We’ve been watching a bunch of the World Cup games at one of our favorite bars in Valencia — the Portland Ale House. Found on Calle Salamanca near Plaza Canovas, the Portland’s blinking neon arrow provides an unfailing beacon for the thirsty.

The Portland is extremely popular among young American and British expats, but also among natives, and there’s a nicely mixed crowd on most nights. Especially popular are the Sunday night pub quizzes, which get underway at 20:00.

As far as I’m concerned, there are two overwhelming reasons to show up. First is the sports — American football is shown here (during the season), making it perhaps the only spot in downtown Valencia to get your pigskin fix. Secondly, the Portland has a number of great microbrews.

And it’s a place to meet people, especially if you’re an expat who’s missing the homeland a bit. The owner, Mike, is actually from Portland (Oregon) and always happy to chat. Check it out… regardless of where you come from, this is an awesome pub in one of the city’s best corners.

Portland Ale House (on Facebook)
Calle Salamanca 10
Location on our Valencia Map
963 810 406

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On Saturday we managed to go to the Oktoberfest. We had originally planned on going for the inaugural day, but the weather wasn’t playing along.

It was a blast, but only after about 90 minutes of (1) standing in the entrance line, (2) standing in line to buy tickets for food and drink, and then (3) waiting even longer for our beer to arrive. (If you’re going, here’s a tip: make sure you order the beer on a separate ticket, so you can pick it up yourself; if it’s on the same ticket as food, you have to wait at a table for service)

Valencia’s very first Oktoberfest was well received and even got extended until Wednesday. So slip into your Lederhosen and Dirndl and off you go.

Official Website: Valencia Beerfest Beer Link: Paulaner – Great Hostels in Valencia

Grüß Gott, mein Madel!

Starting today, September 17th, through the 21st you can experience Deutschland in Valencia, at the Bierfest in the Plaza de Toros.

This is the first time an Oktoberfest related event on this scale will be staged in the city. With typical German food, live music and … what else am I missing? Oh yes, bucketloads of beer. A liter of beer (or Maß, auf Deutsch) will set you back €7,50. That’s a pretty decent price.

Jürgen is German, so he’s pretty pumped about this. (Bratwurst! Sauerkraut! Paulaner!) Hah, I just made him drool all over himself. He gets his Oktoberfest, and soon I get my American rodeo… Who knew September would be full of such remembrances of home?!

The bierfest is open daily from 13:00 – 02:30, and entrance is free. We’ll be posting pictures soon! And sometime tonight, after our 4th liter, OMG we’ll totally be *TWEETING* and *FACEBOOKING* mobile vids of ourselves like totally wasted, probably either puking or pretending to be bulls. Probably both simultaneously. ROFL.

Official Website

- Valencia Souvenirs