Portland gay district
11 Wine Bars for Every Kind of Vibe
Portland’s same-sex attracted bars are more than just hangouts. Most of the city’s dozen-plus gay bars opened in eras hostile to the gay community. The city’s oldest surviving bars were havens in an openly homophobic era, while its newest venues join a chorus of voices against an increasingly transphobic national climate. The entire LGBTQ+ group should, in the foremost bars, feel safe and free to let loose, have fun, and maybe nibble on something tasty, on menu or off.
Not all queer gatherings have a permanent house, so we’ve assembled a rundown of the city’s robust scene of recurring pop-up parties alongside our favorite brick-and-mortar establishments. From leather bars to kingly dens to lesbian parties to trans cabaret revues to Portland’s “gay Cheers,” there’s always somewhere where everyone’s glad you came.
Jump to: Upbeat Clubs / Low-Key Venues / Strip Clubs / Recurring Gay Parties
Upbeat Clubs
CC Slaughters
Est. 1981 | old town
Though technically on the outskirts of Old Town’s Entertainment District, CC’s is very much at the center of the queer downtown Portland scene. Part cocktail block and part dance club, it’s an approacha
LGBTQ+ Nightlife
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A bartender makes sparks at Local Lounge.
You'll find plenty of LGBTQ+-friendly places to visit when the sun goes down in Portland.
3 min read
Note: This section was produced in collaboration with ProudQueer.com, formerly known as PQ Monthly.
Portland has no shortage of LGBTQ-owned and queer-friendly bars and clubs. Whether you’re looking for a safe room to enjoy a relaxing night with friends, a high-energy dance party or a drag show, Portland delivers.
North Portland
Florida Room is both queer-friendly and dog-friendly. Enjoy a drink with your favorite two-legged and four-legged friends on one of their two patios.
Eagle Portland is Portland’s leather bar and home establish for the Oregon Bears. Guests who wear a leather harness, vest, chaps, or full drag with “significant effort,” get in free on Friday or Saturday nights.
Downtown and The Pearl District
Scandalscalls itself, “Portland’s Gay ‘Cheers.'” The relaxed vibe makes it a great place to encounter with friends, or encounter new ones. During warmer months, grab a seat outside and watch the summer crowd cruise by.
There are two all-male strip clubs in Portland. Silverado, locat
Portland Gay City Guide: A Place to be an Individual
Spend a day perusing Portland Market. Eat a Voodoo donut on the shore. Watch a ballet at Keller Auditorium. Accept a selfie at the International Rose Garden. Portland has so much to offer any LGBTQ transplant. It’s known for an artsy and folky vibe with upscale housing.
The Urban area of 8 Monikers
Portland goes by many nicknames, “City of Roses,” “Rip City,” “Stumptown,” etc. Portland started through the Oregon Footpath. Large numbers of pioneer settlers began arriving in Willamette Valley in the 1830s. It’s evolved quite a bit since then!
Portland soon developed the reputation of a gritty port town and many referred to it as the “scion of New England.” Today, it’s a entertainment city full of active and “weird” people.
Quick Portland Stats
- The Portland Airport is rated the best in the world for national flights.
- Portland has the largest number of vegetarian and vegan options in the country.
- The city gets a lot of rain. 42 inches per year to be exact.
- Weird Portland has the smallest park in the world. Just two feet across.
- Portland
Portland LGBTQ City Guide
Portland is a beautiful old seacoast town known for its boutiques, shops and astonishing seafood, as well as for its friendly people, its diversity, and all that it offers to see and do. It has always been a busy seaport for both cargo and fishing, but it is also a very popular tourist destination, particularly in the summer. People flock to the town to enjoy the shopping and nearby beaches, and to soak in Portland’s unique coastal beauty. Truly, it is a beautiful city that would make a wonderful place to call home!
A Stare at Portland’s History
Portland was initially founded in 1786 when the citizens of nearby Falmouth formed a separate town and named it Portland. Prior to that, Portland had been home to the Algonquin native American people. Since its founding, the city has grown steadily as an important port, and also as a city rich and industry, agriculture, culture, and diversity. It remains so to this day.
A Few Playfulness Facts About Portland
- Roughly 40 percent of all Maine residents live in the greater Portland area.
- There is no transatlantic port in the United States which is closer to Europe than Portland. Portland is also the 20
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