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    Darcelle XV

    4.0 (161 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Darcelle XV Photos

    Business Info

    DARCELLE XV ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Casual
    Loud
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Darcelle XV

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    Reviews With Photos

    Sable Cities. A guest star. Queen of Hell's Kitchen in NYC.
    Melissa S.

    This was so much fun! The performances were great! Fabulous customer service. Well organized. We will be back!

    The famous Poison Waters
    Jason C.

    I've been a few times, and it is always so much fun! They really try to connect with the audience and just leave you laughing your head off. My friend and I went for brunch today and had a really good time. The food was decent enough, and the performers were fantastic. I look forward to coming back again sometime soon!

    pixiecrossing

    Ok, first off I arrived quite intoxicated, having just been out with friends, and this place was right next to the hotel that I was staying at so I just walked over and the people who let me in knew I was drunk and asked if I would just not drink anymore... I agreed. Went to the bar and the wonderful bartender was so sweet and kept supplying me with water. So I hung out for maybe an hour or so and met some great people and whoever this person was that allowed me to cuddle and have my picture taken with was just a dream. I love this place.

    The queens
    Isabella L.

    This place was so much fun. The food on the other hand was not very good as you can see as pictured. The drinks were so good. The service was amazing, very attentive. This was a very nice experience. They even hung out with us after the show and had time to take pictures with us. We had a blast.

    The finale
    Nico B.

    Few Portlanders are as dazzling as the internationally acclaimed Darcelle XV. The storied performer's life is one made for the movies; rags to riches, rejection to acceptance, personal reinvention during a period of radical social change. Her life story has Oscar-worthy buzz, and it continues to build as the 92-year-old delights audiences night after night in her old town club. When the glitzy new sign was hoisted up in the late 1960's, it's safe to say no one expected what a legacy both the performer and venue would create. Celebrating a recent designation on the National Register of Historic Places, Darcelle XV Showplace has achieved renown for operating the longest-running drag show on the west coast. And Darcelle holds a Guinness World Record for being the oldest performing drag queen. Here are some tips about visiting Darcelle XV: 1. The club is a small venue in a traditional cabaret-style setup. There are excellent seats up-close and personal next to the stage, but also comfortable booths and tables throughout the room. There really isn't a bad seat in the house. 2. Be forewarned if you are a wallflower. The performers love interacting with the audience, so be prepared to either be on the receiving end of a gag or to be flirted with mercilessly. Anything goes at Darcelle XV. 3. The drinks are strong, so pace yourself! But you should definitely imbibe if that's your thing because they have a great selection, as well as friendly servers. 4. The venue is practically a museum with framed photos, autographs and decor that tell a story of Darcelle's life and her involvement in the community. Make sure you arrive with enough time to check the place out. If you haven't had the opportunity to take in a show at Darcelle's XV, please do so while you can. At 92 years of age, every performance Darcelle gives us is a gift; the cherry on top of an extraordinary career. You won't regret the experience of witnessing a true legend doing what she does best.

    Darcelle XV (inside)
    Justin A.

    Darcelle XV is a drag bar in Portland, Oregon, and it's also the stage name of its former owner, Walter Willard Cole, the Guinness World Records holder for being the oldest drag queen performer. He recently died in March 2023. There are still drag shows being performed on weekends, and tickets start at $28. As far as the quality of these shows, they are just okay. You will find majority of the performances as low-energy lip syncs with no emotion. It's understandable as this place is known to celebrate older performers. From a performance aspect, the shows are kind of weak. It may be interesting as a one-time experience, but you can absolutely live a happy life without seeing this. Now that Darcelle XV passed away this year, who knows the future of this place.

    Julia S.

    What an incredible gem this place truly is! For the first time in years, I was finally able to have the opportunity to visit Darcelles and enjoy a Friday night show. Our group arrived ridiculously early, and felt pretty uncomfortable waiting outside. One of the staff noticed we were out waiting, and invited us in. Although we were super early, staff were incredibly courteous and welcoming while they were prepping for the show. We were cared for and served within minutes of finding our seats. I was just so impressed by this stellar customer service, I knew we'd be in for a treat. Be warned, the drinks are very strong. They are also delicious. If you are seated at the end of the row, you may struggle in finding a good place to rest your drinks during the show, consider sitting next to a small table if possible. Also be warned that you should for sure have single bills to tip the performers. There was a staff member who did this at the beginning of the show, but it's always nice to have single bells handy before coming in. This 90 minute show was a blast and one of the highlights of my fall adventures already. Consider going with friends, family, or even a significant other!

    information about the national register of historic places
    Mersades C.

    We visited Darcelles when we were in Portland and it was an experience. As others have mentioned, it is an old school drag show. Most of the queens are older and have a sense of old school vibe to their performances. Coming from California and having been to drag performances before at places like Hamburger Mary's, this is not that. The place is small. So much so they squeeze as many seats as possible, but not in a comfortable way, so much so you are inches from others. We had a good time, but know what to expect. It was a cool experience.

    Gorgeous!!!!
    Kristi N.

    My grandmother and I finished a two week road trip with an over-night in Portland and we were really surprised and excited to see that Darcelle's was still offering shows. I was a little nervous at first, but as soon as I walked inside It was obvious this was going to be amazing! We were greeted and treated respectfully and had our own socially distanced table. We wore masks the entire time unless to sip our drinks. The show itself was incredible and wow, Darcelle is so witty and had everyone laughing until they cried. The queens here have talent and I can't thank them enough for shedding some glittery light during this time. Highly recommend!

    The incredible cast!!
    Jessie M.

    Unexpectedly delightful! This hidden gem was the highlight of my most recent trip to Portland. From the moment we arrived, staff and performers made our group feel at home. The drinks and snack were wonderful (and strong). The show was so fun... the performers were very interactive with the audience. At the conclusion of the show, they spent a generous amount of time chatting with guests and taking photos. I loved it! 5-stars across the board! I can't wait to return!

    Nick C.

    Great time in the evening or for Sunday brunch. The brunch is awesome, the food is mediocre, but you don't go for the food. It's only $25 per person for the meal and show, and there are many drink specials for only $5 each. A real bargain these days. It's a great deal. One suggestion, get rid of the pre-made McDonald's style hash brown and crisp the bacon. Floppy bacon is just nasty. But the show never disappoints and the staff is fantastic! I love this place and the queens. It's a guaranteed great time.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Darcelle XV

    Is it 21 and over?

    Yes.

    Is it true that you need to buy two drinks and pay for the cover charge? ? I would like to go to Darcelle's for my birthday with several friends. Some of them don't drink or are on strict budgets and I don't want them to feel pressured.

    i'm not 100% sure about the two drinks there is a $20 cover charge but you can't make somebody drink that doesn't want to drink.

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    Review Highlights - Darcelle XV

    Poison Waters is naturally the funniest drag queen in Portland and will make you laugh hands down.

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    We came to Teardrop Cocktail Lounge while visiting Portland and were genuinely impressed…read more The cocktails were excellent -- thoughtful, well-balanced, and clearly made by people who know what they're doing. One of the best parts was how approachable the bartenders were. We asked for custom drinks based on our preferences, and both came out perfectly tailored. Creative without being weird, and strong without being sloppy. What really stood out was the price point. For the quality of cocktails, the prices felt very reasonable compared to similar craft cocktail bars in other cities. The vibe was also great -- relaxed, cozy, and not pretentious. It felt like a place where you could come for a special drink experience without feeling like you had to "perform" or order off a rigid menu. We liked it so much we actually came back a second time during our trip. Highly recommend if you're into well-crafted cocktails, friendly bartenders, and a laid-back but elevated atmosphere.

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    Custom Created cocktails by the mixologist!
    Custom Created cocktails by the mixologist!
    Filthy Vodka Martini from the local Timber Line distillery.
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    Darcelle XV - bars - Updated July 2026

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