XV
15 SW 2nd Ave Portland, OR 97204 Downtown Portland(503) 790.9090 - Visit Website
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BarFly's Review of XV
The effortless blend of elegant interiors and indie cool has, as with so many things downtown, been somewhat undone by the crush of suburban adventurers clogging XV's unisex bathrooms - seemingly to enforce the demographic shift - but, most schoolnights, excellent music (free juke before the local fave DJs) and Caribbean bar food (yam fries, coconut onion rings) continues to draw a more stylish clientele to sip Chartreuse midst the candle-lit nooks.
Open 365.
Mondays: "Troubled Girls" w/the Fabulous Rose (house djs, 9pm, free). Also, S.I.N. $1 off all drinks, beer specials w/OLCC.
Tuesdays: DJ Paula B (10pm, free).
Wednesdays: South Park on the big screen (Daily Show, Colbert Report, etc., also regularly featured).
Thursdays-Saturdays: djs & dancing (10pm, free).
XV's Happy Hours
Monday | 4pm-7pm $2 off menu, $1.50 off draft, $2 off well, wine & cocktails, 4-7pm |
Tuesday | 4pm-7pm $2 off menu, $1.50 off draft, $2 off well, wine & cocktails, 4-7pm |
Wednesday | 4pm-7pm $2 off menu, $1.50 off draft, $2 off well, wine & cocktails, 4-7pm |
Thursday | 4pm-7pm $2 off menu, $1.50 off draft, $2 off well, wine & cocktails, 4-7pm |
Friday | 4pm-7pm $2 off menu, $1.50 off draft, $2 off well, wine & cocktails, 4-7pm |
Saturday | 4pm-7pm $2 off menu, $1.50 off draft, $2 off well, wine & cocktails, 4-7pm |
Sunday | 4pm-7pm $2 off menu, $1.50 off draft, $2 off well, wine & cocktails, 4-7pm |
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Reader Reviews
Add your own review or commentA great bar, unless you're African American! In which case, you'd better not wear ANY blue or red because that automatically makes you a gang member! Went there Saturday with a group of people and there was a line around the block. A bouncer was offering to allow you to cut the line for $5. We took him up on the offer. We were rudely refused entry upon reaching the front doors, because my friends boyfriend was wearing "too much blue". He was wearing a blue, black, and white plaid shirt with a white Volcom tee underneath. He paired it with black Nike's that had blue stitching. Apparently that's how gang members dress?!? Keep in mind, my friend and I were both wearing red so there shouldn't have been any confusion there. He offered to remove his plaid shirt, but they still denied entry. Meanwhile, an entire bachelor party (all white) wearing matching plaid shirts was allowed in, as well as another man (also white) wearing a solid blue jacket with matching shoes was also allowed in. We pointed this out to the head of security who replied with "get out of my face!" professional, right? We very nicely asked for a supervisors name and number, upon which the head of security shoved my 5'1" 110 pound friend and told her to "get the hell outta here!" I refuse to patronize a business who employs violent, irrational, racists. From the looks of reviews on other sites, this is not the first problem of it's kind.
If you're a performer, stay away from this place. These guys are very unprofessional and they barley know their own sound gear. It was a nightmare these guys had me plugged into the PHONO jack on the DJ mixer instead of the LINE, which made our set sound horrible. Everyone knows what happens when you plug a digital interface into the PHONO jack. It sounds horrible with frequencies flying all over the place. All these guys could do was ridicule me and blame the problem on my interface. We brought some ladies to the show and the bartender was a huge prick even to the ladies?!?!? They made me feel like shit for "scaring their customers away until I finally diagnosed the problem and then they realized it was their mistake. Our set wouldve sounded bomb if these guys knew what they were doing. Instead the bartenders were pricks and my people had to suffer through a garbage show. Like I said if you're a performer STAY AWAY cause all these guys do is spin lame tech house and they have no appreciation for heady producers and real performers. Go to Crown Room instead you'll probably see me there killin' it.
Go on a weeknight and you'll find a dark corner to sit in. Sip an expensive liqueur with a friend. Alternatively, get some wine and some of their yam fries. They are pretty tasty.
As with most of downtown, avoid it on Friday and Saturday nights.
I'm half surprised by the reviews of bad service, and half suspicious of the people reviewing. A friend introduced me to this place and their happy hour a little while back, and I love the place. I love the $1 PBRs during happy hour that allow an unemployed dirtball like myself to get out of the house, I love the food, but maybe more than anything else, the service fucking rocks. I've had 4 different bartenders and one server in the past few weeks and every single one has been awesome. Maybe it's because I'm not an idiot? Maybe because I tip? I don't know, I only know that I get great, friendly service, great deals in a great spot. I dig it, a lot.
It was an error when a review stated that "XV closed it doors sometime in the last few days". Have no worries. We have never been closed. We are still open.
Looks like XV shut its doors sometime in the last few days. Signage is scraped off the windows, etc. Bummer.
Love the food and the fact that there is lots of vegetarian options. Fun atmosphere and nice bartenders
This place was lousy. Service was hostile and the DJ was the worst I'd ever heard. He would have gotten booed out of a middle school dance! A couple bright spots, the pizza was fantastic, and the happy hour menu looked awesome.
I had the pleasure of drinking with this black stallion and then watching him pass out next to me while a stream of drool dangled from his big ol'lips. I hated every second of that, but I do love me some Marcel (and his dildos).
Marcel is the hottest hotty in Hottysville. My fantasy is to have him first mix me a special drink he concocted just for me and serve it to me in bed. I would rock his world for hours then when we were done cuddling he would make me another drink and cook me dinner wearing only an apron and tube socks. Then we'd ride a Ducati all over downtown with me spooning him all the way so all the other girls that want his body would be green with envy. Till then I'll have to settle for drinking there and having his Samuel S. Jackson drink while I check out his butt.
Jerked Fish Sandwich is the best. The $1.50 lager is downright decent stuff. Best happy hour in town that I know of. Never too crowded either.
I was coming down the stairs when someone bumped into me and i dropped my glass (I immediately notified two bar staff of what had happened), When I left to make a phone call I wasn't let back in because the bouncer accused me basically of spiking my glass on the ground and celebrating, and also chided me because apparently it is my duty as a patron to pick up broken glass with my bare hands, idiot. He then slandered on my manner of dress and from that drew conclusions on the way I live and act. Probably the most offensive thing that has ever happened to me. I will be turning in my grave before I give this place another visit
I love the environment here. There are tons of seating options, and it always seems to be dead during happy hour, which is the only time I come here, which is often. Great place to meet up with friends after work. The food is fantastic and reasonably priced. They only have a couple of micros, but they're pretty good. Again, I only come during happy hour. It's probably a totally different scene at night.
The place was pretty dead, even for a monday, but the staff was all really nice, and the drinks and food were good. Enjoyed watching tv and the laid back atmosphere.
Stopped here the other night with some friends. It was cold outside and we were looking for a good in-between sort of place, not too hoppin, but not dead either. This was it. The server was excellent, the drinks good and not tame, and the appetizers were definitely tasty. All in all a good place for a little fun. It did not look like a great pick-up joint, though, and the dance floor was small.
This doensn't have anything to do with XV whatsoever, I'm just testing out a new review system that I've been working on. It's pretty cool that way.
Two of my friends and I had our birthday party at XV. We had an awesome time. The staff was helpful and the service was great. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to have a laid-back party in a cool atmosphere. Thanks XV for the memories.
i just quit smoking. finally. fuck you, phillip morris. would wet my pants to find a dance floor to go to without convulsing to claw my fucking wrists off in want of a smokey-treat. my nonsmoker friends would be equally soiled. and the fruitless morning after, my coat smelling like asstar is shytty too. hope you do it marc.
My roommate and I went here on a recent Saturday, revved up for some great clubfloor action and, I must say this place was, for better or worse, totally and completely... average. There were just enough good looking females and handsomely dressed men to make it a good time, but the music, the drink line, and humorless "what do you want" bar service pulled it down, requiring experienced party-goers to take their business elsewhere. And okay, so hip-hop is "dope", and I'll get out there and move to it... but I mean, as a former dj I have to say that you simply can't play almost exclusively top 40 R&B/hip-hop unless it's a 12 year old girl's birthday party... it turns what could be a cool club into a cross between TGIFridays and Rock-n-Bowl... save Biggie Smalls for the high school winter formal. Lay down some stinky underground hip-hop jams, guys, if that's your thing. I mean, take some gaddamned risks. No cover, though! So that rocked!
not sure what stiffness is so i gave it a 5. Have not been in XV since...hmmm September. did you ban smoking. i am in the minority but I hope not. How about a smoking room and some ventilation? signed, I only smoke when I drink
To those who suggest that the smokers be banished to the out of doors in order to indulge their habit, I only suggest taking it a step further.... Why not bannish the obese to the out of doors as well? Where they can furtively shove fattening appetizers, carb-laden main dishes, and off-the cacolrie-chart desserts into their rotund, dimpled faced without distracting or discomforting the otherwise openminded glitteratti who have managed to whittle down their bad habits to those which attack only their livers, as opposed to their lungs or their hips/asses.
Get real folks...people drink. People smoke. Often, they do so at the same locales.
j.ya.y is right
go during happy hour! Marcel rocks (Mon-Wed). the prices are good and the food (a little pricy even during happy hour) is very good (well, i've only had the $6 hamburger but except for maybe Higgins i can't remember when i had a better one). also they have a free jukebox until 7pm and it's one of the better non-downloadable ones in town.
i don't stay after 8pm ... paying $3 for a PBR just isn't right
the key is to go from 4-8 mon-thurs. that way there are no shirt guys, drinks are cheap(er-stellas 2bux pbr 1buck and they have good cheap food. they've also taken care of a few of the TERRIBLE staff and i've come to find a happy place. (although I’m there far too often, i would still recommend to anyone) there are plenty dudes, but honestly considering your reference to the "ladies" maybe you'd have more luck at like bar 71 or something. for sure. cuz that kinda sounds "shirt-guyish" just a thought. don't hate. just participate.
I don't get it. First off, note my name, Non-Shirt guy, therefore, I hate this bar. Everyone in here is a shirt guy. Notice I said everyone was a guy. Where are the ladies? Typical night at XV: wait for 10 minutes at the bar,pay $4.50 for a horrible well drink, look around and notice all spikey haired dudes and no ladies, well, very few, and even fewer hot ones. I don't see the attraction to this place.
Love XV since the day it opened, can't stand the smoke so I never come see my friend Marc. Smoking outside is cool, smokers have come to expect it and non-smokers won't have to suck on the by product of a cancer stick while enjoying your hot, rocking place. Go Marc baby make it happen
I know you all have "feelings" and stuff, but all I care about is what's going on at this bar. Can everybody just shut up for a minute and let me know if this place is any good or not? Are there DJs? Are there bands? Cover? No cover? If somebody could please just tell me about the last kick ass time they had at this place in detail I'd appreciate it, and you can all go back to your group therapy session.
I have never heard someone sound so uneducated and moronic in my life!
In this town you will gain business if you go smokefree. And as a bonus you'll be protecting the health of your workers. Clean air for all.
everyone I know would love a smoke-free place to go out. BELIEVE ME YOU WILL NOT LOSE BUSINESS!
i used to go to XV a while back, but not anymore. i hate how i feel the morning after being in a smoky bar, plus it kills my eyes. though i miss the music and atmosphere at XV... go nonsmoking and i'll be back with mucho friends! xo, oregon native (so there,Ms CancerUSA)
Despite what the tobacco industry says, business goes up when bars and restaurants go smokefree. Until the playing field is leveled, use it as a competitive edge.
You know I don't og out much and that's cuz of the smoking thing. Marc you would be loved and adored and set a great example if you ban it to the outside. I mean heck, Doug Fir's doing OK. And by the way, I'm always looking for you when I visit XV but you're never there. I miss you.
WHat the fuck you SW Hills bitches? Live a little for once in your life and get over the smoking thing! I hear in California they passed a ban on smoking? MOVE OUT OF PORTLAND and go live with the other pretentious bitches in cali. WHo the fuck needs you.
If you're all serious about wanting bars to go smokefree, take a look at www.worksmokefree.com It's going to take a lot of customers, workers, and owners speaking out to their legislators to make it happen. 80% of Oregonians don't smoke-Marc, the market is there for you!
Until it's outlawed everywhere, certain bars have to allow smoking to be competitive. You expect it at dive bars. But XV, I think it would help business. People are dressin up, lookin good, feelin hip, and don't want to stink at the end of the night.
...is the best idea ever!!!!! those who hafta smoke will go outside...then they make new friends and get some fresh air... and all are happy... tuh duh!!!!!
okay, so this is/was obviously my on-again-off-again loveit/hateit bar. lately i'm a gettin a little pissed. the semi-new waiter is really pissin me off. he's rude. he's snide. he's only nice if your bending over motha fuckin backwards for…wait for him to serve you! i've seriously been having my ups and downs w/this dude. i have honestly bent him over and kissed his ass thinking maybe i'm the one who's the bitch. I’ve been testing his customer service skills for 3 months now. i'm fuckin done. dude get over it, get my beer, if you're fuckin lucky we can partake in a convo but seriously, you’re not that cool. People are allowed, no SUPPOSED to be out having a good time getting a beer and sometimes (more often than not) getting a little rowdy, but are still being nice to their SERVER. i'm sick of being your bitch and tipping the fuck outta someone who is giving me shitty fuckin service. But fuck it, I just can't help myself…see ya Thursday?
Yeah, I dont smoke cigs, either, I am relly sick, if not literally, of the smoke. Everytime I ask my employees, they think it will hurt biz, but i dont know. I think that there are alot of smokers, who only smoke when they go out, and I know alot of smokers who cant stand the smoke either....I wish they would just make it a law. It is completly hipocritical to make a law to protects restaurant workers, but not bar workers. Oh, the lottery, and video crack suck too..taxing the poor and ignorant, brilliant!!
GREAT IDEA. We need more of them. People who smoke can choose to go outside, but there are very few cool venues for people to go to who do not want to be forced to breath smoke.
Best happy hour till 8pm !!! Smokey joint but all in all, my fav in downtown. Great happy hour food menu.
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