Eagle Portland

Why is google trying to hide this review? (My views do not necessarily reflect that of all patrons or staff, so have those conversations with your friends and weigh cultural appreciation against appropriation.) I know in today's world, this will sound controversial, but this review is posted with care and the genuine desire to have a marginalized perspective understood. Please keep that in mind when reading. I support inclusive spaces, and I am happy that they do exist for all genders and gender-fluid individuals nowadays. And at the same time, I appreciate that this is still a place where traditional gay men (If there is such a group?) can go to be themselves. What some patrons may not often stop to consider is how some of us gay men who have challenges or trauma from different genders throughout the years may feel unsafe to dress (or undress) how we want, or to act how we want in a space of mixed company. There are straight bars, gay women-focused spaces, trans spaces, and ally spaces throughout the city, but the spaces strictly for gay men are no longer what they used to be. I can't tell you how many times I've been at older gay bars (most of which no longer exist) and a bachelorette party comes parading through full of ladies who think that it's appropriate to grab every man they see simply because he is gay and "[their] boyfriend/fiancee won't care." It's embarrassing. There is a difference between being inclusive and being intrusive or invasive, and simply because someone is an ally doesn't necessarily mean it's appropriate to inhabit certain scenes. Over the years I've felt, as a "traditional" gay man, there are no more places to go where I can be 100% myself and dress up (or down) without feeling like I am being judged or viewed as a zoo animal. The Eagle still provides me that space, and I appreciate that. Please consider cultural appreciation. Men - please keep this in mind when bringing your lady friends who walk around the place sipping wine and gawking at those of us in underwear and harnesses. There are places that may be better suited for them to go, and plenty of ally bars in the city. We love you all, we just still need a space for just us. The bartenders are fantastic, and the vibe is still classic gay men and themes. I absolutely feel like I can be myself here. Hopefully it stays this way!

I went in the door and there was a five dollar cover charge. I don’t carry cash, so I was told to sign up through Venmo. Sigh… Fine. I go through the process and Venmo didn’t take my phone number. I asked about an ATM and I was told it was out of order. REALLY?? You’re going to charge a cover and you won’t take a card for it and you have a broken ATM? I was told to come here at the recommendation of three people… I drove 8.5 miles to get here. I’m SEVERELY disappointed.

I really like it here. The only thing I wish was given more thought was the smoking area in back. After a certain hour the back patio space gets a lot smaller (understandably as there are neighbors and the noise concerns make sense)—as a result it can become a little bit too smokey to sit and comfortably enjoy the night air. I would like to be able to sit back there and not wake up the next morning with me chest and throat hurting. I imagine there has to be some kind of equitable solution. Overall I want to say that I really enjoy the place though.

Dark, cruise-y, sexy, wild, gross, friendly, dangerous. A greatest hits of any place attempting to call themselves "eagle." Unabashedly proud to appeal to gay men, it can at times get over run with the other letters of the alphabet so look at their calendar to decide what flavor you are into. I like to go solo but often meet new guys. Best night is undoubtedly Thursday. Leather representation is a surprisingly weak point as generational change continues. I grew up in this bar. So many memories and explorations of my masculinity and community.

Have loved coming here regularly for the past 5 years, but really don't love getting scolded by the bartender for asking them to stop patrons from breaking the bar rules. Apparently, according to Jaren, masturbating isn't "sexual activity" unless they're ejaculating directly onto me. The Leather, Kink, BDSM, and LGBTQ+ communities are all founded on a basis of consent. I come here under the assumption that this should be a safe and comfortable space based on the implicit contract this sign on the door creates. There are not many good safe spaces left for LGBTQ+ folks these days. The Eagle has been my last safe haven for quite some time and I would really hate for that to change. Yes, I understand that this bar is BDSM and kink focused, but BDSM and kink are not inherently sexual. There is no way you can spin or frame blatant public masturbation as anything other than sexual activity. It's one thing in a thick crowd where you're not really sure what's going on on the other side of that wall of people, but during the slowest time on the slowest day, right between the back door and the patio where I have no choice but to walk past you if I want to use the bathroom or buy a drink... that's just absurd and a violation of my consent; I didn't sign up to be a voyeur in your exhibition fetish. I'd really love to see this place following their own rules since this is the only place left where I can spend time with my friends and really be myself. I previously rated this bar as 5 stars and will be happy to do so again once I know this has been handled appropriately. The staff and owner know how to reach me considering I'm there several times a week and am a former employee. Cheers. Edit: I've been informed by the owner that I'm banned indefinitely due to "slandering" the bar online. Legally speaking, "slander" requires something to be knowingly untrue, and none of the contents of my review were untrue. The owner did confirm that the bartender was in the wrong and let me know that they have been coached on how to correctly handle similar situations in the future. (And also that he would be fired, but I doubt that's true and genuinely hope it's not the case.) He asked me what my side of the story was, but did not let me tell the story before he interrupted and started scolding me for slander and asking me to leave. I asked him if he would actually hear my story, and he agreed, but interrupted me several times in a defensive manner before finally telling me to see myself out and not to come back until he says otherwise. Unfortunately, this means I have no safe social spaces left in PDX, as everyone I know chooses this bar as a meeting/hangout point. For a bar that claims itself to be a safe and welcoming LGBTQ+ space, they are living up rather poorly to the claim. I broke no rules of the establishment. My only "wrong" was giving a negative (and truthful) review because I had no idea who to go to for this issue. I also made it clear and fully intended to set the review back to 5 stars as soon as I was told that similar situations would be handled appropriately in the future, leaving no real grounds for a "slander" claim. Hope to see you around, Portland. And keep in mind: it's not safe to raise concerns at Eagle Portland, apparently it gets you banned. P.S. the food is great. If you're gonna go at all, make sure to support Meat Daddy in the patio.

A Portland Gay Bar Staple. Not your everyday atmosphere, and curious patrons should be aware of the bar’s scene in gay culture. Great for a dive bar drink, friendly bartenders, great patio, lusty patrons to drink with.

The Eagle has always been one of the few spaces where gay men could feel completely at ease—free to express ourselves without outside eyes or mixed social dynamics. Lately, that feeling has shifted. With women now regularly attending, I personally feel less connected to the space. It changes the energy and takes away from what made this place feel unique and sacred for our community. I don’t say this to be exclusionary, but because spaces like this are rare, and it’s hard seeing that special dynamic start to erode.