Entry No. 24 — the Portland file — filed under: speakeasy
2NW5
The Hoxton hotel's "discreet basement bar" — full Prohibition-era cosplay one flight down from the lobby, serving classic cocktails alongside coastal Mexican seafood from chef Adán Fausto, deliberately kept low-profile so it stays 'hidden from small-world Portland,' per Portland Monthly.
The story
Directly beneath the lobby of The Hoxton hotel in Old Town Chinatown lies 2NW5—a subterranean drinking den whose name is pulled straight from its street coordinates at 2 NW 5th Avenue. While most hotel bars aggressively broadcast themselves to street traffic through floor-to-ceiling glass, this one buries itself one flight down a stairwell, taking a low-profile approach designed to slip past Portland's hyper-connected word-of-mouth network.
Instead of relying on standard speakeasy gimmicks or predictable bar food, 2NW5 pairs classic cocktail craft with coastal Mexican seafood from chef Adán Fausto. You won't find warm pretzel bites or sliders down here; instead, citrus-cured ceviche and chilled shrimp cocktail land on tiny tables in a dimly lit, subterranean room.
The setup is deliberately stripped of theater—no password rituals or fake telephone booths required. It's just a hushed, underground basement that stays intentionally low-key enough that you might forget the street noise of 4th Avenue right above your head.
What it's like
Walk into the lobby of The Hoxton and head straight for the stairwell descending into the basement. Because the bar operates strictly on a walk-in basis with zero advance reservations, arriving right near opening time is your best bet to secure a seat without a wait. Grab a perch, order the house 'Dream of the 90s' cocktail—vodka, cacao, and candied blood orange—and split a cold plate of ceviche while keeping your voice down to match the room's underground hush.
The move: Walk in without a reservation (it's walk-in only), split a plate of ceviche or shrimp cocktail, and order the house Dream of the 90s cocktail — vodka, cacao, and candied blood orange.
- 📍 Old Town / Downtown Portland
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 15 NW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Shanghai Tunnels Underground Tour (Old Town Pizza & Brewing) — Double down on Old Town's subterranean spaces by pairing a basement cocktail with a tour of the brick corridors beneath Old Town Pizza just a block away.
- Roseland Theater — Duck downstairs for a quiet drink and ceviche before heading one block over to catch a live show at this historic 1922 venue.
- Multnomah Whiskey Library — Continue a hidden-bar crawl across downtown by heading less than half a mile south to buzz into another tucked-away drinking den.
Good to know
How do you find 2NW5 inside the hotel?
Enter The Hoxton at 15 NW 4th Ave in Old Town Chinatown and locate the discreet stairwell off the lobby that leads one flight down into the basement.
Can you reserve a table at 2NW5?
No. 2NW5 is walk-in only, seating guests on a first-come, first-served basis.
What kind of food and drinks do they serve?
The kitchen serves coastal Mexican seafood from chef Adán Fausto—including ceviche and shrimp cocktail—alongside classic cocktails and house specialties like the vodka-and-cacao 'Dream of the 90s.'
When is 2NW5 open?
Hours lean toward late-week evenings, but basement bar schedules in Portland change—always verify current operating hours before making the trip.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: thehoxton.com · pdxmonthly.com · Yelp · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-20