McMenamins Kennedy School

Step inside McMenamins Kennedy School, one of Portland’s most beloved repurposed treasures, where a 1915 elementary school has been transformed into a multi-layered social playground. Imagine original chalkboards, sacred hallways turned into corridors of local art, and classrooms that now serve as hotel rooms, restaurants, bars, and gathering spots infused with nostalgic whimsy. Behind an unremarkable hallway door lurks the Boiler Room Bar—a cavernous, multi-level hideaway that once housed the school's boiler. Now it’s alive with McMenamins’ handcrafted ales, a working jukebox, shuffleboard, pool tables, and a wood-and-steel aesthetic bursting with quirky machinery-scape décor. Nearby, the Detention Bar takes the experience further—cozy, tongue-in-cheek, with whiskey selections and a vibe that playfully revisits detention with craft drinks and cheeky charm. When you're ready for variety, the Honors Bar offers a lighter, relaxed setting with seltzers, ciders, and brews, while still echoing the school theme in a casual way. Fancy watching a film with a drink in hand? The Theater Bar sits inside the old auditorium's lounge—set up like a cozy classroom complete with pizza and popcorn delivery during shows. Beyond the bar adventures, the former cafeteria is reborn as the Courtyard Restaurant, with mahogany booths, weekly pub fare, and McMenamins’ own brewery—and yes, that’s located in the old girls' lavatory—with on-tap ales and seasonal specials. Want to unwind? Take a dip in the ceramic-tiled outdoor soaking pool that was once the teachers' lounge—a geothermal-style soak wrapped in storybook nostalgia. This old school is alive again—not with kids, but with locals and travelers discovering lobby lounges lit by chandeliers, themed classrooms, and bars that double as social adventures. And did I mention it's pet-friendly on certain patios?.