The Cove
I live a block away from this fine establishment. It is a funny joint. Not gonna get the talent you would at 205 or Acrop. But you're not gonna get the attitude either. This is a great place for a night cap if you live in NE PDX.

Still haven't recovered
The boyfriend and I stopped here for lunch because we were leaving the U-Haul place. While he was devouring his fish 'n chips (great food choice in a dive strip bar, ick) the day shift stripper showed up and he was like, gulp. She literally looked like she could be the bartender's mother. Really, she was that old. So grandma's behind us getting naked while the smell of fish is wafting around, so I decide to go to the bathroom. This time I was the one who gulped. The bathroom is inside the trashed little dressing room and the only thing separating it is a flimsy cutain. No door? Really? Really? How GHETTO can they possibly be? Maybe their vintage stripper would like to sit on my lap and discuss the economy while I do my business! And this was during the daytime, what's it like when it's busy? I recommend avoiding this place if you don't like leaving a bar grossed out, with a bladder infection risk, and smelling of fish.

love it
the first time I entered Pirates Cove, my hubby and I went as a joke. It has since become a regular hangout! The girls are always friendly as are the bar staff. Will definitely stay a favorite!

Shiver me timbers
What fabulous place for sunken treasure and perfectly poured guiness to put on your your way to jolly good time full. The stage is as wonderous as the bouillon of you wildest pirate dreams. Welcome to the ship there's no mutiny here.

Funky Fun
I visited this joint (Jug?) on Halloween, and it was nuttin' but fun. Be great if it had a second stage, but no room for it! Small, granted, but the Swashbuckler theme adds enough to make it worth the trip. Enjoyed the Dancers, two of the 4 were hotties. I would definitely go back for some more off-beat Strip Club fun. Nuttin' quite like nice jugs in a Jug !

Good club for short visit on weeknight
Went in around 11PM Wednesday night. Obviously nobody is around except for a customer by the stage and another in the video poker area. There were 3 dancers. One dancer stood out and she was pretty; natural blonde, sweet smile, and fuller body. It's a small club at most thousand or so square feet. Given small number of audiences, two of three dancers were very engaging with each of audiences. Despite probably not making much money from late weeknight, none of them pressure me for private dance. Usually in this kind of situation I try to make a compromise; that is, tipping them well for the stage dance if they are engaging/extra personal. There are some TVs and an area for video pokers but no billiards around because of such small area. The drawback for club with one stage is that during the busy weekend, you may not be able to around the stage. But because it’s such small club, there are 5 or so tables along with the bar that were within 10 feet of stage so you can still get a decent view of action (assuming no one is standing in front of you).

I'll be back!
Egondaart, that is one of the most persuasive pitches I've ever read/heard to give a place like The Jug another chance. Mind you, I already enjoy patronizing this establishment on occasion, but I really think I'll look at it in another light as a result of your interesting commentary . . . well spoken!

Swell joint, with history
I had a hard time remembering to call it Pirate's Cove for a while. It has always been the Jug for me, and fond memories wouldn't let me let it go. But my last few visits recently have made room for the new name.

The customers and bartenders were friendly, and the dancers were delightful and engaging on stage and off, even after I eschewed the offered $20 private dances. Neither the dancers nor the bartender presented that Us vs. Them attitude that can creep into any commercial enterprise.

Still the same oddball layout inside. Smoke was not an issue in my visits, though lots of people were smoking -- perhaps they've done some work on the ventilation.

The Jug has always been a special place. A rather nasty place, in a good way, of course. In the late 80's (as I recall) it got busted for promoting lewd and lascivious conduct, or some such thing. The only detail I remember reading about the bust (and why bother to remember anything else) was that the complaining officer referred to an "unsolicited act of nasal sex." Ingrate. 

I immediately knew which dancer he was complaining about. She was good-natured and equally attentive to everyone on the rack who ponied up a folded buck. She was about 35, cute and rangy, completely shaved when that was an anomaly rather than the norm, and deeply and evenly browned via the new technology of the tanning booth, save for the small spot of white skin in the shape of a star on the left side of her lower belly that she apparently shielded from the glaring tubes. She danced with a combination of provocation, presentation, compassion and education. There was probably some obscure wisdom in the mix as well.

I like to think that the human vibe consistently generated in a place over time lingers on in the molecules of the structure despite changes of management and decor. The bust toned things down a bit, but in no way killed the potential for fun. Over the years as the Jug slid into disrepair then spruced back up, then slid again, then changed hands a few times, got remodel here and there, catered for a while to wannabe mobsters in polyester shirts, and for while to Latino laborers, and for a while to the nouveau erotique, but always retained a bit of that friendly yet nasty, civil yet earthy vibe underneath.

The new management seems to have found that vibe and run with it.

Always known as "The Jug"
I'm the VP of the business association in the area, so I have to check out all the local establishments every once in a while. Regardless of the (mostly) crappy reviews the place has gotten over the years, I love it.

Although I must say, the first couple times I went in, I wasn’t impressed. Too smokey, nasty chicks, bartenders that could kick my ass (big women), etc…

The main reason I gave it another shot is because I was drunkedly (is that a word?) on my way home one night from Yen Ha (probably my 2nd fav. Bar) and figured I’d go in and wrestle with the bartender to see if I could get another drink. Low and behold it was a new bartender. He didn’t want to wrestle…

To sum it all up, the new manager Jaysen has cleaned the place up quite a bit, hired some better staff, and makes sure the dancers are drug free. So, if you haven’t been there in a while, you better check it out!

Grade C+
Too smokey. Small and cozy, which is nice. Once dancer very friendly. The other seemed uncomfortable dancing which made it awkward. Too crowded at the tiny bar to get a sense of the bartender but seemed friendly. Worth checking out again.

pirates cove
This place is under new mng., give it a shot (or have a few as I did) .the girls are pleasant on floor and at bar, the locals are worth a chat and the bartending is first rate, never felt so attended to in a strip club.........just do it ! padi

.
Some cute girls but if you get to know them you find out that the club treats them like crap. Everyone hates the management, and it's kind of a miserable experience in there most nights. Lots of cheap customers leaves the girls bitter and angry. I feel bad for them when I go in, and often seem to be the only one tipping. The DJ thinks he works at a hot shit gentlemen's club. I wish he would shut up and just play the music.

I agree
This IS the worst strip club in Portland. The drinks are overpriced, the food is awful. The dancers always seem miserable.

The crappiest bar in Portland
This had to be the worst strip club in Portland, The bar is small and dirty. The bartenders spend most of theit time chatting with regulars and ignor the rest of the customers. The dancers look straight out of the rocky horror picture show. They yell at their customers if they are sitting at the bar and not tipping, Come on, can't we just stop for a well deserved beer after work without the drama. I used to go there a couple years ago and it was cool, What happened?

yes to credit cards!
They took my card (visa, mastercard) when I went. It's a scummy and scurvy place...it'll be hard to find any fruity munchies. overall good neighborhood bar.

fun little bar
friendly bar, cute dancers, definetley worth stopping in.