We went here last Friday night. The group we were with made reservations, so there was minimal waiting, etc. The only thing I didn't know is our group contained two birthday girls in it. So, where do the birthday girls want to sit you might ask, right on the edge of the stage. Well, as you might have guessed from my last review, loud noise, etc., not for me. I forgot my ear plugs and you are right up front so it's not good on your ears and since I have to hear for a living, a great deal of the time was spent putting napkins (not from the aforementioned dinner place) in my ears to avoid long term damage. The show was great and entertaining. A small amount of being picked on because you were in the front row, but they eased up on me when they could see it was becoming irritating. They will sell you pictures that you take as you enter for $5 a piece. It might be worth it to commemorate the event. They will also let you take all the still pics you want but no video. Because as Darcelle says, show your friends because they won't believe you were here. All in all a fun time. Avoid the front row if you can't take a joke, however. I would do this one again. Evening score 1 out of 3. Not terrible. read more

My friend wanted to go here for her birthday so we did- we had never been but it's one of those legendary Portland places you grew up hearing about and should experience once. While I'm not big on drag shows or drag queens, my friend loved it and our group was entertained. It's $20 cover plus a two drink minimum, plus $5 if you want a printed picture with Darcelle, the 83 year old presiding drag queen. For $11.25 you get a souvenir glass with the drink of your choice, then they wrap it up for you to take home. The show is a mixture of interacting with the audience, lip synching and performing to hit songs, and comedy. It can get a bit raunchy of course. One of the guys in our group was sitting up front and center so he was chosen to go on stage a few times and he was a good sport about it. So bring cash and sit back and enjoy the show! read more

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We went to Darcelle's for a friend's bachelor party (a straight man) - it was a lot of fun and this seems to be the place to have bachelorette parties (there were 3 of them that night). I loved the show, but often felt a little sad because the costumes weren't in very good shape. But overall the ladies were very talented. Warning: We did not realize that there was a male strip show right after the end of the "real" show (maybe that explains the bachelorette parties). Call ahead to check that nights bookings; the transition between acts is quick! read more

Darcelle XV - from their website - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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This place is friggin' AMAZING. I took my adult (duhhh) daughter here and we had the most amazing time. Darcelle is LEGEND and she surrounds herself with legends in the making. If you enjoy good entertainment (notice I didn't say wholesome ;) haha) please do yourself a favor and check this place out. Even my chicken sandwich was delicious - which was a very pleasant surprise. SO MUCH FUN!! read more

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I've been several times & always enjoy the show! The only thing I would encourage would be some updated music. The crowds coming in aren't all over 40/50, & some more upbeat - up to date - music would serve the ladies well! They've got talent, they can totally pull it off!! read more

Absolutely obsessed. I've wanted to go for years and finally made it. The show didn't disappoint. I recommend arriving early and getting reservations as far in advanced as you can. We ordered curly fries and multiple beers. The fries were delicious and came with ranch and ketchup. Way tastier than I was expecting. Good selection of food and drinks. They sure know how to make extra cash though, and sell pictures with Darcelle for $15. Worth it though, Darcelle is a treasure. Make sure to bring cash for the performers. They have singles if you need to exchange for bigger bills. The show is interactive and loads of fun. Beautiful ladies who are just hilarious. read more

Darcelle XV - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

A must for any PDX bachelorette! I've been here countless times, can't recommend it enough. It has all the classic college cocktails. When it's busy though, service is pretty lackluster. One time, I died of thirst and got really hammered because the waitress didn't bring me water, despite asking for it multiple times. read more

Worst drink I have ever had in a bar hands down but I could care less! Go with a group for anything seriously and laugh your ass off. Darcelle XV is 80 now and that bitch still gets up there cranking out shows every night with MEGA attitude!!! This town loves her - as it should! read more

Darcelle XV - Darcelle XV - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

So sad I missed the show! Didn't make reservations early enough and we came from Seattle the night before. HOWEVER, after going to the gay bar Stag, came here and had an even better more intimate time for the male strip club time after the regular drag show. Ladies, here is your more "magic mike" experience, but more low key. The men come to your chair and give you dances right there, it's so great! A dance on stage with these talented dancers is $40 for those birthday girls and brides out there for like myself, was so entertaining to watch other brides, and one older mama! Such a funny good time. read more

What an incredible show! Darcelle has done an amazing job creating this legacy in Portland. All of the ladies are talented performers and we were so lucky to get a show with Darcelle herself performing! We will absolutely be returning! read more

Wow! Loved this drag show! I have been to many drag shows in my life and I thought this far exceeded my expectations! Many of the performers really engaged with the audience through dialog. I was amazed to learn this is the oldest and longest continually running drag show in the US! This show is a must see! read more

Darcelle XV - Farce like herself on stage! Love it! - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Really fun, saw the show this weekend (3/31/17) Darcelle is amazing, being that she is now 86 years old and in the Guinness Book of World Records. She takes time to take a picture with every guest and they print them up and try to sell them for $15 a print but don't pressure you to do so. There was a good age range there, girls having their bachelorette party, but also there was a 92 year old woman celebrating her bday. There was some older music but also some newer stuff. They really kept it classy and not inappropriate or to make the audience uncomfortable. It's only $20 to get in which In my opinion I would have paid triple that, drink prices are good as well, didn't eat anything. The queens were so friendly and come around taking pictures and chatting in the beginning which was fun. read more

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I have enjoyed countless shows here and keep going back. There is a reason they have been in business for over 50 years, they never disappoint. This is a fun place to go for a special birthday or to celebrate an upcoming wedding...or just because its a Wednesday :) I enjoy the shows and the charm of Darcelle herself...tourists or locals will not be disappointed by a night with the girls! read more

What else can you say about Darcelle that hasn't been said? Really quite a lot. I think it's noteworthy to mention that Darcelle is 86 and was recently voted into the Guinness World Records as Oldest Drag Queen. I really have to admire that he is still actively involved as an entertainer and also in various civic activities; in other words a real Portland citizen! I also admire how close he is to his family (both real family and work family). He is also the star of a documentary about his life in Portland that airs on OPB occasionally that is very interesting and well worth watching. I visited Darcelle's XV as a part of a group of native Portlanders, none of whom had ever been to Darcelle's. Our very hard-working waiters were quick at taking our orders, staying friendly and good-humored, and getting our food and drinks back to us equally as quickly. The whole group in the club (entertainers and food service staff) worked together like well-oiled machines. The food was typical bar fare such as salads and fries and other appetizers, which I found to be OK, but food really isn't the point of Darcelle's, the entertainment is. The drinks I had were quite good, and you have to buy at least three during the evening. It is expensive, but I knew this going in, and so I was prepared for this because this is where they make their money. The actual show with Darcelle is great. All the entertainers are energetic, engaging, talented, and great at staying in character (Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, etc.). Their costumes are beautiful and sparkly. Audience involvement is encouraged and can and does get loud and even a bit rowdy. This is particularly true when all the brides and bridesmaids there for pre-wedding high jinks get going. This is during the earlier show in the evening. There is a later show where male strippers make an appearance, and I suspect things tend to get rowdier at that time. I really enjoyed the show and am glad I got to see Darcelle and his troupe. It's particularly fun to go with a group of friends and even hoot and holler and get silly if the moment moves you. Like Janet M. said in her review "I think everyone should go to Darcelle's at least once." I concur. read more

We had crazy fun here, laughed a lot, there were sassy and sexy numbers. Staff is great, very kind. Has a lot of potential, I hope they keep doing their amazing job! read more

Oh my! only if you HAVE to. goosh golly. old,stank-ass building, with barf stank permeating the front door. someone gets down and dirty here....late into the night, I'm sure. :(( i don't expect much from a drag show...just a bit of fun :)) aww...and the 'ladies' were super friendly. but the waitress most assuredly pilfered a buck from me, when I was already generous with a 2 buck tip on a single beer. am i cheap? possibly. just know: the 'sound system' = atrocious the room = dirty, gross, leaking rain water, stinking of barf the decor = cheesy ass talent show from grade school of 1978 the ladies = generally old and tired, but super sweet and i hope they love what they do the food = who would eat here? the bathroom = i would have to piss my pants first the smell = barf, barf and barf i suspect sad queens and their hags like to come here, get sloshed faced....and who knows from there. just know, before you go. read more

I'm from Hawaii and have quite a few drag queen friends and I've been to countless drag shows. LOVE them... so entertaining and just crazy fun. I ended up at Darcelle's because I was in her bridal party and it was the bachelorette night. I was a little concerned at first because when we first walked in it looked a little run down and the seats were kind of cramped. Because we were there for the bachelorette party we were sat right up front (so close I felt like I could've used the stage to place my drink). The girls were beautiful and the show was amazing. Extremely talented and entertaining. If you've never been to a drag show make sure you bring some ones. Its very common to tip the girls while they are performing and you might feel like an asshole if you are the only one not doing it. There were a lot of old guys hanging around the sides of the stage trying to tip the girls which was a little bit creepy. Is it wrong that after a few drinks I was kind of attracted to one of the gals? read more

Pros: Darcelle herself is a legend, and will always be a legend as long as Portland exists even after she finally kicks the bucket on her way to her rhinestone palace in the sky. We as a community owe so much for the groundbreaking work and legacy Darcelle has created and will in no doubt ever be forgotten. She raised the bar and set the standard for drag in the NW. Which in some ways, is the problem. Cons: It is bad enough that barely any of the drag community in Portland even begin to resemble the artists on DragRace. Bob Mackie shoulder padded rip off dresses and 1985 style hair are the norm here and Darcelle's continues this tradition. The stage show bills itself as a Vegas Style review, a show that is as old as the bar itself. In other words, it is extremely extremely dated: the music, the costumes, and the performers themselves. Big hair, Judy Garland, Liza, and shoulder pads are what passes for a "Vegas" style show. Darcelle has such a strong influence it seems on the drag community here in Portland that the queens here will forever be "pageant queens" unlike other cities where the performers are younger and don't look like an assembly line queen wearing the best in Ross Dress for Less couture. This is a generation that cannot and doesn't care about Liza or Barbra or fucking Celine Dion and if you are someone who does, then this nostalgic, dated and smelly bar is for you. Many performers lack enthusiasm and I understand. Who wants to perform a 35 year old routine? Some are better than others but I cannot get over the 1986 time warp you step into when you go here. It's not worth the price of admission and the mandatory minimum of 2 drinks one must purchase. Hopefully someday this place and the performers will join the new age and breathe life into the musty, dated and boring shows they put on. And if anyone can give the needed shot and refresh and rebrand (while she still can) it's Darcelle. read more

The old school version of a drag queen show, think las vegas show girls meet a real cabaret with a little camp dropped in the bucket for COLOR. Darcelle is a older drag queen...okay let's be honest OLDer as in 70's [not the decade darling the age] who has owned this venue with her partner for years, the bar and her are the grand dames of the gay community here in portland, being that....you are truely not de-virginized till you hit this place up. Be aware the venue is small...the drinks a bit overpriced and watered down and boys and girl do not go here for the strippers after 10...there is a lovely place down the road called the Silverado and darling you can see them at nearly reasonable hours and for small cover [$2] So the meet and gravy. First $15 cover ["entertainment charge"]....shows: Wends-Thurs 8:30 Fri-Sat 8:30, 11:00 with midnight "Centerfolds" dinner can be had with reservation at 6.....I would also suggest even if you don't attend dinner MAKE A RESERVATION for the show. I have runned by here to many times to find young bachelorettes crying or yelling because they can't get in the show because it is full. And remeber boys and girls there are three rules with drag queens, tip well. shout, yell, wistle and clap and REMEBER never provoke a drag queen by hastling them, they have sharp tongues and are not afraid to use it. read more

I made reservation for my sister's Bachelorette Party. Thanks to Yelp, I found out it doesn't matter if you made reservation or not you have to wait in line and no guarantee for you to get in. There was eight of us waiting in an endless line to get in at 9:30pm. They said the show starts at 10:30 pm. We didn't get in until a bit after 10:30 pm. All 8 of us got squeezed into one booth. The place is small and yes with the price tag of $15 per person, I wish we can get better seats. They have fun girly drinks and I ordered the Strawberry Daiquri which was pretty tasty. They don't serve complimentary water, so if you want some you can get it at $2 per plastic bottle. The show didn't start until 11 am which was half hour late than their schedule. Before the show, there were five girls got into this place for free. Yes, they sneaked in and they didn't care. It was one of the girls' Bachelorette party. They sat on the aisle between our table and chairs in front of us which gave us no leg rooms. What surprised me was no one kicked them out. They even ordered food and drinks from one of the server and just left in the middle of the show. Poor server probably had to paid out of his pocket for their mess, but hey he should kicked them out. The drag show was okay. It was boring at some parts, but it was fun at few parts. I love the Lady Gaga act. Because of the show started out late, some of us had to leave earlier and didn't get to see the "strip show". Now the strip show wasn't really a strip show, these guys still wear their boxers/boxer briefs and to be honest it was boring. None of the guys is my type. They are not sexy, they are more rough looking and thuggish. We stayed for half an hour and left. I'm glad I got to experienced Darcelle's, but once is enough. read more

Really strange experience. I just moved here from California and my best friend was in town visiting. There are some incredible and fun drag shows in San Diego so I thought it would be fun to bring him to this highly recommended drag show. First of all, the gimmick of it all-including the pictures they try to sell from the beginning-is very ridiculous and brings the fun down a notch. We were a party of two so they sat us up front. The queens seemed bored. Only a few were committed. Some of them were wearing FLATS-which offended my friend immensely. Then, Darcelle did a bit where she called my friend an asshole and it was hard to tell if she was joking. It was very strange. Overall, not a very enjoyable night for how much money we spent on drinks, cover and tips. We were not treated very well and it seems overrated. If this is the best drag show in Portland-then yikes. read more

Tonight was MAGICAL I took my 80 year old mama to her first drag show at THE ONLY place I could imagine. It was AMAZING!!!! The performers were STUNNING & everyone (including Mike at the door) treated us like VIP. Darcelle THANK YOU for being so funny, beautiful, welcoming, warm and beyond talented. You all made our Galentine's beyond special read more

Okay. I'm sorry, but I love Darcelle. Actually, check my photos, I'll upload a picture with my mom, Darcelle XV and myself. It's $15 for cover, and then drinks are amazingly inexpensive and very generous. Gary is the bar tender, you'll know him, he gushes about his white kitty with green eyes. Such a sweetie. Okay, here's a perk, go to the 10:30 PM show on a Friday... afterwards... heavenly studalicious male strippers. Which means after you are pretty drunk you get to see muscly hot men wiggle around the stage.. it's fun. Their website needs updating, and unfortunately they aren't as popular as former years- but let's revive it people! Start attending some shows, bring some friends, it's really fun. Promise! And tell Gary, Sasha the girl who turned 21, says hallo! read more

Well! My experience at Darcelle's was highly disappointing. First of all, I'm terrified of old town to begin with, although it's oddly less scary at night than in the daytime. However, it was a friend's birthday, so I put up my chin and grinned and went to Old Town pizza for dinner and then we all went across the street to Darcelle's. Some of us had never been to a drag show, so the birthday friend said, "Have you ever seen that movie The Birdcage? It's like that." YES, I thought, I love The Birdcage! It's so unexpectedly hilarious. When we got into the theater I settled down with a cocktail off the menu (quite tasty) and excitedly waited for the musical extravaganza. Sadly, Darcelle's was neither unexpected nor hilarious. I'm down with men dressed up as women, the glory-days-gone-by decor, the really hideous wigs. But the show was so very disappointing. It was nothing like The Birdcage. There was no Nathan Lane with sparkly false eyelashes. There was no singing. And there wasn't even really any dancing. I am still so disappointed that the ladies didn't actually sing, only lip-synched. Maybe that's the norm for a drag show?? I wouldn't know. And can someone explain the comedy repertoire? The jokes were borderline cruel, and Darcelle favors lesbian jokes and making fun of female anatomy from the male perspective. This is so perplexing, coming from people who pride themselves on looking like women. Most of the audience was women, so I further don't understand why you'd want to alienate your audience with jokes from a clearly male POV about how girly bits are icky. I mean, I get that it's gay men, but how can you provocatively caress your fake breasts one second and then turn around and make a cruel metaphor about a vagina? I DON'T GET IT. About 90% of the audience was women out for birthdays and bachelorettes (I learned that lots of brides apparently have bachelorettes several months in advance of the wedding). Nobody really seemed to mind, so obviously there's something about drag queens that I have yet to grasp. I guess I have my women's college experience to thank for yet another form of entertainment that I can't enjoy. Guess I can leave drag shows on the shelf along with Next Top Model, all Hollywood blockbusters, Disney princess movies and CNBC. At least I still have The Birdcage. read more

So, this was my first drag show so I don't have much to compare to, but wow was this fun! I went here recently for my sister's bachelorette. We had a party of 9 and I made a reservation that week for the Saturday 10:30pm show- luckily, they still had seats! They just took my last name and # of people, but didn't ask for credit card or anything to make the reservation. I was a little concerned after reading some of the Yelp reviews said they didn't honor the reservation. We arrived at 10pm, the time they told us to get there, and luckily, we got in without a problem and were seated in the front. I was worried they would make fun of us a lot or make us come upstage because we're at the front, but it wasn't too bad! Just know that if you're here for a birthday or bachelorette, you WILL be called out, so make sure the bride is ok with the attention!! haha. Anyways, tickets are $20/person and each person should get 2 items at minimum but they don't really enforce it I think (I don't think we all got 2 items). The drinks are reasonably priced though ($8ish for cocktails, $6 wines, $5 beers) so it's not too bad. The show itself was so funny!! They basically lipsync and dance to a lot of songs, and there's some comedy here and there. Just know the show lasted a while! I think it didn't start until 11:30 even though they say the show starts at 10:30. I don't remember when exactly the drag show ended and when the male strippers came out but it was past 1am when we left. The male strippers are only during the late shows (10:30)... for the most part they just stripped to their undies (except one who may have slipped something out... LOL) but if you are in the front, they do get in front of you which is a little awkward. Definitely wasn't expecting that! Anyway I thought it was fun for the most part. Well, I definitely do recommend Darcelle XV especially for a bachelorette or bday. Bring cash to tip the performers (they will let you exchange for $1 bills). read more

So, I'd never been to a drag show or a strip club before. So, my friends decided I should try both on my birthday weekend in Portland! (I have amazing friends.) Our waiter, Christian, was very sweet and attentive. They do charge for the bottled water, but he warned us up front and was very helpful getting us settled before the show. We were sitting right along the stage, and while it was really cramped, we had a fantastic view of the entire show. Darcelle was truly the highlight of the show. The acts were fabulous, but every time Darcelle was on stage, we were laughing till our sides hurt. It was a great experience, and I would absolutely come back for just the show. Then again, the male strippers at midnight are another reason entirely to come back. I have to say, there was a nice variety between the four working that night, and while they didn't come to our area on their own, once they were told by a member of our party that there were tipsy ladies being ignored in our corner, they descended in force! Also, if you have a friend that needs to celebrate, and likes hot men in their underwear gyrating about, bring them and arrange for a turn in the hot seat. They will thank you. read more

I can't review the show, as we were not able to get in, however, I can ABSOLUTELY vouch for their horrendous "reservation" policy... Last weekend was my bachelorette party. It's only gonna happen once, and my incredible friends had been planning for MONTHS. My friend made us a RESERVATION for the 10:30pm show. We went down around 9pm, and at 9:45pm she checked in with the host who said we'd be fine to get in line in like 20 minutes, which we then did. Mind you, we rented a party bus, so waiting in line for 20-30minutes was a waste of precious party bus time, but whatever. We get to the door and let the SAME person know about our reservation. We were then told there were only 2 spots to sit, and standing room is not allowed. We cannot go in. Bummer for my bestie who planned this and pointed out over and over that we had made reservations, this was a surprise, we were all eager and excited, etc. BE VERY AWARE, in the dictionary, a reservation is defined as: a. An arrangement by which accommodations are secured in advance, as in a hotel or on an airplane. b. The accommodations so secured. c. The record or promise of such an arrangement. AT NO TIME during my friends' communication with this business DID ANYONE EVER tell her, or even imply, that a "reservation" is not a guarantee for entry. These ladies need to let people know that their "policy" is a load of crap. Anyways, we had a blast for the rest of our night, left that hole, and spent our money at all the other places that ACTUALLY ABIDE BY THE DEFINITION OF "RESERVATION"! read more

We went here on 1/18/2020 for a friends birthday. We had a group of 25 with us. What a fun time. The birthday boy knew several of the employees and showed him a little love during the Birthday shout out! There is no drink minimum. There is a $20 cover but well worth it. This was our first time and we did not know about tipping the performers. We had no idea what to expect. This was entertaining and made for a fun night out. They truly treat everyone the same and make everyone feel welcome. I am 50 and have wanted to check this out for a while. This was our chance and it did not disappoint! read more

Why had I not thought of this before??? Here I am with out of town guests for 4 days, trying to think of things to do and places to go, and it's my GUEST that comes up with the idea to go to Darcelle's! I love it, let's talk the guys into it. Well after some prodding they agree to go. I was the only one who had ever been there before. It was 13 years ago for my bachelorette party. We drove around Old town looking for a parking spot to no avail, so we opted for the $6 parking lot right next door. (worth it). When we walked in my first thought was that they cut the room down to half size. But actually, being nearly sober this time, I could see the room size for what it really was. We were seated about 4 rows from the front. Here are the highlights: 4x6 photo of your group with Darcelle (only $5) Great service throughout the evening for drinks. Watching a living legend Queen still shake it at the age of 79 Entertaining lip sync routines to fun songs Fabulous hair and make-up and costumes So next time you are wondering what to do on a weekend or you have a group of friends that want to do something together, make reservations for Darcelle's. I'd probably eat somewhere else first, not quite the appetizing environment. I can't see Darcelle doing this for much longer and it just wouldn't be the same without him. So revive the Legend of Darcelle's with friends soon. It's an experience everyone should have at least once. read more

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I'm very puzzled about why this club is considered to be so important to go to. I've been to a decent few drag shows, and this was pretty lame comparitively. The queens seemed bored and gave halfhearted performances in really awful costumes, the drinks were very weak and incredibly expensive, the nachos were about the same quality as high school cafeteria food, the jokes were very canned. There was one queen who could dance, at all, and she did the one lip sync that seemed like any effort had been put into it. The celebrity impersonations were depressing. The club was 99% bachelorette parties who were just SCREAMING the whole show. We kept getting tossed around in line and didn't get into the club until half an hour after they opened. It was super cramped. There were lots of technical issues and very few gag-worthy moments. Overall, the whole experience was very meh. Literally the only reason to go here is to see Darcelle herself at least one time. Not worth spending 20 dollars on cover plus 9 dollars a drink at all. read more

I honestly I have never been so disrespected by staff in my life. They were rude and unpleasant. We sat outside for an hour, got yelled at by some dude who worked here almost hit us by a door. Absolutely NO leg room between the chairs and waited 15 minutes before anyone even asked if we (or the bachelorette!!) wanted a drink. Waste of time and money, skip this one ladies. read more

Darcelle XV - The spacious leg room - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

OMG! It's wonderful when the guys look better than any lady you ever saw! Are we having fun yet? YOU BETCHA! It's a good thing I went with my girlfriend instead of my hubby. I had much more fun that way! read more

How is this place so highly rated? I have no idea. Perhaps all the patrons are so blacked out drunk that they don't actually remember it. There were 11 of us, "be sure to arrive right on time" they tell us. We did, then just ended up standing outside for 30 minutes before they started letting people in. This place has been around forever and by the looks of it most of the drag queens have as well. What the host was on I have no idea. Most of her slurred conversation was unintelligible. The food was terrible, everything was fried and yet still undercooked and soggy when it arrived. The drinks were fine, though I quickly switched to vodka on the rocks. The entertainers only seemed half hearted in their performance and out of the lot of them, only one gave a decent performance. I've been to a ton of drag shows and this by far was the worst. All the songs were super old, maybe two from this decade. The crowd was entirely composed of completely wasted, early 20s bachelorette parties and they arrived at the venue that way. They certainly found their niche but I was not a fan. read more

Darcelle's is the best!! If in Portland, it is definitely a must to check out at least once--or seven times, it's up to you. For the best experience, go on either Friday or Saturday evening. The other nights are fine, but just not that many people show up (if you like that, go for it). If you do go on Friday or Saturday, make a reservation and show up on time to ensure good seats are still available. Enjoy standing in line, getting to know Darcelle and her performers. Take some snapshots with everyone and get your money out to pay the $15 to Roxy (Darcelle's lover) at the front door. The price is a little steep, especially if you are unemployed in Portland (the majority), but the money is going to a fantastic venue that needs to stay open! With that said, buy the $5 photo that they offer as well. The menu is enjoyable. Great portion sizes for smaller prices. The drinks could be a little better (they have tasted a bit off before), but the servers are quick to fix anything (and almost too attentive when you are trying to watch a show). The show is amazing! From Darcelle's comic routine to the lip syncing and dancing the show is over the top and fun! The line-up is always changing so you never get the same thing over and over. All of the ladies are spectacular. Also if you attend on a Friday or Saturday evening, be sure to stay for the Men of Darcelle's (male strippers)!! Also really fun (and it is not the drag queens getting naked, but actual strippers. If you leave early, there is CC Slaughters right next door or Voodoo Donuts around the block. Finally, everyone needs to calm down about Old Town/Chinatown--it's not THAT bad. Go to the show and fall in love with Darcelle! read more

It's as good as it gets... for a show that's been running for a hundred years and is comprised of drag queens almost as old. The bathroom situation sucks, the lighting sucks, the seating sucks, the music is way too loud and the smoke machine will kill your throat. With so many sucks you might wonder why they get five stars. Well, I'll tell you: Darcelle is the oldest drag queen around and, even though her age really shows, puts on a good show for a good cause. This is no Vegas show, sure--but it's worth $20 and an hour of your evening. read more

This is a portland historical site or it will be once Darcelle stops performing. Not sure how that works but I mean he's an antique. Really I enjoy this place for what it is, the oldest running drag show. There is even a documentary on Netflix. So I know some of the performers are let's say mature so the music ranges from rhinestone cowboy to Adele. You have the usual Liza, Tina, and Whitney but that's the music that is timeless. I have been twice and enjoyed both times. The show changes slightly I believe every 3-4 weeks. So you can always count on a good laugh and plenty of entertainment. Some facts...its a little pricey but no more than going to the movies is nowadays. There is a 2 item minimum purchase, this is displayed everywhere so no surprises. The girls lip-sync and that's ok with me. If you have been to a comedy show then you better to sit in sight, same goes here. Smile, it's a good time and meant to be so. read more

Just got back from a whirlwind trip to Portland, the highlight of which was a bachelorette party for my friend at Darcelle's. We had a group of 16 (mostly gay men and single girls), which was a little bit unwieldy, and we ended up getting split up for the show. But that didn't matter much - it was still an excellent time. Supremely entertaining - the girls were lovely, Darcelle was hilarious and very friendly... overall it was awesome. A few words of caution, though.. 1) be careful who you sit next to. I got slammed next to a pair of tweaker girls who spent the whole show screaming and lap-dancing all over each other (humping of legs, mostly) - it wasn't terribly conducive to enjoying the show. I was also right next to the bathroom, which meant that every 2 minutes some drunken bachelorette was brushing past my knees and obscuring my view. Try to get seated in the center, if possible. and... 2) do NOT go to Darcelle XV for the food! I booked dinner before the show for my large party, and wow - it was tasteless and overpriced. Frozen veggies, overcooked prime rib, and wallpaper alfredo. Blech!! I totally would have rather eaten dinner elsewhere and then hit the show. I think it would be SO cool if Darcelle's got a makeover, and hired some awesome kitschy chef to redo the menu - I think they'd make even *more* money than they do on drinks alone. But that's just me. ...and last but not least.. 3) Do be aware that the joint gets *very* smoky. This might be de rigeur for Northwest types, but as a California girl visiting, I really was shocked at the thickness of the air. Pretty yucktastic. Anyway, despite all of those minuses, it was an excellent time. Support a P-town institution! Go to Darcelle XV! You'll be very happy you did. Beautiful ladies and a spectacular show. read more

This show was awesome! Must see! Had the best time! Energetic, great costumes, great crowd!

The show lacks energy and excitement. I hope they revamp the show for something with more enthusiasm, creativity, and upbeat. The show was blah. read more

Went on a Saturday night with a group of 10 ladies celebrating a bachelorette. You MUST call ahead with reservation to get your group a place to sit. Well organized round up geting us in. Fun, prompt, high energy service! Loud and bawdy, well rehearsed dance routines from experienced Queens. They get super bitchy though! If you approach them they will shoot you down. Poison Waters especially, beware! She biched out our bachelorette of honor for approaching the stage un-summoned. She made cutting remarks in front of everyone, so we ended up leaving instead of cheering on the rest of the show. Beware the bitchy Queens! read more