Darcelle XV LLC

I love the atmosphere and the people here. It's such an institution and you can feel it throughout. I'm still giving it 5 stars, although I will fully admit the food is basic and I wish they had more staff for speedier service. Even with those minor gripes this place is amazing and should be a must for anyone visiting Portland!

Can I give more than 5 stars? Went here for my mom's Bachelorette party, and it was fabulous! Everyone was amazing, from the performers to the staff. I had such a great time with my group! Each one of the performers was unique and fun, and it was great to watch.

Absolutely phenomenal!!! Attended for NYE ‘24 and it was the most fun I’ve had in a long time! Drinks were strong too.

This show was great, and the girls were a hoot. And Mr. Mitchell working usher and later stage duties was so nice. Great time, absolutely go.

I cant rave enough about this place! Came here for Drag Queen Brunch and it was phenomenal!!! The queens were incredible, service was ON POINT, breakfast was tasty. They sat me and my bestie right at the stage we felt so taken care of. Thank you SO much for a wonderful Sunday brunch experience!!

I've been visiting Darcelle's for 30+ years. Always a great show!

Attended Sunday Drag Brunch. Wow, what an incredible show! Review of the food unfortunately not so wow. Not that my expectations were high, but for the price, it would be pretty simple to do something better. Our server was awesome, but the service was slow and not their fault. It seemed there were a small number of servers trying to do a big job. Coffee was sad, but cocktails were delicious.

What a fun, safe, & entertaining evening! I really enjoyed it.

Classic old school drag Darcelle was an amazing person and preformer, and her family here is ready to carry the torch. This is old school drag, this isn't rupaul's drag race. Everyone who works here has always been kind and pleasant. The food is average fried bar fare, reasonably priced. Drinks are good and not too pricey. I love Tuesday nights, features some newer preformers, only $5 cover One of the best drag spaces in the US, especially because they celebrate preformers of a certain age Always have a great time here

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.

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.

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.

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!

Had an amazing and memorable night. The staff were all friendly and attentive. The security at the door was very nice and have a sense of humour. We had a nice chat and it was very kind of him to tell was where not to go during the night. Nice decor and cute space. Women's restroom on the left and men's on the right. The restroom are generally clean and no funky smell. Small but intimate space and stage. Fills up a good amount of people, not too much but not too little. They have some food and drinks, and they were delicious. The chef came up to say hello when Darcelle Xv introduced all the staff. Lovely and considerate, and everyone were very open-minded. Very reasonable entrance fee and spectacular show. All the drag queens were gorgeous. Darcelle Xv is sweet and hilarious! He roasted a couple of people, I was put on the spotlight for a bit, we all sang happy birthday to the birthday people, and congratulation the married ones and the ones who are engage and soon to be married. Darcelle is 91 years one and the oldest working drag in the world (Guinness World record), and this place have been opened for 55 years now. My favourites would have to be Bebe Ray and Syra St. James. Highly recommend and would definitely come back some day. If you haven't been, this is a sign. You're missing out!

My sister turned the big 50, or oops was it 21? Yeah, so anyhoo... she wanted to stop at this joint and so we made the trip. The show was good, the drinks not strong and actually not that great, but heck we're here for the entertainment. If you're celebrating a birthday or special event come and visit Darcelle and the entertainment. Good fun!

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!

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.

As a Portland native, I've gone many times to the evening shows that happen on Tues/Fri/Sat and enjoyed myself. But Sunday was the first time I've done their brunch. The food plate was good, the staff incredible, and a show with multiple performers and costume changes. Glad I made reservations, since this usually sells out.

Darcelle XV in Portland, Oregon, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. Darcelle XV Showplace is one of only two known drag clubs open prior to 1970 in the United States with an owner who performed (and is still performing!) as part of the company. This is a MUST SEE SHOW in Portland! Darcelle is still doing her thing and can still make a crowd laugh. Not to be outdone, Poison Waters (the co-hostess) will leave you with a sore face (from smiling!) She knows how to work a crowd for sure. Food is elevated bar food and drinks are strong and worth every penny. Don't miss out, call and make a reservation today!

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!

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.

I had been told by everyone that we had to go when we were in Portland. I am so happy we did. Darcelle and the show have made me so proud to be part of the LGBTQIA+ community. It'a dynamic seeing the show and watching these amazing queens who represent such a cool art form. I will come back whenever I'm in town and continue to tell people to go there. Also, the drinks and great and strong!

I visited with a group of girls for a friends bachelorette party and was super excited as I'd been wanting to go to a drag show for years. We were seated in the first two rows which was awesome! They had a menu with drink and food options. I started off with a nonalcoholic strawberry piña colada which was DELICIOUS. A few others in my group chose their alcoholic piña coladas and omg, they were strong. Unfortunately our server didn't return until over halfway through the show which was a huge bummer because my group was hungry and hoping to order a few appetizers and another round of drinks. He was present, just not with our group which was pretty disappointing. The show, on the other hand, was great. They have an ATM available to take cash out to tip the queens should you so desire. I think everyone in our group had a ton of fun and loved the song selections. They did pick on people in the audience for birthdays and other special occasions (like bachelorette parties) which I thought made it even more special. I'd highly recommend. I think it's awesome that we got to witness a little piece of history, being that Darcell XV is the world's oldest performing drag queen! Make sure to make reservations and take cash out before the show to avoid the $3 ATM fee

First I'd like to say that I completely respect the historic value of this place. And I speak from my experience of attending the drag brunch recently. I was really hoping for a much better show honestly. The food was good. The service and staff were very friendly. But the show overall was lacking. The host and Miss Gay Oregon outshined the others by a long shot. The cast could definitely use a show director perhaps?

Made a reservation for myself and 4 girlfriends for the early Saturday show and had the best time! We were greeted at the door by Michael; when he learned it was my bday he said "Come See me after the show and I'll tell you where to go next!" (We did, and danced our toes off at the Rainbow Room around the corner.) We were then escorted to our seats by Mitchell, who performed a "Your Song" lip synch that made me cry... in a good way! I love that song, and I love drag- what can I say? Our seats were FRONT ROW. Technically we were tucked in at the foot of the stage, so that was a unique perspective! Our servers were quick and friendly- we just had cocktails, no food. The show itself was legendary! Seeing 90 year old Darcelle do her thang was epic, and so important. Think about her time, and what it was like for her when she started doing drag- not the fun bday parties and bachelorettes of today... and without people like her, things would be a lot less fun, funny and fabulous! It's HERSTORY people. Get into it!

Came here with some friends for an evening out, the staff was super friendly and accommodating. I was late and my friends had pre-paid for me, as I showed up they remembered me and sat me down with them right away. The server was quick to get my drink order. The actual performance was a ton on fun and they were all very interactive with the audience and had great humor. This was a great show for a ladies night out. The show itself and food/drinks were all reasonable priced and I felt I had gotten a good value. I would for sure attend again.

What an experience! My friend and I came here one night this past week and had so much fun! Darcelle and company were very friendly and welcoming. The show was very charming. We didn't eat here but the drinks were good. When the show ends, you are quickly ushered out. We were having so much fun that we would have stayed and had more drinks if we had had the option. We absolutely look forward to returning to Darcelle's again in the future.

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!

My mother wanted to come to Darcelle's for her 71st birthday. She had been to see him 30-some years ago, and wanted to go again because she loved it so much. I wanted to see it because Darcelle is 86 years old, in the Guiness World Records for being the oldest drag queen, and simply a chance to experience history, not to mention one hell of a show. If you've never been, I highly recommend you go! You won't be disappointed. It's something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. My brother and I took her last night. We missed the 8pm show, thinking it started at 8:30. Once you go in, you can't go back out. It's an all or nothing kind of thing, which is fine. It simply meant we had to wait for the show at 10:30pm. While we were waiting, Darcelle came out and took pictures with the crowd. They wouldn't take any with phones because they sold the ones they took for you for $15. Of course, we bought one. It was actually a really good pic. I was very happy we did this and purchased it. My brother went and talked to the security guy (I didn't get his name, but he was an older guy) about my mom. She's dying of cancer, not steady on her feet, and really needed to go in first so that she wasn't on her feet long enough to fall and wouldn't be tripped by others walking in. They said they couldn't make any promises to be accommodating, but to line up at the front door around 10, and they would do their best. So basically we were told to cut in line. Lol. From everything I had read in previous reviews, I wasn't expecting much in terms of being accommodating to my mother. Well, I was certainly wrong! They proved me wrong ALL night! They got her in first, and we were seated exactly where we wanted to be. We had Leo as our server. My brother recognized him from the last time him and his better half were there, and Leo actually recognized him as well. So that was kind of nice. I knew about the two drink minimum, but I was also the one designated to drive. This was made clear to Leo from the start. I'm not drinking and driving. I had wine with dinner, but that was where I drew the line. He was more than fine with that. I had read in previous reviews that the servers can be super rude about stuff like that. Which wasn't the case with us. Leo offers me water, soda, virgin drinks, anything I wanted, basically. They have this hilarious leg cup thing, as a souvenir. Of course, we got that for my mother with the drink of her choice. We watched the show, and it was absolutely wonderful! I loved it. Darcelle talks to the audience, asking about birthdays, brides to be, and if anyone is from out of town. Mom stood up for the birthday portion. It was entertaining and hilarious. The apparent big thing in the show is Darcelle's rendition of Rhinestone Cowboy, where he comes out in the chaps with his ass hanging out. It was full of surprises! I loved the ones who played Liza and Adele. Those were my favorites. Mom's favorite was the guy who did Prince and the transvestite from Rocky Horror Picture Show. After the second show on Friday and Saturday nights, they have the Men of Darcelle. They come around in the crowd and dance with you. I had one come up to me as I was coming back from the bathroom and chat with me about mom. He wanted to take her up on stage and dance for her. I was initially hesitant because she's so unsteady on her feet and prone to falling. He listened to my concerns and said they would be gentle with her. So I decided to ask my brother his opinion, and we ended up doing that and paying for her to do it. As promised, they were more than accommodating to her. I walked her around to the stage, with one of the strippers behind, holding on to mom with me. I watched multiple women before mom go up, and they got one single dancer and it lasted for one single song. Mom got 3 songs, and every single dancer up there with her! I mean, they went all out. I don't know if my brother told Nick a little of the backstory about mom and why we were there, but they went so far above and beyond to make it perfect for her. I can't say enough good things about it. By the time it was over, there wasn't a dry eye in the building. It was that special. As we were walking out, I stopped to chat with the security guy again, and I told him that this was very likely the last birthday my brother and I would have with mom, and they made it beyond special, and how much I appreciated that. The group we were sitting with in our row and in front of us at the stage joined in, handing mom dollar bills for the strippers, cheering her on when she went up, and they took a bunch of pics for us too. We exchanged info so we could share them when it was over, and I got a bunch of pics myself. The entire thing made for one hell of a night. Which is what it's all about. Memories. Would I return? Absolutely! It's definitely worth taking the time to go and see. I can't say enough good things about my experience here. Review 66 of 2017.

If you're into drag culture and you're visiting Portland, you have to make a trip to Darcelle XV! She is the oldest (known) drag queen and has been doing this show since the late 50's. Being in the queer community, it feels like such a sacred space to be in, because Darcelle has remained a constant in the drag community through all the monumental moments in gay history. The show is crowded, there's a lot of bachelorette party types there as with most drag shows these days, but it's still fun! The queens are all incredible, the drinks are boozy and affordable, and the seats are not too uncomfortable. It is a different seat layout than many drag bars, it's more theater style with small table situated throughout the rows. I'm big bodied and it was perfectly comfortable. Don't forget your $ones$!!!!

REVIEWER # 92 I love me a great Drag show and Darcelle XV totally met my expectations! When planning my trip to Portland I definitely planned to see a drag show and have me a good laugh. I did my research and found this place. The reviews during the time weren't the best but I still went for the experience. I made reservations by phone with no problem. There was a lovely person on the phone that gave me the details on what to do and what to expect. I got the whole run down on dinner and drinks and especially the tip to: arrive early. Quick fact: Did you know that Darcelle is the oldest drag queen around and even though her age really shows she puts on a good show for a good cause. 87 and still performing. The show itself lasted about 1.5 hours with a special surprise after midnight that I recommend sticking around for.Once I arrived on Saturday night the line was SUPER long outside. I got out of my Uber and approached the front and seen that Darcelle was walking the line giving people the option to take photos with her before they walked in! I took my picture with Darcelle, if you want a copy its $5, no pressure to buy though and began to walk in. Seats are, "first come first serve" so get there early if you want a good seat. I planned to sit in the middle but on the last seat in the row as I read from reviews that you get more attention if you either sit at the bar or on the outer seats (definitely follow the tip, you would have a way better time). The performers here put on a fabulous show! Full of great laughs and sexy men! What more could you ask for? I truly enjoyed the male strippers!...(HUH?) Yess! You heard me right, they have male strippers that perform on the weeks at Midnight so if you are into that sort of thing, make sure to get to the door early to ensure seating. I actually did the 10PM show and then stayed till Midnight to get the whole, "Adult only" experience. There is a cover fee to get in but they do accept debit/credit and cash. Drinks are decently priced and delicious. If you get seated next to the stage or runway, I recommend having some $1 bills ready :) They love getting tipped for their performances. There is a 2 drink minimum per person, but go with the flow, it's not expensive to get in, $15 on a Thursday night. There is some parking next door $5, may get busy on weekends though. The ladies do an amazing job putting on a great show! The show was great and entertaining and I will certainly recommend everyone to watch this show when they come to Portland. 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.

Had a fantastic time at Darcelle's with my family!!! If your gonna go then just put your attitude and pre-conceived notions aside. Mitchel is the very best personality in the place and puts on a great show, the crowd really gets into the fun and you simply won't stop having a great time from start to stop. And what can be said about Darcelle except for what an Icon and Diva!!!

A few friends and I went on Tuesday night for their Rising Star performance (basically an open mic). The cover was only $5 and the show was a little over 2 hours. It was a great time! Some of the queens were really polished and some you could tell was their first time performing. We had a great time and I would go back the next time I am in town.

Darcelle @ 89 has a Big Ass Heart! For my 70th Birthday, 12 of us all ages, went, I'm hung over from Laughing, Yelling, Singing & flinging Dollars! We all just cut loose & let our inner teen out As Walter Cole sang the Rose @ the end of the show, after all the jokes, sarcasm & booby squeezing, He let his True nature out through the words in the Rose song, how much love he has for humanity(not to mention all his generosity to the community through the Years) Blessings to You & Thank You for Blessing Us with Laughter ‍ Sincerely, Me a olé white straight Nana

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!!

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!

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!!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Came here for the first time with a couple of coworkers and had a great time! I honestly didn't know what to expect but I was NOT disappointed. We showed up around 7:45 with prior reservations. Despite our reservations, we ended up getting seats against the wall literally right in front of the path to the bathroom, which sucked. Once we started the show, it seems like every 5-10 minutes, we had to scoot back to let somebody in. We didn't let it ruin our fun though. Our bartender, Leo was incredibly attentive and even better, he was fast. I was worried that I'd finish my drink and be sitting for a while, but I never had the chance to do that. Drinks came ridiculously fast. They were marked up of course, but at $7.75 each for top-shelf vodka, I think it's pretty good! The show...the show was so much fun! These ladies poured their heart & soul into it and do an amazing job. I'm hoping to go back sometime in the summer. If you have a birthday or any special event here, they definitely put the attention on you, so be prepared! :)

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.

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.

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!

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

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).

I think everyone should go to Darcelle's at least once. It's one of those Portland things you just have to do. I dragged hubby there with several of my girlfriend's for someone's birthday party, and he really really did not want to go. But he laughed his ass off. We all did. Yes, it's expensive, yes people are annoying, and yes the line is long, etc. etc. All the complaints are valid. But really, there is no one like Darcelle and he is a pillar of Portland. I think you should get your butt in there while he's still able to do what he does. It made me blush, which made husband laugh even harder, but it was super fun.

Three stars for Darcelle, zero stars for everyone else. It's not bad, not really, and definitely a Portland staple that you should experience once. But once is enough. A group of us (7 girls) went for a friend's birthday. We made a reservation and were one of the last ones to be sat, so we were in a booth at the back of the house. The view was fine from there, although we had to move to the rows of chairs up front when the male 'strippers' came out. The service was atrocious. We'd asked for waters and instead of bringing us complementary glasses of water, we were brought bottles and charged $2 a pop for them. Rude! Our server messed up our bill at the end as well - after we'd collected cash from everyone for our one round of drinks, he brought the bill back with a balance of $53. What?! I think someone just ended up paying it because they didn't want to deal with the hassle of sorting it out. The drag show was fun. Darcelle is what - 83 now? And still sassy as ever. It was high energy and funny, and we had a good time dancing around in our seats. The male "stripper" show left something to be desired, though. (I know, I'm criticizing male strippers on Yelp - oh where oh where has my class gone?!) It was... just okay. Maybe I'm a little resentful that I didn't get someone to shake their tailfeather in my face - after all, if I'm doing this I might as well do it right, right? Well, no such luck. Overall, not worth the $20 cover charge plus overpriced drinks and mandatory water charge. Bring a flask!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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!

Had a great time here! Drinks, performances, and dancers were very entertaining. I need to revisit sometime!