Bar Cala Explained

Bar Cala
Food-Type:Latin American
Street-Address:2703 Northeast Alberta Street
City:Portland
County:Multnomah
State:Oregon
Zip:97211
Country:United States
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Mapframe-Zoom:13
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Bar Cala is a Latin American cocktail bar and restaurant in northeast Portland, Oregon's Concordia neighborhood, in the United States. Established in 2022, the business operates from the Northwestern Electric Company – Alberta Substation, a former electrical substation listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Description

Bar Cala is a Latin American cocktail bar and restaurant at the intersection of 27th and Alberta in the Alberta Arts District and northeast Portland's Concordia neighborhood.[1] The business operates from a concrete and stucco building called the Northwestern Electric Company – Alberta Substation, a former electrical substation listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The exterior is painted pink and above the teal wooden door is neon sign with the text "Bar Cala" in cursive.[2]

The interior features concrete-wood floors, cacti and palm trees, and Rattan light shades above the bar. A back patio has string lights and tables with umbrellas. Brooke Jackson-Glidden of Eater Portland said Bar Cala has a "breezy, cool" aesthetic. She wrote, "While the bar's food and drink derives most of its inspiration from Latin American countries and cuisines, the design of the space is meant to mimic the interior and landscape design of Palm Springs: Desert plants, gold midcentury modern light fixtures, a blend of indoor and outdoor aesthetics." The website's Alex Frane and Janey Wong wrote, "The bar’s high ceilings are festooned with lush greenery and fairy lights, and music pumps steadily through the speakers, giving the place a Palm Springs party vibe."[3]

Menu

The menu has included burgers,[4] steak with chimichurri and grilled octopus, as well as Mexican options like potato-carrot dorados, prickly pear aguachile with seafood, and fish tacos with salsa verde. Cocktails use spirits such as pisco and tequila. The Sandia Es Vida has Cappelletti, prosecco, watermelon, and grapefruit, and the La Toxica has serrano-infused tequila, watermelon juice, Aperol, and vermouth. The Mama Coco is made with vodka or gin, melon, coconut water, and yuzu soda.

History

Victor Daniel Cerda Zamorano opened Bar Cala in June 29, 2022, after purchasing the building with friend Fernando Damas. Mauricio Dimas created the food menu. During a heat wave in July, the restaurant temporarily changed the menu to focus on raw and fresh dishes to avoid oven usage.[5]

Reception

Michael Russell included Bar Cala in The Oregonian list of Portland's 25 best new restaurants of 2022.[6] In Portland Monthly 2022 list of the city's top 50 bars, Matthew Trueherz wrote: "Bar Cala is, no doubt, a place to be seen. But pink neon and vibey tropical plants aside, this place knows how to put together a warm-weather cocktail 365 days a year. Expect loud music, cross your fingers you won't have to wait in line to get in, order the Tepaché Mode drink once you do, and snack on Bar Cala-monogrammed chips while you sip the fermented pineapple cocktail sitting on a gold stool at the bar."[7]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wong . Janey . 2021-01-27 . A Guide to Portland's Bar, Restaurant, and Food Cart Openings . 2022-08-25 . Eater Portland . en . 2021-04-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210429234837/https://pdx.eater.com/22251525/portland-restaurant-bar-cafe-openings . live .
  2. Web site: Jackson-Glidden . Brooke . 2022-07-14 . Vibe-y Alberta Cocktail Lounge Bar Cala Is Bound to Be This Summer's Hot Hangout . 2022-08-25 . Eater Portland . en . 2022-07-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220723082108/https://pdx.eater.com/2022/7/14/23218136/bar-cala-portland-cocktail-opening-alberta . live .
  3. Web site: Frane . Alex . 2018-04-06 . The Cocktail Heatmap: Where to Drink Right Now in Portland . 2022-08-25 . Eater Portland . en . 2022-08-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220819171147/https://pdx.eater.com/maps/hottest-cocktail-bars-portland-heatmap-new-drinks . live .
  4. Web site: Russell . Michael . 2022-07-12 . 22 new Portland restaurants to know for summer 2022 . 2022-08-25 . . en . 2022-08-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220807053001/https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2022/07/22-new-portland-restaurants-to-know-for-summer-2022.html . live .
  5. Web site: Jackson-Glidden . Brooke . 2022-07-29 . Portland Restaurants Closing Due to the Heat Friday . 2022-08-25 . Eater Portland . en . 2022-08-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220817210827/https://pdx.eater.com/2022/7/29/23283944/portland-july-2022-heat-wave-closings . live .
  6. Web site: Russell . Michael . 2022-11-21 . Here are Portland’s 25 best new restaurants for 2022 . 2024-05-24 . The Oregonian . en.
  7. Web site: Portland's Top 50 Bars from A to Z 2022 . 2022-08-25 . Portland Monthly . en-US . 2022-08-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220825143311/https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/best-bars-portland . live .