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Gay bars in portland

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1967 | old town

In its late namesake’s absence, Darcelle’s family runs the historic Old Town club Darcelle XV Showplace, and resident castmate-turned-city-treasure Poison Waters reigns as the club’s emcee and grande dame. The welcoming, unpretentious vibe extends to all members of the LGBTQ+ community. 2014 | old town

In the former home of LGBTQ+ institution Embers, Badlands is helping to rebuild Old Town’s once thriving queer scene.

From Meals 4 Heels to Taqueria Los Puñales, we've rounded up some of our favorite queer-owned bars, restaurants, and cafes in Portland. (2137 E Burnside, sammichrestaurants.com)

Speed-O Cappuccino

Flipping the script on the classic "bikini barista" format, this cheeky Barbie-pink espresso stand and vegan food cart founded by sex workers Dahlia Hanson and Joseph Miller employs a staff of queer sex workers, or as they put it, "thembos and flirts." Besides coffee drinks, you can expect to find vegan versions of Crunchwraps and deep-fried Oreos.

Judy on Duty

various locations

Queer women and nonbinary DJs spin each month in a sapphic heaven of impeccable musical and artistic taste. served with ranch or bbq dipping sauce

breaded mozzarella sticks served with marinara

Substite Onion Rings Or Tater Tots For Fries

11 Wine Bars for Every Kind of Vibe

Portland’s gay bars are more than just hangouts.

(4142 SE 42nd, coffeebeer.me)

Friendship Kitchen and Stem Wine Bar

Wife-and-wife team Trang Nguyen Tan and Wei-En Tan run the warm, welcoming Vietnamese restaurant Friendship Kitchen and its Northwest sister location Friendship Kitchen: Saigon 2 Singapore.

Jacques Strappe

various locations

Christopher Sky founded this “trashy-chic” queer dance party weeks before the pandemic hit Oregon, but the party goes on.

At venues like Statera Cellars’s event space and the subterranean cocktail lounge Voysey, drag queens and DJs keep the party moving while revelers drink magnums of champagne and slurp caviar.

Kit-N-Kaboodle

Kit Kat Club 

At the personal behest of Old Town club king Frank Faillace, queer nightlife staple Nikki Lev founded this weekly all-genders, all-bodies night to break the gender binary at strip clubs.

The establishment shows women's sports, including Portland Thorns games and ATA Football matches, on the TVs and highlights products from women-owned businesses on its menu, such as booze from Freeland Spirits and Carman Ranch beef. Grab a great deal on your hotel stay when you book via GayMapper!

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Tours & Experiences in Portland

Make the most of your travels by pre-booking our popular tours and experiences.  There's a whole range of options, from cultural and historical to food, drink and nightlife.  Get under the skin of your destination, and book a tour or experience now.

may be substituted for any menu sauce at no charge

hummus, sliced genoa salami, pepperoni mozzarella cheese, kalamata olives, onion pesto spread & sliced bagguette
an assortment of sliced tillamook sharp cheddar, dill havarti, mozzarella & herbed cherve cheeses, dill aioli & sliced bagguette
italian herb breaded calamari rings & legs served with spicy chipotle & fresh lemon
romaine lettuce tossed in a creamy caesar dressing, topped with shaved parmesan cheese, mediterranean olives & house croutons
breaded chicken breast tenders served with fries
battered cod filet served with fries, tarter & fresh lemon
crispy corn battered dogs served with fries
choice of spicy, teriyaki or bbq sauces.

Blow Pony

white owl social club 

Blow Pony—Portland’s longest-running freaky monthly queer dance party—has been too big to contain since its grimy warehouse days. Diners who aren’t able to snag a coveted reservation should check out the restaurant’s downstairs pan-Caribbean sibling bar Sousòl (Haitian Creole for "basement").

Though it plays nicely off the name of Portland’s favorite boots, the bar is named for Dr. Marie Equi, a turn-of-the-century Portland activist and advocate for labor rights and birth control. 2012 | Sumner

This queer oasis in the Parkrose-Sumner neighborhood—blocks from a popular bingo hall and the scenic Catholic shrine the Grotto—is the PDX airport’s closest destination for a long, gay layover.

 

Tours & Experiences in Portland

What's wrong with this menu?
available sauces: may be substituted for any menu sauce at no charge. 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.

Even resident straights are welcome for an infusion of brunch, drag, and board games. Twirl feels like a West Coast take on the classic East Coast tea dance, with DJs, local drag, and a rotating costume theme to keep guests looking and acting their best.

Hit up the Slutty Patio Cookout each Sunday, with its free burgers and wieners or pop over to next-door’s Peruvian restaurant, Casa Zoraya.

Tin Shed serves everything from breakfast burritos to biscuits and gravy and has been featured on the Food Network and in the New York Times.

gay bars in portland

2022 | buckman

Doc Marie’s opened in 2022 as Portland’s first devoted lesbian bar in over a decade. Gourdet has been vocal about his sobriety, and both the bar and restaurant offer plentiful zero-proof options in addition to cocktails, beer, and Oregon wines.