Paydirt

Paydirt is a new project by Old Gold curated into the Zipper. Their focus on whiskeys is similar. It is spacious with an extremely long bar and tables, with the Zipper adjacent large room and the outdoor fire pit area as an extension. They have a medium size micro rotating tap list and usually at least one cider.
The weekend night we were there was busy. The barstaff was efficient, two bartenders and a barback/​chief glass collector/​and bottlewasher combined.
It appears to be a popular prefunk some nights; whether for the Hollywood Theater or Revolution Hall. If it is busy when you arrive, it could be empty 15 minutes later. That would be a good reason to pay cash, because cashing out a card when 100 people are doing the same at the same time might take some time. It’s not a venue issue, it’s physics.
Mark my words, with Sandy developing, we will soon have parking complaints like Division. There is a parking lot behind Hollywood Vintage. I think they may have negotiated parking there after vintage store hours — check the signs or ask. There is parking to the South across Sandy, but use the crosswalk at 28^th, it would be a shame to be injured crossing Sandy to get to the Zipper.
Good new venue, but no elk burger.

I wasn’t sure if I should review this place as each separate place or as the Zipper so I’m going with my gut any starting where we started off:
Whiskey!
Had the old fashioned and regular Manhattan both on the big rock. Well made, nicely done.
Bar was empty for happy hour. Cushy bar stools and booths and candles and fire gong outside for s’mores. Yes. You can order a s’mores kit and make yer own on the nice patio.
It got more people coming in while we were leaving at 6:30 — I hope they do well it is a cool space. Great drinks. Lush selection of whisky.
Cheers!

This place has 19 kajillion kinds of whiskey, pristinely displayed on a glorious wall of booze. You’ve probably seen places like this. Heck, Paddy’s Bar and Grill downtown also has a wall of booze. But this is different. This is a wall of whiskey. Of whiskey… and in this case, not even all whiskey but mostly Bourbon heavy. An American whiskey bar. Wow. I didn’t know there were so many bourbons.
This is in the new Zipper building, which is a funky sliver of a structure on 28^th and Sandy, which is a micro-​restaurant joint. You can go grab food next door and eat it here. It’s an interesting place. You should pop in and take a peek.

I loved everything about this place.
The back lit bar was gorgeous.
The food court area was large and clean and smelled of delicious foods.
The outdoor patio had fire pits and twinkly lights and will be an excellent place for a chill night out with a group of friends.
I have no idea how I did not know about this place already but I all of us on the Barfly NYE party bus were thrilled to discover it. While we did not have time to eat, we all grabbed a drink and took some fun photos in the old school phone booth.
This is somewhere I can’t wait to bring my dinner club to, because there is something for everyone.

Had my first visit to this establishment earlier this evening and will definitely be back!
Super knowledgeable and friendly staff who are never pretentious and always helpful. I’m usually a Jameson rocks guy, but it was nice to find some other superior alternatives at a similar price point.
Also, I accidentally spilled a very little bit of my Double Mountain Gypsy Stumper IPA pint on the way back to finish reading my book at my table, and someone from the bar staff came out to my table and calmly cleaned up the mess I had made instantly without any judgement for my clumsiness.
Long story short, super dope spot! Glad it’s in the neighborhood and looking forward to catching a Blazers game here soon.

Paydirt is my goto, everyday bar. The staff is great. The selection is scalable, so I can buy a $ 2 can of something on an off day and a bottle of bubbles or some great whisky/​whiskey when I’m on. The brown liquor selection is pretty deep, and while the focus is on American whiskey, they also have some solid scotch finds and a good number of Japanese bottles. It’s easy enough to go there just for a drink, but it’s also pretty easy to grab some food from the other spots in the Zipper and have a whole meal. Seating can get a little tight in the bar itself, but with the large common area and the picnic tables outside you can usually sit even when it’s busy. Their Old Fashioned is a point of pride, and it’s fantastic.

Hallie is the best! She can make a proper Old Fashion and they have the good ice cubes for whiskey. Really neat space.

Overzealous barkeep cuts off friend after two drinks with little interaction… then proceeded to not charge her tab. Not sure what’s going on here but won’t come back. Don’t joke at the bar?

Although I have only been once, I am sure I will be back to sample more from their fine selection of rye and bourbon whiskeys. The prices were reasonable enough to enjoy a couple. And hello! They have a Fernet tap! Get an Über or DD and get to it!
We sat in the common area, but I would enjoy sitting in the bar next time. There isn’t table service, so grab a stool at the bar if you want to stay put. They don’t serve food, but since there are a number of restaurants to choose from in The Zipper you can imbibe AND indulge the drunk munchies.

I don’t believe in reviewing an establishment after a single visit. Everyone has their off nights. Other times, you may need multiple visits to really get a feel for a place.
I’ve been to the two-​month-​young Paydirt twice now (with my third visit on the near horizon), deftly attended by the pleasant Hallie. On my most recent visit, she didn’t bat an eyelash when I requested a Rob Roy three consecutive times, each iteration wishing to experience with a different scotch (Bowmore 12, Ardbeg 10, Talisker 10). All three beverages were crafted wonderfully.
Classy industrial décor is my bag and Paydirt delivers in spades. The simultaneously spartan but effectively edgy style gets me hot and bothered. Whisper seductively to me in terms of polished concrete flooring, grey walls, and exposed steel or iron, baby. In terms of physical space, the bar is massive, featuring a gorgeous deeply lacquered bar top seeming to stretch into oblivion like an infinity pool. As an individual prone to claustrophobia, this was a welcome feeling. Dimly lit Edison bulbs support the dark, edgy, sexy vibes I crave to chill and sink my teeth into a place. The bar’s back-​lighting illuminates your spirits alluringly, augmenting their already enchanting qualities, all amber and various other beautiful rusty shades. I could stare at this shit for hours. I don’t have to be baked to do so either. I simply own face that much.
True, Paydirt focuses on liquids (and that they do). However, as other Unilocalers have stated, patrons are free to roam to adjoining spaces where vendors offering yummy nom furnishings await. In addition, the falafel place was stellar, bringing me my decadent chick pea balls while I sat on my ass like the lazy bastard I am savoring Hallie’s tasty Rob Roys grooving to the Smiths presented at a comfortable sound level. I don’t care what you say, I like the Smiths.
Paydirt’s location is both a positive and negative for me: negative in that it’s location doesn’t lend itself well to people-​watching a bustling streetscape, positive in that it’s removed enough from said bustle that I haven’t had issues with parking or intrepid bicyclists doing their best jousting charge.
I’m critical. In the end, I feel that’s the whole crux of such a website… strange, I know considering the drivel that some rookies try to pass off as a «review». Perhaps the only reasonable improvements I could imagine are having a few cozy individual couch chairs or displaying strange videos like Victory does. I haven’t seen them pollute my dim industrial artful sexiness televising sporting events. That’s fine they relegate them to the next room… just not at the bar. The juxtaposition would have been… off.
The single pleasant restroom might present a small challenge on busier evenings??? Say hi to Dolly when you’re there taking care of business.
As the main entrance is behind patrons seated at the bar, that layout I find slightly unnerving because I’ll be caught with my proverbial pants down when Michael Myers sneaks up behind me to inform me I’ve dropped one of my beard elastics. Then he’ll give me a high five and carry on murdering rookies providing lame reviews. I could perhaps choose a seat that’s not directly in front of the entrance? Hmf, maybe. Hooray for the patio and fire pits!
Paydirt is a hella damn cool establishment. I really wanted to award a 4.5 but I’ll have to settle for 4 stars here. Thanks, Obama! As mentioned, I’m returning soon.

Great aesthetic, even better service. Really nice (and fairly extensive) whiskey list, knowledgeable bartenders. If you love whiskey, as I do, this is a must try. Nice that they have a fellow occupant of the zipper building to be their food option until 2 am. Vietnamese fusion & great whiskey? Yes. Please. Give it a try, you won’t be sorry.

The Petite Soeur concocted by the lovely Freedom is the drink you need to order. It will make your day the best, even after a day ‘workin’ for the man’. Get here now before she is whisked away.

So many great bars have been closed in this neighborhood over the years that I was hesitant to pledge allegiance to any new spot. Paydirt changed the game. So many whiskey choices and excellent customer service. Awesome bar, hell yeah.

Checked out Paydirt for the first time last night and I will be returning! Cute bar in the new Zipper building. I like how you can take your drink anywhere within the building, yet they are all separate businesses.
These guys really know their whiskeys and the drinks are delicious! I tried the Old Fashioned and Whiskey Sour.
The inside of the bar is dark and intimate. Small tables and large to accompany multiple size of groups.
I can’t recall our bartenders name but she was very nice and personable! That can be hard to get in hipster Portland sometimes: p
Paydirt your name is odd but I love your bar!

Really a perflect place for a couple of drinks and food from outstanding food from the adjacent restaurants…
Freedom is a bartender who really gets how to connect with her customers and provide the best drinks for whatever occasion you happen to be drinking for.
definitely making a return trip!

Another great bar by the crew that brought Portland Old Gold. Unique drinks and a definitely comfortable atmosphere, good music, and with rapid service at the bar. It’s a bar for people that enjoy bars. Whiskey selection is nuts and the food cart extension is unique to say the least. Rua is available during all bar hours-​so on point. PD also has firepits and outdoor seating if thats your thing too. You know Paydirt is good when it draws industry people away from other national award winning speakeasys to work here. I will definitely keep coming back!

It’s a solid place with a cool atmosphere, friendly staff and tasty cocktails!
My boyfriend really loved the way the bartender made his Sazerac, light on the absinthe and super clean. I ordered the Dealer’s Choice Old Fashioned — it too was super clean and neat, but I secretly wish I had been treated to a different, lesser known bourbon (even though I reckon they up the cocktail price with the choice of whiskey — but if it’s dealer’s choice, do you unknowingly foot the bill?) I’m a little sad they don’t offer food right there at the bar, but I’ll admit you can walk through the doors and grab snacks from 3 nearby options, it’d be nice to offer some easy bar snacks directly there?
All in all, I like to think it’s essentially an east side Old Gold but with more beer taps (yay!) and no food. (ah well!)

Great bar for the Zipper building. Love the bourbon selection. Friendly staff and killer drinks!

Came here on on their second day open. Really good crowd! Glad to have a bar in this area that’s sort of the mid point between Club 21 and Church. Subtle hip vibe but nothing off putting.

Fantastic bar with an outstanding whiskey selection. They’ve even got cocktails, beer, wine, soda, and Stumptown coffee. You can bring in your own food or gram something from the Vietnamese or New Orleans restaurants next door.