PORTLAND, Ore. — A Southeast Portland cocktail bar snagged recognition as being among the best new bars in the U.S. from food magazine Bon Appétit. The "11 Best New Bars in the U.S." highlighted what it says on the tin, from Seattle to Austin. 

The Houston Blacklight, located on Southeast Clinton Street, was praised by Elazar Sontag for its atmosphere and "quirky" drinks, calling it "the sort of dangerously pleasant neighborhood bar we all pray will open on our corner."

"The bar’s walls are painted with wonderfully odd murals of beasts in boxing matches and sexy luxuriating horses (you sort of have to see it)," Sontang wrote, in part. "The drinks are every bit as quirky and upbeat: Jell-O shots come in rotating flavors like guava-Midori or peach-amaretto, and coconut-pandan slushies taste like something straight out of a beach vacation."

The Houston Blacklight opened last year, quickly drawing praise from Eater PDX, Willamette Week and Portland Monthly. It is owned by Thomas and Mariah Pisha-Duffly, the duo behind nearby restaurants Gado Gado and Oma’s Hideaway. 

"It’s an incredible honor to have @bonappetitmag see, understand and celebrate what the team here has worked so hard (but not so seriously) creating," the bar wrote on social media. "I love you guys, I love this bar and I can’t wait to raise a glass here with all of you. The world is truly a wild place and we feel so lucky to be here."