Search 
Dance Clubs
Whether it's with soul nights, '80s parties or dubstep bashes, Portland's dance clubs will get you moving.
John Patrick Pullen
Portland may be best known for its indie music, but with a wide variety of dance clubs, the city has a rhythm that’ll get just about anyone moving.
Dance Clubs by Neighborhood
Old Town Chinatown
Portland’s densest concentration of dance clubs is in the Old Town Chinatown nightlife district. Bars like Stag PDX and the Southern-themed Dixie Tavern are at the epicenter. Gay nightclub CC Slaughters boasts a live DJ seven nights a week; Wednesdays are all-request dance nights.
Dance enthusiasts could spend months grooving their way through Portland.
Downtown Portland
With a big neon sign that says “Dance,” Lola’s Room is hard to miss, located below the Crystal Ballroom. Regular ’80s and ’90s nights ensure that you’ll be glad you popped into this intimate space.
Central Eastside
Running everything from DJ sets to local performers, Holocene has mixed music with visuals for a decade-plus, turning an old auto-parts warehouse into a 5,000-square-foot temple to art and audio. Its inner southeast Portland neighbor 45 East also rocks a converted industrial space, with an upstairs lounge and downstairs dance floor hosting frequent EDM shows.
Across town, The Goodfoot Lounge is where locals go for laid-back nights of festival-style stomping on the hardwood dance floor. Great for small music and big laughs, the two-level dance hall plays everything from funk to dubstep, so long as it gets the crowd moving.
The big basement dance floor at the log-cabin-themed Doug Fir Lounge gets plenty of traffic on its electro-pop and hip-hop nights, though most of the time the club stays true to the city’s indie-rock ways with live performances.
Other popular options in Southeast include Crush, Trio Club, and The Coffin Club (formerly known as Lovecraft Bar).
Northeast Portland
Aztec Willies in Northeast Portland’s Lloyd neighborhood is a go-to for salsa and Latin grooves, with different offerings nearly every night. Church, an ironic Roman Catholic-themed bar, brings live music and DJ sets in a cozy space on Sandy Boulevard.
On weekends, Nico’s Cantina in the Cully neighborhood offers live music and dance nights in a vibrant outdoor space complete with firepits and access to the bar. Paired with their simply delicious menu of tacos, tamales and snacks, this cantina makes for the perfect place to hang (and shimmy) with friends and family.
Dance Clubs by Style
Bossanova Ballroom
On Tuesday nights the Bossanova takes things down a notch by offering soulful, sultry blues music. Stop by before the dance for a free introductory lesson hosted by the Portland Blues and Jazz Dance Society. There’s no partner required, which is perfect if you’re flying solo. If not, enjoy cuddling up to your sweetie in a close embrace and swaying the night away.
Bushwackers
It doesn’t get more honky-tonk than Bushwackers, the premier spot for bass-thumping, foot-stomping country dance. Show off your two-step, boogie with the line dancers or waltz around the perimeter of the Texas-sized dance floor at this venue in Tualatin, 20 minutes south of downtown Portland. Belt buckles and cowboy boots aren’t required, but you might want to make room in your luggage, just in case.
The Coffin Club
A horror-themed bar complete with a child-sized coffin as decoration? Yep, Portland has that. Get your goth on at The Coffin Club (previously known as Lovecraft Bar) where Thursday is the darkest night of the week, thanks to DJ Carrion’s steady stream of industrial and darkwave.
Lola’s Room
Located on the second floor of the iconic McMenamins Crystal Ballroom, Lola’s Room plays host to Portland’s favorite dance party, ‘80s Video Dance Attack. Every Friday night, break out your scrunchies and lace up your high-top Chucks to relive MTV’s heyday and bop your head to your favorite throwbacks. Classic music videos are projected across giant screens, so it’s a lot like when you used to dance along with Paula Abdul’s “Cold Hearted Slave” in your living room (but with less carpet burn). Prefer songs and styles from the following decade? Dance to hits by Nirvana and Snoop Dog at “Comes As You Are: 90s Dance Flashback” on Saturday nights.
Tango Berretin
Portland has one of the largest Argentine tango communities in North America, with studios offering lessons, practicas and milongas (social dances) almost every night of the week. At the heart of the scene is the Tango Berretin. Owned by world-renowned tango instructor Alex Krebs, this intimate dance hall injects the old-world charm of dimly lit Spanish salons and a tango’s overt sensuality. The popular Saturday night milonga is prefaced with a beginner lesson and frequently hosts live music.
Trio Club
Trio Club is a neon beacon that beckons night owls hungry for a slice of Miami’s nightclub vibe. It looks a bit out of place in Portland, but for fans of salsa, it feels like home. With three different dance floors and DJs spinning everything from traditional mambo to Latin EDM, the Trio Club’s Salsa Sunday is sure to keep you shimmying into the wee hours of Monday morning. (The party goes ‘til 4 a.m.!)
More Nightlife
Portland comes to life after-house with special events and activities.
Live Music Venues in Portland
From gritty rock to velvety jazz, Portland’s live music scene offers tunes for all types.
LGBTQ+ Nightlife
Portland has no shortage of LGBTQ-owned and queer-friendly bars and clubs. Whether you're looking for a relaxing night with friends, a high-energy dance party or a drag show, Portland delivers.
Young, Gifted and Brown Fosters Community Through Dance in Portland
Y.G.B. aims to create healing spaces for Black and Brown Portlanders through music, dance and collaborative experiences.
Nightlife Events
Enjoy a night out in Portland with these upcoming events.
Ha Ha Harvest Comedy Festival
The Ha Ha Harvest Comedy Festival, originally conceived in 2018 as a fleeting comedy extravaganza during the Thanksgiving weekend, has since evolved into a premier showcase of comedic talent. With its annual growth in stature and allure, the festival has become a beloved highlight of the Portland comedy scene. It features an impressive lineup of…
Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night at Hopworks Urban Brewery
Modeled after pub quizzes in Ireland and the U.K., Geeks Who Drink is an authentic homegrown trivia quiz. It’s a great way to drink with friends without burning brain cells. And it’s where useless knowledge means everything. Quizzes cover everything from Hungary to The Hunger Games, from science to sports, from the Billboard Hot 100…
Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night at Portland Cider
Modeled after pub quizzes in Ireland and the U.K., Geeks Who Drink is an authentic homegrown trivia quiz. It’s a great way to drink with friends without burning brain cells. And it’s where useless knowledge means everything. Quizzes cover everything from Hungary to The Hunger Games, from science to sports, from the Billboard Hot 100…
San Holo
Dutch electronic musician San Holo is a genre-bending EDM producer and songwriter whose work touches upon future bass, ambient, trap, and pop styles. He initially garnered attention in the 2010s, posting remixes of tracks by Dr. Dre, Outkast, and other hip-hop performers. After founding his own Bitbird label, he broke through with his 2017 debut,…
Trivia at the 4th Wall
By popular demand, 4th Wall is DOUBLING UP on Trivia, which means you can flex that nerd knowledge twice a week *Hawthorne's Hottest Trivia* now happens on Tuesdays AND Thursdays. Celebrate this spooky season with so much trivia you'll SCREAM. This month, they've got a KILLER lineup. Check it out: Check out this lineup: 9/26…
Young Fathers
Their recorded music can be dark, dense and ambiguous lyrics, but when you watch them live, that kinetic energy is unmistakable. Apparent, visceral and highly addictive. Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole and G. Hastings met as kids and set their bodies against the tide. From the beginning, they were obstinately not going to do what was…
Bangerz Comedy
Portland comics Bjorn RG and Eliza Butler host this weekly show at Neighbors Taproom with curated lineups of local and nationally touring comedians. 21+
Lucky Chops
Lucky Chops is big, brassy, and unapologetically bold. The six-piece band has united audiences in more than 30 countries in thousands of shows, hard-driving grooves and potent singable melodies. The irresistible groove that is Lucky Chops is led by co-founder Josh Holcomb’s soulful trombone, Daro Behroozi’s soaring sax and Joshua Gawel’s powerful trumpet. Born in…
Whiskey Class
Have you ever wondered about the history of whiskey? Can you explain the differences between whisk(e)y types? Have you taken other Westward classes? In this all-whiskey course, attendees will drink their way through the history and sciences of the world's most beloved dark drink.
Off the Wall Drag presents: STRANGER KINGS
Gag me with a spoon! Join Off the Wall Drag for a bitchin’ night of 80s nostalgia, Eldritch whorrors, and super-powered queers in wigs. Cosmo Neapolitan, Adam Biatch, and Gaea Genda return with guest girlies for another night of camp and chaos.
Filthy Fifth Fridays
Free Drag Show at Escape Bar and Grill every fifth Friday of the month Cast: – Nikki Nihao -Ry Bred -Bastilla Daud -Sef
You Oughta Know
The first-anniversary show of You Oughta Know is September 30th. A show where comedians talk about the things they love and believe you need to know about. Is it preaching? Is it education? Is it philanthropy? The 4th Wall isn't sure- but they are positive it will be funny. You Oughta Know is a panel…
Latin Dancing Nights
Every Saturday, Nico's Cantina has a live band or DJ playing. Music alternates between Salsa, Bachata, Cumbia, and Banda every Saturday. NIco's Cantina offers a laid-back atmosphere, a simple menu, and affordable prices.
BodyMagick Burlesque Showcase
The weather may be cooling, but BodyMagick keeps it hot with dazzling Burlesque from past graduates, instructors and acts by two different Teasettes groups. Help create a world where all bodies and identities are honored for their unique expression and where all reside in their power, pleasure and joy through delicious Burlesque. PERFORMERS: The TeasettesVanity…
Creature Feature in the Dark
Drive-in Movie with live Haunted House Performances at Mary S. Young Park in West Linn, OR. Saturdays In September. Come see a different film each weekend: Addams Family Values, Arachnophobia, and Night of the Living Dead in the Deadly Outdoors from your car at Mary S. Young Park in West Linn.
Erin Rae
Three years after the release of her critically acclaimed debut, Putting On Airs, Nashville-raised singer-songwriter Erin Rae shares an intimate, honest, and playful version of herself through her sophomore albumLightenUp.Produced by Jonathan Wilson and recorded in the musically hallowed grounds of California’s Topanga Canyon, the album represents Rae's sonic and inner shift. In it, she…
Dungeons & Dragons One Shot Adventure
Join 4th Wall for a one-shot Dungeons & Dragons adventure. You can bring your character or play with one of their house-made presets. All ages and skill levels are welcome, and best of all, it’s FREE. Let 4th Wall know if you're willing to DM; they may need extra help if attendance is high.
Killer Trivia Night
Want to win big burger bucks? Bring your smartest friends to the Killer Burger on Russell Street every Monday from 7-9 PM for Killer Trivia night. Big gift card prizes for first and second-place teams and fun stuff for the rest of the winners. First-Come, First-serve so arrive early for Happy Hour to get your…
Cheerful Tortoise Comedy Open Mic
Comedy Open Mic for every skill level. Beginners are welcome. Weekly mic every Monday night with 8:30 p.m. sign-ups. Hosted by Sam Bass and Milo Loza. The Cheerful Tortoise is an iconic Portland bar that has been around for more than 60 years and provides a cheerful environment for everyone to enjoy.
Mario Kart 8 Tournament
Grease up those fingers cuz it’s poomping and drifting time. 4th Wall is hosting the biggest Mario Kart tournament yet. All ages and skill levels are welcome, and snacks and drinks are available. Casual play starts at 4 p.m., tourney at 6. $5 to compete and prizes for the top three winners.
Tap That Showcase
Tap That Comedy Showcase and Open Mic A weekly comedy showcase highlighting some of the up-and-coming comedic talents in the Portland metro area.
Trivia Night at the Hostel Cafe
Bring your friends and show off your master skills at solving pup trivia. No need to sign-up in advance. Just show up. The Pub Trivia Nerd’s winning team will even get a prize for their useless knowledge.
FOOLISH MORTALS: A Haunted Mansion Burlesque Cabaret
When hinges creak in a doorless theater, and strange and frightening sounds echo from the stage — that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their bump and grind with ghoulish delight, in search of foolish mortals like YOU to join their nine hundred and ninety-nine happy haunts at a cabaret like no other….
S P A C E: Jupiter – the drag show
The biggest beauty of all the planets – the jovial benefic of good luck and expansion, the planet that wants you to succeed, be a sovereign among sovereigns, and become your best self… That’s right… It’s time to go to JUPITER Hosted by none other than Portland legend Isaiah Esquire Through thirteen shows across twenty-four…
One Night in Cuba
Join Aztec Willie’s on the first Friday of each month for One Night in Cuba. It’s a full night of the best Cuban music hosted by Gabby and Aaron Webb. Bring your friends, neighbors, family and co-workers along for a night to remember. New to the scene? No problem. Come early for a lesson/mixer at…
Movie Night: IKIRU w/ Portland Movie Club
Join 4th Wall for a free screening of Akira Kurosawa's dramatic masterpiece IKIRU, co-hosted by our pals at Portland Movie Club. And check back with the Movie Club the following Wednesday for a group discussion about the film.
Burlynomicon – A Darkly Decadent Burlesque Revue
Burlynomicon – A Darkly Decadent Burlesque Revue invites you to another ghoulishly glorious evening at The Coffin Club, just in time for the veil to thin and the darkness prevails… Enter into this lush, decadent, and special speakeasy soiree through a hushed bar. You'll descend the staircase to be greeted with resplendently eerie surroundings, vendors…
Old Fashioned Social
Join Westward Whiskey at the distillery for a late-night drink featuring some of their best friends and partners. Expect exclusive full-sized cocktails, food, and featured guests. The ticket price includes the special drink of the night. September 9 features Westward Whiskey x Blue Star Donuts pairing benefiting the Pixie Project.
Sinister Songs and Terrifying Tales
Join Morticia, Gomez Addams, and the rest of the “family” as they present an elegant evening of macabre tales of suspense and horror coupled with haunting tunes. The devious duo will terrify and seduce you with songs and stories as you enjoy specialty cocktails, appetizers, charcuterie, and desserts in an interactive cabaret-style setting. From classic…
Buffy Bingo Night
HIGH SCHOOL IS HELL Join 4th Wall for a night of slayers, vampires, and steamy teenage drama. It’s Buffy Bingo Night. Snacks, drinks, and Buffy-themed prizes are available. Featuring two classic episodes: "What's My Line?" (parts 1 &2) Things kick off at 6:30 p.m., and it's only $5 to join. Don't miss it.
Smash Bros Ultimate Tournament
There can be only one… Person who wins… The biggest and baddest Smash Bros Ultimate tournament 4th Wall has had to date. All ages and skill levels are welcome, and snacks and drinks are available. Casual play starts at 4 p.m., tourney at 6. $10 to compete, prizes for the top three winners. Who’s your…
Blanco White
Blanco White started as the solo project of Londoner Josh Edwards in 2014. After studying guitar in Cádiz (Spain), and later the Andean instrument the charango in Sucre (Bolivia), Edwards’ aim was to begin bringing together elements of Andalusian and Latin American music alongside influences closer to home. Between 2016 and 2017, signed to London-based…
THE BELLE SUPPER CLUB: A Burlesque Dinner Cabaret HAUNTED EDITION
Taste the luscious charms and delectable cheekiness of Vintage Portland nightlife as Lacy Productions presents THE BELLE SUPPER CLUB: A Burlesque Dinner Cabaret at the Victorian Belle Mansion in Portland. Escape the everyday and delve into cabaret dreams at THE BELLE SUPPER CLUB (located inside the enclosed and heated garden space) while enjoying dinner, cocktails,…
Haunted Mini Golf
Join Friday + Saturday nights for HAUNTED MINI GOLF. Play 18 holes on the spine-chilling course for just $18. Live actors will be "haunting" the holes, looking to make your game a real nightmare… Snacks and beverages (adult ones, too) will be available for purchase and can be enjoyed on the course. *Strobe lighting +…
Talk of the Town
Talk of the Town invites special guests to tell us about the amazing things they are up to in the City of Roses. These special guests are Portlanders who are making art, making food, or making a difference. Their stories and lives inspire the hilarious team of improv comedians as they create characters and scenes…
Open Mic Night w/ Amelia Evans & Jane Malone
OPEN MIC NIGHT is finally back and ready to party. Join hosts Jane and Amelia for an evening of chuckles and chortles as some of the hottest comics in town take turns trying to crack each other up. Tickets are just $10 to watch but free for performers.
Girls Gotta Eat
Why do guys just want to f*ck you once then watch your Instagram stories until the end of time? How do you get over a breakup when you feel like you're gonna die? When should you give it up? My boyfriend takes morning baths: Is this weird? These are all questions answered on Girls Gotta…
The Haunted Eye-Haunted House and Pop-Up Bar
Half haunted house, half Halloween-themed pop-up bar, with food by Mom's Bulgogi. Prepare for a spine-tingling experience at The Haunted Eye-Haunted House and Spooky Pop-Up Bar. This hair-raising event will be held at The Old Pawn Shop next door to The Lion's Eye. After surviving the haunted house, head into the spooky pop-up bar to…
The Freaks Come Out
Calling all party-goers, music enthusiasts, and Halloween lovers. Prepare to be enchanted by an electrifying evening of beats, costumes, and non-stop dancing as we present "Freaks Come Out: Halloween Edition." THE SPONGES, MNTRA, Takimba and Friends, Knotty Disco, Mr Relish
This Is The Kit
In today's fast-paced mid-apocalyptic world, speaking about time at all can feel like a waste of time. Why dwell on the past when we could just live in the present because the future won't shut up about how bad it's going to be? But with This Is The Kit, the pseudonym of songwriter/banjo strummer/pinhole camera…
Portland Erotic Ball
In 1999, a group of sex-positive friends started the Portland Erotic Ball. Twenty-three years later, the Ball returns as Rose City's biggest adult Halloween experience. Guests can experience the sexy side of the scare as the Ball does a complete venue takeover with 3-floors of non-stop entertainment. Hosted by Emmy-nominee Sasha Scarlett, the 23rd annual…
The Science Fiction Double Feature
Join Alberta Abbey on Sunday, October 29th for just the best party as they present the tale of two young, ordinary kids who find themselves in a strange castle with a very eccentric cast of characters. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a cult midnight classic, a Queer sexual awakening, and an all-around good time….
Ray Keith, Marcus Visionary, Duburban, Elementry
Launching into a special “Jungle Edition” feature, JUICE DnB is beyond humbled to welcome legend-in-the-scene Ray Keith (Dread Recs boss / UK) — playing a special 2-hour DJ set: “Jungle Music: Past, Present & Future;” alongside the mighty Marcus Visionary, (hailing from Toronto), who has contributed so much to the culture and sound of the…
Magic the Gathering: CHAOS TRICK-OR-TREAT DRAFT
Three rounds, completely random packs, one draft. Do you have what it takes to survive the chaos? Anything can happen. Sign-up is just $15; all ages/skill levels are welcome. Snacks and drinks are available.
The Weird Portland Gala and 80s Costume Party
Due to popular demand, Weird Portland United, Portland’s only nonprofit dedicated to keeping things weird, is bringing back the much-hyped Weird Portland Gala for just the second time ever this November. The inaugural event in 2019, billed as a gathering, party, fundraiser, and celebration of weird all rolled into one, featured local celebrities like Darcelle…
Jeffrey Martin
On a small corner lot in southeast Portland, Oregon, Jeffrey Martin holed up through the winter recording his quietly potent new album Thank God We Left The Garden. Long nights bled into mornings in the tiny shack he built in the backyard, eight feet by ten feet. What began as demos meant for a later…
Mudhoney
Ultimately, Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge epitomized the very best of Mudhoney: here was a band reconnecting with its purest instincts and reinventing itself. This 30th-anniversary edition, remastered by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Service, is testimony to the intense creative surge that drove them during this period. The album sessions yielded a clutch of…
Michelle Wolf
Wolf has quickly become one of the most influential voices in the comedy landscape, with the Village Voice calling her “the voice comedy needs right now” and The Daily Beast declaring, “Michelle Wolf is the future of stand-up comedy.” Her most recent Netflix special, MICHELLE WOLF: JOKE SHOW, received high praise and her first hour-long…
CloZee
A purveyor of lucid sounds, French producer Chloé Herry is a worldly and rhythmic figure in the electronic music atmosphere. CloZee has made a name for herself by skewing the usual curves of bass music and evoking a spiritual and evolutionary sound. She recently announced her next album, Microworlds, will be coming out Summer of…
Jimmy Carr
Today one of the biggest-selling global comedians, Jimmy Carr, announced new U.S. dates on his stand-up comedy tour Terribly Funny. The 20-city tour will kick off in Austin and stop in cities including Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and more before ending in San Francisco. At the latest count, he has toured over forty different countries. His…
Was this page helpful?