Nancy H.
Yelp
Those who know me know I LOVE tiki bars! They hold a nostalgia place in my heart, as I remember when they were at their heyday of popularity back in the 70's. And I think this is my new fave PDX lounge!
I love Hale Pele but this Alibi bar feels more....authentic (if there's such a thing as authenticity when describing campy Polynesian lounge bars in 2024 and located in the Pacific Northwest lol). This Alibi restaurant has all the trappings of the places I remember from the 70's, down to the exterior signage and huge neon lighting. (I love, too, that it has a large, free, dedicated parking lot. Bonus!).
The interior is huge, but divided into separate sections, so it feels intimate wherever you're sitting. There are rounded and semi-circular booths, lots of diner-like seats and booths along the walls, upholstered in padded vinyl (some with small rips in them. Just like I remember, back in the day!). Cool little niches. Tiki decor (i.e., straw finishes, treelike canopies, small "pond"/fountain/pool, two bar counter areas (and the bartended is awesome nice, too), lots of wooden tree-like wall finishes..... Think Gilligan's Island-beachy vibe. It practically makes you forget about the cold, gray, rainy weather outside.
There are some arcade games against the wall behind the main bar, and a separate room to the left rear with a stage and lots of seating for karaoke.
We didn't have any food here, but we had drinks and they were fantastic! I had a "Banana Hammock" and it was delicious. My kid had a "Leilani Volcano" and we tried it and it, too, was delicious. And her partner ordered a "Shark Attack" and he really liked it. So all our drinks were a big hit.
I'm already looking forward to returning here on my next visit to Portland!