Olive or Twist

The bar with the clever name.
Comfortable seats, great drinks, low lighting
and great slaps to get you dancing. Just a
couple of stand outs at this hot spot in the
Pearl District.
Great place for an after party or late night
drink and bite. Bartenders and staff are cool
and accommodating. Candle lit tables add
a comfortable, inviting touch .
I had the Peruvian cocktail, it was spicy, sweet
and savory. what I call the «triple threat»
But most of all, this place is built for comfort
and plenty of privacy to have convo with friends.
I’ll be back for sure.

I truly loved this small cocktail lounge. Me and a couple girls came out to Portland for a little road trip from the Bay Area and happened upon this small spot for some cocktails. We all ordered different drinks advocated by our server. We told her our taste in drinks and she proposed a few to attempt. She nailed it! I adored my superb hot and spicy mango purée cocktail trimmed and infused with SERRANO PEPPERS!

My girlfriend and I stopped by for drinks after dinner on a Friday night and were very pleased with the atmosphere and drink quality at Olive or Twist. Would definately recomend and will return again!

The best «dark» bar I have been to in a while. Dark meaning, it is really dark inside, but the bar is lit and I can find my way to that, so all good. I have the Spice Peach Martini and let me say, GET IT~! It is a spicy one though, so like the heat or don’t order it. LOL.
It has an old world brat pack feel about it and the patrons looked like they were all pretty much regulars. Very down to earth place looking to deliver quality. It was a great first stop for our evening of fun in Portland.

I’ve been here twice. The first time was by accident while waiting for our table at a nearby restaurant. The second time was on purpose. Both times, found the food ok, the drinks great, and the service fantastic (especially when sitting at the bar). I’m a classic drink kinda gal so I stick to the martinis, but it’s nice to find a bar that actually makes them well. Prices are right where they should be IMO. I wish I lived or worked closer!
It’s a fun place to bring out-​of-​town guests who are Grimm fans since they filmed a scene in this bar (BTW, it’s hilarious to be watching TV and then exclaim to your other half, «Hey, we’ve been in that bar! That’s that place!» LOL).

I really like this spot. Cozy, intimate.
The martinis were awesome, and I’m a martini snob. I also like the chocolate dessert martini with godiva, THAT WAS GOOD.
I shook the owner’s hand, super cool guy, really chill. 10/​10, would recommend.

What a cute little find in downtown PDX! Not only do I thoroughly appreciate the pun-​ny name, but the craft cocktail menu backs up the title. It’s an intimate setting — mostly an L shaped bar with lots of small two-​tops: perfect for an intimate conversation or date. When my husband and I stopped in last weekend, we were not the only couple in the area. We ordered martinis and they were quick, crisp and clean. All in all, not terrible prices either — $ 8 – 10 for a «fancy» drink. Unfortunately, we had dinner reservations elsewhere so we didn’t get to partake in any food here, but the menu looked delicious and we’ll definitely be back for future date nights!

We like the setting but service was a little frazzled. Considering it was about a third full, we guessed someone didn’t show up to work that day. We ordered candied walnuts with our martinis, but when we wondered why they took so long, they served them cold rather than have us cancel the order. Like out of the bag, dumped in a bowl rushed. The patio looks good, the martinis were OK but that stunt makes it easy for us to not come back.

Olive or Twist is the place to go for expertly crafted drinks. Gabe is a master mixologist and is always willing to go off menu to mix up the perfect drink for you no matter what you’re looking for. I recommend taking a seat at the bar where you can watch Gabe work his magic and chat with Sam the owner whilst he does the rounds…

Maybe the best dirty gin martini I’ve ever had. Joan had a Marionberry (local specialty berry) cosmopolitan which was also excellent. I ordered a second martini, but Joan made the mistake of asking for a Bellini (off the menu). This wasn’t good. I’m not sure what was in it, but it tasted like sparkling white wine with something very sweet added. It was an extra $ 3 for this.
Lesson learned. Stick to the menu, and you’ll love it! Their specialty is martinis.
Nice loose feeling vibe. High ceilings and lots of space. Not too loud, and positive cheerful vibe. Less hipster, more madmen.

Not being someone that knows much about cocktails, this place had me intrigued as we walked in and I definitely want to return. Wether it be on a date or to meet some friends here before heading to dinner downtown, I liked it!
Prices were reasonable, the staff were friendly and I kind of wish it were closer so I didn’t have to drive downtown to get to it! I think it’s in a fine location though. The outdoor seating is nice, I wish they had a few more tables for the summer– but maybe they do and haven’t put them out yet? Not a negative though, because there are plenty of seats inside as well. It’s a long, rectangular room… well…bar. So there are tables you can sit at by the window or hop right up to the bar instead.
I love that they do have a menu for food as well. I’m not someone that can sit around sipping on booze without munching on something, so they have charcuterie plates and such that looked nice and I’d be interested in trying out next time.

This neighborhood gem is the perfect spot for an evening drink with, or without, a crowed. The intimate atmosphere was welcoming and relaxing. Their drink and food beverage is fun and delish. I ordered a marionberry cosmopolitan. It was refreshing and made me feel quite fancy. :) I am looking forward to my next visit. Oh! Sam, the owner, is super nice and chats with his patrons when we walks through.

Great jazzy atmosphere, prompt and friendly service, and the easily the best Sazerac I’ve had this side of the Mississippi.

Dark, cozy and quaint. A perfect place to converse, sip a martini and enjoy jazz as it plays in the background. Sam is one of the most engaging business owners I’ve encountered and one of the reasons I keep coming back.

When we first moved into our neighborhood me and my roommate were on a search for a place that we constantly visit that would become «our bar». I am happy to say Olive & Twist has become our bar and we are total regulars.
The staff is incredibly friendly and made us feel absolutely welcome from our first visit and to every single time we come back. I can’t say enough good things about Gabe! He is an extremely talented bartender and will leave you asking for more of his handcrafted cocktails.
Now here is the part where I rant and rave about how delicious the food is. The cheese place is a must try and so are their house infused pickles. If you are looking for some tasty drinks and a wonderful ambiance, Olive & Twist is your place.

I love this place! This is my local bar and it feels like a second home. The ambiance is cozy, staff is incredibly polite, and they have top notch service. I’m a regular at this place simply because of the great staff, awesome charcuterie board, and warm welcomes I get whenever I swing by. Yes, the bartenders have a sense of humor, but if you want fake smiles and cheer, I’m sure you can find an Applebee’s somewhere to accommodate those needs.
Overall, awesome bar, great staff, and Gabe makes an amazing Jameson and ginger.

Loved the marionberry martini and the food was not too shabby either. Great ambiance. Our server was nice. Add live music and we will move in.
We’ve never sat inside since the outdoor patio has been our jam in this beautiful weather.
Worth noting– Closed on Mondays and the outdoor patio closes at 10pm.

I have never met such a rude bartender. He was a total prick, making these stuck up little comments whenever my girlfriend or I would ask something. I didn’t want to even stay but my girlfriend did, so we found ourselves a table outside so we wouldn’t have to deal with him.
Lo and behold, he came back 10 minutes later to deliver our drinks with another smart ass comment. What a dick. Too bad the service was so awful, because the drinks were pretty good. I’d rather grab a beer at Tilt just a few blocks away any day though. At least the bartenders there are friendly.
Skip this place, hit Tilt or River Pig or Henry’s where people know how to be friendly!

Love coming here just to relax and have a martini. They make amazing drinks, I highly recommend the Pearl it is a white chocolate martini, the chocolate hazelnut as well. All of their drinks are wonderful!
The pasta the comes with their paninis is amazing as well.

So you’re riding the train and you’d like to grab a decent meal near the station. This is a lovely place to go, and it’s just a short walk away. Nice, dusky atmosphere, great cocktail selection, excellent bartender.
I had a gimlet and a classic martini. From the menu: the smoked salmon carbonara. This was my first experience of bucatini noodles. They seem so much more decadent than their skinny cousins. I’ll be whipping up some of my own this weekend.