KEX Portland Hotel bar reopens as ‘Pacific Standard’ from bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler
KEX, the hostel/hotel that started in Iceland and came to Portland along with the KEX beer brand in 2019 is coming back in a big way this June. KEX Portland has remained open, but the Icelandic themed bar/restaurant Dottir closed in 2021 and the KEX beer brand disappeared in 2020 to be replaced by the new Fracture Brewing. New life will re-energize the beautiful build-out off of inner E. Burnside as local celebrity bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler and co-owner Benjamin Amberg launch their new ‘Pacific Standard’ inside KEX on June 1st.
More from a press release:
Most well known for their roles at Clyde Common, formerly in the ACE Hotel, Jeffrey and Benjamin worked together for eight years before the pandemic shuttered the bar. Jeffrey ran the beverage program for both Clyde Common and Pepe Le Moko, and Benjamin was the bar manager at Clyde Common.
Pacific Standard owners Jeffrey Morgenthaler and Bengamin Amberg
“We accomplished great things together at Clyde, including seven James Beard Outstanding Bar Program nominations, a Tales of the Cocktail Best American Hotel Bar win, and a Tales of the Cocktail Best American Restaurant Bar win. We're excited to have this opportunity to do even more great things together with Pacific Standard.” -Jeffrey Morgenthaler, Pacific Standard Co-Owner.
“At Pacific Standard, the cocktails are rooted in the classics, specifically inspired by the world's great hotel bars throughout history. Some of our takes, like our Lobby Irish Coffee and Draft Michelada, are odes to my California roots. Our beers and wines will be from the many small, local producers we've developed relationships with over our decades running bars in Portland and Eugene, and will almost exclusively all be served on draft.” -Jeffrey Morgenthaler, Pacific Standard Co-Owner.
Pacific Standard will occupy the former Dottir space located in the KEX Portland hotel lobby. Filled with leather lounges, soft window light, and over 150 seats, Pacific Standard is truly Portland’s new living room. Centrally located in the central East side of the city, Pacific Standard is a convenient meeting place.
Additionally, the duo will be opening a rooftop bar upstairs, named The Sunset Room, set to open by the end of June. The Sunset Room will be much more whimsical, irreverent, and experimental, with a completely different cocktail menu, including slushies - perfect for summertime rooftop imbibing.
The food program, also created by Jeffrey and Benjamin, will be substantial, classic bar food - all inspired by life on the West Coast. Oysters, artichokes, Dungeness crab and fresh vegetables are all a part of what makes the West Coast great, and will be prominently featured on the menu. Pacific Standard is truly a bar - no reservations are taken, seating is open, and everything will be ordered at the bar.
PACIFIC STANDARD bar opening at KEX PORTLAND
Grand Opening: Wednesday, June 1st
KEX PORTLAND, 100 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97232