Joq’s Tavern

A low key gay neighborhood bar. Divey, but I prefer that. Good for beer or drinks that are not complicated. If you want fancy drinks or fancy food, this is not your place. Good bar food and brunch on Sunday.

Very good neighborhood gay bar. New owners in the last few months. Some renovation and a new staff. Drinks /​Food both very good.

Nice, laid-​back place. Would have given it 5 stars but the TVs need to be tuned down a bit. I find that I have to shout to have a conversation.

What a dump! I love it though.

When they invented the phrase «couldn’t care less,» they were thinking of the bartender. I don’t have much hope that the cheese sticks will inspire much more enthusiasm.

Went back a second time. Not a friendly crowd this time and the bartender seemed more interested in picking up a very young man, than being a bartender. Very disappointed my second time there.

I live next door so I randomly come in with friends when we have nothing to do and I either have a really awkward time or just an okay nothing special time. It’s small and they have a pool table. They do have this artwork of a lion mounting a naked man that I have had many deep discussions about and have tried to find online. If the owners ever want to sell it I hope they send me a message! Next time you are in there try and find this artwork and have lots of discussions about it! It’s my favorite thing to do there.

I can’t give a gay bar one star, but they pretty much deserve it.
Been here a few times recently and each time I wonder why I go back.
The drinks are watered down. We complained and he bartender added a dash of vodka and turned away. Drink beer only from this place.
The place needs a makeover. What’s with all the random things hanging from the ceiling? It’s tacky and creepy, and adds nothing.
The music is an odd mix. However the bartenders are quite rude. When paying customers like myself choose music in the overpriced jukebox ($ 1 a song!) and they don’t like it, they hit skip and go back to playing their own music. They should be ashamed.
There always is just one bartender working, and always out smoking cigarettes when you need to close out your tab or get another drink. With proper management and employees that actually care, Joqs should be much busier. Instead they just crap the bed.

The staff needs to all be replaced. Probably the worst service since the Fox & Hound. (And we question why gay bars have a bad reputation as being shit.)

We had never been in here and thought we’d check out the only gay bar in Portland we somehow missed. I think this would be a great place if you’re a local, but it felt like everyone knew each other inside and almost awkward. I also love me a dive, but am not a fan of sitting on plastic lawn chairs. The bartender was very nice though and I will say, even though everyone may have known each other, they did offer us a piece of their birthday cake!

I like this place as a neighborhood hangout, but the drinks are kinda over priced and they pour really weak drinks, or their liquor seems watered down.

Pretty horrible bar overall. Very neighborhoody and friendly but the staff are awful. Joe (or John), the young one that has been there for a while at night is lazy and would rather be outside smoking with his core group of friends than actually serve a drink. And don’t come here for a heavy poor. They don’t use jiggers but maybe they should so you would actually get a real drink. Stick to beer because the cocktails are weak. Nice location but would improve greatly with better staff. Skip this and go down the street to the Rose and Thistle.

Alright, went back for Taco Tuesday and it wasn’t nearly as awesome experience as our first night (the previous Sunday night). Tacos were very reasonable (2 for $ 1.50, or 2 tacos + a Corona for $ 4) but I suppose you get what you pay for. I’d take Taco Bell’s tacos over Joq’s tacos for sure. (For the record, Joq’s cheese sticks are still epic and delicious!). It was also a different bartender from Sunday who was nice, but not nearly as friendly nor possessing as good skills at the bar. Ordered a Sunburn again, and it wasn’t made as well (for example, the original bartender even juiced the oranges himself) and it was in a much tinier glass which isn’t as fun. I originally gave Joq’s a 5 star rating because I was so impressed (they certainly earned a 5 star that first night) but revise my rating to a 3 because in reality Joq’s is A-​OK.

I’ve been here once before and had a blast. I always come in solo and they treat me good. No complaints!

Joqs is a solid-​chill gay bar in the Irvington neighborhood. The bartenders are spot on, incredibly sweet, and always make sure drinks kick you in the face. I love the retro pencil drawings of men in various positions on the walls behind the bar. I went here the other day and the bar had a spontaneous group bingo session. It was lighthearted and a perfect way to bring everyone together.
I will always count on this bar to be exactly what it should be. Great service, cheap food, and quality stiff drinks. Come here with a good group of friends. Bring dollars for the juke box. Get some fries. Kick back in the most unassumingly cool gay bar in town.

The bartenders make this older-​set, established gay dive bar what it is: real. Joe and Drew are the rare breed of bartenders who are genuine and really want to get to know their guests. In addition, they bring a continuously younger clientele that expands this stark grey and black room into a fun place to want to visit with much frequency. This is why the additional stars.
Food quality is average, though taco Tuesdays where you can get 2 tacos for $ 2.50 is a great deal, especially since they outclass any taco joint I’ve had in recent memory. Taco Bell, forget about it! There is regular pool-​playing and plenty of room to spread out and not feel crowded. Straight-​friendly too, as long as respectful.

I have gone here more then a few times, as it’s right down the way from where I live. I’ve gone here with friends and my boyfriend. It is very comfortable at Joq’s, has great deals on tasty food and drinks, and the staff are super awesome! Plus the crowd is nice and chill as well. If you want to chill, and be around a crowd that is non pretentious and welcoming, as well as have some good food and drinks at a low price this is the place to go on Broadway!

I was lucky enough to be literally around the block from Joq’s when I stayed up in Portland for spring break and once again when I visited in the summer. I know a lot of people may think «oh, that’s convenient,» but it means a lot more to me. In Hawaii, there’s no such thing as a «neighborhood» gay bar. All our bars are in Waikiki, where tourists outnumbers locals drastically. Driving 15 miles to meet people I am guaranteed to never see again may have its charm for those that are into casual sex, but I prefer the company of casual locals that are more interested in getting together.
Now you know my bias about me being an outsider and this type of gay bar. So please consider knocking a star off of my review due to me coming from an underdeveloped gay community; my standards are possibility very different than yours in that aspect.
During Spring break, I spent most of my evenings here. Portland people are absolutely some of the friendliest people, no doubt about that. What we have in Hawaii as the Aloha spirit is quite similar to this city’s Northwest spirit. So striking up a conversation is quite easy. Almost everyone was interested in talking to me, the «new guy.» But there was definitely a lot of encouragement from the bartender, Michael, whom told everyone I was from Hawaii.
When I first went to Portland, Joq’s was a little musty and had the feel of late-​1980/​early-​1990 bars. Some neons, a mural on the wall, an Elvira pinball machine. The second time I went to Portland, they just finished a renovation and brought it to 2010 (on a budget). They wisely repainted the walls, put in a modernized glass door with their logo etched in, added a mirror as a writing board, and perhaps changed the lighting. If Joq’s were a person, I would consider this renovation like a hair style change moreso than plastic surgery. In that aspect, it retains its charm.
They have about 10 beers on tap, a pretty standard bar, and food specials during the day. I didn’t check this most recent visit, but last visit they had steak specials during Thursday happy hour or something along those lines.
So yes, a different person may have given Joq’s three stars for «A-​OK,» I am giving this the 4 starred «Yay! I’m a fan» because I actually am a fan. I want neighborhood gay bars here. In the future, if I ever choose to leave this island, neighborhood gay bars will most likely influence where I move to.