By Eater Maine contributor Natalie Ladd Don't Portlanders love the claim that the city has more restaurants and bars per capita than anyplace else besides San Francisco or NYC? It might be true, which means we have a boatload of bartenders keeping the shaken, stirred and infused libations coming. But where do these giants of gin and victors of vodka go when they want to ditch the spotlight or get off the grid? Check out the map below, with Cocktail Confidential recommendations from 10 of Portland's favorite mix masters.
For Fore Play asst. bar manager Sarah Paige, it's Portland's lone strip club: "A good friend of mine is the bartender and my old roommate works there. Actually, I’m friends with a lot of people who work there. I drink Bud Light."
Grill Room bartender Alison Hartford likes the Home of the Moxie Bomb: "Believe it or not, I go to the Flask on Friday nights. Hey, they have really talented DJs that come through town and it’s what I like."
Mike Willett, bartender at Shay’s Grill Pub, says, "The staff is great, the place is friendly and it’s an all around good atmosphere. You can’t go wrong."
This is veteran Armory Lounge manager Ben Bragdon's pick, though "with two little kids I don’t get out like I used to." It's also the favorite spot of "Lifer" bartender Kelly Geary (Gepetto's) and many others in the industry.
"I live in South Portland," says longtime Commercial Street Pub bartender Jacqueline Casey. "So I go to Evelyn’s Tavern. It’s in the crappy part of town and it’s a trip, but it doesn’t frighten me. I don’t care what goes on.”
Says Zapoteca bartender Erin Beaupain: "Spring Point Tavern is just an interesting crowd. It’s really fun to hang out there. The bartender is great, really personable and you never know what you’re gonna get."
For Fore Play asst. bar manager Sarah Paige, it's Portland's lone strip club: "A good friend of mine is the bartender and my old roommate works there. Actually, I’m friends with a lot of people who work there. I drink Bud Light."
Grill Room bartender Alison Hartford likes the Home of the Moxie Bomb: "Believe it or not, I go to the Flask on Friday nights. Hey, they have really talented DJs that come through town and it’s what I like."
Mike Willett, bartender at Shay’s Grill Pub, says, "The staff is great, the place is friendly and it’s an all around good atmosphere. You can’t go wrong."
This is veteran Armory Lounge manager Ben Bragdon's pick, though "with two little kids I don’t get out like I used to." It's also the favorite spot of "Lifer" bartender Kelly Geary (Gepetto's) and many others in the industry.
"I live in South Portland," says longtime Commercial Street Pub bartender Jacqueline Casey. "So I go to Evelyn’s Tavern. It’s in the crappy part of town and it’s a trip, but it doesn’t frighten me. I don’t care what goes on.”
Says Zapoteca bartender Erin Beaupain: "Spring Point Tavern is just an interesting crowd. It’s really fun to hang out there. The bartender is great, really personable and you never know what you’re gonna get."
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