Just went to another show here, and I don't think I'll be back. Both times the acts have given the audience attitude, and not in good or deserved ways. The first time I got a moral lecture when I wanted to see a variety show, and the second time the performers were mad not enough people were there and it showed. The bar also said they have tonic water, but then gave me seltzer water. Those are decidedly not the same thing. read more

Went to Dante's for a concert. Great bar. Your staff is well trained. This is a great bar to go see your favorite local band.

BEWARE!!! Dante's is known for changing show times and/or starting shows early. The phone number listed for them on Yelp is actually for Dante's Caffe Italiano Restaurant & the 800# listed for them on their website is for TicketWeb so there is no way to contact them and get immediate information about a show. Way to stay on top of things Dante's Keep Portland Dumb! read more

I've had the pleasure of playing music at Dante's a few times now and the last time was the best. Always treated well by the staff, but this last gig the sound person really kicked ass with the light show during our set, it was so much fun! This venue has the best sound and is a fun place to play music and see music! read more

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Karaoke from hell is such a blast! Simple bar, some pizza and basic drinks. Don't expect anything fancy or clean bathrooms lol. It would be pretty cool if they made a hell themed cocktail menu! read more

Review for pizza slut. ... we were staying in hotel around the corner stopped by around 1am for some slices to take back to hotel. Ordered 4 slices and asked to have them put in a box since it was raining and had a couple block walk. The mean lady refused saying they don't have boxes. What a lie!!! How do you send out a full pizza? All on separate plates. Bad customer service read more

Despite being one of the more, if not most, popular destinations in Portland's Old Town, I frankly find Dante's to be underwhelming. I have only been here ever twice and both times have left me with little desire to return. First off, the environment itself is fairly unattractive and unappealing. The way the stage and seating areas are set up in a way that makes you long for the days in which you would enjoy your junior high school's productions. At least with that, you can expect your setting to be touched up for your patronage and viewing pleasure. To make matters worse, seating is limited and so unless you reserve a table, you may find yourself having to stand with a good number of people in front of you. Thus, obscuring your view of the stage performers and risking your good time. The drinks at Dante's are pretty good, though, but the bartenders are just your average joes. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I like my bartenders to be more vibrant and memorable. Otherwise, I tend to remember the drinks more than anything else (and that's only if I don't get a hangover). The pizza outlet isn't bad either and serves (no pun intended) to sate late evening munchies. Between the pizza and booze, both add to your experience when watching one of Dante's live shows. The shows themselves can be quite entertaining (I'll never forget Layne Fawke's incredible performance with her mostly one-woman show), but sometimes they can be worth a skip. So regarding entertainment, it is either a hit or miss with Dante's. If only Dante's would improve upon their visual appeal then they might get a higher rating from me. If you're curious about their Sunday night entertainment and/or know any of the performers there, then I would recommend checking it out. Otherwise, feel free to give it a skip. There usually isn't much to miss here. read more

Went to Sinferno - their cabaret show and was not disappointed at all. It's not for the faint of heart as there's plenty of daring acrobatics and fire action but you will definitely be getting your money's worth. I've seen several Cirque du Soleil shows and I can say this is on par with the quality of the action and performance you see at those shows. Just make sure to bring plenty of cash with you to tip the performers and dancers! read more

This was recommended to me after I got out of Kelly's, and I actually ended up coming here twice. This is more of what I think of when I hear the term dive as opposed to Kelly's. It's darker, has more grit, and live rock bands. There's also a pizza place attached that funnels really good pizza directly into the bar. You can't lose, this is a great place. The second night we went we caught a burlesque/variety show which was fantastic. They also have go-go dancers, the place was well staffed and attracted a good crowd even on a school night. I saw a midget swallow a balloon that was just as long as he was, before popping it inside of him and slowly sinking to the floor. I'm sure he's fine. read more

I'm at awe and so happy that I was able to visit Dantes. I came to Portland during a 3 day weekend and heard that Dantes was the place to go on Sunday nights. First off - I didn't even look up what was going on - my friend and I visited Dantes completed blind, expecting a fun live event...nothing big. Turns out - Sundays is Sinfernos - a huge show night. Cover was $10 - way cheap compared to the performances we were able to watch. There is no photography during this event, and there were large bouncer guys to enforce this. We saw fire acts, burlesque, silk performances on chains, dances, comedic acts ............ this was incredible and made me truly understand Portland as a city - and a weird one that is. Drinks were cheap - $5 well drinks, and the bartenders were very friendly. It's expected/encouraged you tip the performers after their act - they bring around a giant bucket after they are on stage, so bring some dollars. We met some friends at the event, who have been going to Sinferno almost weekly for the past 15 years - which means it must be pretty awesome. It seems to attract mostly locals, which I'm glad we got to experience. I'm so glad I got to experience Sinferno and that we stumbled upon coming into Dantes. I'll be recommending this to any Portland travelers - and say that they must be in the city for a Sunday night! read more

NOTE - I'm a PCA for someone with disabilities. My reviews are not about food, my reviews are regarding accessibility and inclusion. This venue rates extremely low for handicapped accessibility. We emailed the venue in advance to ask about handicapped accessibility, but our email received no response. There is no designated handicapped parking anywhere close the place. After pushing a walker for 6 blocks from the closest available parking space to the venue, the door guy didn't know if there was handicapped parking for customers. When I asked the ticket taker if there was a designated ADA seating space we were told "You just gotta find a spot. I don't know." There are no clear and maintained aisles for people using walkers or wheelchairs. There are no wheelchair accessible bathroom stalls. The stalls wouldn't even accommodate a 24" wide walker. Judging this business on the basis of accessible parking, designated space and accommodations, navigability, bathrooms, knowledgeable staff, and helpfulness of staff, Dante's should get 1/4 of a star, but we'll have to go with 1. If you are a band or promoter who cares about accessibility and inclusion, consider a different venue to play. If you're a customer who cares about accessibility and inclusion, now you know about Dante's. If you want to know about accessibility at other Portland area businesses, Twitter @PDX_Accessible read more

They made over $50,000 last year on video poker commissions and they can't afford to upgrade the HVAC? LAME VENUE!

Went 2 Dante's for 1st time for 2019 ink 'n pink exotic dance competition. Best part of the night was the veggie calzone from Pizza Slut the food source inside the club. Flavor was great and U get to choose which veggies U want in the calzone. Calzone was a 5 star!! Club itself is a 3 star. What the heck the place is obviously making $$ but there isn't a door knob or handle on the door to men's bathroom. WORST part of the night was the poorly organized dance competition done by Exotic Magazine. Dancers were great but the show started more than an hour late and the would be emcees from the magazine kept dragging things out. 1 star for the way the contest was managed; 4 + stars for the dancers. read more

One of the last cool bars/venues in Portland. It's not pretentious, the lighting is flattering, and any spot in the room provides a good view. Dantes plays host to a variety of shows, ranging from headliners big to small, including an ACTUAL variety show on Sunday's called Sinferno. If you're a tried and true local, you've undoubtedly been to Sinferno. Naked chicks, fire dancers, hip hop dancers, comedy, and a DJ that knows exactly what to play and it's perfect. BONUS: the bar isn't overpriced. It's not unreasonable, it's not cheap, it's just priced at exactly what it needs to be. Unlike the Roseland, which charges $5 for a PBR and most shows you can't even drink on the floor--you must enjoy your beverage downstairs or on the balcony. In a sea of shitty venues and rapid change in PDX, Dantes remains slightly dirty, with questionable ethics and great shows. My kind of joint. Oh god, did I mention my total fucking devotion to Lonesomes Pizza, which is connected to Dante's and is their in-house pizza element? GODDDDDDDDDD. Cruise over to my review on that when you're done reading this. read more

This review is actually for the pizza place that is connected to Dante's called Pizza Slut. We ordered several slices of pizza here and they were amazing and an awesome price! We were just wandering around and walked past the window on the corner and it smelled so good we had to check it out. I will return here next time I'm in town. read more

Came here for the Sunday burlesque show and it was a complete joke. Of the acts ( 2 1/2 hours in) only two have been true burlesque. The remaining acts have been a mixture of sideshow meets (poor) strip club. A mention to management regarding the duet that constantly was allowed on set between the acts. Terrible. Their only performance was to dance around stage, and they didn't do that particularly well. Not sure who this Sunday show is trying to attract but it's not the people who want to be entertained by burlesque. My stars go to the two burlesque dancers. The first act (a woman in red from Kentucky) and a woman with white feathers fashioned as wings: you made this show worth it, and I appreciate your talent, training, and true desire to entertain. To Dantes: advertise this show for what it is, "Americas Got "Talent."" read more

$1.50 for a HUGE but mediocre slice of pizza!?!?! I've been sleeping on this deal for so long I feel like muthaf*ckin Rip van Winkle! I had to check the mirror when I got home to make sure I didn't have a 3 foot long gray beard or some sh*t. Seriously. Available inside or from a walk-up window on the corner of 3rd and Burnside. Other than the Pizza, Dante's bar will kick your ass and make you its bitch. It's bad ass. It's Bikers meet strippers meet burlesque meets black velvet meets red lights meet live-band karaoke meets pizza meets stiff drinks meets your face. I've been in this place a few times over the years, and, well, let's just say the smoke kept me away for a long, long time. Now that it's gone, I'll probably find myself back more and more often. Who can turn down a night of vaudeville burlesque? Better yet, who can turn down a gigantic painting of a molten lava covered volcano? I can. Sometimes. But add in the $1.50 pizza? Uh, damn. I think I just sold my soul. read more

Dante's really? I thought this through but I wanted to see Booker T and Charlie Hunter so bad! But not here.. I drive by this place every night on my way home from work and there are some seedy looking people sitting on their chairs outside... how much worse is it inside I always think. I also don't want to have to stand up the whole time for 22.00 and it was general admission so I figured forget it. I wrote my disdain about no seats to them. Lo and behold! (Who says that anymore right?) Stick with me. They offered me reserved seats! How could I not give this venue a try? He told me it was "caberet" style.. way to bring me in.. I so love that description. Off we went and seriously? Not too bad though they did have the lights way down low. The bathrooms reminded me of places I had been in my 20s so I just regressed. BUT, they were clean, just painted black (to cover things up right) and one of the doors was half off.. some story there right? The crowd was crazy and it was full, I mean overfull of people. Everyone was laid back, easy going. You could get to the bathroom anytime. You could get to the bar anytime if your server was not available. And she was for most of the time too! The acoustics were not too shabby either. With all those folks all around I could also have a conversation. I will reconsider this venue for music in my future and not be swayed by folks outside that just need a place to sit. read more

Dante's was all the inferno I wanted it to be. Cheap drinks, Karaoke From Hell on stage being outrageous (one dude donned a unicorn robe & mask), and the place nearly empty on a Monday night. I quickly determined that this would totally be my regular digs (except for the $3 cover -- eye roll) should I ever move to Portland. Here's the most important thing though: They have SPY HUNTER. You guys, this was my little caesar pizza JAM in elementary school. I could out spy hunt everyone. Had we not just rampaged Ava Gene's, the pizza would have been in my mouf. $1.50? Could that be real? And the bartender confirmed that it is delicious. I'm sure he's biased but let's get real -- after enough Inferno libations, I think everything probably is. read more

The bartenders tend to have awful attitudes. I watched a male bartender come around the bar throughout the night to make out with a girl, then hop back around when he had a drink order. He would then yell at people who sat in her empty chair when she was outside smoking. This went on all night. The girl waiting tables screamed at a guy for standing in her way at one point... And this was not a very busy Friday night, she would've had no trouble going around him. cool...and the last thing I want to be around when I'm out trying to relax are those two screaming at customers all night. What the hell is up with that? Speaking of the restrooms... Don't. Just don't. Hold it. I'm a dive bar expert and I'm saying really, don't. You're welcome. Having a table is good, there's not a bad view... I'll just avoid this place unless there's a show I absolutely have to see. read more

I have never left a Yelp review before, but I feel our recent experience at Dante's deserves one. We were out in a group of about 18 celebrating a friends upcoming wedding. We started out with a bad dining experience at a local restaurant. Some of the fun had left our group because of this but we all made it to Dante's for Sinferno to cap off our night. The staff there were not only friendly, but arranged it so our group could be together in the VIP room upstairs. This was above and beyond anything we expected and truly made the night special. In fact, they saved it without even knowing it. My hat is off to all of them. Everyone from the doormen to the hostess are to be commended. The cocktailer (don't know her name but she had blue hair) was super attentive, super friendly, and uber-efficient. Our glasses were never empty and she remembered what each person was drinking. She was one of the best servers I have ever had. Really. The entire group had a great time thanks to the excellent staff. Being in the service industry (all of us) here in Portland, none of us will ever hesitate to send visitors to Dante's for a great experience. And we will all be back! read more

Went here with my girl last night. Was great. The Ed Forman show was a blast. Ate pizza and drank beer till I popped. And the screwdriver I ordered was about 98% vodka. LOVED IT! read more

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I honestly only came in here to use the bathroom. But here you go. My husband and I were visiting Portland from San Diego. I grew up in Oregon and was spending the evening with a couple of old friends. One of my friends, who I haven't seen since high school, had a little too much to drink last Friday night. She was so drunk, in fact, that no taxi driver would pick us up. She was randomly slapping boys she thought were cute, telling adorable couples they were going to break up, and even went so far as to flail her legs wildly at parked cars (which obviously resulted in a cop threatening to take her to the drunk tank). My other friend, who hangs out with said drunk friend more often, tried her best to control Drunk Friend while my husband and I stood back and watched her aghast. After walking over the Burnside bridge and managing to keep Drunk Friend from falling off the side, Other Friend decided we needed a break and figured getting Drunk Friend a slice of pizza would help calm her down. Or least keep something in mouth for a few minutes so we could get a moment of peace. While they ordered pizza (At a pizza place outside Dante's I don't know the name of, so sorry no Yelp review. But it was good!), I went inside to use the restroom. I expected them to be jerks about it or have to wait in line to even get inside, but nope. I just flashed my ID and walked right in. I asked an employee where the restrooms were and was directed to them with a smile. My husband went in search of the men's room and I made my way into the women's. Which has THE SMALL STALLS I'VE EVER SEEN. For a tall girl like myself, they were comical. I had to respectfully keep my distance from the stalls as I waited my turn because otherwise I would have been able to see right over them and onto the squatting girl inside. When it was my turn in the stall, I shared a laugh with a girl at the sink at how I stood a full head and shoulders taller than the stall. Fantastic. When I came out of the bathroom I finally started to pay attention to what kind of establishment we were in and said to my husband "This is where we'd hang out if we lived in Portland!" Black clothing and guys with long hair ran wild. A metal band set up on stage. No one was trying to hit on anyone, people where just there for drinks and music. It was beautiful. I snapped a picture of the stage for future reminiscing and we walked back outside to Drunk Friend and Other Friend and continued to have taxi drivers refuse to pick us up on our walk back home. Thanks for letting me pee in your tiny-stalled bathroom, Dante's! I heart you. read more

This review is all about Dante's as a music venue. We tried to go years ago to see music as part of the NW Music Festival, but they wouldn't let us in with our bike bags, so we never went back until last night. We went last night to see Booker T Jones and Charlie Hunter, which was part of the Sould Out festival. The time was wrong on the internet and the posters, so we ended up getting there two hours early, instead of the one hour we thought we'd need to score a table. They were aware of the misprint, a number of us were filling the tables on the side of the bar that was open, waiting. They didn't make an effort to accommodate any of us, even though the friend who I was with who'd arrived even earlier was told that we'd be able to just go into the adjacent room (which was cordoned off) via the inside instead of waiting in line. There was a "helpful" employee who told us they'd have to clear the room at 6 pm, when the doors opened and kept giving us reminders but never told us that the line was stacking up outside while we waited inside. Luckily, my other friend thought of that and went outside to hold a spot. When we finally got inside, there were some tables left, but they were all reserved. Lame! So, this is my fault, for going out to a crowded bar with a possible fractured rib, but I really needed a seat where I wouldn't get jostled, and I did go early trying to ensure that. In the end, we made our own space with leftover chairs in the corner that worked out fairly well. Lots of things, besides their service, are broken, like the door hanging off the stall in the women's bathroom and the TV screen that showed an extremely poor image of the stage. The reserved tables were set up completely wrong being behind a big area in front of the stage for standing or dancing. Of course, the show started almost a half hour late and the room capacity appeared to be exceeded. They probably can argue that because they have the wall-separated bar next door to give them the extra capacity. I give this two stars because, although rather ineffectual, the staff is pretty friendly and the price for the show was right. It'll be a long time before I go back, and I'm sure no one at Dante's will really miss me. read more

I had a very unpleasant experience here - I would not recommend for anyone to go. It was my boyfriend's birthday (we are from Seattle) and we were with friends from the area as well as meeting with a friend from Florida. We specifically came about 45 minutes early to get a table for the show at 11 (whatever it was). We ordered a round of drinks, it took a long time to get a beer. Then, the show started. There was a camera crew that kept interrupting our view (I am guessing it was people from the Real World as that is what I was told) and noone let us know that this was taking place as we would not have come in. Not only were they blocking our view but there were people standing in front of our table to obscure our view as well. After 15 minutes into the show, we spoke outside with Adam about getting a refund and he would not oblige. I asked for business cards for the owner or general manager and there were none available. read more

I'm updating my review from a four to a five-star for two important reasons: 1) Frank responded to my previous review, was nice to me in person, explained he's shy, and went so far as to buy me a cocktail. I take my previous assessment of him back - he's shy, not rude. Plus he's cute; that always helps. 2) Brittany the cocktail server is a fucking bad ass. BAD ASS. I would come here just to sit in her section; I've never had such awesome service in Portland. And no, I don't know her. So yeah. I stand corrected and will hereby give Dante's the five-star review it deserves for having the best burlesque show on the west coast, the most efficient server in Portland, and Frank, who gives a shit about providing really awesome and unique venues for us fortunate Portlanders. read more

One of the worst clubs Iv been to ever. I was down town to buy some of the the early bird tickets to a fire show and the sleazy bar tender ignored me wouldn't sell me the pre sales "said u have to come back and pay full price" another man said "he was an ass hole" and sold me the tickets. I was dressed in my day clothes and the staff treated me like I didn't belong they did everything but kick me out. I am a professional fire spinner and come from a very big group out of town. These people judged me because I wasn't in my full gear and treated me horribly. I never went that show and I'll NEVER SUPPORT this club ever. They keep Portland LAME. read more

I chose a bad night to go- yes it was my fault. Thursday night, 1:00 AM in the morning, and I literally felt like I was in Hell. First step in, I look up and see small wiggling butts- good for them, except they looked tired, and resembled those women who take no pride in their work, only wiggle around because that's their job. Second thing, the men were acting pubescent. Hooting, hollering, sloshing beer all over my shoes. Slurring some speech of, "heeyshhooo howwreee yooo doooiiinn?", to which I simply nod and continue my path. I decided to leave after I tried to get a drink- failed, some old hippy guy who had stinky hair and visibly drunk hit on me, and when I went to pee the bathroom looked like the shit monster in Dogma was there. Yes, it looked like it some shit monster pulled itself out of the toilet. My lord ladies- drunk or not, do you really miss the toilet THAT MUCH? I mean, I don't know bout ya'll, but I aim down when I pee. It was scary. I'll try again on a Sunday- and let you know how it goes. Thursday is just bad. read more

We were told that this place had a cabaret and fire show so I figured it would be something exciting for me and the boyfriend to go to on a Saturday night when we randomly decided to drive down to Portland for a few days without plans on what to do... Little did I know that I just brought my boyfriend to a strip club. Nothing cabaret about it.. and one dance with a fire handler does not make the show a fire show. I expected nudity and pasties. I expected hot girls. I expected all of that sure........ but I also expected more entertainment. Not just pole dancing. Sigh. We should have stuck to the idea of going to a bar and shooting pool. read more

One of the best and most "unique" club experiences I've ever had... especially on a Sunday night! My best friend just recently moved to Portland and used my recent visit as a very welcomed excuse to check out the nightlife. She had heard of Dante's as a "great band venue" but after surfing the web she decided we would instead check out Dante's Sunday night Sinferno because, well, we like to live on the wild side! We walked in and I was wondering if we had died and gone to a very glamourous hell... or perhaps we'd been teleported to vegas during our pre-party sesh? My first and only stripper club experience before Dante's had turned me off (stinky, hardly any pole dancing, and men with canes asking me for my digits) ... but this was as "classy" as naked chicks dancing on poles in front of me could be... I was delighted to share the dollars an Irish guy kept handing me with the dancers and my friend and I had a front row view and the only presence that offended me was a duo of very creepy, old, stinky men next to me... and I was sure to vocalize my distaste for them in addition to commending the dancers for their individuality and techniques... the dancers were grateful for my comments... the men were disgustingly indifferent and possibly in a drug-induced/"i haven't seen boobs in 10 years" trance. ... also it doesn't hurt that bartenders in portland are QUITE generous... maybe it was my 5 shirley temples gone naughty but I could still decipher who was hot and who was not (the barely legal girls on the beams with their pelvic thrusts and dirty dancing moves taken from some cheap-o porno=not so hot... chicks on poles with enviable moves and contortionists in rainbow brite socks seeming to have been enjoying themselves= way hot!)... in conclusion we survived the night and made it home with our Vinnie the Vibrator goodie bags (gifts for answering some sexual trivia) ... Vinnie isn't so impressive and is now living in garbage hell but all else in the inferno was sinfully delicious with just enough class :) in regards to "caffe italiano"? i'm not really sure I'd be comfortable consuming food at Dante's after a Sinferno experience... I came home with way too many mini packets of "liquid pheremones" for that to sound appetizing. haha...but I'm sure Dante is also a devil in the kitchen. read more

This place is absolutely horrible. Bad sound, bad bartenders, bad prices. I saw a stand-up comedian here about a year ago and left halfway through because I couldn't even hear the guy. That's how bad the sound was. So basically, I wasted $30. (And I got hit on by a drunk, sexist frat boy. UGH.) I wasn't too happy. Oh, and if your show was cancelled and you need a refund, don't even bother to ask the morons who work at this place for help. You won't get it. When I tried, the dude was more interested in eating his pizza than giving me a hand. FAIL, Dante's. Major FAIL. ETA: This place literally looks like the bowels of hell. Coincidence? read more

I'm only basing this on my one visit for sinferno on my last night in portland... and I had a fantabulous time there with my friend (and you will too if you like the punk aesthetic, nekkid girls, electro-clash/80s music, and fire). wait staff were a lot of lovely ladies that were really nice and attentive. we got there early and had a table right up front. we were even lucky enough to be right in front of sean penn who was in town for who knows what reason (edit: i now think it's because he was filming shots for "into the wild.") my male friend insisted on saying hello to say "fast times at ridgemont high" was the best movie ever, while my southern california upbringing made me cringe at the cheesiness of doing so. one star off for ordering 7 beers and getting a bill back for $80+ without even a breakdown of what was ordered. but i was too tipsy to care (which is probably even more reason to not do a breakdown b/c it makes it easier to tack on extras if the customer sucks and he/she can't readily prove anything), and figured that the prices were jacked up to make up for the cheap cover. whatever. sinferno provided the excitement and tension that was needed to give me what I came for by the end of the night. as a female, i'd call this a great place to bring mixed male and female company, or your man/date as long as you know you're the one he's going home with that night. :) read more

This place is really rad, for seeing music,but.......the bouncers ruin it . Not every bouncer but the back end bouncers in particular the Danny Mcbride looking m.fer...with his fist full of cheap stainless steel skull rings. This guy thinks he owns the joint,and does everything he can to ruin your night. Everyone else is great but this is the 3rd time this guy has ruined my night.he will tell you only one drink at a time can be purchased ,no filming of the bands,etc....tonight was the last straw until this guy is fired myself ,and my friends will boycott this place .a read more

My turn! Since everybody covered the Night-time Dantes, I'll cover the lunch time Dantes A little history, Dantes use to be a Mongolian BBQ, thats why there is table with a firepit. Now that caffe italiano is just to fool you, its more of pizzeria/music venue. Free pool during happy hours which applies to lunch, but there is only one POOL TABLE! Oh yea if you order a whole pizza, know they only come in one size. There is outdoor seating, but I have yet to see it. The paintings are cool, especially the one of the chick that hangs above the stairs going down. Rawr! read more

I went here on sinferno night. I have always heard about this place and wanted to go check it out. It was quite an experience. 1. The host was NOT funny. He was a little lame. But maybe that was the kind of act he was going for. 2. The main go-go dancers on stage just looked bored although they were hot. After 2 dances, it got a little boring with them. They did the same moves over and over. The ones on the elevated platforms on the side were much better dancers. 3. All the other performers were Fantastic 4. The audience had equal number of men and women. 5. $8 cover charge 6. Sinferno only happens on sunday nights Conclusion - definitely worth checking out atleast once read more

Interesting place for a night music. Food is not available, other than a pizza place attached to the place. It is a place for drinks and listening live music. Limited parking around. read more

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Dante's is unlike any other midsized venue I have been to, which are mostly converted historical theaters or ballrooms. Dante's seems like it was designed to be specifically a venue for rock-n-roll. Very dark, kind of seedy, with a hint of danger around each corner. heh. I mostly like the layout, with three bars that are easily accessible, a chill lounge area with big screen TVs so you don't have to miss the action, a VIP section I know nothing about and probably never will, and a large dance area. Bonus amenities are: a photo booth, a pizza window, and a real life fire pit (Inferno) in back. When it gets packed in here, which it often does, navigation to the back bar/chill area/bathrooms gets a little hectic and pushy. It is also hard to see the stage from certain areas because you are craning your neck up so high to see the music. The staff is sort of give and take. The door guys can get a little gruff, and I wouldn't eff with security, but the bartenders are are all exceedingly good looking and fast. Cash at door, cards accepted at the bar. Dante's tends to show a lot of national acts that I am drawn to, so I find myself there often. If you are like me with little to no patience for opening bands, you are in luck. there are a ton of other bars located a hop, skip and jump away to bide your time at.(I recommend Shanghai Tunnel for $1.50 Rainier's) Or, if you are a dirty birdy--there is a a strip club located right upstairs from Dante's, so you can hear when the openers end and the headliners begin. read more

If you're looking for a sometimes freaky, always crazy good time, this is the place to go. Sometimes the shows go a little over the top in the freakiness category but their always entertaining. Also, the drinks were appropriately stiff. The last time I was here my girlfriend, and I snuck up to the second level, and BS'ed for a bit. The bouncers here can be a little in yo face at times but, overall their a lot chiller than most bouncers I've come across in the past. To all the Yelpers out there: People, when reviewing a bar you can't leave out the quality of the drinks! :) read more

Based on a Sunday night experience! I wasn't expecting much walking around Portland on a Sunday night, but damn this experience was pretty sweet! Getting to go back to my hotel and write a facebook status about getting to see hot half nude girls, awesome fire eating, and an amazing dance performance, was freaking awesome! We didn't try the food, but the drinks seemed strong and affordable and the crowd seemed like they just wanted to have a good time. Thanks Dante's for being one of the more unique experiences on my road trip to Vancouver, will definitely drop by again when I head back up north! read more

Sunday for Sinferno is the night to go! The performers are amazing, the drinks were good, the staff was all friendly and helpful. Minus one star because they only accept cash at the door for the $10.00 cover, though there was an ATM a bit down the street. read more