Bars, Taverns & Restaurants
AURA BAR
citations & references:
Listed in Damron’s Men’s Travel Guide 2007 Under: Restaurants
Listed in Damron’s Men’s Travel Guide 2010 Under: Restaurants
1022 W. Burnside St.
503-597-2872
Years: ~2002 - 2017
Joel Davis, The Oregonian/OregonLive
HISTORY
Per The Oregonian’s article COVER STORY THE IT LIST October 24, 2003, “Aura is a nightclub for the senses. Pluck this postmodern place from the Burnside triangle and it could easily be plopped down on a stretch of swank in Miami or New York. It's a first-rate nightclub, where industrial meets modern design and people come to see and be seen. Cocktails are named after colors, like the Blue, made icy-cool with tropical-fruit-flavored cognac and vanilla vodka. Blue, says the menu, is for "wisdom." We just call it delicious.
While you're drinking, drink in the ever-morphing lightscapes from the big screen in the center of the room and soak up the throbbing techno beats. The vibe is contemporary: fluid lines, high ceilings, glowing backlit bars. Sparkling steel mixes with slickly polished wood all around, and low-profile chairs, stools and tables circle the dance floor/gathering spot.
The hungry hang in the comfy balcony for a bite from a menu of seviche, upscale burgers and international skewers. The cocktail crowd masses downstairs, sipping such concoctions as Red (for "passion") or Brown (for "stability" -- though it might have been for "live for today," given its Godiva chocolate liqueur foundation). The bathrooms invite harmless voyeurism, as patrons can peek out from sleek one-way mirrors.
Aura is at 1022 W. Burnside St.; 503-597-2872. Dining room hours: 5-10 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays; club: 4:30 p.m.-midnight Wednesdays-Thursdays, Sundays, 4:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Fridays-Saturdays.
Article by Stephanie Yao Long, The Oregonian/OregonLive in 2017: “One of the poshest nightclubs of the early 2000s was Aura, which was perched on West Burnside Street directly across from Powell’s Books. The place positively glowed before you even walked through the door, thanks to oversized windows lit in ever-changing shades of purple, green, blue and red. Once inside, the swirls of color continued on a large projection screen that divided the warehouse-sized place into two distinct spaces -- cocktail lounge up front, moody DJ pit in back.
Aura was opened by the owners of the nearby gay bars Panorama and Boxxes, and going there was an immersive experience. Cocktails were named after colors, served from backlit bars. DJs spinned a mix of house and lounge beats, and the restrooms were one of the most-unique in the city: thanks to one-way mirrors, you could look out into the club while washing your hands. Think of it as reverse voyeurism. The large space was carved up to make way for the Union Way alley of shops.”