Vault Martini Bar   

226 N.W. 12th Ave.
Portland, OR 97209
503-224-4909

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Swank and inviting, Vault is anything but cold. Color tones are warm browns and ambers. A glowing fireplace and stylish, low-slung couches, make Vault seem less like an underground chamber, and more like George Clooney's living room... bartenders and all. Popular after work, Vault is also a low-key stop for a nightcap after dinner at one the Pearl District's upscale eateries (Bluehour is right down the street). The martini inventions show an admirable restraint. While they may not hold to the letter of the law, they hold to the spirit, with clean, elegant mixtures rather than frothy, saccharine dessert drinks. Fruits like cantaloupe and pomegranate, and herbs like cilantro, ginger, and thyme, create fresh and aromatic flavors. Don't miss the herb-infused margaritas and a whole rainbow of champagne cocktails. The menu, which looks like the quarterly poetry collection of some small press publisher, is great fun to read. The best of the drink descriptions are virtually short short stories. The kitchen offers a concise list of highbrow tidbits like artisan cheese and duck confit.