The Top 6 Portland Nightclubs
In addition to its coffeehouses and microbreweries, Portland, Oregon is known for its art, theater, and music scenes. When it comes to nightclubs, you should be able to find the type of vibe you’re looking for with relative ease. As the 26th largest city in the United States by population, Portland isn’t a major city, but it’s not small either since 632,309 people call it home. Despite its moderate size by American standards, it packs a lot of punch in the nightclub scene. You will find many ideas below, but it’s always recommended that you do your own homework prior to choosing which spot to hit.
45 East
This is an industrial nightclub with an underground vibe. To better explain this, raves became popular in the 1990s. At that time, people would “secretly” spread the word on where the rave was taking place so the police wouldn’t find out about it (no public advertising). The location would almost always be in a warehouse in an industrial park. This was the best place to hide at night because cops would rarely investigate industrial parks on weekend night because there were no people there.
45 East has recreated that underground rave scene. This includes exposed brick and industrial fittings, but 45 East adds a covered balcony, which is not something you would often find at a rave. Instead of house and techno music, it’s now EDM, which stands for Electronic Dance Music. Just like back in the day, there is a DJ with an elite sound system.
45 East also nails the prior rave scene by not making everything about the dance floor. There is plenty of room to chill and socialize while having a clear view of the dance floor. Another cool aspect to 45 East is the separate bar, JADE, which is on the second floor. Here you will find hip-hop, techno, and house music. It’s also a location you can rent out for private parties.
Trio Club
This Portland nightclub is on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. Trio is also high energy, but it’s a very modernized 20-something club with a Vegas feel. This is a “place to be” kind of place. You will find booming music, lasers, high-tech lighting, and a bar with a man-made waterfall behind it. Trio Club does have one unique feature: It’s the largest karaoke bar in Portland. Happy Hour is from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM.
Shake Bar
Shake Bar is a hip-hop and Top 40 club in Chinatown. It’s another high-energy location with neon hues, a DJ, a full bar, and bottle service. Here's a tip: If you text SHAKEPOX to 555999 before 11 p.m., you won’t have to pay a cover fee. If you plan on going to Shake Bar for a birthday, bachelorette party, or with a group for any other reason, it’s recommended that you call the club to reserve VIP table service.
Jones Retro Dance Club
Nikki Jones, the owner of Jones 6,500-square foot Retro Dance Club, is well known in the downtown nightclub scene. She enjoys owning and running themed nightclubs. The theme at Jones Retro Dance Club is 1980s and 1990s. This doesn’t just pertain to the music, but everything. For example, you might come across a Polaroid camera, Garbage Pail Kids, Light-Brite, arcade games, or posters of New Kids on the Block. The music is 100% 1980s and 1990s, which attracts a primarily 30-something and 40-something crowd. This has led to a fun yet calmer atmosphere than the other clubs mentioned above. It’s not a meat market, people are looking to have a good time rather than escalate drama, and intelligent conversations might take place.
Despite the music being from decades past, Nikki hires nationally-known DJs to mix it up and get the crowd going on the dance floor, and it’s a huge dance floor. If you’re not into dancing, you can visit the outdoor patio to relax or socialize. If you order a drink from the bar, you will find that all drinks are named after movies, television shows, actors, and other famous people from the 1980s and 1990s.
Happy Hour goes all the way to 9 p.m., making it one of the longest happy hours in the city. This, in turn, attracts a lot of people. There is also food here, including what you would eat for lunch when you were a kid: grilled cheese sandwich, hamburger and fries, chicken strips, mac and cheese, and more. It’s time to sport your jean jacket, gel your hair, and get those kicks ready. This is a blast from the past that will allow you to enjoy the present.
Holocene
The first thing you should know about Holocene is that there’s usually a long line to get in. In fact, it sometimes wraps around the block. Holocene is located in a former Best Auto Parts warehouse in inner-Southeast Portland and has been going strong since 2003. The reason for the continued success and long lines to get in is the hottest local acts from folk to techno play here. The atmosphere is somewhere between high-end and underground but not in-between. It’s more of an intangible and something you will need to experience to understand.
Holocene is 5,000 square feet with 25-foot ceilings. There are two main rooms, but the middle wall can be removed to create a larger space. The sound system, video production, lights, and performance area are all top of the line.
Notable Mentions
Other Portland nightclubs to consider include Multnomah Whiskery Library and Doug Fir Lounge. The former is an upstairs lounge with brick walls offering more than 1,500 spirits as well as small plates. The latter puts on 25 shows per month and has hosted the likes of Alabama Shakes, Vampire Weekend, and other names you might recognize. It’s an intimate setting, which makes any experience more memorable.
What Portland Nightclub Sounds Best?
Now you have all the information you need for the next time you’re ready to hit the town. Get some great food, book a hotel before you go out, and then dance the night away at one of Portland's top nightclubs. Here, you can enjoy everything from EDM to retro to intimate performances. Who knows, you might even meet someone famous; they're all over the the city.