I often pop into dv8 to catch Layla the bartender. She’s super attentive.. kind.. patient.. a hard worker, and an absolute smoke show. She’s the best bartender in Portland. The dancers are all lovely and nice, not at all pushy. The food is amazing. try the rib eye. My friends and I always have a blast here. The only thing I’d say is that the bathrooms could be cleaner, and the private dance booths could be a bit better. But overall, I can’t recommend this club enough.

A few Sunday nights ago, I stopped in during the day and had Nikki as my bartender, and she was absolutely amazing! She had beautiful pink hair, was friendly, attentive, and made the experience so enjoyable that I decided to come back later that night with a few girlfriends who were visiting from out of town. Unfortunately, the experience couldn't have been more different. The bartender we had that evening, I believe her name was Layla, was almost impossible to find. It honestly felt like every time we looked toward the bar to order another drink or even get her attention, she had disappeared. We repeatedly saw her outside smoking or away from the bar, leaving customers waiting for long periods. We spent more time trying to find our bartender than actually enjoying our night, which was really disappointing, especially after having such a great first experience earlier that day. The wait became so frustrating that we ended up leaving earlier than we had planned. It was disappointing because we were excited to show my friends a good time. That said, I do want to give credit where it's due. The rest of the staff was fantastic, everyone we interacted with was friendly and welcoming, the atmosphere was energetic, the music was great, and the club itself was a lot of fun. One of the dancers, Ramona, was absolutely incredible and made the night much more enjoyable. Would I come back? Definitely. I just hope to visit on a night with a bartender who's present and attentive, because that one experience really put a damper on what otherwise could have been a great evening.

I stopped by on a Sunday evening around 9:30–10 p.m., planning to grab some food before having a drink and spending some time there. When the bartender, Layla, asked what I wanted, I asked for a menu. The menus were actually sitting right on the bar—I simply didn’t notice them at first while getting situated. Instead of pointing them out in a welcoming way, the response was abrupt and dismissive, which unfortunately set the tone for the rest of the visit. When she asked about drinks, I explained I wanted to order food first. I moved to a nearby bar stool to look over the menu to get out of way for others, but when I was ready to order, it felt like I was overlooked despite the bar not being busy. I eventually walked back to the well to place my order. She seemed irritated that I still wasn’t ordering a drink, even though I’d already said I wanted food first. She took the order, I opened a tab, tipped the stage, and went back to my seat. The dancers I talked with throughout the evening were all friendly, engaging, and welcoming. The food ended up being surprisingly good and was easily one of the highlights of the visit. After I finished eating, I went back to the bar and joked, “Now I’ll finally have that drink,” just trying to keep things light. The response still felt cold and disengaged. I asked her name, she said Layla, and I ordered a Coors Light. After finishing it, I closed my tab because I honestly didn’t feel like ordering anything else given how the interactions had gone. I’d heard good things about this club, which is why I decided to check it out. The atmosphere was enjoyable, the dancers were great, and the pool table gave the place a relaxed, lounge-like feel that I really liked. Unfortunately, the service at the bar overshadowed what was otherwise a positive experience. I wasn’t intoxicated, I wasn’t loud, I tipped, and I kept to myself. I simply ordered food, had one beer, and was courteous throughout the evening. I understand everyone has off days, and I’m not suggesting this reflects the entire staff. Still, the interaction made me feel unwelcome enough that I left much earlier than I intended. I likely would have stayed longer, ordered more drinks, and spent more money if I’d felt comfortable. Instead, I ended up heading down the street to Hawthorne Strip. The atmosphere there wasn’t as nice, but I felt much more welcome. I almost never leave reviews, especially negative ones, and I even waited until the next day before writing this to make sure I wasn’t overreacting. I’ve worked in hospitality myself, so I know how demanding those jobs can be and how easy it is to have a rough shift. This didn’t come across as someone simply having a busy night. It felt like a lack of interest in engaging with customers. I didn’t complain, I wasn’t drunk, I was polite and conversational, and I followed proper etiquette by tipping the stage and staying out of the way while deciding what to order. What stood out most was being pushed toward ordering drinks after I’d already said I wanted food first, feeling ignored when I was ready to order, and waiting through multiple cigarette breaks and constant phone pow wows with other staff at end of bar before I could get service while sitting at the bar. It’s a shame because there was a lot to like. The food was good, the dancers were friendly, and the overall atmosphere was genuinely enjoyable. I just wish the experience at the bar had matched the rest of the club instead of making me feel unwelcome for simply trying to spend money there.

Went in today 6-9 . Girls are nice. Bartender has short time memory lost . Evia. I think her name was. I had a drink. I wanted to play kino. I asked her when she gets a chance to run my kino. She brought me a drink instead. I had a almost full one. I had $20 out to pay for the kino. She took it for the drink. I then gave her ten dollars for the kino. I asked if she can check my last kino ticket. She said give me a second. I joking said. Well the second is up. She got mad. And took both of my drinks away and told me to leave. Didn't refund my money. I will never be back to that club again. I spent 25 years in the industry. I would never treat a coustermer like that.

I love this place. I don't go to strip clubs often, but when I do it is here. It is a Portland staple and it is Iconic. The "Purple" Stip club stands out. Everyone who is anyone knows that DV8 is a great time. Whenever I recommend a Strip club, it is one of the first places I suggest. "Just look for that purple building off of SE Powell and SE 51st. It's the best!"