Kelly's Olympian Reviews

Black and Blue special. Go to check out the vintage motorcycles. Great crowd. Get the mystery beer or bar beer.

You want a good selection of tap beer? Go here. You want a great pour of spirits? Go here. You want serious atmosphere and deep Portland? Go here! It’s a great bar! Just go… You’ll get the picture!

I always make sure I stop by Kelly's for a drink and something to eat on my Portland trips. Interesting Decor and decent food and Cold Beer!

Didn't catch our bartender's name, but she was awesome! Excellent service, stiff drinks and a really cool atmosphere. Had some appetizers that were really good: deep fried mac and cheese balls were a drunk's dream and the wings were good too!

Fresh salad with house-made dressing that they should totally bottle and sell...crispy fries with a choice of things to dip in and excellent sangria. None of these things were expected when our taxi driver recommended his favorite dive bar place for a quick lunch downtown, but that's what we found at Kelly's Olympian. Add quick friendly service and lots of other food and drink options, and you've got a definite return visit!

Dropped in here solo by direction of the host at my hotel. She nailed it. Great bar, lotsa friendly locals and smack in the middle of downtown. If ya like motorcycles and history - drop in for the big Euro and American bikes hanging from the ceiling. Great beer selection and decent food list. But, yer coming here to hang with the gang, and laugh and create memories.

Kelly’s are some big i…… I could not get in (I am 51 yesrs okd) because I did bor have a printed passport or drivers licens but only on my phone as I’m from Europe. Bye, bye Kelly’s, I have taken my business elsewhere. Idi…..

I didn't care for this place at all really.The interior is is kind of cool with the hanging motorcycles but the staff was very non caring and very inattentive at the bar.It took a while to get them to even want their money when i had to pay almost as if they didn't care about that even.The food was VERY VERY average and they were also slow in my opinion.The menu has NOTHING different or unique about it and the bathroom was needing cleaning.I won't be coming back here.

Good prices, very efficient staff and a great atmosphere (motorcycles handing from the ceiling and gas station) - what more could you ask for?

Great old school motorcycle themes inside. Our food was hot and fresh and the drinks made well. Supposedly a dive but not in my opinion! Staff also friendly!

I just love the friendly feel here... sorta like Cheers. You don't have to like bikes to enjoy all the biker stuff everywhere... hanging from the ceiling, on the walls. Just plan fun and next door you can hear live music. they have great breakfasts but the happy hour and Caesar Chicken salad and Rueben's are dellicious. Very fun bar to spend any evening in....

We really liked this place. I wouldn't call it a dive bar- it was a little nicer than that. Seems like this is where the locals hung out. Nice drink selection- overall just a fun place to hang out.

Went here with a friend in March 2016. The bar was decorated very neatly. Ordered some food which was very good, good waitstaff, and excellent selection drinks. Central location near the hotels in downtown area. Would definitely come here again.

Stopped in for a burger or a snack and found out they serve salads! Always see people with baskets of delicious looking fried things, but I am not big on this, so I opted for a Cobb Salad and man was I surprised! Got a delicious bowl with a well-composed bunch of fresh veggies, grilled chicken, and what looked like organic field greens. Was not thrilled they had no blue cheese or 1000 Island dressing, but the ranch was pretty good and complemented my salad perfectly. Kelly's has a long history as a bar and they also feature live music and comedy. Love the vibe of the place and it is a mishmosh of some of my other favorite places in NYC, London, Berlin, and Philly (aka HOME). Always good music and friendly service. Sunday football here is the bomb!

The bouncers were pretentious jerks. We were visiting here from out of town and heard this might be a fun place to grab a drink. We were sadly mistaken. Do NOT waste your money here.

Awesome. Old school Portland with a cool vibe, great brew selection and fun buildout. Great place to stop in, watch an 80s movie and soak in some talk in a place that’s like time-warp. It’ll be two days later when you step back out. Really.

Decent beer menu. Food was good. Surprisingly clean for a dive bar. Very eclectic. Great spot for the motorcycle enthusiasts in your group and the location is great!

Solid semi-dive bar. Good beer list and a fairly low key. Always seems to be crowded. Lots of cool decor all over.

Local bar that is a bit of a dive filled with locals and tourists in the know. Good assortment of reasonably priced drinks.

A proper old school bar. Just want a drink and a bit of music. Then this is a good place. Goes on late and is safe too. Good location in the city too.

We stumbled across this bar whilst looking for a cool place for a drink. Really lively with lots of choices for beers. We also had food which was fine. Friendly staff and really buzzing!!!

Kelly’s Olympian is one of my favourite downtown bars. It is a very old place that was established back in 1902. Portland’s third oldest continuously operating bar/restaurant. And it has changed hands since it first opened. In the process it has experienced a unique make over from the old days when their were speakeasies and tunnels under the city that lead to the ships on the river. Back when loggers, shipyard workers and sailors came into town to spend their money. And enjoy a few of their vices. One of the owners has a great collection of motorbikes. There are about a dozen vintage motorbikes hanging from the ceiling above. And the bar is filled with great retro items. Signs and neon lights from earlier days. My favourite are the classic red Mobile gas station neon signs of the winged horse– Pegasus. These are right at the bar behind the bar itself against the wall. Making this place easily the most awesome place in town! You can sit at the bar and drink a pint and admire the signs and the vintage motorbikes above. Or you can sit across from the bar at one of the tables and take it all in from a distance. Walk up to the bar to place your orders. I tend to order the Kelly Burger ($8) or the Route 66 Burger ($11) and a pint of dark beer when I stop in mid-day for lunch. Afterwards, I then stroll around back to the area that they have their video poker machines located. And play a few games to see if I can pay for my lunch if I happen to get lucky. It has happened a few times. Hence my frequent lunch visits when I happen to be downtown. Kelly’s Olympian also has live music at night. You can enjoy their music venue in an adjoining room next to the main bar. For most music there is a modest cover charge. Of course like many of the old buildings in Portland that go back to the days of Shanghaiing Portland, you hear tale of haunting and ghosts. If this place has any ghosts at all, then I think I know where they might be. They are sitting up in the ceiling. Sitting on those motorbikes up there. Looking down on the mortals below. Like Daredevil, Ghost Riders In The Sky. Open 10 AM to 2 AM Happy Hour every day from 4 PM to 7 PM and Sunday through Thursdays from 11PM to 1 AM

we biked downtown for an errand and wanted to have lunch at kelly's olympian...we each had an oly, and the veggie gardenburger and salad...my partner had the beer/cheese cup of soup too..the food was delicious.the decor and staff are superb.......she was was great!...a man in an electric wheelchair came in counting change on a table..we gave the staffperson a twenty dollar bill and said to buy him a drink/food for lunch, but don't tell him who did this....she was great again, and keep it under wraps...thx so much!

Just a fun bar. No pretensions. Minimal hipster BS. And they support local music (we went this weekend to participate in the Bigass Boombox indie music fest). Food was normal bar food - nothing spectacular. But how often do you go to a true bar for food?

This is a quaint, fun little bar in the heart of downtown Portland! Fantastic selection of everything and a great staff to boot! This is a really easy walk if you are staying in the downtown area! And...lots of cool looking neon, just a fun little hole in the wall! Totally enjoyed it! Oh and lots of good seating - inside and out!

Gotta love Kelly's. I stop in every time I am in Portland. I sometimes finish my night/morning there and then make it back the next morning for breakfast.... Large draft selection, whatever booze you can think of and good bar food. Burger was great as was the Kickstart breakfast sandwich. They have music and open mic and all the good things a bar should have. Its popular and often crowded at night but what isn't. Decor is gear-head inspired with vintage motorcycles hanging from the ceiling. Yes, hanging from the ceiling. Bar tenders/tendresses are friendly and attentive. I have nothing bad to say. Last time I was there, a dozen guys from Dallas, dressed in Santa costumes were on their second stop of the morning on a day long booze cruise. You never know what you're going to find at Kelly's

I've had the pleasure of both seeing bands here as well as playing here. Great staff, and an awesome sounding room. This place is pure Portland and in the heart of Portlandia.

Met a friend here for a few drinks. We had a great time. Games on the TV, cold beers in hand and a slightly ruckus environment lead to a good time. Jeff has done a excellent job on his neon collection.

We were out just looking for a bar, rather than a restaurant and were attracted by the prominent neon sign, and we were not disappointed, as on entry we were, not only greeted by a huge bar it was decorated by vintage motorbikes suspended from the ceiling. There was a great selection of beers and man, after just completing a 6 week, 10 city tour of the US, they had the most delicious cheeseburger slider in the country. Unfortunately for us we were leaving Portland that nite, because they also have a live entertainment every night. This is a must see venue in Portland.

A great spot to kick off the evening, as well as end it. The mac and cheese fritters w mayo and siracha are a must try!

You want to go native? Kelly's is it. Longtime local hangout. Good beer selection, good service, decent food. We stopped for happy hour, the menu is varied, tasty, and all at a great price. Service was prompt and friendly. Recommend a visit.

This is the third oldest continuing operating bar in Portland, and there is not another bar like it. Vintage motorcycles is the theme and there about 12 of them on display in the bar as well as cool original neon signs. We went there for breakfast and loved it. Giant portions, great value and delicious. The biscuits and gravy were every bit as good as we make at home. Flaky biscuits made in house and gravy loaded with sausage. Definitely worth a visit if you are looking for a pure Portland experience.

Awesome ambiance with actual motorcycles and street signs hanging on the walls. CHEAP late night happy hour every night...quesadillas are bomb. Ask for the secret jalapeno popper sauce, it's amazing.

Who knew you could find a biker bar in downtown Portland. We were searching for a different kind of experience and decided to give Kelly's a try. Old style bar, long bar with a tables across from it. A number of great old motorcycles hanging from the ceiling. They had a good selection of beers on tap, I tried a stout that I had not had before. The menu is short simple but delicious food, mostly burgers, my wife had a Reuben that she loved. Burgers were good and definitely have the deep fried Mac n Cheese balls.

Food/drinks great value and tasty. Bar has great vibe and colorful setting. My concern really came down to being in a racially mixed group and one of the bartenders really flunked out in my expectations. Thankfully there was another bartender working and we moved down to his side of the bar. If the people I was with weren't so chill, when we realized what was happening...several of us ladies were ready to make a scene. I'm really glad another bartender was working. In spite of value and vibe when something like that happens, I definitely question whether I would patronize the establishment again.

Had a decent dinner. I would have appreciated wait people rather than ordering at the bar. My Reuben and Tater Tots were well prepared, although I've had better. Was very loud. OK, I'm over 60 years old and this was not my cup of tea, but I loved the setting including the vintage motorcycles decorating the room.

My husband and I enjoyed a drink the the decor in this popular little bar. There are motorbikes hanging from the ceiling and around the bar plus bike signs and parts on the walls. A very interesting place and friendly staff

Cool motorcycle motif. Felt welcomed and accepted the minute we walked in. Good beer and good drinks. Did not have food.

First night in Portland, we wound up at Kelly's Olympian. Rad biker bar with neon lights all over the walls. Grabbed a Couch Lager and a rad time. Lil dive-y, but I like that.

Nice bar good choice of beers, good food not expensive. Nice decoration as a biker bar, a little bit dark. Pinball and video games. Waitress and waiter are pretty nice. I recommand this bar!

I've been coming here for well over a decade. Never again. The food over the years has been good, but frankly, the service has been very lacking and when someone can be seated in full view of the bar for fifteen minutes on a not particularly busy day without even a simple acknowledgement, much less bringing a menu or even stepping out from behind the bar, well, your service sucks.

I'm from Portland, but haven't lived in the city for almost 20 years. Since then, the number of true dive bars has gone way down, and in their place there has been a surge of wanna-be hipster bars, full of 20-somethings trying too hard. If you're looking for a real dive bar, with great drinks and atmosphere, then Kelly's is the spot. There are motorcycles hanging from the ceiling, massive old time gas-station signs, neon everywhere, and of course, everyone working there sports multiple tattoos and piercings. Despite the fact that I look nothing like that, I felt perfectly at home there. The drinks are cheap and quick, there's plenty of great seating, lots of tv's and just an overall great vibe to the place. No wimps allowed.

Great selection of microbrews decent food, can't get enough of the Couch beer great and the motorcycles hanging from the rafters, always a must go to establishment when I visit the beautiful city of Portland Oregon..

Fun cool place met our son here to grab a couple drinks since we just got in to town for a visit with him. We did have to go to the bar and order our own drinks until the bartender realized we were there, he was the only one in the whole place serving drinks. We did order nachos and they were pretty good.

Great service, nice friendly staff. Awesome architecture and lots of great memorabilia. Fantastic motorcycle collection and great food bar.

It's weird...cause you wouldn't think that I would care about a biker bar in the middle of downtown PDX. However, throughout the years this has become my go to spot. The bartenders are nice, the atmosphere is comfortable and they always have random concerts and karaoke. I love either starting out a night or ending a night here. The drinks are great and so is the food! I've moved to NYC since I was a "somewhat regular" here, but I was able to visit again last week and get myself a Kelly's Olympian t-shirt to remind myself of all the good times!

We went to Kelly's Olympian and we had a great time. Very nice atmosphere, reasonable priced drink, good friendly service. Plus they had live music and a nice pinball machine. I will be going back

We were in here 3 times in 2 days. Young crowd at night, old regulars in the morning. Try the Bobber. Also had breakfast there, very good and extremely reasonable. This place is full of vintage motorcycles, the BMW over the bar is just like one my dad has, he rode it over the Alcan in 1958.

I have been patronizing Kelly's for a long time and always was treated fairly. But recent experience was horrible and embarrassing, but that's what most business downtown are doing. Security name Taj would not allow me to enter because I did not want him to take my bag and go through it as if I am being detained and searched for wanting to have coffee. I have seen him let white tweekers in carrying drugs, weapons etc. That's Kelly's Olypian Jim Crow bar. You will be marked as being racist if you go in Kelly's Olympians bar in Portland Oregon.

We have walked by dozens of times and finally went in last night and we were very impressed with the decor and how nice it is inside. We will be back!

We wanted to spend an interesting weekend for V-Day and Kelly's helped to complete that experience. Great big giant Mobil Neon Pegasus signs decorate the back of the bar and that this just the beginning of the journey. We had a nice cold beer and talked with a lady who said she had be coming there since the early 70's. Very interesting stories of her life in Portland and three husbands later she is till coming to Kelly's. Not to mention all of the all of the motorcycles hanging by chains from the ceiling. Nice afternoon. I would highly recommend the experience. Go there now......life is too short to miss this place.

Kelly's Olympian has such an eclectic atmosphere with vintage motorcycles, bicycles, guitars, gas station signs, etc. hanging all throughout the bar. Motorcycles actually line the ceiling hanging directly over the bar. Very cool. The food is also really good and the bartender we met was really nice and friendly. Definitely worth checking out!

A relative took me to this bar downtown Portland that had the best collection of old motorcycles hanging from the ceiling, great beer selection, hard liquor and very good grub. It was Sunday afternoon and we caught the end of the brunch specials. We ordered a tasty order of homemade biscuits and gravy for a very reasonable price. The staff was very nice and while we were there they offered everybody in the bar an opportunity to see a live comic in a room connected to the bar. The have live entertainment at night and open mic on Sunday. Good stop after Saturday Market

As soon as I walked in the door of Kelly's Olympian I knew it was my kind of place. Vintage motorcycles hanging from the ceiling. Johnny Thunders playing on the jukebox. Miller High Life for a buck and a quarter. It's dark and comfortable, with a nice long bar to sit at, and a good selection of beer including several of Portland's many microbrews. The food is pretty good and the jukebox is loaded with old school punk and classic rockabilly and rock n roll.

I am a business traveler. I like the happy hour crowd and the specials. I went here twice this trip. My MO is typically cheap, no beer snob here, and this place didn't disappoint. Mystery draft beer during happy hour $1. Tasted like Rolling Rock. I also had the $6 for a PBR and Jack shot. The vintage motorcycles hanging from the ceiling set the atmosphere. Cool place downtown. I say go.

I love divey little bars and Kelly's was recommended by pretty much every local we spoke with. They have a ton of variety, plenty of seating, and knowledgable bartenders. They have pretty much any kind of beer you could imagine on tap, at very reasonable prices. The Oregon lotto was there passing out free Keno tickets (woohoo!).

Arcade in the front and gamblin in the back ;) great beers on tap and bikes over head. Skip the food but the venue is awesome.

Outside of the bartender accidentally catching his giant Afro on fire and stinking up the place (he was fine and it was hilarious), we had a great time here. Knowledgeable and friendly bartenders and the drinks were very good. We'd definitely go back.

This is my favorite neon dive bar. I love the nostalgic neon lights they have in this place. Especially the old classic Mobile red winged horse. This is a good place to have lunch or spend happy hour enjoying the atmosphere, the beer, and the good food.Servers are friendly and helpful too! I just discovered that they Have a Beatles Pinball Machine now. and I sure which I had brought a pocket full of quarters. So I played only one game on it. then went in back and played a little video poker.

If you are looking for a good drink and place to hangout, this is your place. Arcade games, stiff drinks, good bartenders, good food from breakfast to late night.

Kelly's Olympian was a great experience. The specialty drinks were luscious and inexpensive. The menu is varied. I had the hummus plate and I couldn't finish it! Nice, friendly people here.

Picky uptight patrons need not apply. This place oooozes authenticity and a wide range of eclectic locals and interesting characters. Deschutes is great, take your mom! if you want the gritty other side, Kellys has it all. Met some really great people, tried some amazing local brews and ciders and did it all in a super cool laid back spot. Live music venue next door is very modest and based on my visits is a great showcase for those up and coming soon to be famous artists.

This was our night spot when we stayed in Portland. Good ambiance and cool staff. Plenty of local beers and plenty of good eats.

Kelly's has been around awhile, since 1902 and theme is obvious......tried the BLT. Very good. The bread was a tasty, plenty of bacon--as it there should be. Barkeep was nice, good service. Prices are reasonable. Try it, worth stopping in.

This is a damn good destination for people who believe in 'motorrad' and not name brand image! It's a bar for motorcyclists...'nuff said!

From the outside it looks a little run down but once you walk through the door the red neon lights, large bar and motorcycles hanging from the ceiling all come together to make the perfect place to kick back and have a few drinks. Great bear selection the food is good. It’s not a fancy place but it is the place for me

Came in here for a couple of drinks and loved it. Friendly staff and great drinks, really felt like a local bar where I was welcomed. The motorbikes hanging from the celing were an amazing touch.

First of all, this might be the best bar in Portland. Great atmosphere with excellent bartenders. Often has live music next door. The best part is that they also serve breakfast, which is cheap and delicious. If you don't mind a place with a little edge to it, or eating breakfast in a bar for that matter, I'd stop in and give it a try. Rest of the the menu looked decent enough, but didn't try anything else.

While spending a few days in Portland I luckily stopped in to Kelly's Olympian. Tony and the rest of the Sunday crew (Miranda and Thomas) were not only very helpful with making a list of top places to visit but they make some amazing drinks. Definitely stop by for a great experience at a local favorite. I'll be back the next time I'm in town for sure!!