The Ratskeller
A family-friendly après-ski spot in Government Camp with a great crowd and lots of fun
The Ratskeller
OVERVIEW
Our favorite spot for family-friendly après has a pizza-heavy menu, pinball, arcade, a big-screen projector and all the drinks your heart desires.
CONACT
ratskellerpizzeria.com | 503-272-3635
ADDRESS
88335 Government Camp Loop
Government Camp, OR 97028
23 minutes from Mt. Hood Alpine Chalet
FIELD NOTES + INSIDER TIPS
The journey down from Timberline Lodge is scenic. It’s also long and winding (but not relaxing like The Beatles song). On top of that, when you finally hit U.S. 26, traffic often becomes gridlocked or a complete circus that locals call the Govy 500. The smartest skiers and boarders take a pit stop into Government Camp Loop Road for an après-ski pitstop.
This magical route leads to Oregon's quintessential mountain town: Government Camp. You won’t find the glossy sheen of a resort town here. Govy is a hardscrabble, true blue ski town. At the center of it all is The Ratskeller, a beacon of camaraderie. Once a humble ski shop in the town's early days, now it’s an après-ski haven under the ownership of Kirk Hannah, the king of Mt. Hood Ski Bowl.
Proximity, Potions, and Party Vibes
Why does The Ratskeller claim the top spot in our après-ski hierarchy? Three words: proximity, potions, and party vibes. First off, it’s at most a ten-minute drive from our favorite slopes. While not as close as a ski lodge bar like Y’Bar or the Beer Stube, it is open longer and is much larger.
The Rat also offers a better selection of drinks that helped earn it the title of The Oregonian's best après-ski bar. Its full bar features JD's famous specialty cocktails with house-infused spirits. This includes an award-winning White Russian, infused with vanilla bean, cacao nibs, and coffee—a must-try. Other inventive concoctions, like the blueberry mango basil Moscow Mule or cucumber kiwi gimlet, bring a bright flavor for your spirits.
The bartenders aren’t bubbly, but they are fast, friendly and helpful (especially if you try to connect with them). If you do, they’ll provide some expert suggestions that will help you choose between their cocktails or one of the seventeen taps featuring local brews. A few of our favorite breweries include pFriem, Breakside and Barley Brown. They also have a whole cooler full of ciders, seltzers and domestics, including regional favorites like Rainier and Olympia.
On popular weekends, The Rat gets REALLY busy. But the staff handle the volume extremely well, delivering food and drinks quickly in our experience. Once you have your drink in hand, you’ll find lots of room to roam and great energy. There is also a massive projection screen and vintage pinball to keep you entertained if the ski stories don’t.
Families and Fur-Babies Welcome
Included in the buzzing crowd are parents and pint-sized partiers. Early in the evening, families are spread out on the spacious tables. By 9 p.m. (after bedtime for us anyway) the underage crowd is corralled into the west side dining area, which is actually a perfect place for a family to be. A set of side stairs lead straight to the second-level arcade. The games are a bit worn out, but the skeeball, snowmobile racing and snowboarding still entertain for hours.
The Rat also welcomes pets on its outdoor patio covered with dog-friendly artificial grass. There is enough space to wander and wag too. In fact, we like to hit the patio and let the kids roam if we’re grabbing lunch on a nice day. Rows of wooden picnic tables, a canopy for cover, and corn hole make it an inviting and entertaining place to kick back.
Eating Pizza in the Hood
Here’s the script. Scan the QR code menu, make your order at the bar, grab a table and wait for your food. Being a bar, the menu probably won’t surprise you. Afterall, what pairs better with beer than a pizza or a burger.
Their “legendary sized” pizzas take up a good part of the menu too. It’s not false advertising; one slice alone is two normal size pieces, so a medium pizza will likely feed 3-4 people. Sadly, they don’t make our favorite pie in the area. Loaded options include The Rat and a Buffalo Ranch pizza, which absolutely outshine the simpler Margherita and Cheese standards in our opinion.
The burgers also hit the spot after a long day on the hill, but don’t expect them to knock your wool socks off. The fries are solid though and probably taste great smothered in cheese, bacon and scallions. Surprisingly, for being so far above sea level, they have some incredible clam chowder too. Word is the chef has his own “secret” recipe, which is thick, creamy and flavorful.
All in all, the menu is good enough to keep you satisfied while celebrating a great day on the slopes. If that’s your goal, you’re in the right place for a five star experience, regardless of whether or not their food is on the same level.
The Rat Keeps It Real
Just like the town that revolves around it, The Ratskeller is true to itself. They know what they are, who they cater to, and they check all the necessary boxes for a good time: solid drinks, reasonable prices, friendly folks and entertainment options. Gourmet food and a calming atmosphere were not on their list, but that’s fine because this is where the mountain community gathers to find multiple ways to find a good time. All you have to do is embrace the crowd, kick back, and let The Ratskeller weave its magic into your après-ski tale.
