Kask

I have been to this bar so many times over the last 3 years that I lost count. Every time I go there I have a great experience. My last time there was in December of 2015 and again, a wonderful experience. The bartenders are great and really do try to make you a drink that you will enjoy. They also value your feedback, so when they ask if you liked something, be honest about it. The place is quite small so get there early and sit at the bar for a more personal experience. I recommend this place to anyone that is looking for a delicious cocktail in Portland.

Heard about this place a bunch of times so I suggested a group of friends that we should check this place out. We were hugely disappointed, drinks were mehh…
I have 3stars for this place just for their deviled eggs. I could have given 5stars just for that, best I have ever had. I might go back for those again and give the drinks another chance.

BEST PICKLE BACK IN THE CITY.
i recently read that Kask + Gruner are getting bought out by OX and i’m devastated that their pickle back might cease to exist. tragic.
What becomes of the broken hearted???

We popped in last night while waiting to be seated somewhere else. To our surprise this cute hidden gem appeared. We absolutely loved our craft cocktails and there doughnuts were a little sweet treat we adored. We will be back the ambiance was relaxing yet a very fun vibe.

This is a very fun and trendy spot! It’s dark but there are a lot of candles. Waitstaff and bar tenders are professional and attentive. The seating arrangements are cool, bar stools and an interesting wooden bench along two of the walls that is cushioned with teeny tiny pillows. Very modern environment though. There’s electronic music playing in the background. Drinks have creative names like El Diablo and The Last Unicorn. This place is worth a trip in, it’s a fun stop!

Moody, fun, kind of weird — in a good way!
We came here after a very snobby experience trying to get into a certain super exclusive nearby clubhouse (y’know what I’m sayin’) And thank god we came here instead!
The music was offbeat all night, in a way that took this interesting little nook-​and-​cranny spot from intense to super fun! I’m pretty sure My Heart Will Go On played at some point… But don’t quote me on that because dang these drinks are strong!
We had a couple and both of mine were on. point. Mmm-​mmm! Fresh, vibrant, refreshing, and so tasty — I was alllll over their menu! Our server was increda-​sassy and we loved it! He sashayed and danced his way around, making sure everyone was well taken care of. We moved from the standing bar to a small table by the door (which was nice because it was WARM) and there was some truly excellent people watching to be done. From the dude who spilled his drink on his friends, to the guy who toppled backwards off his stool, to the couple having a VERY bizarre conversation that resulted in one half abruptly saying they were leaving… about 2 minutes after her partner had received food. Oh man, I could have just sat with a drink in hand and watched the weird happen all night long!
Highly recommended — go and enjoy the kitschy décor and the amazing drinks!

I had a fabulous time here! Drinks are amazing and unique. Ambiance is nice as well. I tried absinthe with bubbles (I think it’s called Death in the afternoon?) for the first time (don’t get too excited, they only sell the legalized absinthe here which doesn’t have hallucinogens). Really strong drink, don’t take it on a light stomach! Another good drink was the Washington Park, a light, refreshing limeonade tasting drink. I also got the pickled deviled eggs, which were tasty. I would definitely come back if I visit Portland again.

Excellent little spot to grab a drink. We stopped at Kask for a few drinks while we waited for a table at a restaurant around the corner. A very chill, relaxed, dark space.

Very super chill eclectic vibe. Loved it. Also loved the fact that you can order over snacks from Gruner. I had the penicillin. So smokey and so bitter but really amazing. We also got the pretzel wrapped sausage and it was fantastic.
My only gripe was the noise level. I feel like maybe I’m getting old saying that, but it really needs some sort of sound diffuser. That will help a lot. Love the low chairs and the total ambiance, was just off putting to have such a low key chill place be so loud and unintimate.
I’d go back without a doubt, though! :-)

eh, I’d probably go somewhere else while waiting for Tasty N’ Alder next time.
We were seated at the mini stool tables that made me feel like I was sitting at a kiddy table with adult drinks. It was extremely uncomfortable. The chips and onion dip was darn good though. Flat bread — boring.
It was approaching dinner time 20 mins later and the place got really crowded. Given how small the space is, it quickly became a claustrophobic and noisy. So incredibly loud that I found myself yelling at my friend sitting across the mini table. We finally had to get out of there because we were losing our voices. Big sigh of relief upon exiting the bar, phew.

My friends and I had a few drinks and apps here while waiting 1.5 hours for dinner at Tasty n Alder. The drinks were average and the food was way overpriced and undersized. The seating was so uncomfortable. I’m a tiny gal and even I felt like I was sitting on children’s furniture. The place is also extremely loud and too dark for a casual bar! I’m not at a club people, turn on some lights!
I’m a little upset that the restaurant/​bar almost kicked us out because I didn’t have my ID with me. Aside from all my friends being well over 30, I even said I wouldn’t order anything alcoholic and just nibble on food. So instead of everyone exiting, I went back to our hotel to grab my ID. Apparently, Portland has very strict standards on having to be 21 and over just to sit in a place that sells alcohol.
In an area packed with restaurants and bars, just go somewhere else.

Tip: There is no building signage, so look for the small marquee on the window. Located at the 2^nd door down from the NW corner of Alder and 12^th.
The attention to detail here is amazing, down to the crisply folded napkins. The drinks are no less carefully crafted.
It does get pretty loud after 7pm though.

I had a 2.5 hour wait for Tasty N’ Alder across the street so i figured, what better way to kill time than to get some drinks? Luckily, Kask was so close. I ended up chilling at this bar for the whole 2.5 hours since all their drinks were so good. The place is small, so there aren’t as many seats, but it’s definitely worth a visit. The vibe is very chill and the service is great.
+ BOOT STRAP BUCK: Cruzan Blackstrap rum, lime, demtata syrup, ginger beer, nutmeg. This is basically their version of a Dark and Stormy, and it was probably my favorite drink. All the flavors blended together well and had a nice mellow taste to it. Very refreshing
+ PUNCH OF THE DAY: My friend told me that I had to order the punch, whatever it was, simply for the small cute cup. When I went, the punch was a mix of Gin, Petal and Thorn Vermouth, Orange, lemon, and pomplemousse. Naturally, it had a great herbal and citrus taste. The cup made it worth it too.
+ SAFFRON CARAMEL CORN: Simple snack (since I didn’t want to get myself too full before dinner). Great to share.

Bartenders really know what they are doing and the spot is small, intimate and chill just like the other reviewers have said.
Visited for a Saturday night starter around 6pm, for some expertly mixed drinks with local vodka and some solid snacks — pickled vegetables, croquettes and chips with French onion dip.
I will return !

This place has a special place in heart being one of the first bars I frequented when first moving here. Kask embodies everything I find charming about Portland, great location, charming space, and friendly unassuming staff.
Over the three years I’ve never had a disappointing experience here.

An absolutely wonderful cocktail bar! The build out of this low lit, cozy and intimate bar is stellar. A tall, long cocktail table sits in the middle of an exposed brick wall room as hand crafted benches, with comfy pillows sit opposite the bar, around a few lowered tables and stools. The stools are low to the ground, but are plenty comfortable. The bar is done up in what looks very cool, clean and functional. The prominently displayed bottles are back lit in front of a bar top that seats six. Knowing of the group that owns this place I’m not surprised by its awesome factor.
As with my previous visit, the staff was warm, friendly and always attentive. It appears they house share, as all of the staff working had a hand in our delightful experience. Our party of three arrived around 10 on a Friday night. At first glance the place looked full with no seats to be had, but to our luck we found a small table, stool and bench set up in a cozy corner towards the back of the bar.
We were greeted promptly with water and cocktail menus. The layout and thoughtfulness of Kask’s cocktail menu is one of the best I’ve seen and I’ve seen a few! The spirits have their own page with a list of all available and individual prices. Each spirit page has six house made selections to choose from with cute, clever or historical anecdotes written after the ingredients. Both of my bar companions remarked about their enjoyment of their beverage of choice. And of course, with any good cocktail, your companion must get a sip to ensure proper samplage for all to share and discuss.
Sadly, the names of the drinks they ordered escape me, but going back to their site to do recon after the fact, it appears they may rotate the cocktails, which is great, as none on the list of beverages rang true. I ordered the Scotch Lodge (Bowmore Legend Islay whisky, Combier rouge, Punt e Mes, Cynar, Regan’s orange bitters — cabins on fire, glass in hand –) not once but twice, and another tasty concoction perhaps called the bullfighter dies, also tremendous. The former was served up the way I like my cocktails to hit my lips, with a medicinal snap and a bite of spirit on the back end. It delivered on both accounts! We came after dinner so we didn’t look at the available food options.
Kask is ideal for couples, a small group of friends or even a solo jaunt for one in need of a spot on cocktail. The ambiance, beverages and service will make you thirst for a return visit. Top notch, I say, good sir and madame, top notch indeed!

It was a quick trip in and a quick trip out, but I like the vibe.
A little dark. A little pouty. A little melancholy. But not a dive, depressing, or anything near that neighborhood. No, this isn’t that eyeliner and black trenchcoat goth girl in high school, this is that girl who moves in from «out of state» and seems a little bit wiser and a little bit more mysterious than the girls you’ve known since elementary school.
They care about the cocktails, I’m told. I’m a non-​drinker, but everyone around had high praise for the time and care and thought put into what they were imbibing.
Next time I need to try snacks. It was a quick stop for me, and one without time for any food. But I could definitely get into the groove of some little nibbles. If you’re out on the town waiting for a table somewhere, this is the perfect spot to start a little pre-​game and whet your appetite. Great date spot.

Kask is a tiny minuscule bar with a great amount of essence. You’ll be taken aback at first glance when you first step in, but if you can find a seat during a busy night you’ll see why people fill this quaint watering hole.
First of all, the cocktail list is magnificent. The pages are categorized by spirit. Then further broken down to shaken or stirred options. I chose something from the tequila page, and my girlfriend had something from the whiskey page.
The bar staff was cheerful and accommodating. You can taste their skill in the drinks; which were perfectly executed.
If in the area, do yourself the favor of stopping into this small and intimate bar. The staff will take care of you nicely as you become captivated by the setting and intimacy of this bar.

Kask… is good.
Kask at first… had a strange vibe to me and I still can’t put my finger on what I was feeling but it was semi gone by the time we left.
So OK… I am going to all these craft cocktail places because my buddy who is in the business was visiting from California and wanted to check them all out.
I …am a wine… or vodka girl. It has seemed like (over these few days) that people look down on vodka drinkers in this niche … but whatever.
Kask is small and cute and has a great snack menu and beautiful glassware (see picture) and an extensive menu.
There is NO section for Vodka in their menu (sad face) …but the cocktail of the day was a cosmo-​collins and was delicious!
Really, I still can’t quite figure out what I was feeling in Kask so I would like to go back again and see … the service was solid again great little snacks and extensive menu in an intimate setting.

Kask is definitely a key ingredient in your perfect date night, and a fantastic addition to this burgeoning «West End» neighborhood that I’m loving getting to know after being away for the last 6 years.
Not only are the cocktails and snacks fantastic (think: cheese+meat+polenta balls+tequila) but the venue is intimate, dark and sultry, and the whole scene pairs perfectly with a show at the Schnitz, a little black dress, and a hot date.
West End. Who knew?