Sure it’s fall, but when did a little chill in the air ever stop you from pursuing your favorite pastime? While the rest of the fair-weather wimps head for cover, now’s your perfect chance to soak up some suds en plein air without the crowds. We’ve scoured the greater Portland area for some lesser known kid friendly pubs and brew houses with great outdoor spaces. So grab a light jacket and get out into the great outdoors, pub style.
In the Southeast:
Spend a sunny afternoon whooping and hopping it up at the Captured by Porches beer bus in the D Street Noshery food cart pod on SE Division and 32nd. Sundays at 5:30pm catch some live local under the tent (usually talented folks playing bluegrass and old time country). The Noshery houses a plethora of kid friendly food options. The Guam inspired PDX671 cart serves mini bowls for kids on request. Order up a hot dog and garlic fries (or ask for garlic-free) from Baileys Hot Dogs. For moms and dads (or your more adventurous mini-mouths) grab a couple of korean tacos from Koi Fusion. Whatever’s for dinner, be sure to finish off dinner with a scoop from Oregon Ice Works.
Hot Tip: Don’t forget other Southeast favs like Hedge House and Muddy Rudder.
In The Southwest:
Directly across the street from the Multnomah Arts Center and in the heart of Multnomah Village is the Lucky Labrador Public House. They’ve got slices and whole pies so grab a slice of cheese for the pickier eaters and try one of their more odoriferous combos like Dog Breath (two kinds of garlic, onions and olives) for more sophisticated palettes. Snag a bowl of pretzels or peanuts in-the-shell while you wait for your pizza. Try their home brewed Ginger Ale or Root beer. Since your pooch is welcome on the patio, make a stop at the 2 acre fenced-in dog park just down the street at Gabriel Park.
Hot Tip: Lucky Lab’s SE location also has a great covered patio that’s kid and dog friendly.
In the Northeast:
Mash Tun’s patio has picnic tables and plenty of room to run around. The kids menu is bar none and the adult menu offers some of Portland’s finest burgers and sandwiches including a wicked cheesesteak. Don’t miss cheap pints on Tuesday nights when all house brewed beers are just $2.50.
Radio Room NE Alberta
Beermongers rejoice! Steal a deal on Microbrew Mondays at Radio Room. This converted Texaco gas station serves up fabulous food and has a killer happy hour 3:00pm-6:00pm daily. Kids are welcome to sit outside or in the open air covered dining room until 9:00pm (no kids allowed on the rooftop patio). When not in use, the blocky modern fire pit and seating area makes a fun maze for the kids to run around. They’ve got a kid’s menu for both brunch and dinner, but the ala carte menu also offers some great kid-friendly options like grilled chicken breast and seasonal veggies. Get the wings with the sweet BBQ sauce and watch them disappear.
Hot tip: Radio room clearly marks their vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menu items.
In the North:
Pause’s backyard patio has picnic benches and a patch of grass for the kids to go hog wild on. Sumptuous seasonal specials and out-of-this-world pork schnitzel are stand outs on their grown up menu. It’s also one of the few places in town that offers a healthier option of grilled chicken and seasonal veggies on their kid’s menu. If your kid is a grazer and you’re tired of shelling out cold hard cash for food that doesn’t get dented, go for the free noodles with butter.
Skip the bedtime bath and have a late dinner at McMennamin’s Chapel Pub in time to catch the beginning of Steve Kerin on the solo pipe organ from 8:00pm to 10:00pm. He takes requests and will cover just about any rock song you can think of, from In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida to Total Eclipse of the Heart. Or get nostalgic with your kids and request The Addam’s Family Theme or Rainbow Connection. There’s never a wait for a table and the garden patio has been known to host some wicked toddler dance parties.
BarBar
Unbeknowns to most, Mississippi Studio’s burger joint BarBar has a sweet little kid-friendly, smoke-free patio just outside the back door. Kids are welcome to munch on their yummy burgers, sliders, fries, and onion rings until 9:00pm each night. They also serve killer root beer floats.
For more North Portland pubs with patios Check out our post about North Williams where you’ll find Lompoc’s 5th Quadrant or the Hopworks Bike Bar. Both have great patios and are very kid friendly. In St John’s try the Captured by Porches at the Kruger Farm Stand.
Portland certainly has no shortage of great outdoor eateries that showcase the Northwest’s wealth of fine Microbrews. Where’s your favorite place to grab a fam-friendly cold one and a bite?
— Alanna Risse
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