Saucebox

At the forefront of Portland’s blossoming cocktail scene since the mid 1990s, Saucebox still attracts a crowd of young professionals and cocktail lovers drawn by its superior drinks and relaxed atmosphere. It’s an attractive, minimalist, candle-lit space with a striking mural on one wall. The upstairs pool table has been sacrificed to provide more seating. The cocktail list is inventive (particularly their sake-based concoctions), making use of fresh ingredients and house made infusions, and their signature Thai Basil Gimlet is pretty special. There’s a menu of equally creative pan-Asian food that’s also worth exploring. Local DJs play on weekend evenings adding to the place’s hip but understated vibe.