonderful bars to visit and this is NOT one of them.

I live in the same building as Star Bar, in the apartments upstairs. When the bar initially opened we checked it out during the Grand Opening and have been going there consistently ever since. It has everything I look for a bar. Low lighting, good music, good food, good service, pinball and a photo booth. Super win. The closer you live to something, generally the more bored you become with it. But not Star Bar. The food is always a good choice for dinner, and happy hour is great when I get home from work. Not to mention the people - who take pride in what they do, and are always friendly. They maintain a small, cozy, friendly, yet hopping place to sit down on a big squishy couch and hang out with friends.

Oooh, the smell. As soon as you walk in, it's like walking into a dank vintage clothing shop. Since there wasn't any carpeting on the floor, I can only guess that it was the collective stench of the patrons (lots of leather, bikers, street kid looking folks). We headed straight for the photo booth in the back ($4/ for a strip of 4 black and white pics. Not the best quality but hey, it will have sentimental value). While waiting for the pics (3 min wait), I played the AC/DC pinball machine (50 cents for 1 play but seemed like I was given like 10 balls to play. Fun!) The velvet paintings on the wall are pretty cool too. Elvis, nekkid women, etc Didn't grab any drinks or food due to the sheer odor inside. Sorry Star Bar, I'm sure you're a fab joint but I just couldn't stand to breathe in there.

I had a terrible experience once during Santa Con at Star Bar which made me really want to give it a 1 star rating. My friend basically was looking for another friend who disappeared and asked if anyone was in the bathroom stall to see if he had passed out there or something. I guess one of the bartenders was in the stall and got pissed off, so he came out and threw a huge fit and kicked my friend and all the rest of us out. Pretty damn ridiculous and the guy was a complete dick about it, but every time I've been back I haven't seen him so maybe he got fired. This story aside, this is one of my go to bars on the close in east side. The music is always great, the decor is divey which is my prefered decor, and the food is passable. The beer selection is always good, they have a good happy hour as well with cheap beers and the food which is not bad not great though. There are several seating options outside which are usually taken, but the inside is where you want to be anyway. Gotta mention the velvet painting on the wall, many of which I have dreamt of stealing including the few creepy clown pictures on the wall towards the bathroom. I don't know who does them or if they are all different artists, but as a drink more I find myself losing myself in the majesty of them. If you get pretty drunk at Star Bar but don't want to eat at Star Bar, I've heard really good things about Robo Taco next door and especially their Burrito Al Pastor. Check it out!

Ok, this place has redeemed itself in my eyes. Dive? Yes. Patrons? Questionable. But, super friendly and smokin' hot bartender who is great at her job and doesn't throw an inch of attitude? I like. I may not fit in here (unless I'm wearing my leather jacket and studded boots, which happens occasionally), but it's decently priced, unpretentious, and within spitting distance of my fave taco joint. I'm over my previous disdain for this bar and they're doing alright by me. *insert that "A-OK" emoji right here*

Any bar that has a stack of '70s Playboys to flip through has my immediate approval. I miss the Maiden's Spanish-styled small plates, but Star Bar is a more than adequate distraction. Style-wise, it's a Portland hipster cliche - velvet paintings, a photo booth and a Twilight Zonw pinball machine, and the best jukebox in the neighborhood - but dammit, I like it. There's a reason why I live in this town. And the DJ played a song by my favorite obscure Lomita punk rockers, the Alleycats. YES. *musicgasm* My friends disagreed on the food - one thought the sliders were fantastic; the other thought the pork sandwich was dry and expensive. I'll definitely come back to taste for myself.