Botanist House

Botanist House, generally referred to simply as Botanist, was a cocktail bar and restaurant in Portland, Oregon's Pearl District. The business opened in November 2018 at the intersection of Northwest Lovejoy Street and 13th Avenue, in a space formerly occupied by Pink Rose and located beneath an Office Depot store. Matt Davidson and Robbie Wilson were identified as the business's co-owners. The concept combined a cocktail-led bar program with a menu that was especially associated with gin and seafood. Its visual identity and interior emphasized botanical references, vintage liquor culture, and a stylized pseudo-1920s atmosphere. Descriptions of the venue highlighted bright green design elements, jazz on the playlist, an old-fashioned backlit bar, vintage cocktail imagery, and a small dining room displaying old liquor bottles and botanical posters. The setting positioned Botanist as a distinctive neighborhood bar and restaurant rather than as a conventional full-service dining chain. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Botanist adapted its operations and became involved in community meal assistance. By April 2020, the business had distributed 6,200 meals. The program involved executive chef Derek Boaz and included partnerships with Meals on Wheels and Oregon winery Stoller. The stated beneficiaries included hospitality and restaurant workers as well as seniors, linking the restaurant's pandemic response to both food access and support for people affected by the shutdown of the hospitality industry. Botanist also operated from a nearby rooftop patio that had previously been used by On Deck Sports Bar. As Oregon restrictions affected restaurants and bars, the business advocated for takeout cocktail service. A Change.org petition organized by Botanist reportedly attracted more than 1,600 signatures. In November 2020, the owners announced plans for a civil-disobedience protest involving takeout cocktails, which would have violated state law at the time. The planned action was canceled after the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission began considering regulatory changes. Takeout cocktail service nevertheless continued through at least March 2021, according to the cited reference material. The venue received some noise complaints connected with live music, but it also gained recognition in Portland's food and beverage media. Botanist was nominated for Bar of the Year in the 2018 Eater Awards. In April 2021, it partnered with Rose City Drag to host Flawless Shade's drag series, Climax. Botanist House ultimately closed in 2021 during the pandemic. No evidence in the supplied material indicates that the brand continued operating at another location or became part of a larger restaurant group.

Botanist House opened in November 2018 in Portland's Pearl District. The venue occupied a space at Northwest Lovejoy Street and 13th Avenue that had previously housed Pink Rose and sat beneath an Office Depot store. Matt Davidson and Robbie Wilson were its co-owners. The business presented itself as a cocktail bar and restaurant, with its food and beverage identity centered particularly on gin and seafood. The interior was an important part of the concept. It used bright green elements, botanical imagery, vintage liquor bottles, cocktail posters, jazz, and a pseudo-1920s visual language. The principal bar included a backlit, old-fashioned design, while a small dining room provided a more intimate setting. Botanist also operated a nearby rooftop patio in a space previously associated with On Deck Sports Bar. The COVID-19 pandemic forced changes to the restaurant and bar business. Botanist established a meal assistance program and, by April 2020, had distributed 6,200 meals. Derek Boaz was the executive chef during this period. The initiative involved Meals on Wheels and Stoller, and was intended to assist hospitality and restaurant workers as well as seniors. This community work became one of the most documented aspects of the venue's pandemic-era activity. Botanist also challenged Oregon's restrictions on the sale of cocktails for off-premises consumption. A petition seeking authorization for takeout cocktails gathered more than 1,600 signatures. In November 2020, the owners confirmed plans to begin takeout cocktail service despite the applicable state law, describing the proposal as a civil-disobedience protest. The planned action was later canceled when the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission began considering rule changes. Takeout cocktail service continued through at least March 2021. The venue also faced some noise complaints related to live music. The business maintained a cultural and entertainment role in the neighborhood. It was nominated for Bar of the Year at the 2018 Eater Awards and, in April 2021, partnered with Rose City Drag for Flawless Shade's Climax drag series. Botanist House closed in 2021 during the pandemic. The available reference material does not identify a successor location, a continuing parent company, or a later revival of the brand.

• 2021

  Drag-series partnership

  [1]Botanist Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Botanist partners with Rose City Drag to host Flawless Shade's Climax series.

• 2021

  Closure

  [1]Botanist Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Botanist House closes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 2020

  Meal assistance program reaches 6,200 meals

  [1]Botanist Houseen.wikipedia.org

  By April, the business has distributed 6,200 meals through its pandemic assistance program.

• 2020

  Takeout cocktail campaign

  [1]Botanist Houseen.wikipedia.org

  A Botanist petition seeking takeout cocktail authorization attracts more than 1,600 signatures.

• 2018

  Botanist House opens

  [1]Botanist Houseen.wikipedia.org

  The cocktail bar and restaurant opens in November in Portland's Pearl District.

• 2018

  Eater Awards nomination

  [1]Botanist Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Botanist receives a nomination for Bar of the Year in the 2018 Eater Awards.

A botanically themed Portland cocktail bar and restaurant combining a gin- and seafood-oriented menu with vintage, pseudo-1920s visual styling and neighborhood hospitality.

• Beverages · 2018

  Gin-focused cocktails

  Botanist's beverage identity was strongly associated with gin and cocktail service. The drinks program complemented the venue's botanical name, vintage cocktail imagery, and bar-centered atmosphere. The available reference material does not provide a complete list of individual cocktails or recipes.

• Restaurant food · 2018

  Seafood menu

  The restaurant menu was described as largely seafood-driven when Botanist opened. Seafood formed the principal food identity alongside the gin-oriented bar program, although the supplied references do not specify individual dishes.

• Off-premises beverage service · 2020

  Takeout cocktails

  During the pandemic, Botanist pursued and provided takeout cocktail service while Oregon regulations governing off-premises cocktails were under debate. The service continued through at least March 2021, but the supplied material does not establish its full menu or legal operating details.

• 2021Climax with Rose City Drag

  Portland, Oregon

  Botanist partnered with Rose City Drag in April 2021 to host Flawless Shade's drag series, Climax.

  Source
• 2020Botanist meal assistance program

  Portland, Oregon

  Botanist organized a pandemic-era meal assistance effort that distributed 6,200 meals by April 2020. The program worked with Meals on Wheels and Stoller and supported hospitality workers, restaurant workers, and seniors.

  Outcome. The available reference records the distribution of 6,200 meals but does not provide a final total or end date.

  Source
• 2020Takeout cocktail petition and civil-disobedience proposal

  Oregon

  Botanist sought permission for takeout cocktail service through a Change.org petition that gathered more than 1,600 signatures. In November, the owners announced a planned civil-disobedience protest involving service that would have violated state law.

  Outcome. The planned protest was canceled after the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission began considering rule changes. Takeout cocktail service continued through at least March 2021.

  Source

• 2021

  Closure of Botanist HouseOther

  Background

  The venue operated through the COVID-19 pandemic, including pandemic assistance and adapted takeout service.

  Action taken

  Botanist House ceased operations in 2021.

  Aftermath

  The available sources do not identify a successor venue, reopening, or subsequent ownership of the brand.

  Source

• 2020

  Proposed civil-disobedience cocktail serviceOther

  Background

  Oregon restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic limited the ability of bars and restaurants to sell cocktails for takeout.

  Action taken

  Botanist's owners announced plans in November to begin takeout cocktail service in defiance of the applicable state law.

  Aftermath

  The owners canceled the planned protest after the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission began considering rule changes. Takeout cocktail service continued through at least March 2021.

  Source

1. 1Botanist Houseen.wikipedia.org