Bar Guide 2014: Matador

By JOHN LOCANTHI

Matador

1967 W Burnside St., 222-5822, thematadorbar.com. Noon-2:30 am daily.

The Matador is one of those bars that said "Fuck it" at some point in its 43 years of serving Portlanders. And I mean that in the most positive sense. Matador-themed artwork lines the walls, and the bathroom sinks in the men's room are shaped like hearts. Seventies funk is playing in the background. Tonight's special is a James Taylor ($7). "That's Rainier and Fireball," the bartender says before breaking into a singsong James Taylor impersonation, "'cause I've seen fire and I've seen rain." Just keep doing your thing, Matador. Whether that's serving $5 pitchers of PBR on "Recession Sundays" or chasing shots of fireball with a pounder of Rainier, keep doing it. JOHN LOCANTHI.

Happy hour: Noon-7 pm daily. $3 well, $1.50 PBR.
Entertainment: Pool, pop-a-shot.

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