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 Dig a Pony, Crush, Trio Club, and The Coffin Club (formerly known as Lovecraft Bar). Northeast PortlandĪztec 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 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. 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. Portland is ranked as one of America’s top five most livable cities and THE most eco-friendly city.The Coffin ClubĪ horror-themed bar complete with a child-sized coffin as decoration? Yep, Portland has that. Once you’ve visited, you will understand why. Portland is a green, clean, open-minded city that still has a small-town vibe. Host to Pride Northwest and the Lesbian and Gay Film Fest, we think all LGBT travelers should experience this gorgeous city, the biggest city in Oregon. Gay Portland is one of the few urban cities that can stake its claim as being surrounded by mountains, forests, and waterways. With a beautiful backdrop of Mount Hood in the distance, Forest Park on the edge of downtown and five major waterways within a 10-minute drive of the city, Portland’s location is truly one of a kind. Though Portland is not as visibly gay a city as San Francisco, it has one of America’s strongest feminist and lesbian communities.
Gay and lesbian bars can be found throughout Portland and most everywhere is gay-friendly. The Hawthorne District in the southeast quadrant is the most concentrated lesbian gayborhood. Trendy, affordable and funky coffeehouses, bars, secondhand shops and boutiques line Hawthorne Boulevard and Belmont Street. Portland’s most visibly gay community is comprised of a triangular set of city blocks known by some as the Burnside Triangle. 14th Ave., West Burnside Street and Southwest Broadway Street, this area is known for its nightlife, boutiques and restaurants. The area has also been a meeting place for Portland’s LGBT community since the turn of the 20th century.Įthnically and culturally diverse, Mississippi Avenue is one of several eastside neighborhoods where independent businesses and creative spirits thrive. This area is considered to be Portland’s up-and-coming gayborhood and it provides visitors with a taste of the city’s quirky character. Portland's culture is very outdoorsy, so the summer months are the best time to visit to take advantage of all the outdoor activities. Portland's annual pride, the Portland Pride Festival and Parade takes place in mid-June each year and is Portland's biggest LGBTQ event. But because Portland is a welcoming destiination year-round, there are actually other great LGBTQ events taking place such as regular gay karaoke nights, an LGBTQ film festival, and more. Portland Gay-Friendly Activities & Attractions Winters in Portland can get cold, but it is relatively more mild than other northern destinations because of the coastal effect. Portland has a culture for outdoors activities, but there are also plenty of cosmopolitan things to do in Portland's main downtown areas.
Once an industrial district, the Pearl District has sprung to life in recent years.