Bar Casa Vale
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| Bar Casa Vale | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Interactive map of Bar Casa Vale | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Food type | Spanish |
| Location | 215 Southeast 9th Avenue, Suite 109, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, 97214, United States |
| Coordinates | 45°31′17″N 122°39′24″W / 45.5213°N 122.6568°W |
Bar Casa Vale is a Spanish restaurant in Portland, Oregon, United States.[1][2] It opened in 2016. In April 2026, the restaurant announced plans to close permanently on April 25.[3]
The Spanish-inspired Bar Casa Vale (BCV) operates on Pine Street in southeast Portland, Oregon's Buckman neighborhood.[4][5][6] Matthew Singer of Willamette Week has described the bar as "a cozy, sultry hallway of a bar composed of odd little nooks—lit dimly by hurricane lights, southern sun and the flicker of fire".[7] Samantha Bakall of The Oregonian has called BCV "Barcelona- and San Sebastian-inspired pintxos bar serving stand-up snacks and meat and seafood seared to a smoky char in a custom hearth alongside a lush turquoise tile-backed bar specializing in sherry".[8]
BCV has served tapas such as jamón Serrano and patatas bravas, as well as larger entrees like pork shoulder.[9][10][11] The brunch menu included fried chicken and churros with honey and manchego, salt cod fritters, and chocolate toast with olive oil and pistachio. Drink options include cider,[12] cava-brandy sangria and other cocktails with brandy and sherry.[13][14][15][16]
BCV has offered happy hour specials.[17]
History
Plans about the business were made public in February 2016.[18][19][20] Staff included Nate Tilden, Elias Cairo, Louis Martinez, and Martin Schwartz.[21] The bar opened in September,[4] in a space that previously housed the music venue La Luna and in the same building as Biwa.[22][23] In 2017, BCV was among local Spanish restaurants participating in the food festival organized by the Tourist Office of Spain as part of United States for World Tapas Day.[24]
The menu was expanded in 2017.[25] Brunch service started in February 2018,[13] but ended in September.[26]
Jacob Harth was the executive chef as of 2018.[27][28][29][30] Erik Van Kley became the executive chef in 2019.[31][32]
Like many restaurants, BCV closed temporarily during the COVID-19 pandemic, at times operating via take-out and outdoor service on the patio.[10] BCV shared the patio space with Scotch Lodge.[33]
Reception
Michael Russell included BCV in The Oregonian's 2017 list of Portland's ten best Spanish restaurants.[34] Samantha Bakall included the business in the newspaper's 2017 list of the city's best new happy hours.[16] Russell later ranked BCV number 38 in a 2024 list of the forty "best restaurants in Portland you need to try".[35] He also included the business in the newspaper's 2025 list of the 21 best restaurants in southeast Portland.[36]
Lindsay D. Mattison included the business in Tasting Table's 2023 list of Portland's forty best restaurants.[37]
