Locals and visitors have been raving about the ZGF-designed main terminal expansion at Oregon’s Portland International Airport (PDX) since it officially opened to the public in August, 2024.

Everyone loves the greenery, the 9-acre mass timber roof, outposts of beloved local shops and restaurants, the comfy lounging spots sporting bits of the famed PDX carpet and the fact that the coolest new amenities are pre-security.

Now there’s one more reason to make a beeline to PDX even if you’re not flying.

PDX now has a speakeasy bar, called Aurora, hidden inside Loyal Legion, the pre-security beer hall on the mezzanine level.

The celestial-inspired bar is named after the Roman goddess of dawn and was designed by Portland-based ELK Collective.

And rather than being speakeasy-dark, Aurora has a bright, art-deco interior, technicolor window treatments and west-facing windows offering views of the runway and Portland sunsets.

The menu includes local beers and wine and shareable small plates as a well as a creative and very reaonably priced cocktail menu with creative pours such as the Aurora Sour (RIttenhouse Rye, Midori, lemon, egg white, red wine float), Diamond Tooth (Haku vodka, yuzu, coconut, lemon) and Hot Soup (Wild Turkey, bone broth, sesame, green onion tincture).

Want to get into the PDX speakeasy?

The entrance to the Aurora speakeasy at PDX airport is in the Loyal Legion beer hall space, on the pre-security mezzanine level, between the main bar and the restrooms. Look for the words “Curiosity Opens the Door” next to the unmarked entrance.

Hours are 4-8pm Monday through Friday, though airport officials say those hours may expand as the summer travel season picks up.

The password to get in?

No password is required. According to our insider at PDX airport, “Guests only have to approach the bar team and ask a question to receive the access code,” because… ‘Curiosity Opens the Door.’

(All Aurora speakeasy images courtesy ELK Collective/Christopher Dibble)

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