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Darcelle XV

4.0 (160 reviews)
Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Updated 2 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

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.

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!

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!

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.

Roland C.

With a few rare exceptions, this is a below average drag show. Lasting about 90 minutes, I would have walked out of the show if I wasn't there with friends. If you could imagine a drag show in the 1980s and 1990s, this would be it. The drag style, a lot of the songs, and overall ambience are definitely a throwback of that period. I respect that Darcelle is a community icon, but she needs to make room for younger performers and more updated performances. With a $20 cover, plus paying for food, drinks, and tips, I don't think this place is worth it.

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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

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Funhouse Lounge - 3/23/2024 - John Waters' Crybaby The Musical was amazing!

Funhouse Lounge

3.8(137 reviews)
1.6 miHosford-Abernethy, Central Eastside, Southeast Portland
$$

This was a pretty cool venue... the theater had a nice vibe, sorta "messy" with exposed wires and…read moreinteresting lighting above, but it worked for the event we attended (Martini Tonight Comedy Show), a simple set on stage with just a bit of props, and seats were typical fold down style with cup holders. The concessions stand/bar only served very basic cocktails like gin and tonic, and not even made very well, the gin brand not very good (the cheap stuff). The canned wine was better, an oregon pinot noir (underwood). For theater candy, they only offered plain m&m's and red vines, so options for drinks and snacks were extremely limited here. The coolest part about this place was the clown art, with endless creative pieces like the clown last supper. A cute and cozy lounge with seating and a fake fireplace provided a nice little area to hangout before the show. Some outdoor seating available as well. We enjoyed the comedy event, which included some great stand-up acts, the feeling of being in the live audience for a talk show with a host that stayed in character and was actually quite funny, and great music and sound effects too by the house band. Note, the show started 20 minutes after the listed start time and ended about 10 minutes later than advertised online.

If you're looking for Portland Center Stage, you're in the wrong place. This unique place is so…read morePortland, it's what Portland is all about, IMO. It feels underground and has vibe for days, it's plainly, beautifully perfect. If you have a chance to see a play or any event at this place, do it and bring your friends. It's smaller than most playhouses in Portland, but that plays into the whole vibe of this place. Small bar, yes and prices are very fair. We purchased VIP tickets, which got us assigned seats and a super cool t-shirt. I totally recommend doing this, it's worth it. I was reluctant to review this place as I didn't want to break the local code of keeping it on the DL. With lots of bars and restaurants within 1-2 blocks away, easy to make a whole night out and not driving all over the place to do so. All & All ; VIP package is highly recommended, Bartender rocks. Content Warning - If you have Coulrophobia, might wanna stay away, FAR away.

Photos
Funhouse Lounge - 12/26/2024 - Die Hard the Musical is the best holiday tradition ever!

12/26/2024 - Die Hard the Musical is the best holiday tradition ever!

Funhouse Lounge - Clown art/seating

Clown art/seating

Funhouse Lounge - 9/12/2024 - Dropping into the Funhouse Lounge for Comedy of Terrors.

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9/12/2024 - Dropping into the Funhouse Lounge for Comedy of Terrors.

Tony Starlight Showroom - Empty drink. 45 minutes.

Tony Starlight Showroom

4.5(37 reviews)
1.2 miCentral Eastside, Buckman, Southeast Portland
$$$

I went to this establishment. Back in 2007. We made a reservation. And Tony told us that we did not…read morehave one. He asked me who did I speak to. I told him a young lady answered the phone. He swears that only he makes reservations. He was quite rude. And make it seem like I was lying. Why would I lie? At that time the club that he had was on Sandy Blvd. In what at one point in time was a feed store. It wasn't the Ritz. Anyway it made me feel some type of way. Being that we were the only persons of color. I'm not calling anyone a racist. I vowed that I would never return

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary at The Tony Starlight Showroom and had a terrific…read moreevening! Tony sang all the Frank Sinatra greats as well as some lesser known songs and those requested by the audience. He performed with John Gilmore, a vocalist-pianist who shared some Sinatra stories of his own. We really enjoyed the singing, band (amazing saxophonist!), photos, and audience sing-alongs. Tony brings so much joy, humor and personality to his show, as well as a great voice! Often when you go to a dinner theater the show is great and the food is just so-so. Not here! We started out with adult beverages, warm bread, and really good salad. My husband had a delicious chicken Parmesan and I had a tender beef filet served on creamy mashed potatoes with crisp seasoned green beans. Cheesecake was the perfect dessert. The service is friendly and attentive. The venue was a little chilly (it is November) so I would advise you to bring a sweater or wrap if you tend to get cold. We had a memorable anniversary celebration! We are looking forward to more evenings of fun at the Tony Starlight Showroom.

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Tony Starlight Showroom - Awesome show.

Awesome show.

Tony Starlight Showroom - Tony Starlight "AM Gold" show!

Tony Starlight "AM Gold" show!

Tony Starlight Showroom

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Star Theater - 4/21/2024 - DJs ATM & Cutz gave great sets mixing & scratching. Gza & his band, the Phunky Nomads, led by his cousin, was amazing.

Star Theater

3.4(93 reviews)
0.2 miOld Town - Chinatown
$$

Came to town for metalmania. What a treat! First off, the staff was amazing, the security guy was…read morefriendly and chatted with us while we waited in line, and came to check on us when a homeless person was wondering by and struck up a conversation. He wasn't really bothering us too much, but it felt good to know the security was aware and cared about their guests. That guy needs a fat raise. The show was awesome too. The undisputed champions of the world, oxygen destroyers, rip, and glitter wizards all tore the stage down, really getting the crowd into it. I had to find a bench to the side because I have back issues sometimes, but I found a great spot between the stage and the wrestling ring that kind of made me feel like I had front row to both. The pictures look like you are a lot further than you actually are. The wrestling show was fantastic. Petrov, the rat king and the face in the last match(I can't remember his name) were my favorites. Really just Lol around an amazing time.i wish they had the balcony open for more then just merch cause that would have been perfect for me, but that wasn't so much a down side. Would love to go see other shows there, it seems like the whole neighborhood has tons to do, so I'm sure we will be back again. If you are planning on staying the night near here I would recommend the society hotel. Very reasonable price, and close proximity... See my review on that if you need more details.

There was nothing wrong with the band. In fact, it was probably my favorite concert I've ever been…read moreto. The performers did just a fantastic job. My main problem is with the venue itself. I get that concerts usually get pretty hot, and it was in the low 80s that day, but Star theater had no seating, only standing room, body to body. As a result, it was unbelievably hot the entire time. A couple of people even passed out before the concert started because of how hot it was. They should seriously invest in better AC. In addition, I spent several hours waiting in line before the concert for the sound check and meet and greet, then a couple more hours after the concert for pictures with the band. There was basically no security outside the venue, and this is downtown Portland, so we had a plethora of people coming up to us asking for money or drugs, and even one man sexually soliciting himself in an extremely vulgar way. We definitely didn't feel safe to say the least.

Photos
Star Theater - 4/21/2024 - DJs ATM & Cutz gave great sets mixing & scratching. Gza & his band, the Phunky Nomads, led by his cousin, was amazing.

4/21/2024 - DJs ATM & Cutz gave great sets mixing & scratching. Gza & his band, the Phunky Nomads, led by his cousin, was amazing.

Star Theater - 4/21/2024 - DJs ATM & Cutz gave great sets mixing & scratching. Gza & his band, the Phunky Nomads, led by his cousin, was amazing.

4/21/2024 - DJs ATM & Cutz gave great sets mixing & scratching. Gza & his band, the Phunky Nomads, led by his cousin, was amazing.

Star Theater - Kadabra!!!

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Kadabra!!!

Darcelle XV - bars - Updated May 2026

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