What it is: When Portland International Airport unveiled the results of a three-year renovation project in August 2024, it invited blinking passengers into a bio-cathedral built of Douglas fir. Six dozen large trees add to the evocation of the Oregon woods as shafts of light fall from skylights as if to the forest floor. The best way to take in this splendor? That would be this outpost of beer-savvy Portland institution Loyal Legion, whose airport pub has 96 taps and a view of the whole concourse.
Why it’s great: Sitting one story above the hubbub, drinkers can settle into comfy faux-leather chairs and drink from a vast menu of local beers—virtually all from Oregon—or enjoy cider, wine, or cocktails. The food is eclectic, including a fan-favorite artisanal corndog—a treat that may have been invented in Oregon—and many plant-based selections. It’s not just a great airport pub—it’s one of the best pubs in the city, full stop. Located outside the security gates in Terminal 2, it’s accessible to the public and an ideal place to gather before or after a flight. Oh, and local policy caps the airport’s food and drink prices, so they cost about the same as they would downtown.
Hours: 9 a.m.–11 p.m., daily
Address: 7000 NE Airport Wy, Portland, OR
Web: loyallegionbeerhall.com/pdx/
