The Best in LGBTQ+ Nightlife, Bars, Parties, Comedy, and More

Nightlife is central to LGBTQ+ history and experiences. Whether you’re visiting or new to Portland, here’s an in-depth guide on where to plan your epic queer outing—from the theater to the club to the party to the morning after. Check out the Things to Do calendar at portlandmercury.com for upcoming dates and times.

Bars, Strip Clubs, & Dancing

Silverado

(318 SW 3rd): Where to go if you like old brick, daddies, and zaddies. At almost 40 years young, Silverado is the Pacific Northwest’s longest-operating male strip club. Silverado serves up a classic gay aesthetic: blacklight paint splatters on black surfaces, and gay porn, Bravo, or music videos you can’t hear on the screens. Boys mostly dance on weekends.

Stag

(317 NW Broadway): Where to go if you like California, small clubs, and penises. If Silverado embodies Old Portland style and classic gay ambience, Stag represents New Portland with its contemporary SoCal lounge decor, single stage, and range of male beauty standards. Stag is marginally more accepting of bachelorette parties than Silverado. Stag hosts amateur nights and special events including bear busts, RuPaul’s Drag Race meet and greets, and the occasional male lingerie fashion show.

CC Slaughters & Rainbow Room Lounge

(219 NW Davis): Where to go if you like classic clubs, drag queens, and dancing. CC’s is an authentic representation of Portland LGBTQ+ culture; a good starting point for any baby-gay or tourist, and a central destination for Pride celebrations.

Darcelle XV Showplace (208 NW 3rd):

Where to go if you like drag queens, landmarks, and sitting. Portland’s classic LGBTQ+ destination is also a global landmark. Darcelle XV is the Guinness-certified longest-performing drag queen in the world, and her Showplace is one of America’s longest continuously operating drag establishments. The performances here are old-school drag and pure magic. The food is damn good, too.

Scandals

(1125 SW Stark): Where to go if you like pool, smoking patios, and late-night eats. Scandals is the last vestige of Vaseline Alley, downtown Portland’s historic gay district. Boasting an impressively ‘90s throwback vibe, Scandals keeps it real with a sidewalk smoking patio and neighborly relations with after-party drunk food oasis, the Roxy. If you’re prefunking, patrons can also order food from the Roxy and bring it back as you watch TV, shoot pool, watch drag, sing karaoke, chat, cruise, or whatever your gay little heart desires.

Crush

(1400 SE Morrison): Where to go if you like drag queens, burlesque, craft cocktails, and cigarettes. Whereas the aforementioned bars primarily cater to gay men and their friends, Crush focuses on the rest of the LGBTQ+ spectrum. Here, in addition to what’s perhaps queer Portland’s most artisanal cocktail menu, you’ll find regular burlesque revues, drag queen comedy open mics, and pantsless dance parties. Crush makes it incredibly easy to talk to friendly strangers, especially if you want to sit outside in a cloud of smoke.

Local Lounge

(3536 NE MLK Jr): Where to go if you like a neighborhood vibe. Local Lounge is Inner Northeast Portland’s neighborhood queer bar, where you’re most likely to find lesbians hanging out with their gay friends. Local Lounge is less of a show venue than Crush, but still has creative drink specials, drag shows, karaoke, and a smoking area.

Eagle

(835 N Lombard): Where to go if you like Tom of Finland, Robert Mapplethorpe, and hairy butts. Look, I’ll give it to you straight: If you like dudes and visit sex shops, you should go to Eagle.

Santé Bar

(411 NW Park): Where to go if you like show tunes, piano lounges, and wine. One of Portland’s newest LGBTQ+ venues, Santé Bar is the antithesis of the Portland club scene, and is home to singing drag queen Saint Syndrome.

Parties/Dance Nights

If you’re into drag queens, queerdos, and sweat:

Blow Pony:

Portland’s longest-running queer dance party. Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside

Club Kai-Kai:

Most likely spot to see Tiffany “New York” Pollard or Drag Race alum with local drag superstars. Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison

EveryBODY: DIY Strip Club:

Quarterly body-positive, sex positive cabaret dance party, influenced by New Orleans’ party culture. Dante’s, 350 W Burnside

Sad Day:

See sad drag queens, and if you’re lucky, a devastating Carla Rossi PowerPoint. Valentine’s, 232 SW Ankeny

For lesbians and their lovers:

Lez Do It, Cake, Switch:

Three nights, one venue, infinite pleasures. Killingsworth Dynasty, 832 N Killingsworth

Judy on Duty:

Grinding since 2014, Judy on Duty is Portland’s longest running monthly dance party devoted to lesbians and their friends/allies. High Water Mark Lounge, 6800 NE MLK Jr.

For bringing together people of color, LGBTQ+ FOLKS, and their open-minded allies:

Slay:

Like sister-party Cake, Slay plays hip-hop and seeks to create an environment in which QPOC can be themselves. Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison

Jump Jack Sound Machine:

The Mississippi neighborhood’s queer disco is sweaty, glittery, and high energy. Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi

Circuit Breaker:

A place where the mood and attire is meant to make guests feel comfortable, and allow them to be themselves. Tonic Lounge, 3100 NE Sandy

Men with beards, bellies, and/or body hair:

Bearracuda PDX:

The Portland offshoot of the national circuit party for bears, otters, and other types of hairy men. Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside

Lumbertwink:

Think Bearracuda (it’s the same local organizer) but with themes like sailors, PJs, and good ol’ plaid. Funhouse Lounge, 2432 SE 11th; Analog Cafe & Theater, 720 SE Hawthorne

Drag Brunches

Testify:

Alexis Campbell Starr’s weekly gospel-themed drag brunch features a buffet, breakfast cocktails, and Campbell Starr’s brand of comedy that masterfully blurs professional sheen and ultimate messiness. CC Slaughters, 219 NW Davis

Divas Under the Influence:

Biweekly Sunday buffet brunch with breakfast cocktails (obviously) and drag from Nay-Nay Leakes Cartier and guests. Stag, 317 NW Broadway

Drag Queen Brunch:

Emmy nominee Sasha Scarlett hosts Sunday drag brunch with a roster of intense and magical guests. Menu-style brunch with, you guessed it, breakfast cocktails. Night Light Lounge, 2100 SE Clinton

Sunday Brunch with Poison Waters:

Poison’s monthly McMenamins brunch differentiates itself from the rest by offering a film screening along with drag... and, yes, drinks. Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan

Comedy & Variety

Lez Stand Up:

Monthly standup revue produced by comedian Kirsten Kuppenbender focusing on lesbian, feminist, and nerd humor. $12–15. Siren Theater, 315 NW Davis

Whoopee! A Sex-Positive Variety Show:

Celebrate sex positivity through storytelling, cabaret, music, and drag. Produced by storyteller Amory Jane and cabaret performer Lady Coquine. Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside

BOYeurism:

Boylesque performers and America’s Got Talent alumni Isaiah Esquire and Johnny Nuriel’s monthly mostly male cabaret is like a Burning Man bachelorette party, with fire dancing, circus acts, drag queens, and more. Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside

Flawless Bingo:

Flawless Shade’s biweekly drag bingo serves up compelling sass and locally sourced prize packs, with proceeds supporting Cascade AIDS Project. Century Bar, 930 SE Sandy

Poison Waters & Friends’ Drag Queen Bingo:

Local drag superstar Poison Waters’ monthly bingo night features performances along with prizes and the full McMenamins menu. Mission Theater and Pub, 1624 NW Glisan

Organizations & Seasonal Events

Queer Horror:

Carla Rossi’s bimonthly screening series highlights queer contributions to American horror cinema, from campy slasher sequels to bone-chilling classics. Contains a drag-cabaret pre-show with local performance artists and dancers. Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy

Portland Queer Comedy Festival:

Organized by comedian Belinda Carroll and Funhouse Lounge owner Andy Barrett, this festival showcases local and national LGBTQ+ and ally comedians. Funhouse Lounge, 2432 SE 11th

Portland Gay Pride Festival:

Held in June with a parade and party along downtown Portland’s waterfront, organized by the nonprofit Pride Northwest with support from local and national groups. Portland does have specific Pride parties and parades for the rest of the queer spectrum, but Portland Gay Pride is by far the biggest.

There’s so much more LGBTQ+ fun to be had, so check the Things to Do calendar at portlandmercury.com for the latest, most up to date events.