McMenamins Greater Trumps

Intimate cigar bar with a small selection of cigars for sale or you can bring your own. Full bar and comfortable seating with a few tables on the sidewalk. My only two complaints are the lack of air filtration and the overhead heaters are just too hot. Haven’t been here in warmer weather so will update when I do.

The place is very relaxing. It’s not very crazy like the Backstage next door. The happy hour is everyday from 4 – 6 and 10 – 12. The outside seating is pleasant with the propane heaters.

A great indoor/​outdoor cigar smoking lounge with fabulous drinks, whiskey sand cigars. Romantic and intriguing. A great place to bring out of towners or a date!

This place was the bomb — fantastic drinks, great beer on tap, and the big surprise was the pizza. A large Bagdad pizza (Canadian bacon, pepperoni, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, onions) was cooked perfectly, great sauce and fed 6 guys well for $ 25. And we could smoke our cigars after dinner while enjoying a great red wine. Don’t waste your money on Pizzicato — which has gone way down hill.

I’m not sure I want to go back again. Despite the comparatively high prices that comes with being a McMenamins, I really liked the pleasant atmosphere, the selection of cigars, and the fact that I could have a drink and a smoke here without being bothered. I’ve gone about once a month for the last few years. Last night really left a bad taste in my mouth, though.
When I arrived I ordered my cigar and a drink at the bar. I asked for the Grahams Tawny Port. I didn’t watch her pour it, I was busy taking off my coat and scouting a table. Through the duration of my cigar and reading a paper (about an hour and a half) I had two more. It was definitely a shock when I received my bill and had been charged for the Grahams Tawny Port 20 Year (twice the price of what I’d ordered). I assume this was deliberate, since there was a 10-​year available as well between the port I asked for and the port I was given. I’m not willing to kick up a fuss over less than $ 20, but this was a bullshit move on the bartender’s part.
I’m really not impressed, and I’m really not sure I want to go back.: (

The McMenamins Greater Trumps is in the same building as the Bagdad and Backstage Bar found directly in between of these 2 entrances. It’s known as a cigar bar where you can order from 7 – 10 or so different cigars they have on hand. It’s a much smaller venue with only a few tables. The atmosphere is nice, but we came on night in November and they had the street-​facing side of the venue open so it was a little chilly. I get it — for the ventilation — but it wasn’t too packed and didn’t think it was necessary. I don’t know much about this bar in particular (compared to other McMenamins locations), but it seems like they just had some extra space in the building and wanted to put another bar so not sure if there’s anything special to know about this spot. It’s solid, though, and worth checking out. Plus I’m on the quest for the McMenamins Passport and thought I’d review each one along the way.

Cool side bar with cigars. Enjoy your favorite mcmenamins brews with a cigar. Cool relaxed atmosphere.

Modest, though satisfactory cigar selection. Decent sized spirit selection for the size of the bar. What really made me rate this 5 stars was our bartender Noah. He made great cigar recommendations and tailored some custom drinks which suited our tobacco selections beautifully. He was also very knowledgeable in Bounce and Zef music, not to mention a great shuffleboard player (bar next door)! All in all a great time to be had!

Greater Trumps is a step back in time. A time of prohibition, the roaring Twenties, early Jazz music and one bartender that does it all. When that place is maybe 3 – 400 square feet (I’m not off by much) said bartender has no choice. She was chief, cook and bottle washer, and coffee maker.
This is a place to sit and enjoy a cigar or a pipe, slosh around a good bourbon or whiskey and play a game of cards or dominos. You can chat with the neighbors and even notice a gentleman studying Tarot cards. Dark lighting, cigar wrappers gracing the picture frames and a bathroom so small, the sink was outside in the main area.
It was cool, it was kitch and it was unique. I will admit on the day after the «big snow» of 2014, it was hotter than hell in there. They needed to crack the door open but the smoke-​eaters were doing the job they were suppose to do.
They do serve some food, but I have no clue where the «kitchen» was. I did say this place was SMALL. It is a great place to relax with a friend or two, not a whole party because you won’t fit in the door. But a neat experience.

Amazing place and all the more being in progressive-​villa Hawthorne district that with 50 non-​smoke lounges nearby around here (people would still complain of the one cigar lounge-​go figure –don’t ya love Portland!
Regardless a great place!!! Old dark wood, old cigar and tobacco signs on wall-​well ventilated for non-​smokers as windows pull back for ventilation. Great selection of fine whiskeys including I believe all of Macs distilled libations which are all quite nice. Limited Macs Micros but cheap Hamms available for penny pinchers. Just a great bar –lots if locals and a great place to smoke a nice stick!

LOVE! Not only am I a HUGE Mcmenamins fan, but the fact its got a roll front door and outdoor seating on one of my favorite streets (Hawthorne).

Vincent van Gogh once wrote about his painting The Night Café, «I have tried to express the idea that the café is a place where one can ruin oneself, go mad, or commit a crime.» Greater Trumps in Portland is like van Gogh’s The Night Café but I would add, «or find good friends.»

Maybe I wasn’t there to smoke a cigar. Maybe it was raining and I was a little soggy, but I think there have to be worse reasons for a waitress to treat you like a measly pile of…(well you know what).
In Greater Trump’s defense, I was not there to smoke a cigar, but happened upon this lovely little nook during a Portland down pour with some friends and hoping to catch up and relax over a drink.
If you smoke cigars, I could see this being a fabulous establishment. The cozy and relaxing vibe, an open outside wall facing the street with heat lamps and blankets to keep you warm against the Portland chill while you enjoy your cigar, fabulous idea! Greater Trumps also offers a small bar-​food menu and drinks.
I was not impressed by the service, and it’s true, perhaps our waitress had reason for her rude-​ness (a very large wedgie?), but I was so hungry from being table neglected I nearly ate a coaster.
If you are looking for a cool, unique place to smoke cigars while having drinks I recommend Greater Trumps; if you are looking for a nice place to have a drink and light snacks and, don’t enjoy rudeness nor eating coasters… I would advise against it.

Greater Trumps is a McMenamin’s owned establishment; therefore the beer and wine selection is not the greatest as a general rule.
This is something of a cigar bar. On that front, it appears to be great for this purpose. I’m not an enormous fan of cigars, but I will enjoy one from time to time. Further, I happen to enjoy the atmosphere of cigar lounges because they are usually pretty laid back interesting places and I seem to just about enjoy the lingering cigar flavor in the air as part of the ambiance.
While I’m sure that, in this day and age, many people actively avoid places like this due to the smoke, I believe it is possible for non-​hardcore cigar smokers to enjoy cigar lounges without actually smoking a single cigar. So, I am of the view that, all types of people have the right review this business how they see fit.
In reality, if you are a business and you have more than one option and you have more than one type of customer, you are likely going to be judged on the entirety of your business as whole rather than one small aspect that you don’t even directly charge for.
Beyond Cigars. The ambiance is pretty great. The street view is a plus, and they have heaters that they use often. The lighting is delightfully dim, people go there to play chess or cards, have interesting conversations, etc. It is in my view how most places should be, but for some reason aren’t. In the end, I think every related business in town should learn something from Greater Trumps. Even if it is a McMenamin’s it seems to be the most ‘real’ of the lot where others feel like sterile Disneyland.
The bar selection is great. The ports on hand are standard but great. The juices are slightly overpriced but of a high quality. The food selections are standard McMenamins, but wait — they have a great happy hour deal on basic food items such as burgers and tots and fries. So, depending on the hour, the place can also be great on value.
In the end, I’m going to give it 4 stars and yet somehow I feel pretty confident that it’s not going to close anytime soon. I will also probably go back there from time to time because it’s a pretty decent place, certainly the only McMenamin’s I’d actually frequent in the southeast area.

Open air cigar bar with a great atmosphere, really friendly staff, and a nice little humidor if you forgot to bring your stogie.

Great atmosphere! 2^nd McMinnimans location that i have been to in Portland and was not disappointed! loved the wine and cigar selections. I would recommend the white and black rabbit wine.

The two people below who gave Greater Trumps only 3 stars (Janessa P and Marc P) clearly do not understand the cigar bar thing, so I find it unfortunate that they bothered to rate their Greater Trumps experience in the first place and bring their average star-​score down. This place gets 5 bright red stars, and here’s why:
First and foremost, places where you can smoke cigars indoors (which in my opinion is the best way to smoke cigars) are few and far between and dwindling fast. For we cigar smokers, places like Greater Trumps are a god-​send, and people who do not understand just how precious and rare these safe-​havens are, should not be rating them, in my opinion. If someone were to walk into Greater Trumps looking for drink selection and a bite to eat, yeah, I can see how it wouldn’t get a perfect 5 star review. BUT THAT’S NOT THE POINT! This is not a place to come to for dinner, or in a large group, etc. This is a place you come to relax and sip a drink to old jazz standards while you savor a cigar. And for what it is, Greater Trumps is my favorite place.
Not only are cigar bars rare, but even rarer are cigar bars that 1) serve alcohol and 2) let you bring your own cigars from home. When I lived in California there used to be a cigar bar that would charge about 3 times the price of a cigar. You pay for both the cigar, and the entrance fee into the lounge where you can smoke the cigar, essentially. The same cigar you pay $ 10 at a lounge you can get online in for probably as low as $ 2.50. In this economy, I would not be able to enjoy cigars, one of my favorite things, if I had to shell out $ 10 a crack. The ability to bring your own cigars from home is PRICELESS to me. Just make sure that if you do bring your own cigar, that you give Greater Trumps your money in other ways. Order a few drinks and something to munch on. If you only order one drink, order one of their choice whiskeys or ports, splurge a little. Do not come here just to smoke a cigar and not buy anything. That defeats the purpose, and damnit I want this place to stay in business as long as I live!
Greater Trumps is a McMenamins owned Pub, and I am grateful to the McMenamins for allowing cigar smoking here, in the Kennedy School’s Detention Room, and at Edgefield’s Little Red Shed. But there is something about Greater Trumps that, well, trumps even the other McMenamins cigar-​friendly locations. Maybe it’s G.T.‘s proximity to the Bagdad Theater? Maybe it is the cozy, sometimes open-​air feel to the interior? Maybe it’s the jazz standard soundtrack they play MIXED with the low-​lit philosopher’s-den ambiance? I am not sure, but I am sure that I am absolutely in love with this place. I am in all sincerity thankful that such a place exists.
TO THE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT SMOKE CIGARS:
Please refrain from giving low reviews to Greater Trumps or places like it. You just don’t understand. Yeah it smells like smoke in here, so don’t write Greater Trumps a one-​star review and complain about the smell! May as well give a one-​star review to a dance club and complain about the noise level! And people like me, who love cigars and fear the day that places like Greater Trumps cease to exist, want to do whatever we can to keep them in business. I, for one, do not dance. That is why I refrain from reviewing dance clubs. I simply don’t «get it». Likewise, if you don’t smoke cigars, please think twice before giving Greater Trumps a review lower than 5 stars. And no, I’m in no way affiliated with Greater Trumps or the McMenamins. I’m just a Portlander who loves cigars and is grateful to have such a wonderful safe-​haven to turn to.

Cigars, kitch and striking distance to Hawthorne Blvd. What more could you want? Oh yeah, the Bagdad is about the most unique space in Portland.

My friends and I started visiting Greater Trumps in 1995. I am happy to say it hasn’t changed much since then. As far as I can tell the décor has shifted a bit, but almost imperceptibly. There is a quote from Charles Williams painted on the wall a giant frog near the ceiling, and the same booths and tables as always. For years the greater trumps has specialized in two things providing a place to smoke cigars and try lots of different ports. They offer a full bar and many beers and food from the Baghdad next door as well, but cigars and port are the focus. It is a dark moody space with an aura of mystery and intellectualism about it. It is not a «swanky» cigar bar. My friends and I tend to have philosophical talks there that don’t seem to come up anyplace else.
With the new smoking ban McMenamins applied for and received clearance for Trumps to remain a cigar bar. The only thing officially allowed to be smoked inside now are cigars. I think the occasional pipe may not be noticed but they do have to be strict on cigarettes… no cigarettes, but OK for cigars. seems silly to me, but that is the rules
Tonight had a nice port, watched my friend smoke a fancy cigar and discussed the veracity of religion, and the priority of individualism Good times!

Wanna see how McHippies class it up? Better hurry before this place shrivels up and dies thanks the pink lungers.
I discovered port via my trucker friend Gloom. So last night, instead of stomping about in a dark, muddy field, we busted out our ascots and monocles and talked about our white man’s burden over a cigar and a few glasses of tawny. Well, no, none of that happened. Except for the cigars. I’m not sure what kind of port we drank. Gloom ordered. To be honest, I’m not even sure what an ascot is (like a scarf, right?). We did joke about suppressing natives, but we were actually nice to the bartender.