Things to do at night in Portland to experience the city like a local
Portland may feel like a caricature itself (in no small part because of the popular Portlandia show), but just about anyone will have an easy time putting together a fun nighttime itinerary. Whether you’re trying for a special date night or a night out with your friends, there are plenty of fun events in downtown Portland and the many neighborhoods.
The vibe, unsurprisingly, skews hipster as the quirky spirit of the city lends itself to the many breweries and dive bars. The food scene is incredible, and not just for trendy food trucks. The weather in Portland gets a bad rap, but you’ll find it comfortable to walk around even on a cold night.
To escape the water, visitors can always head to a movie theater or the Helium Comedy Club to escape the elements and fill the evening with laughs. And whatever you do in the city, Bounce has convenient luggage storage locations throughout Portland to make sure you can navigate around easily.
What to do in Portland at night if you’re looking to…
Embrace the hipster spirit at night
If you want to truly explore Portland, you’ll need to end up at a few dive bars or brewery taprooms. More often than not, Saturday nights around Rose City involve pints of IPA and live music in an artsy setting.
Hit a dive bar
Portland essentially invented the dive bar aesthetic, and you’ll have a hard time finding a bar in Portland that's not decorated like your uncle's basement or garage. And while the aesthetics may be lacking in refinement, the drink menus certainly won't as Portland's craft beer and cocktail scenes are top-notch.
Pro tip: Marie's, Joe's Cellar, Mousetrap Tavern, and The Slammer Tavern are a few of the top dive bars, worth stopping in.
Grab a meal at White Owl Social Club
One of Portland's top watering holes, White Owl is an essential part of Portland’s nightlife scene and a destination for whiskey lovers. You'll have your pick of craft whiskey labels from hundreds of local and international distilleries.
Or hit the iconic Doug Fir Restaurant
This joint is one of the best live music venues in Portland, but it's also a great place to enjoy a low-key dinner or drinks in its retro dining room. There aren't any lockers at the venue and bringing your luggage won't be an option because of the bag policy, so do yourself a favor and use the Bounce mobile app to store your luggage before heading to the show.
Pro tip: Check the calendar to see what indie rock bands are coming to this East Burnside haunt.
Geek out at night
In the same way that Portland embraced and cultivated the hipster aesthetic, nerdiness has been a common virtue among locals and transplants. Even if you don’t want to hit the bar scene, you’ll have plenty of constructive options for a night out.
Test your skills at one of Portland's escape rooms
Problem solvers rejoice! you'll be able to test your skills at half a dozen different themed escape rooms. There are themed games for families, adults, and even bachelor or bachelorette parties. Stuck with your bags? Escape rooms don't always have reliable storage services, which makes Bounce your best option.
Karaoke night
If you want to take the singing into your own hands, you can find plenty of karaoke bars. The most popular is Alibi Tiki Lounge, which is popular for its tropical drinks, and Hawaiian food along with private rooms for groups wanting to belt out their favorite songs. The Ambassador Restaurant and Lounge is another top spot, with a perfectly serviceable menu of Chinese food to go along with its excellent karaoke facilities.
Pro tip: If you feel like traveling back in time, the retro Baby Ketten Klub has a 70’s themed basement bar with a public stage and a regular karaoke crowd.
A comedy show
Portlandia may be off the air, but the laughs continue at establishments like Helium Comedy Club. For a city of its size, Portland boasts an impressive comedy scene, and there are plenty of dive bars with open-mic nights or revered comedy clubs around the city.
Head to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Bringing the family to Portland? There's no better place to go after dinner than the museum's Family Science Nights events. The museum programs special exhibits and activities for the little ones and you'll get to enjoy more space as the crowds are thinner.
Pro tip: Lockers are in high demand, so using a luggage storage service like Bounce can make museum entry more smooth.
Spend an evening outside
If you want a fun night under the city lights, Portland has more than a few places for enjoying drinks or views (or both). All you’ll have to worry about is rain!
International Rose Test Garden
Along with the Oregon Zoo, the International Rose Test Garden is the most popular outdoor attraction in the city. This stunning public garden expands its opening hours into the evening so you can admire 600 different rose varieties under the stars. The well-placed garden’s paths also provide a stellar ambiance as the fading light contrasts with the colorful rows of roses.
Take a Willamette River cruise
The gorgeous riverfront snaking its way through downtown Portland is best appreciated from the water, and you can take a dinner cruise to enjoy sunset views of downtown and landmarks like the White Stag Building, Burnside Bridge, and Tom McCall Waterfront Park. The boat is not a place you'll want to bring your luggage, so stopping by a Bounce facility is a great way to lighten the load before you board.
Pro tip: Portland Spirit Cruises is one of the most popular services, but you’ll have plenty of options for boats operating out of the riverside docks near downtown.
Portland Night Market
From the early days of the food truck craze to the current “upscale food court” movement, Portland has always been a city that’s embraced alternative dining settings. One of the most popular foodie destinations in the city is the open-air market showcasing local cuisine and other craft goods. Of course, there are craft beers and other drinks on offer along with live music. There are no lockers or cubbies onsite, so you will want to arrange luggage storage before you head to the market.
Whether you're hoping to enjoy the natural beauty of the city or go full hipster mode, there are tons of great things to do at night in Portland. And if you're stuck with your luggage, you can count on Bounce’s locations all across Rose City to make getting around on your night out much easier.