The Vern — Restaurant in Portland

The Vern is no ordinary bar. It is a strange, beautiful secret stitched into the fabric of the city, a place that feels alive in its own quiet way. I don’t come here as often as I wish, life pulls me elsewhere, but every return feels like a reunion, as though the walls remember me even if the world outside does not.

The bartender greets me with a look amused, I am not one of the chosen regulars, yet somehow I am welcomed all the same. There is a subtle grace in their work, a gift for solving problems I did not even know I had. Every drink is not just a pour, but a kind of answer, as though behind the bar sits a sage disguised as a bartender, untying knots with a quiet flick of the wrist.

The walls themselves are part of the charm, lined with vintage, artistic erotica that feels less like decoration and more like a wink from another era, reminding you that this place doesn’t take itself too seriously, even while it carries a soul.

Step outside, and the patio unfolds like a hidden garden. Smoke curls upward in slow spirals, carrying secrets to the night sky. Conversations bloom here like wildflowers, laughter cracks open the dark, and time itself seems to loosen its grip.

The food comforts, the drinks delight, but it is something deeper that makes this place linger in me. The Vern is not only where thirst is quenched or hunger stilled; it is where the weight I carried in with me begins to fall away.

To walk through its door is to remember that refuge can be found in unlikely corners, and that sometimes the cure for a long day is as simple as a bar that knows how to hold you.

Five stars,...

There really isn't another place in the city like The Vern. The atmosphere is very unique in its rustic charm, catering to an audience of people wanting something more than just a dive bar.

The drink selections are fun and always delicious, the food is never low quality even on their busiest nights, the music selection alone is a huge reason to come here, and while their game selections are somewhat small it doesnt detract from the experience.

While the bar does have a very small limitation on things such as not having certain flavored liqueurs, the team is more than able to accommodate your desires by coming up with something off menu on the fly and when they do it, they do it right.

The Vern has come to feel like something out of Cheers; the people here remember you if you make an impression, and if you do, you're lucky to have a place that wants to treat you right.

If you've never been, come during happy hour from 2pm-6pm for good food and good drinks. You...

Fun bar, nice outdoor seating area, excellent bartender. The problem I had with it was that the tables outside are wobbly and unbalanced. At one point my girlfriend friend and I both sat on the same side and the table immediately tipped backwards onto us, sending ice and drinks flying.

In talking to some of the other oatrins who come here often, they say it happens all the time and the owner never does anything about it despite repeated complaints.

I feel like it's just a basic expectation when going to a bar. That you'll be able to sit down without ending up on your back with a drink spilled all over you.

And it's so dumb. For like $10 per table they could buy some hardware and bolt them to the ground for safety, but don't bother.

I guess they're waiting for someone to get really hurt before they do anything about it

So enjoy yourself there, have a great night, but be careful how...