Booze and babies? Taking your littles out to a bar might be an odd pairing, but Portland has some great spots to get an adult beverage and enjoy grown-up conversation, all while the kids play, nosh on tasty snacks and have fun. Cheers to that!
Hopworks Urban Brewery
Located in the Creston-Kenilworth neighborhood, this brewery was designed with families in mind. (Hopworks also has a location in Vancouver and in the airport.) There’s a kid-approved menu, with mainstays like tots and chicken fingers and pizza, a dedicated play area for littles and pinball machines for older kids. While they are playing, enjoy a cold one, made from certified salmon-safe hops. Hopworks also has a solid cocktail and spirits menu.
Deschutes Portland Public House
Families are raving about Deschutes Brewery’s new substantial children’s play area surrounded by dining tables. The play area features play kitchens, a train table, tents and more. Their kids’ menu includes classics like mac & cheese and buttered noodles, but also seared salmon and a side salad for budding foodies. Come for the play area and stay for the scratch made food and 26 beers on tap.
Zoiglhaus Brewing Company
The Zoiglhaus building has been rebranded as The Zed, a new food hall that is home to not only Zoiglhaus, but eight other independent restaurants. But this large beer house in outer Southeast is still as family-friendly as they come. An inviting atmosphere abounds, plus you’ll find a solid play area for kids on the pavilion. The kids menu includes the classics (burger, mac & cheese). On the beer front, this brewing company specializes in German-inspired beers with a PNW twist.
McMenamins Kennedy School
Given its history as an old elementary school, it’s not surprisingly that the Kennedy School is a kid-friendly destination. Kennedy School has lots of options for hungry families — from grabbing a slice at their movie theater to grabbing a pint in the Cypress Room. While you’re there, don’t miss the Baby Blockbusters, or the relaxing soaking pool.
Sasquatch Brewing
This Hillsdale brewpub has a creative line-up of beers and ciders — Tip of the Riceburg rice lager anyone? — plus, kid-approved bites like mac & cheese and chicken tenders. It’s a community hub located in a historic 1920s-era building.
Lazy Days Brewing
Lazy Days Brewing has taken over the Ex Novo locations in North Portland and Beaverton, but don’t worry — they still offer an impressive variety of IPAs, pilsners, sours, lagers and more on tap. Whichever of the locations you visit, you’ll find friendly staff, a solid kids’ menu, including the “best grilled cheese ever” and fun non-alcoholic drinks for children. The Portland location has a kids’ play area, and there’s one coming soon to Beaverton after the expansion. You’ll want to spend all your days here, whether lazy or busy.
Old Town Pizza & Brewing
Fun fact: Old Town Brewing Company’s downtown location is said to be one of the oldest buildings in Portland. Built on top of the Shanghai Tunnels, perhaps that’s also why the location is rumored to be haunted. The small batch beer is scary good. And the service is top-notch: They’re quick with the crayons and coloring sheets, and have great food for kids and adults alike. (Because hello, pizza.) Old Town also has a Northeast location.
Little Beast Brewing
You’ll feel like you’ve been invited into someone’s home at Little Beast Brewing, because it’s literally located in an old Craftsman house. This small, family-run business specializes in rare craft beers brewed locally.
Double Mountain
Come hungry and enjoy one of Double Mountain’s famous pizzas. You can even buy a pizza kit to bake at home on your way out. They offer a kids menu, and a large selection of beer and cider. For those not partaking, they also brew their own non-alcoholic ginger ale and root beer.
The Sports Bra
The Sports Bra is so legendary it’s easy to forget it was only founded in 2022. Showing only women’s sports on the screens, 100% of the time, it’s a great place to support and empower women and girls — and eat great food and drink incredible beer, cider, cocktails and mocktails, while you’re at it.
Steeplejack Brewing Co.
Steeplejack offers a family-friendly games area at each of their three pub locations, from corn hole to pinball to shuffleboard. Don’t miss Family Night at Steeplejack Pizza and Beer, where kids cheese or pepperoni pizza are half price (with a purchase of pizza for you). If you’re looking for incredible ambience, visit their Broadway location inside a restored early 1900s church.
Crux Fermentation Project
Born in Bend and finally making its way to Portland, Crux features a great upstairs area where kids can get a few wiggles out before the food arrives. This brewer-owned pub “commited to brewing perfection,” offers a wide variety of beers, wine, whiskey, cider, and also their NØ MØ family of non-alcoholic beers.
Readers Recommend
The truth is, most pubs in Portland are kid-friendly. Here are more local favorites recommended by our followers on Instagram:
- Loyal Legion
- Rachel and Rose Double-Decker
- Level Beer (Has an outdoor play structure!)
- Lucky Labrador Brewing
- Hip Chicks do Wine (not a brewery/pub, but great!)
- PDX Urban Wineries (not a brewery/pub, but great!)
- Breakside Brewery
- Hoppy Brewer
- Stormbreaker Brewing
- Birdsview Brewing Company
- Great Notion
- Wayfinder Beer
- Migration Brewing
- All McMenamins Locations
- Threshold Beer
- Baerlic Beer Co.
Is a glass of pinot noir more your speed? Check out our round-up of kid-friendly wineries!
.jpg)
- Portland-Area Chanukah Events - December 9, 2024
- Third Trimester: The Home Stretch - December 9, 2024
- The PDX Parent Dining Guide - December 5, 2024