Mendelssohns (also known as MendelssohnsPDX,[1] or Mendelssohn's) is a bar in Portland, Oregon. Established in 2022, the classical music-themed business was named one of the best bars in the U.S. by Esquire in 2023.

Mendelssohns
Map
Restaurant information
EstablishedJune 2022 (2022-06)
Owner(s)Lisa Lipton
Street address3955 North Mississippi Avenue
CityPortland
CountyMultnomah
StateOregon
Postal/ZIP Code97227
CountryUnited States
Coordinates45°33′06″N 122°40′33″W / 45.5517°N 122.6758°W / 45.5517; -122.6758
Websitemendelssohnspdx.com

Description

edit

The classical music-themed bar Mendelssohns operates on Mississippi Avenue, in the north Portland part of the Boise neighborhood.[2] Willamette Week has described Mendelssohns as a "narrow, industrial space".[3] The bar hosts Operaoke (opera karaoke).[1][4] Among drinks are: the Red Mendelssohn, which is a blood-orange manhattan named after the 1720 Stradivarius violin that belonged to members of the Mendelssohn family in the early 20th century[5] and inspired the 1998 film The Red Violin;[6] the Bach Talk (Dirty martini); and the I Play the Fifth (tequila sunrise).[3]

History

edit

Lisa Lipton opened the bar in June 2022.[2] It has been described as the city's first classical music-themed bar.[7] Mendelssohns was named one of the best bars in the U.S. by Esquire in 2023.[2][8]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Operaoke, Begun as a Lark, Has Grown in Popularity, and Each Week the Cream of Area Musical Theater Professionals Shows Up". Willamette Week. July 19, 2023. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Profenna, Chiara (June 12, 2023). "Mendelssohn's bar is demystifying classical music with cocktails and Operaoke". The Oregonian. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Theme Bars for Every Mood". Willamette Week. April 20, 2024. Archived from the original on May 11, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  4. ^ Harris, Emily (June 14, 2023). "Best day ever: Operaoke host Lisa Lipton". Axios Portland.
  5. ^ "The Best Bars in America, 2023". Esquire. June 1, 2023. Archived from the original on May 31, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  6. ^ "Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1720, the 'Mendelssohn, 'Red Violin". Cozio Archive. Tarisio Auctions. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  7. ^ "Portland's Got Its First Classical Music Themed Bar". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  8. ^ Russell, Michael (June 1, 2023). "Two new Portland bars make Esquire magazine's list of America's best". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
edit