Pala
Downtown Portland's Pala is the spot for house music and fashion lovers. This intimate venue has a small dance floor that is usually filled with dedicated beat fans. Pala is refreshingly clean and simple, with brick walls, a few Asian statues and warm yellow lighting. Wednesday night is the "House Call" dance night, with no cover and discounted eats. Fashion shows are often projected onto screens, and actual late-night fashion shows happen with some regularity. Drinks are not especially strong and priced well for downtown. For a low-key dance night, Pala is a good choice for a small group.
Pala
105 NW 3rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 242-0700
palalounge.com/
Holocene
Southeast Portland's Holocene is known for being a mecca for the well dressed and musically knowledgeable. With one of the best sound systems in town, the Holocene is frequently packed with dancers and audiophiles. Two open rooms allow for big rowdy crowds, but generally Holocene attendees are a respectful lot. Drinks are on the pricier side, with at least one reasonable drink special offered each day. Hungry club goers don't have to suffer with cheap bar food, as the Holocene offers small nut and cheese plates, gourmet mac and cheese and healthy sandwiches for vegetarians and meat eaters. The Holocene has a long list of specialty cocktails and microbrewery beer on tap. The staff is generally friendly and fast, and there's a photo booth for dancers who want to remember the evening.
Holocene
1001 SE Morrison St.
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 239-7639
holocene.org
Goodfoot Lounge
Southeast Portland's Goodfoot Lounge isn't just a great dance club, it's also a respected art venue, with rotating group shows by local and national artists. Popular theme nights include "Soul Stew," a Friday night soul/funk dance night, and "Sonic Forum," an open mic night. Food is basic pub fare: burgers, salads, sandwiches and cheese platters. The Goodfoot also has free pool during its happy hour, which is 5 to 9 p.m. every day.
Goodfoot Lounge
2845 SE Stark St.
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 239-9292
thegoodfoot.com
About The Author
Michelle Wishhart is a writer based out of Astoria, Ore. She has been writing professionally for five years, starting with her position as a staff arts writer for an alternative weekly paper in Santa Cruz. She has a B.A. in fine arts from the University of California in Santa Cruz and a minor in English literature.
