Updated: August 22, 2022

21 Top Client Entertainment Ideas in Portland, OR

Here is our list of the best client entertainment ideas in Portland, Oregon.

Client entertainment ideas in Portland are fun and exciting activities to show your client a good time in the city. Examples include a bike tour with Pedal Bike Tours, treats at Voodoo Doughnuts, or catching a Portland Timbers match. The purpose of these activities is to deepen your relationship with clients while showing your appreciation.

These activities are similar to Portland team outings, ways to entertain groups in Portland, and luxury gifting ideas.

This list includes:

  • VIP client entertainment ideas in Portland
  • client appreciation event venues in Portland
  • places to bring clients in Portland
  • client meeting spaces in Portland

Let’s get to it!

List of client entertainment ideas in Portland

If you are lucky enough to live in Portland then you know the city offers a wide variety of unique activities to entertain locals of all ages. When you choose any of these venues to host a client, you can develop your relationship while having a great time outside of an office environment. Here are the best ways to entertain clients in Portland.

1. International Rose Test Garden

For the flower lovers in the group, the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park is a beautiful activity. In the park, visitors can see more than 650 varieties of roses across 10,000 bushes. The roses bloom between April and October, with June being the best month to see the petals at their peak. Portland’s nickname is the City of Roses, and after seeing this garden, you might understand why. Taking your client to the rose garden is a great way to enjoy the fresh air and get to know each other outside the working environment.

Head to the International Rose Test Garden.

2. Pedal Bike Tours

Choosing one of the many bike tours offered by Pedal Bike Tours is one of the best client entertainment ideas in Portland. You and your client will go for a leisurely ride through the city while exploring the history of Portland and enjoying delicious food and culture. Pedal Bike Tours has three tours to choose from: Intro to Portland Tour, Donuts of Portland Bike Tour, and Oregon Brewery Trail.

Take a ride with Pedal Bike Tours.

3. Oregon Zoo

The Oregon Zoo is one of the best zoos in the country and a trip to this attraction is entertaining for both children and adults. The 64-acre zoo is home to thousands of animals, like elephants, tigers, rhinos, and chimpanzees. Depending on the time of year, you will find a variety of festivals and events to make each trip to the zoo unique. For example, ZooLights from November to January is a spectacular sight to behold. The Oregon Zoo is one of the best client appreciation event venues in Portland, and you can schedule private events to take advantage of all the zoo has to offer.

Check out the Oregon Zoo.

4. Hoyt Arboretum

Hoyt Arboretum, pronounced White, is one of the most beautiful areas in Portland. The intention of this spectacular 190-acre arboretum is to conserve endangered species and educate the Portland community about the benefits of nature. On top of the ridge, hikers will find more than 12 miles of beautiful trails offering some of the greatest views in Portland. Visitors can see more than 2,300 species of different trees and shrubs from six continents around the world. If your client enjoys nature and being outdoors, then this is the perfect appreciation event.

Take a hike at Hoyt Arboretum.

5. Portland City Grill

At Portland City Grill, your clients get the chance to take in the best views in the city while enjoying some of the most delicious food available. If you prefer a lighter evening, then take your clients for a wine or cocktail night in the gorgeous bar. The dishes at Portland City Grill are spectacular whether you enjoy Northwest-inspired fair or love Asian food. The steaks are superb as well.

Get dinner and drinks at Portland City Grill.

6. Deschutes Brewing Portland Public House

Deschutes Brewing is an iconic beermaker in the state of Oregon. The original location is in Bend, in the eastern part of the state. Now, you can enjoy this brewery’s craft beer and delicious food in Portland without making the trek across the state. You can take your client to Deschutes Brewing Portland Public House for a laid-back, urban atmosphere. Once there, you and your client can taste any of the 26 regular beers on tap or one of the experimental or seasonal beers brewed on-site in Portland. Expertly crafted food is the perfect pair for the beer. You can reserve a table on OpenTable, or call the pub directly to reserve a room for a larger group.

Head out to Deschutes Brewing Portland Public House.

7. Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

Located in Southeast Portland in East Moreland, the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden is a unique 9-acre garden filled with beautiful and rare plants and hybrid species of rhododendrons, azaleas, and other trees and shrubs. Plus, your client can check out the variety of geese and ducks that migrate through the area each year. This rhododendron garden is one of the most unique client meeting spaces in Portland as you reserve space for a special event.

Check out the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden.

8. Oaks Amusement Park

Since 1905, locals have been enjoying this classic amusement park in Southeast Portland. At the park, attendees can play mini golf, go on fun rides, skate in the roller rink, or try their hand at one of the on-site games. New for this season, all attendees get to ride the historical carousel and Oaks Park train for free. Oaks Amusement Park is one of the best client entertainment ideas in Portland, especially if you are looking for a blast from the past.

Have fun at Oaks Amusement Park.

9. Voodoo Doughnuts

This shop’s infamous pink box is recognizable worldwide. These flavorful and creative donuts are sure to please any client. You can bring your sweets-loving client to Voodoo and let them get a true Portland experience and try a Voodoo Doll donut or one of the many other creations available. The chain has many locations scattered throughout the city.

Grab some donuts at Voodoo Doughnuts.

10. Portland Aerial Tram

If you want to give your client a view of Portland from above, then a ride on the Portland Aerial Tram is in order. When you ride the tram, you and your client will travel over 3,000 feet. You will hop on the tram at South Waterfront and ride to Marquam Hill. The trek takes you up to 500 feet, and you will reach speeds of 22 miles per hour along the journey. The Portland Aerial Tram has only two cabins, but each holds 79 riders, and you can catch one every few minutes.

Take a ride on the Portland Aerial Tram.

11. Portland Timbers

The Portland Timbers are a professional soccer team that competes in Major League Soccer. The Timbers play in the Western Conference. All home games occur at Providence Park, conveniently located in downtown Portland. As soccer has become more and more popular in America, the attendance at each Timber match has grown, as well. You can bring your client to catch a game and cheer on the home team.

Catch a Portland Timbers match.

12. Kay’s Bar

Kay’s Bar has been a landmark since 1934, when the owners first started serving drinks in the Moreland neighborhood. Between the extensive list of craft cocktails, beer and wine by the glass, and tasty pub food, Kay’s is a fantastic place to bring a client for a happy hour celebration. This bar is truly a neighborhood favorite, and the comfortable and laid-back atmosphere is perfect for a good time with clients.

Grab a drink at Kay’s Bar.

13. Creative Culture Studio

Creative Culture Studio is a one-of-a-kind DIY and craft shop in Portland. While you get your creative juices flowing, sip on one of the delicious and unique milkshakes made in-house. Creative Culture Studio is locally-owned, and its stated goal is to develop the creativity of the local area by starting a community of makers. Of course, the delicious milkshakes fuel the process. You can bring your client to Creative Culture for a sweet treat, and they get to take a craft home with them.

Get creative at Creative Culture Studio.

14. Voicebox Karaoke

The original location for Voicebox Karaoke was the Nob Hill neighborhood in Northwest Portland. Today, you can also sing your heart out in Southeast Portland at a second location. One of the coolest features of Voicebox is that you can reserve private karaoke suites for you and your client. This option is perfect for those that do not want to sit through a long list of songs to get their chance to shine. The drink and food menu at Voicebox is incredible, as well.

Find the perfect tune at Voicebox Karaoke.

15. KingPins

KingPins is so much more than a bowling alley. Both the Beaverton and Portland locations are the best places to bring clients in Portland and offer a wide variety of entertainment. From bowling to laser tag to the arcade, your clients will find something fun, no matter their interests. Plus, the food and drink menus will make you forget you are at a bowling alley. Craft cocktails, happy hour specials, and made in-house pub food will round out your evening. KingPins is an excellent choice to host your client for a memorable night.

Plan a fun night at KingPins.

16. Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

OMSI, or the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, is a state-of-the-art science and technology museum in the heart of Portland. Inside the museum, guests will find three auditoriums, including a theatre, a planetarium, and exhibit halls. Museum-goers get the chance to personally interact with many of the hands-on displays. The permanent and temporary exhibits focus on natural sciences, industry, and technology. Bringing your clients to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is a fantastic way to show them your appreciation.

Check out the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

17. Powell’s Books

Powell’s Books opened in Portland in 1979. Since then, the name Powell’s is synonymous with books, with many calling the massive store a City of Books. The bookshop is in the Pearl District and takes up an entire block of real estate. Whatever book you are looking for, you will likely find it at Powell’s. What makes Powell’s Books one of the most unique VIP client entertainment ideas in Portland is their author talks. A bookstore of this size attracts some of the biggest names in the industry. Taking your client to a reading from their favorite author is a personal and touching way to show you know and value them.

Go to a special event at Powell’s Books.

18. Sauvie Island

Sauvie Island is a massive island, roughly the size of Manhattan, that sits where the Columbia and Willamette Rivers meet, around 10 miles northwest of Portland. This island is much more than an intersection. The entire island offers nature and adventures to entertain visitors of all ages. If your client enjoys fresh food, then there is no better place to pick fruits and veggies in the spring and summer. You can also spend an afternoon birdwatching, relaxing on the beach, or adventuring on kayaks or bikes. You will find lots to do with your client on the 24,000 acres of Sauvie Island.

Enjoy the day at Sauvie Island.

19. Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers are a professional basketball team located in the heart of the city. This team is one of two professional men’s sports teams in Portland. However, the Trail Blazers have been in the city the longest. During their tenure in Portland, the Trail Blazers have accumulated quite the fan base. Attending a game in person is incredibly exciting and one of the best VIP client entertainment ideas in Portland.  If you check the schedule, then you might find some fun themed nights. For example, a decade night from the 1960s, 1980s, 1980s, or 1990s. For a truly exciting night, look in to watching the game from a VIP box.

Cheer on the Portland Trail Blazers.

20. Portland Art Museum

The Portland Art Museum has been operational since 1892, making it one of the oldest art museums in America. Today, the museum is one of the 25 largest art museums in the country with more than 112,000 square feet of galleries. When you take your client to visit the Portland Art Museum, plan for a full day. You will find more than 42,000 works of art between the permanent and traveling exhibits. Within the museum, you and your clients will find areas dedicated to Native American art, Northwest art, modern and contemporary art, and Asian art.

Spend the day at the Portland Art Museum.

21. Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

Whether you have a client that loves stand-up comedy or prefers classical music, you must check out the schedule of events at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. This massive venue in the heart of Portland hosts some of the biggest names in every industry. You can bring your client to see comedians, musicians, orchestras, or even catch the live filming of a game show like Wheel of Fortune. Arlene Schnitzer is a fantastic place to take a client you want to show a great time in downtown Portland.

Check out a show at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

Conclusion

Portland is a city full of amazing events and activities. If you are looking for a unique way to entertain a client, then you only need to look around to find the perfect outing. Whether you choose to stay indoors and dine at one of the incredible restaurants or prefer being outside on a hiking trail or in a park, you are sure to find an entertaining outing for your client in Portland.

Next, check out team building ideas in Portland and Portland retreat ideas

FAQ: Client entertainment ideas in Portland, Oregon

Here are the answers to commonly asked questions about client entertainment ideas in Portland.

What are the best client entertainment ideas in Portland?

You will find many places to entertain clients in and around Portland, Oregon. For example, KingPins has multiple locations and offers bowling, arcade games, laser tag, and awesome food and drink specials. Or, you can take your clients to spend the day enjoying rides, mini-golf, and games at Oaks Amusement Park.

You can entertain clients in Portland at indoor venues like a Portland Trailblazers basketball game or with a trip to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. If you prefer to be outside, then head to Sauvie Island to pick fresh fruit or enjoy an afternoon on the beach.

Some good places to take clients in Portland are to author talks at Powell’s Books, to enjoy delicious food and local beer at Deschutes Brewing Portland Public House, or to sing karaoke at Voicebox Karaoke.

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People & Culture Director at teambuilding.com.
Grace is the Director of People & Culture at TeamBuilding. She studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, Information Science at East China Normal University and earned an MBA at Washington State University.

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