Only a handful of the bars below are explicitly known as hook-up bars, but if you’re willing to do the work and build off chance encounters in the right environment, the sky’s the limit for singles in the Rose City. This lesbian/mixed bar has a full menu, heated outdoor seating, karaoke and weekly events. Farther east, just 10 minutes from the Portland Airport is Escape Bar & Grill. It’s easily accessible from downtown and popular with locals.
Many aren’t shy about engaging with strangers if drinks are flowing, and if you know where to look it shouldn’t be too hard to snag digits here and there. Crush is a laid-back lounge located in inner Southeast Portland. That being said, the stock of young single people refreshes almost biannually, with thousands of ambitious 20- and 30-somethings filing in solo with hopes of building a new life. Oddly enough, most females surveyed on the issue complain about how men rarely talk to them at bars, which is in stark contrast to cities like New York or Philadelphia, where most of the aggravation is centered around the exact opposite problem. A lot of our hookup culture is centered on activities, mutual interests, and dating apps (heavy sigh), which means the idea of going to a bar and talking to complete strangers can be a bit daunting.
Portland is not a specifically prude city, but outsiders can’t help but notice that our notion of a “singles bar” is wildly different than what they’re used to.