The Armory Lounge

This is such an unassuming cocktail lounge in the bottom of the Regency, and I feel it’s well worth a visit. Expertly crafted cocktails, genuine and friendly staff, awesome food. I loved the Maine crab melt and the lobster croissant was fantastic. Kids meals are balanced with roasted veggies and other whole food choices. Prices were below what I expected. I was surprised and pleased to find the Armory Lounge right under our nose. It’s well kept, dark, and delightfully cool on these dog days of summer. Hard wired Irish say, YAY!

On a friday night on the town my sister from florida was visiting me and we saw that this was the place to get a yummy cocktail. In the basement (or lower floor) of the regency the armoury feels like a mature stuffy bar but this is not the case. We were definitely enjoying ourselves and drinking pom-​bombs all night.

This is my new favorite bar. The bartender mixed drinks absolutely perfectly! She was friendly and knowledgable, she had extensive expertise about the liquors. They even have a collection of in house made liquors that absoultey delightful. I love the décor, the deep comfy chairs, the dim romantic lighting and the cool wallpaper of book shelves. I had the blood orange martini, which was sweet delicious and perfectly balanced. This is my new cocktail lounge hangout

This is a great dim lit bar to settle in to and indulge in your favorite drink! They have a specialty cocktail list that many of my friends ordered off of, while I decided to go with wine. The staff was friendly and immediately brought over a couple of their complimentary cheese plates. The armory’s atmosphere and stellar service will keep me coming back for years to come.

Easily the greatest cocktail bar I have ever been to by leaps and bounds, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed a good cocktail in many venues across many different states. There is something to be said about a place like this, but I was brought back immediately after going there.
First: Their bartender is incredible. I sat there for an evening sampling cocktails, and he knew the names of many of those who came in. Mind you that these weren’t regulars, but some people who he said he hadn’t seen for many months.
Second: Their cocktail menu is diverse, fitting, and downright delightful. You can order off the menu or ask for something else, but having samples roughly eight different cocktails I’m quite confident that everything there is phenomenal. I do highly recommend the blueberry mojito if in season as they use fresh mint, real Maine wild blueberries, and what I can only assume is love. I know for a fact I will be taking a trip back to Portland just to have this drink again.
Third: The ambiance is wonderful. It is a proper lounge. Dim lighting, mostly quiet environment, and a great place to have a cocktail, drink, think, make conversation, and enjoy oneself. Many people who come here wear jackets but they don’t seem to be required.
Fourth: The food is done well. They provide free snacks, during some afternoons they provide complimentary fruits, cheeses, and vegetables, and everyone who comes in gets a small complimentary snack plate as well.
Fifth: The service is top-​notch. Knowledgeable and intelligent staff members make you feel welcomed and provide expert service on top of the already talented and welcoming bartender. I believe this is the only place I’ve ever felt compelled to tip 50% gratuity.
In summary: This is an excellent place to drink like a Sir.

How do you write a review of The Armory without the mention of Portland’s finest bartender? If Sam Malone cheerfully knew everybody’s name in the ‘80s, then Ben Bragdon is surely Sam’s contemporary equal. A bartender’s equivalent to The King of Pop:

Ben, the two of us need look no more
We both found what we were looking for
With a friend to call my own
I’ll never be alone
And you my friend will see
You’ve got a friend in me
Sure, The Armory is a cozy retreat for a more mature crowd (and some who are still in route), but when you’ve made a friend in Ben, you might as well list The Portland Regency as your forwarding address.
Ben, you’re always running here and there
You feel you’re not wanted anywhere
If you ever look behind
And don’t like what you find
There’s something you should know
You’ve got a place to go
I don’t get too caught up in the Unilocaly stuff: Pour size, Wait time, Garnish fusion. They do a great job at The Armory. For me, it’s all about the people I’m with and the feeling of being welcomed with a genuine smile… and a water back.
Ben, most people would turn you away
I don’t listen to a word they say
They don’t see you as I do
I wish they would try to
I’m sure they’d think again
If they had a friend like Ben

The best little place in the old port for a relaxing drink with friends!
After many visits to the Armory Lounge I have become a fan of the dark and relaxed atmosphere. Great drinks and food plus the wait staff is very attentive. It is a very nice place to meet up with friends and just talk and relax.
The décor is classic 1970’s (the good parts), dark wood, and faux library wallpaper.
At the end of your visit you will feel a bit like Ron Burgundy!

Stayed at the regency resort and spa. Everything is amazing. Awesome and relaxing. The food and ambiance at the Amory lounge is great. Wood bar. Relaxing yet inviting. Service is great. If I’m ever in maine I would definitely stay at this resort. Though my fiancé and I visited at the wrong time. Jan is their down season. Not fun. But because of this resort we were able to relax and enjoy ourselves. Thank god for the Armory. Good drinks and food. Nothing else is this good around. Definitely worth just staying at hotel and earing at the Armory.

There’s something about this place I like. It’s very clearly a hotel bar in atmosphere and décor (love the dated cozy basement library feel), but the cocktail list is pretty long and interesting, and the professional bartenders seem to be using legit ingredients and techniques, so we were happy.
When we were there, the crowd was totally mixed, everything from a loud young bacherlorette party doing rounds of shots to some elderly folks enjoying a glass of wine, but I guess that’s par for the course when you’re in a hotel?

Stopped in for an after dinner drink and dessert. I love this cozy sophisticated pub.

Since moving back to Portland a few months ago, I’ve spent an awful lot of time hanging out in basements and cellars around the city. It seems like subterranean-​chic (I just coined that… I think?) is in, and The Armory Lounge is no exception. Given that ‘winter is coming’, I shouldn’t actively be hiding from vitamin D — but I do what I need to do in order to be trendy — and to maintain my pasty white, mole-​like complexion.
And in true root cellar fashion, this bar feels like it’s been preserved from the 70s. Or maybe it’s a ‘Midnight In Paris’ flash forward? Big puffy leather chairs, darkly-​lit corners, a large wooden bar, plush burgundy carpet and patrons in their 40s define the atmosphere in this place. Maybe I just imagined it, but are some of the walls actually adorned with ‘library’ wallpaper (and not actual books)? Even the pub cheese they offer with their complimentary snack tray — and the servers who serve them — seem to be a holdover from the 70s. The only thing this place is missing to complete the retro throwback is an impenetrable Marlboro haze.
We descended into The Armory on a Friday night and the place was packed. It seemed like a few holiday parties had dug in, and the crowd was VERY loud. I don’t know if this is typical of a Friday night, but I had to shout to be heard over the drunken cackling of the middle-​aged women who were taking full advantage of a child– and husband-​free night in Portland. As one could predict, service was a little bit slow due to how busy the servers were. I had a Shipyard ($ 6, from a somewhat limited selection of taps) and we hung out for a bit. Since our group was looking for more of a relaxed environment in which to have dinner, we passed on the menu and moved on after about 20 minutes.
After reading all the reviews I had pegged this as my kind of place. And it still might be, in ten years… once I age out of the trendier places and give in to the harsh reality of middle age. (I can’t wait to update this review in ten years). That said, I will be back at a different time of the week/​year to see if the vibe changes.

The martinis at The Armory are wicked good and the atmosphere is incredibly relaxing. The music is low and not overpowering and there is plenty of comfy seating.
HOWEVER I have been here on three separate occasions and have had some of the worst service each time. The first time we went was for a friend’s 21^st birthday and the waitress ignored us for most of the night and when she did come talk to us she was incredibly rude. The second time was with a smaller group and once again we were ignored once more and had to wait forever for a check. The third time was for my own birthday and we waited a half hour for our own drinks and then once again when we were ready to leave and asked for the check we had to wait another 45 minutes for it.
So overall while the drinks and the bar are really nice the service leaves a lot to be desired for unfortunately.

Friday night – fancy cocktails and complimentary crackers/​cheese plate? I’M THERE!
After seeing their cocktail menu online, I knew I had to check this place out! While the crowd tended to be a little older than what I’m used to (think 35+), I really enjoyed the atmosphere! The walls are lined with an awesome library/​bookstore wallpaper, imitating shelves upon shelves of books, the the lighting is dim, with cushiony furniture all around. Much MUCH better than the wet floors, loud music, and dark rooms where I can’t even hear the person next to me. My friend and I took a seat at the bar, where we ordered the Honey Badger and something fun with vodka and pear/​basil. While I did enjoy my sweet mug of hot Jack Honey + lemon, I kind of wish I tried something a little more fun! But no worries, I’ll be back again. The best thing about this lounge on this particular night was the people. First off, we saw some SWEEEEET snack platters being served. Upon sounding super excited, the lady next to me proceeded to share that they’re complementary, and she always used to get them when she lived in town and was a regular. Secondly, the guy that brought our check was super friendly, openly offering suggestions on brunch among many other places, after answering my question about happy hour!
Odd tidbit: this place is actually much quieter in the summertime, explaining their plentiful summer-​time happy hour vs Monday-​only winter-​time happy hour. (I got a little hyphen-​happy there, don’t you think?)

This place is an awesome «get dressed up with your girls and sip fancy cocktails» type of bar.
The atmosphere of this place is amazing. While it seems a little weird at first (in a side door and down a few steps), it is definitely a hidden gem! Even better, even though it is a «classy» establishment, there isn’t the snotty or extremely expensive service that normally comes along with that label.
Every drink that I have had here has been very well done. I have had more classic drinks (i.e. regular martini) and then some of their specialty drinks and I have never had a dud. They are always well made and promptly delivered to the table. While it can get a little crowded, I have always had excellent service.
I definitely would come back or recommend to friends.

For several months The Armory Lounge was mah thing. Literally, every Sunday I was there for cocktails and half-​priced appetizers. Half priced crab cakes and cheese-​plate? Yes please!
Our long-​time waitress, who’s name I embarrassingly admit I just can’t remember (probably because I was always floating on at least two of their delicious martinis… Natasha, Natalia??) was the greatest waitress ever! She knew us by name (which apparently I can’t say the same *shame face*) and drink, and even gave us a gift-​card to the lounge near Christmas time.
I always got the Almond Joy martini, extra almond-​y. I don’t know if they actually did anything special to the cocktail, but it made me feel special. It’s creamy, delicious, strong and has a cinnamon sugar coating on the rim. The crab cakes have gotten smaller since the last time I was there, but you still can’t beat half-​priced food and they’re still pretty good.
The atmosphere is dark and cozy? It’s a mash-​up of painted tables resembling marble, fake library décor, dim lighting, and cushy chairs. It’s definitely a lounge resembling an outdated man-​cave, but that’s never stopped me once from going. In fact, I kinda love it.
I’ll be back soon for my almond-​y Almond Joy Martini.

This is old port classic. Showed up late rainy afternoon and melted into a cushy chair… great happy hour, a must do before dinner.

Typically I drink beer, wine and the occasional margarita. But on this rainy Thirsty Thursday, my cohort and I decided to check out the Armory, described by fellow Unilocalers as a place one might find Ron Burgundy or Sherlock and Holmes, sipping a scotch.
On walking in, I could see the validity of this description. The décor was dark, with big leathery-​ish chairs and a lot of wood. However, I was a little put off by the large, loud group of people surrounding the bar– my favorite seat for the proximity to the tender– nor was I fond of the faint aroma of fish sticks (my least favorite food.)
So I found a quiet chair off to the side and perused the drink menu while I waited.
None of the drinks were what I would typically order, but I found the Pepino Picante– Spicy Cucumber en ingles– which I chose for its similarities to a margarita (tequila and juices). Plus I love spicy drinks.
I love it when I inadvertanltly order exactly what I didn’t know I wanted. SO DELICIOUS and not really like a margarita at all. It was refreshingly cucumbery with a gentle fiery kick to the finish. So light, not super sweet, and very easy on the tummy.
I was tempted to get another of the same, but decided to be a good sport and go for the Summer Fling. At first glance, this drink is pretty much the opposite of anything I would ever order. But summer cocktails (even in a dark basement bar on a rainy evening) call for fresh fruit. I had a choice of gin or vodka. Vodka wins every time. And who doesn’t love vodka soaked watermelon speckled with mint? The agave nectar in conjunction with watermelon took this cocktail to a slightly sweeter level, but not unpleasantly so. The Summer Fling is the perfect drink on a hot and humid day. It is the epitome of a summer cocktail.
My cohort had the Pepperoncini Pickletini because the worcestershire sauce in another cocktail was not vegeterian friendly. I’ll admit, I was dubious, but I can definitely see how it would appeal had I salt craving.
She also got the Fleur de Tea which I was slightly jealous of. It reminded me of the ever so slightly sweet sun tea my very Texan grandfather was fond of. It’s probably better that I did not order this. It seems like one of those sneaky drinks. Throw a few back and before you know it, you’re hammered!
Did I mention the cheese and cracker plate? I picked up a townhouse cracker and dug in to what I thought was roasted red pepper hummus. Um– NO. It was a huge blob of pub cheese. Not gonna lie, I was not dissappointed.
All in all? I dig it. I’ll be back. I can’t wait to see what they come up with for all the other seasons.

I specifically came here because of two other reviews: one person said The Armory Lounge would be a place that Ron Burgundy would hold court at; one said that it felt Sherlock & Holmes sitting room. Those two descriptions are VERY, VERY different, yet somehow… totally accurate.
The Armory Lounge set in the dungeon… I mean basement… of the Regency Hotel does have a dark, moody atmosphere to it leaving one feeling as though they should be solving mysteries with neat contraptions. On the other hand, because of the dated carpet and furniture, it’s also very easy to imagine an egomaniacal 1970’s news anchor drinking too much scotch while entertaining a crowd at the bar. Speaking of which… I was here at 5:20pm and brought the median age down by about 20 to 30 years. No exaggeration here, either. Kind of fun, since not a single other patron paid any attention to me or my counterpart (sometimes its nice to have a feeling of anonymity in a bar in Portland, no?).
We sat at a table on the side of the room in these awkwardly enormous chairs. I was having a fight with mine (it was like hot glued in a permanently angled position, and not being flush with the table was driving me nuts) when our server approached. She delivered complimentary snacks — some pub cheese (no matter how orange that stuff is, it still totally makes me weak in the knees) with an assortment of crackers and pretzels. Possibly one of the best free cocktail snacks in the city that you are most likely unaware of. My counterpart and I each had two drinks a piece… each one was FAN-​FREAKING-​TABULOUS:
1. El Pepino Picante (jalapeño-​infused tequila, triple sec, fresh basil and cucumber, with pineapple and lime juices on the rocks): A Jekyll and Hyde of cocktails, lemme tell you. At first you taste the delicious, watery-​yet-​distinct flavor of pure cucumber. One second later it’s followed-​up with the delicious sting of jalapeño. Such. A. FUN. Drink. It almost felt like a meal. The tequila (which I’m not a fan of) was very muted, which I personally appreciated.
2. Summer Fling (watermelon, mint, agave nectar muddled together with either Stoli vodka or Beefeater gin, served on the rocks, finished with club soda): Want to know what summer would taste like if it was a drink? This is it. Right here. If you are a fan of watermelon salads — you will appreciate this drink abundantly (NOTE: get it with vodka, not gin). It’s refreshing. It’s cooling. It’s garden-​y. It’s also got a TON of actual watermelon in it. Who doesn’t love second drink (Pam Beasley reference) as food?
3.Pepperoncini Pickletini (Stoli vodka splashed with pickle and pepperoncini juices): If you’ve ever done Pickleback’s before (and enjoyed them), it’s hard to not like this drink. Also, it made me crave pizza SO BADLY. I’m not usually one for savory drinks, but this was just gooooooooood. It tastes EXACTLY how you might think it would. My only advice? Get this drink with a garnish of olives.
4. Fleur de Tea (Absolut Wild Tea, house-​infused jasmine and honey green tea, a splash of St. Germaine Elderflower liqueur & lemon juice. Served tall on the rocks): What’s better than the most perfectly made southern sweet tea? Adult southern sweet tea that’s so dangerously delicious and easy to drink that after two you’d be walking sideways. This flavor profile — which I’ve only experienced one other time at Local 188 — is tremendously pleasing to me. If you like drinking tea, this is a wonderful, wonderful cocktail.
Now, I’m seriously put off my menus with no prices. To me that means that whatever you’re ordering is so inappropriately expensive that the business doesn’t want to scare you away. I have no idea how much our cocktails were, but I was expecting to hemorrhage a little money when the bill came. Instead, I had a near heart attack from shock when my tab was just $ 28 (that’s with tax). So during happy hour the cocktails are $ 7 a piece? WHAT?! WHHHHAAAAAAT???
Basically, what I’m telling you is that The Armory Lounge is one of the best kept secrets in the city. No, the atmosphere isn’t necessarily modern, trendy, or hip… but in a way that actually makes it ironically cool. And cocktails THAT cheap?! And drinks THAT delicious and stiff?! And service that solid (I didn’t mention it, but our server was great)?! Please… please… I’m begging you. Pretend you didn’t read this review so that I can continue to enjoy this place all to myself!

Now this place has character. It has the look and feel of a 1970’s bar from the second you walk in. The walls are dark and so is the carpet that lines the entire bar. It has a warm and cozy feel which is fitting for a city that practically lives in frigid temperatures and snow in the winter months. Even the chairs at the bars are cozy. They also have tables and chairs set up around the entire bar which is great for small groups or just to have conversation.
They have a great bar selection and serve all local beers since there are breweries in the area. I stepped outside of comfort zone and ordered a few ciders that were delicious. The bartender gave me a breakdown of the differences between all the ciders and beers they had, which is always helpful for someone who doesn’t drink beer.
Overall it’s just a real cozy and classy place. It’s located downstairs in The Regency Hotel and can be slightly hard to find, so just asked someone. I’d say this was probably the best bars I went to in Portland.

The «Dirty Bird» martini was the best martini of my life, and one of the best cocktails of my life, in general.
I was interested in getting a vodka gibson, but didn’t know what it was called or if I would like it. The waitress brought me one of the pickled cocktail onions to try, which I thought was very nice of her.
I’d go again just for the Dirty Bird, but would love to try some more of their cocktails.