A well-lit tropical bar with a variety of liquor bottles on arched shelves, wicker lamps, and a counter adorned with fruit and glassware.

The Love Shack

Architect: Mark Annen
Photographer: Carter Hiyama

  • Located in Portland’s Slabtown district, this restaurant tenant improvement project transformed a compact 1,200-square-foot space into an immersive tiki bar experience. Situated just next door to the owner's other restaurant, G-Love, this new venture was led by Garrett Benedict, with architectural design by Mark Annen.

    The vision was to create a vibrant and atmospheric escape. The scope included a full build-out of a new back-of-house kitchen and a dramatic revamp of the front-of-house. Key features include custom booths, a gold plaster back bar, and a bamboo-clad palapa that anchors the space. The bar boasts a translucent sea glass countertop, a Venetian-style gold plaster back bar with integrated lighting and carved arches, and casework designed to elegantly display wine, liquor, and glassware. Additional design highlights include tambour wood-lined booths, woven rattan pendant lights, and a large-scale tropical mural that brings a touch of glam to the moody, tropical aesthetic.

    The result is a fun, transportive space that’s already made waves locally—earning the title of Best New Bar in Portland by Eater in 2024.