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Spirit of 77
The bar's exterior in 2021
Map
Interactive map of Spirit of 77
Restaurant information
Established2010 (2010)
Location500 Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, 97232, United States
Coordinates45°31′36.2″N 122°39′41″W / 45.526722°N 122.66139°W / 45.526722; -122.66139
Websitespiritof77bar.com

Spirit of 77 is a sports bar and restaurant in Portland, Oregon, United States.[1][2][3] Opened by Nate Tilden in 2010, the bar operates in the northeast Portland part of the Lloyd District. It is named after the Portland Trail Blazers championship season (1977 NBA Finals) and displays team memorabilia. Donald Kenney and Damian Lillard have been co-owners.

The business was named one of the nation's best sports bars by Esquire in 2011, Thrillist in 2017, and The Daily Meal in 2018. It is also among restaurants that earned Tilden a nomination in the Outstanding Restaurateur category of the James Beard Foundation Awards in 2016.

Description

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The bar and restaurant Spirit of 77 operates in the northeast Portland part of the Lloyd District. It displays Portland Trail Blazers memorabilia.[4][5] The interior has multiple television screens, a drop-down projector,[6] and games like darts,[7] skee-ball, and Pop-A-Shot.[8][9] The Portland Mercury has described Spirit of 77 as a "cavernous shrine to the Trailblazers".[10] The upstairs event space is called Lil' Spirit.[11]

The menu, described by Serious Eats as "gourmet stoner food", has included nachos,[12] burgers topped with potato chips, charcuterie boards, fish sandwiches, hushpuppies with jalapeño jelly,[13] and a "local farm salad".[14] For the Super Bowl in 2011, the bar's specials included hushpuppy corn dogs, toasted ravioli with short rib and pork belly, and a Wisconsin cheddar and beef sandwich.[15] Drink options include beer and cocktails.[16]

History

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Opened by Nate Tilden in 2010,[17] the bar is named after the Portland Trail Blazers championship season (1977 NBA Finals).[18][19] The business has been described as a collaboration between Tilden's Clyde Common and the Ace Hotel, including the hotel's co-owner Jack Barron.[20][21] Donald Kenney and Damian Lillard have also been co-owners.[22][23]

Spirit of 77 closed temporarily for kitchen renovations and updated the menu in 2012.[24][25][26][27] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the bar planned to operate a patio bottle shop for take-out drinks.[28] Andrew Gregory has been a chef at Spirit of 77.[29]

The bar has hosted viewing parties for Portland Fire,[30] soccer[31] (including the Portland Timbers),[32] and other local and national sports games.[33] In 2010, Spirit of 77 screened a boxing match between Antonio Margarito and Manny Pacquiao.[34] The bar hosted a viewing party in 2011 for Top Chef, featuring contestant Naomi Pomeroy; mayor Sam Adams also attended the event and gave Pomeroy a "Fork to the City".[35][36]

Reception

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Interior bar, 2023

Spirit of 77 was included in Esquire's "best bars" list in 2011.[37][38][39] In 2011, Bill Simmons of ESPN said the bar was "perfectly named"[40] and Michael Russell of The Oregonian described the business as "hip".[14] Spirit of 77 was ranked Portland's fourth best sports bar in the newspaper's 2016 readers' choice poll.[41] In 2016, Tilden was nominated in the Outstanding Restaurateur category of the James Beard Foundation Awards for Clyde Common, Olympia Provisions, Spirit of 77, and The Richmond Bar.[42][43]

Noah Davis included Spirit of 77 in Thrillist's 2017 overview of the nation's best sports bars.[44] In 2018, the business ranked number 105 in The Daily Meal's 2018 list of the nation's 150 best bars.[45] The website's Shannon Darnall also included Spirit of 77 in a list of the nation's 50 best sports bars.[11] The Daily Meal said the business was Oregon's best sports bar in a 2018 overview of the state's best food and drink,[46] and Kaitlin Miller selected Spirit of 77 to represent Oregon in the website's 2020 overview of the best sports bars in each state.[47]

In 2010, Tilden won in the Empire Builder of the Year category of Eater Portland's annual Eater Awards; additionally, Spirit of 77 was nominated in the So Hot Right Now category.[48] The website's Allison Jones said the business "popped-a-shot over every sports bar in town, and then some".[49] In 2019, the website recommended the bar for sports viewing near the Moda Center and the Oregon Convention Center.[50][51][52] Spirit of 77 was included in Willamette Week's 2011 list of Portland's ten best soccer bars.[32] The business won in the Best Sports Bar category of the newspaper's annual 'Best of Portland' readers' poll in 2015,[53] 2016,[54] and 2020.[55]

References

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  1. ^ The Oregonian:
    • "Bar toasts Blazers' glory". The Oregonian. October 12, 2010. p. 20.
    • "Bar toasts Blazers' glory". The Oregonian. October 12, 2010. p. 21.
  2. ^ "'Spirit of 77' redefines your notion of the typical sports bar". The Oregonian. October 14, 2010. ISSN 8750-1317. Wikidata Q139856820.
  3. ^ "Portland entrepreneurs give Rose Quarter a Trail Blazer bar, city officials dream bigger". The Oregonian. October 11, 2010. ISSN 8750-1317. Wikidata Q139856821.
  4. ^ Trail Blazers fans recount playoff-making win against Suns, Oregon Public Broadcasting, April 15, 2026, Wikidata Q139856828
  5. ^ Hanlon, Luke (January 1, 2026). Portland Trail Blazers. North Star Editions, Inc. ISBN 979-8-89824-024-0.
  6. ^ "5 Portland sports bars where you can watch every wild March Madness moment this year". The Oregonian. March 18, 2026. ISSN 8750-1317. Wikidata Q139856831.
  7. ^ "Drink 2011: Listings A-to-Z". Willamette Week. January 25, 2011. ISSN 2640-5857. Wikidata Q139856832.
  8. ^ "From Jenga to Pac-Man, these are Portland's 10 best bar game bars". Thrillist. February 25, 2014. Wikidata Q139856834.
  9. ^ "Vote for the best sports bar in the Portland area: Readers Choice Awards". The Oregonian. January 14, 2026. ISSN 8750-1317. Wikidata Q139856835.
  10. ^ "Burger Week Profile: Spirit of 77". Portland Mercury. August 11, 2014. Wikidata Q139856840.
  11. ^ a b "50 Best Sports Bars In America Gallery". The Daily Meal. September 18, 2018. Wikidata Q139856859.
  12. ^ DeJesus, Erin (October 11, 2013). "Cookbooks at the Farmers Market; Spirit's Food Menu". Eater Portland. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  13. ^ America's Best Sports Bar Bites, Food Network, Wikidata Q139856841
  14. ^ a b Russell, Michael (June 23, 2011). "In Portland, farm to table reaches beyond fine dining restaurants and into sports bars, chains and tiny cafes". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  15. ^ Beck, Byron (February 4, 2011). "Game On! Scoring Super Bowl Munchie & Take-Out Options". Eater Portland. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  16. ^ Grier, Jacob (March 24, 2015). Cocktails on Tap: The Art of Mixing Spirits and Beer. ABRAMS. ISBN 978-1-61312-779-7.
  17. ^ DeJesus, Erin (October 13, 2010). "Clyde-Owned Sports Bar Spirit of '77 Makes its Debut Tonight". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on February 23, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  18. ^ "Spirit of 77". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on November 3, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  19. ^ "Spirit of 77". Willamette Week. August 20, 2019. Archived from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  20. ^ DeJesus, Erin (July 21, 2010). "Ace Hotel/Clyde Common Sports Bar Concept Has the Spirit". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  21. ^ DeJesus, Erin (July 28, 2010). "Spirit of '77's Date; Belmont's New Diner; B&F's Rum Club". Eater Portland. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  22. ^ "Bad reputation has large conventions skipping Portland, tourism report says". KGW. October 28, 2021. Archived from the original on November 23, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  23. ^ March Madness brings big crowds, bigger dollars to Portland, KATU, March 20, 2026, Wikidata Q139856825
  24. ^ DeJesus, Erin (June 27, 2012). "Spirit of 77 to Temporarily Shutter, Revamp Menu". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  25. ^ DeJesus, Erin (July 12, 2012). "Eater Tracking". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  26. ^ DeJesus, Erin (August 27, 2012). "Spirit of 77 Reopens Today; Here's a Look at the Menu". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on October 29, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  27. ^ "Spirit of '77 Revamps Menu". Portland Monthly. June 27, 2012. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139856845.
  28. ^ Zielinski, Alex (May 5, 2020). "Clyde Common Has Been Permanently Altered by COVID-19". Portland Mercury. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  29. ^ "Portland News to Chew". Portland Monthly. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  30. ^ Bagby, Sarah (October 3, 2025). "Join Portland Fire-hosted WNBA Finals watch parties across the city". KATU. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  31. ^ "The Best Places in Portland to Watch the FIFA World Cup". Thrillist. June 8, 2018. Wikidata Q139856848.
  32. ^ a b "Portland's 10 Best Soccer Bars". Willamette Week. May 14, 2011. Archived from the original on August 26, 2025. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  33. ^ "A Major League Guide to Portland's Best Sports Bars". Portland Monthly. September 15, 2025. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139856849.
  34. ^ DeJesus, Erin (November 12, 2010). "Boxing Day". Eater Portland. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  35. ^ DeJesus, Erin (April 4, 2011). "Spirit of '77 Throwing Pomeroy a Top Chef Viewing Party". Eater Portland. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  36. ^ DeJesus, Erin (April 7, 2011). "Naomi Pomeroy Receives Fork to the City, Major Air Time on Top Chef Masters Premiere". Eater Portland. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  37. ^ Colligan, Tom (May 23, 2011). "Spirit of 77". Esquire. Archived from the original on May 23, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  38. ^ "Esquire Picks the Best Bars in America 2011". Eater. May 23, 2011. Wikidata Q139856856.
  39. ^ DeJesus, Erin (May 23, 2011). "Arbitrary Listage". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  40. ^ "Kings checkmated by money, luck". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  41. ^ "Claudia's Sports Pub is People's Choice for Portland's best sports bar". The Oregonian. January 28, 2016. ISSN 8750-1317. Wikidata Q139856857.
  42. ^ Bakall, Samantha (February 17, 2016). "James Beard Awards announce 2016 Portland semifinalists". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on July 15, 2025. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  43. ^ "Portland earns 15 James Beard award nods". Portland Tribune. February 24, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  44. ^ "The Greatest Sports Bars In America". Thrillist. February 22, 2017. Wikidata Q139856858.
  45. ^ "The 150 best bars in America". The Daily Meal. January 30, 2018. Archived from the original on April 10, 2026. Retrieved June 8, 2026 – via Los Angeles Times.
  46. ^ "The Best Food And Drink In Oregon For 2019". The Daily Meal. December 20, 2018. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  47. ^ "The Best Sports Bar In Every State". The Daily Meal. January 16, 2020. Wikidata Q139856860.
  48. ^ Steele, Lockhart (November 8, 2010). "The Eater Awards 2010 Winners, from Coast to Coast". Eater. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  49. ^ DeJesus, Erin (December 27, 2010). "PDX Tastemakers Name 2010's Best Newcomers". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  50. ^ Frane, Alex (September 2, 2016). "15 Ideal Portland Sports Bars for Catching the Game". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  51. ^ "Where to Eat and Drink Near and Inside the Moda Center". Eater Portland. November 8, 2016. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  52. ^ Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (May 21, 2019). "Where to Eat and Drink Near the Oregon Convention Center". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on September 4, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  53. ^ "Best of Portland Readers' Poll". Willamette Week. July 14, 2015. ISSN 2640-5857. Wikidata Q139856864.
  54. ^ "Best of Portland Reader's Poll 2016: The Complete List of Winners". Willamette Week. July 18, 2016. ISSN 2640-5857. Wikidata Q139743204.
  55. ^ "BARS + NIGHTLIFE". Willamette Week. July 22, 2020. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
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