Search Nightlife
Dance clubs, karaoke and comedy all come out at night in Portland — as do late-night bites, beverages and other unexpected delights.
Nightlife in Portland doesn’t mean just hitting the club. Portland comes to life after hours with open mic nights held throughout the city, nationally acclaimed karaoke spots, delicious late-night eats, adult-friendly gaming spots and plenty of alcohol-free fun. Read on for our guides to the city’s nightlife scene, then check out our events calendar to discover more things to do at night on your next trip to Portland. (Coming soon? Find fun things to do in Portland this weekend!)
Nightlife Events
Portland is a blast when the sun goes down — experience it yourself at these upcoming events.
Nightclubs & Parties
Located just north of downtown Portland, the vibrant Old Town Chinatown neighborhood is a go-to spot to experience Portland nightlife, whether you’re seeking live DJs, rowdy dance floors or tasty cocktails. For the full-blown dance club experience, CC Slaughters, BIZU, Stag PDX and other nightclubs are always bustling on weekends and often feature energetic DJ sets.
If you prefer a more down-and-dirty, rock-and-roll vibe, swing by Dixie Tavern, where servers are known to dance on the bar and brave revelers are sometimes invited to join in. Or, if a lively drag show is more your style, pay a visit to Darcelle XV Showplace, where the world-famous female impersonators have been putting on a Las Vegas-style cabaret since 1967.
Just across the Willamette River, the Central Eastside is also worth checking out. Holocene is a night club and music venue where you can dance to DJ sets and touring acts in a cool converted warehouse. Another nearby nightclub, 45 East is known for top EDM acts and industrial vibes.
Bars Open Until 2 a.m. or Later
Need a nightcap? From dives to dance spots, these bars stay open until last call.
Portland Bars
Explore more Portland watering holes and find the perfect bar for the occasion.
Happy Hour
Every night of the week, happy hour helps get the party started. Many establishments in town have one, so finding the best depends on where you are and what you want to eat (or drink). Our guide to happy hour in Portland can help you find a great option nearby.
A nighttime happy hour is extra sweet, and Portland has great options if you need to refuel during a night out on the town. Hawthorne’s colorful Cuban restaurant, Cubo, has happy hour specials during the standard 3 to 6 p.m. window, but great deals return from 8 p.m. till closing, every night of the week — you’ll enjoy $4 pints and $7 rum cocktails, or grab a half sandwich with plantains for just $8. Smart Donkey has an after-dark happy hour from 8–9 p.m., during which drinks are $5 and selected burritos are $10. Pizza lovers shouldn’t miss East Glisan Pizza Lounge, where you can find happy hour deals on slices, sandwiches, sides and libations — the deals run from 8:30 p.m. till close Thursday to Saturday and all night on Monday.
Late-Night Bites
When hunger strikes after closing time, head to these local eateries that stay open late.
Karaoke
Karaoke is a popular way to keep the good times going, and from dive bars to private boxes, there are no bad places to sing — only bad singers. Serving tropical drinks and piles of Hawaiian food, The Alibi Tiki Lounge will make you feel like you’re on an island vacation just long enough to belt out some Elvis in front of the packed house. The Ambassador Restaurant and Lounge, meanwhile, embraces everything a Chinese restaurant and karaoke bar should be while raising the bar with a light-up stage and a fog machine. The Baby Ketten Klub basement bar includes two private rooms, ’70s and ’80s themed, in addition to a public main stage and bar area. The songbook is packed with selections not available anywhere else, including some wild mash-ups.
If you ever wished you could front a real, live rock band, then Karaoke From Hell is for you. Hosted by Voodoo Doughnut co-founder Tres Shannon, the band’s repertoire includes 700 songs — they play twice a week at clubs like Dante’s and the Spare Room. Rather keep your singing voice among friends? Voicebox can accommodate up to 30 members of your entourage with pay-by-the-hour private suites at its Northwest and Central Eastside locations.
Catch a Show
Music imbues every aspect of the City of Roses, and nightlife is no exception. The Crystal Ballroom and Roseland Theater attract all genres of current and pop music acts to downtown Portland, while the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall hits the classics by hosting performances by the Oregon Symphony, Portland Opera and Oregon Ballet Theater.
Choosing a venue based on your favorite genre can help narrow the search: For Jazz, try The 1905 and The Jack London Revue. Love to boogie to country tunes? Check out The Showdown, Landmark Saloon or Ponderosa Lounge & Grill. Looking for niche venues offering a little bit of everything eclectic? Head to Laurelthirst Public House, Lollipop Shoppe or Turn! Turn! Turn!
And what’s nightlife without some laughs? Helium Comedy Club is a hub for Portland’s comedy scene, drawing everyone from touring, a-list professionals to emerging local talent to its stage. For more experimental, only-in-Portland vibes, catch a show at the Funhouse Lounge, a Division/Clinton spot that’s also known for fringe theater, improv and burlesque. On top of dedicated comedy clubs, Portland also offers a slew of comedy nights and open mics, including at McMenamins Al’s Den, Pope House Bourbon Lounge and Fuse Theatre Ensemble – The Back Door Theater. Laughs PDX is a great resource for finding more shows around town.
More Entertainment
From comedy and dance clubs to theater and movies, find more ways to spend a memorable night.
Upcoming Nightlife Events
Enjoy a night out in Portland at these upcoming after hours events.
More Nightlife
Scroll through a round-up of more of our favorite nightlife activities.
Was this page helpful?