Pearl Lounge

The term «lounge» is used loosely here. I went on a Saturday night with a group of friends and it was bizarre. I saw a much older gentleman in a suit, maybe even a tux. Weird.

Sadly what you would expect from a small town, small state night club that has no clue what a good DJ is. I mean seriously it was the worst set I’ve ever heard. I don’t know, I want to say something positive but there really isn’t one good point I can think of. Oh! I know, the people are nice.

Review specific to Thursday night Noche Latina dance — The lesson and dance with latin music is one of the best values in Portland — only $ 5.
Staff has to move between this room and the other half of the night club, leaving a door semi open which adds a little confusion with the noise next door.
Additionally, the front door is always open and the street outside is one big smoking area which of course drifts in to the club all the time.
Both minor annoyances, made up for by super friendly doormen and bartenders, and a great dance value.

I don’t quite know how to rate this place. It’s hard because the culture in Portland and the culture in New York are both so different. In New York, the clubs get filled fast, there’s a line out the door, the dance floor is packed, and it’s too perverted almost. Here, it’s a lot more laid back. The bar in the back (or to the side) is open first so people can just have a drink and just hang back for a second. There’s a feel of friendship rather than hunting grounds for men and women. When we all moved to the dance floor, there was space to BREATHE. The DJ was really good at taking requests and everyone seemed to be having a really good time. I really liked the place. I think they could do without the strobe lighting but other than that, I’d come back!

We’ve visited a couple of times so this represents an aggregate review. Both times we have been we’ve come with pretty good sized groups. Each time we had a blast. Bottom line is that this is a bar with a good sized dance floor. Great place for dancing. Drinks are reasonable and served fast. Never had a problem with tabs. It does get packed by the time midnight rolls around. We’re not in our 20s but we have always felt comfortable and had fun. A good portion of the crowd dresses to impress. A cheap pickup joint this is not. One of our favorite destination in Portland.

Fun free foozball. Club had a nice vibe. Bar (not club) had horrible liars for bartenders. At the end of the night, asked for itemized receipt before paying the bill because had a tab open all night. Manager said he «wasn’t sure how to do it» then when we got it, had 5 Red Bull Vodkas listed, which no one in our party drinks. Girl bartender (Chrissy) proceeded to yell at us for questioning her. Manager came back again and said «this is how we do it here, we ring in things fast and I hit whatever button is equal to what you are ordering»…while the girl bartender is shouting across the bar at him to re-​ring everything «if that’s what they want.» No, we want you to be honest and ring in what we order to begin with. Re-​ringing the order you didn’t get right in the first place is not going to help, nor is treating us like idiots. The manager should lead by example and do the right thing. If you go here, pay cash.

New smaller bar open now called 446, great any day of the week. I think I like it almost more on the weeknights than the original side because it’s not so much like a club. I will say that I think the staff at Pearl Lounge are accommodating, friendly and willing to go beyond the norm for their clientele in service. I feel when I walk in due to the plentiful security, that I will be safe if anything were to happen, which is usually doesn’t because they don’t let just anyone in. I also appreciate a mixologist who can come up with a flavorful beverage on the spot, I haven’t had before, without out a lack in satisfaction that I just paid a little more for a drink than I would if I went somewhere down the street for just anything to get a buzz from.
If you go in before the music starts on the club side, it’s nice to have seat as well and chat it up with friends. They set up tables with tablecloths on the dance floor, there are comfortable couches in their VIP sections that are sometimes open to occupy before the clientele who paid for it arrive, or you can inquire as to how you could keep it for the rest of the night.
I like the dress code too. You get a sense that people care to look their best here when you walk in, which is obviously something I look for in an establishment when I want to be in a particular atmosphere. There’s nothing fake about it, can’t always say that for some of the people who walk in even when they are dressed to the Nines, but really who cares, we all just want to have a carefree experience. People who do tend to go there are openly friendly and like to dance. It’s a good time.
Lastly, I will say 446 is cozy with their plush nook, plenty of seating at the bar and great for conversation as well with a new date or a small group of friends. How could you lot like a place where there is a copious amount of fresh fruit to garnish your fancy cocktail, local brews that have an endless tap and staff who dress well? I go there because who wouldn’t appreciate a business who greets with a friendly smile and even hand shake if you’re a familiar face? Don’t take it as a place that isn’t in your budget or too uppity for your flavor of a club. I’d say, check it out you might just enjoy the experience.

I went early, way before the dancing and such began. Place is OK, I guess. Kinda faux-​fancy. The drinks were overly sweet and lacking in liquor. The staff were nice guys.

The most affordable bottle service, and honestly the only bottle service in the city. Great staff, awesome dj’s and reasonably priced drinks. No cover and also did not have to wait in line.

Bottle service is affordable. The djs are great. The girls are cute (for Maine). Go here, have fun, and party like you’re in big city! I had a blast but my only compliant is that we had a bouncer that was incredibly overzealous. Go Pearl!

Went here kind of as a joke for a friend’s birthday. It was gross, hot, sweaty, and filled with super cheesy WASTED people. I have lived in portland for 3 years and had no idea a place like this even existed in this town. That said, I am much more of a dive bar /​coffee shop /​congress street type of girl, and cheesy dance clubs are not my «scene.» So that’s one thing. But really, I was just trying to dance with my friends, but the music was not fun (read: I like 80s dance tunes or current ridiculous pop for dancing. this was neither) and I kept getting bumped by drunk people who were spilling their drinks all over the floor and me/​my friends. Never again, Pearl Lounge!

Pearl Lounge was one stop in a night of bar hopping in the area. Pretty fun place! It’s a standard club with dancing and a DJ. No cover and drinks were strong so those were both positives.
They had a variety of fresh fruit and garnishes for the drinks which was a nice touch for my raspberry soda. I honestly don’t remember anything sticking out about the club but I had a good time!

I went here on a Saturday night and had so much fun! The DJ was great and playing a mix of mostly new and a little old. Drinks were nice and strong. I just wish it were a bit less crowded and had a lot more air conditioning! My friends and I were soaked by the time we left, but we still had a great time. Can’t wait to go back on my next visit to the Old Port!

Hands down the nicest place in the Old Port.
This place is Portland’s version of an upscale club, and does it’s job quite well. The music is varied, sometimes it’s great and other times I think I’d do a better job DJing, but it happens.
I appreciate the fact that Pearl is the only club (read: bar with dancing) in Portland that has seating by the dance floor and VIP areas. I love to shake my ass as much as the next girl, but after a couple hours in 4−5″ heels, mama needs to sit for a few!
I’ve only ever been after 10PM, as that’s when it tends to get poppin’ but I’ve heard great things about their happy hour, pretty sure it has live music.
They also have a fairly strict dress code for guys, no t shirts, hats, sneakers, etc.
My only wish is that they had another bar, as it can get really crowded and sort of difficult to get a drink when 11:30PM rolls around!

Threw a birthday party here, booked a VIP spot. The spot is plenty of room (had about 12 ppl), it was fun. Bunch of different VIP spots, I had the one in the back which is elevated. It is a large one but it was split in half due to a bachelor party next to us. Another booth is elevated located in the front of the club and a small one not elevated by the DJ booth. DJ was on point with the music which is a BIG deal for me. Dress to impress here which is fun and out of the norm of the Old Port. Staff was accommodating, the security guard was the man. The VIP host just dances on the stage most of the night…
The VIP booth cost is a rip off, $ 125 for 1 small bottle of Grey Goose, minimum for a booth though is two bottles ($ 300), mixers are free, redbull is xtra $. I was misinformed about the sizes of the Grey Goose, these were like 5ths…
Dance floor gets packed here, only 1 bar and small bathrooms. I’d go again if I had a VIP spot but I’ll never go again because I’ll never pay that much for booth when the bottles are TINY.

Stopped in here briefly during a visit to Portland. I came in just as it opened, so I can’t comment on the atmosphere during peak hours. I can say that the drinks are well done and reasonably priced.

This place is actually called Pearl Lounge. It was so much fun for
a night out in Portland. We joined another local couple that recommended it. The drinks were reasonable and poured right.
They keep a lounge atmosphere until around 9pm, when they remove the couches and tables and turn it into a club. The music was great. On the Saturday night I was there it was a mix of stuff from top 40 to stuff from the early 2000’s that brought back memories. The scene got really busy after 10pm when the amount of people seemed to double. People were dressed to impress.
Bartenders and staff were very friendly and attractive. Getting a drink was easy even though the place got packed. I would say this is one of Portland’s classier night life options.

the night i came here, i was only home in maine for the day, but wanted to show my boyfriend around a little. i haven’t spent a lot of time in portland since becoming of legal drinking age, but remembered going to fore play for someone’s birthday once, so we headed in that direction. pearl is next door and looked much more interesting.
the inside of this place is cute — the way it’s laid out creates a lot of nice individual spaces. from the door, you step down to a sunken main room, which later served as stage for a live jazz band! the bar and these little vip-​style rooms are separated by steps and cool chainmail curtains. we sat in one and it felt very private while not actually being closed off from the bar.
the bartender, although a little snippy when we first came in with the wine (i guess it’s illegal to bring wine into a bar, but we had been christmas shopping!), was very nice and came over to our little room to take our drink orders and offer an hors d’œuvre menu. we had already eaten dinner, but i did see some yummy-​looking things like dates with goat cheese and bacon. i wish i remembered the drink menu better but i do recall a lot of unique, labor-​intensive cocktails and a pretty extensive wine list. we ordered «the maine 20» which was crown royal, fresh apple purée, and maple syrup (!), in a martini glass with a cinnamon stick stirrer; and some kind of margarita with jalepeño-​infused tequila and pineapple juice. both were good — although i wished the jalepeño was spicier — and reasonably priced.
good drinks, sweet music, and a nice change from places like fore play and gritty’s.