A banquet dinner at RingSide ain’t it.
I lived in Portland for nearly 10 years, working in marketing and advertising. So I’ve been to my fair share of corporate holiday parties. And no shade to RingSide (they are a Portland institution for a reason), but booking a private dining room and calling it good doesn’t exactly equal an awesome holiday party.
So here are my top recommendations for a truly unique company holiday party in Portland, Oregon. Most of these I’ve experienced firsthand and loved. Others on this list are curated by our team at Avital; we’ve been hosting 5-star, interactive dining experiences for groups for over 15 years.
It’s a dinner party, with a twist. You get 4 courses and 3 beverages (alcoholic or N/A alternatives) at one of the best private dining rooms in Portland. Plus interactive activities sprinkled throughout the meal – think hands-on cocktails, holiday trivia, and quirky candy cane tasting. You’ll choose from Avital’s network of partners, like Urban Farmer and Andina. It’s all hosted by an Avital Emcee, so you can actually enjoy with your team instead of facilitating. It’s easily my favorite holiday party idea in Portland. Easy to book, and everyone loves it.
If you’re looking for something a bit more casual than a seated dinner, the Interactive Mingling Hour is perfect. It’s a happy hour, but elevated. Two drinks and 5 bite-sized appetizers are included, with 2 activities interspersed throughout. Instead of a private dining room, this takes place in a lounge or semi-private space at an award-winning Portland restaurant (your choice within the network of partners). There’s also a fun holiday ice breaker activity when guests walk in to get the conversations going naturally.
One year our team rented out a private space at Punch Bowl Social. We had our own private bowling lanes with a lounge space and tables. The food was good, but it wasn’t anything particularly fancy. Sliders, wings, beer and wine. We also had the option to sing karaoke, play darts, or arcade games, but bowling was the most fun and crowd-pleasing. If you just want to bowl, you could also check out Grand Central Bowl.
Say that 3 times fast! For a holiday party in 2015-ish(?) I remember going to Pips & Bounce (RIP) for a ping pong holiday party. We were a small team so we didn’t rent out a room. Instead we just played in the common space and went out for dinner afterwards. A great place to do this for your 2026 holiday party would be the People’s Courts. They’re primarily a pickle ball center, but they also have ping pong, axe throwing, bocce, corn hole, and an arcade. Their party packages start at just $25pp (with a $125-200 room fee) + $30+pp for food.
For several years I worked at an office downtown. We’d use that as an excuse to go to all of the waterfront festivals and Pioneer Square events for “team building activities.” The holidays were no exception. I remember going as a team to the Holiday Brew Fest, which was so much fun. It takes place at Pioneer Courthouse Square and you can try small samples of so many fun holiday-edition beers. There isn’t a dedicated event space, so get there early and try to secure a table for your group.
Ok, I know I said booking a banquet room and calling it good doesn’t count as a holiday party. But Sayler’s Old Country Kitchen isn’t just a banquet room. The restaurant is an experience in itself. You can either book a table for your group, or you can rent out their private event space. Either way, I recommend getting there early for your reservation and heading to the old school lounge for a cocktail. In addition to your entree (steak or seafood), you’ll also get a relish tray, salad, a side, and dessert. It feels like you’re time traveling when you step into Sayler’s – it’s just got a real classic, family-run feel. Perfect for nostalgic holiday party vibes.
Ok this was really fun and unique! One year our team went on a boat cruise on the Portland Spirit. I remember it being such a cozy vibe with the holiday lights and music. They have a Christmas Ship Dinner which includes a 2.5-hour cruise, meal and dessert, live entertainment, and a great view of the Christmas Ship Parade. For large groups there’s also an option to rent out the whole ship for a private event.
I never did this, but I had a friend who hosted their company holiday party at Ground Kontrol. They actually rented out the whole arcade and all of the games were free for guests. A full buyout is a great option for groups of 30+. For smaller teams you reserve tables just for your group. The food is mostly hot dogs and nachos, but they do have a full bar for fun cocktails.
Many of these activities are great paired with a festive dinner afterwards. Or perhaps you’re just looking for a simple dinner celebration this year (totally fine so long as the food and drinks are fantastic). Here are my favorite Portland private dining rooms for holiday celebrations:
If you’ve got a bit group or are planning a company-wide holiday celebration, chances are you’re looking for a venue. There are so many great event spaces in Portland for teams both big and small. But for this list I wanted to keep it focused on truly unique venues perfect for the holidays.
Zoo Lights – Rent out one of the many event spaces at the Oregon Zoo and get exclusive access to Zoo Lights and private zoo experiences. They have surprisingly good catering programs focused on Northwest cuisine.
Portland Art Museum – Events at the PAM are truly incredible, especially in the ballroom spaces. I’d only recommend this venue for really large groups (200+ guests). Their smaller spaces, although nice, don’t offer the same awe-factor that the large capacity ballrooms do.
OMSI – The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is one of my favorite places in Portland, and it’s especially magical during the holidays. They have so many cool places you can rent for your holiday party, like the Planetarium or the immersive Science Playground. Great for family-friendly holiday parties.
Psst! Already got a venue, but just looking for unique entertainment? Check out Avital’s Interactive Foodie Stations. A collection of quick, fun culinary bars where guests get hands-on. Think cocktail making, nut mixing, spice blending and more. Each station is designed for large, reception-style events, perfect for groups of 100+ guests.
Portland is a city that loves the quirky, unexpected, and unique. Your holiday party should live up the occasion and leave guests with full bellies and fun memories. I can confidently say that all of the ideas on this list will do just that.
If you want something super seamless to book, check out our Portland dining experience. We design quirky, classy, food-and-drink-driven experiences that deepen connections and leave guests buzzing.
Molly is the Marketing Manager at Avital Experiences. She lived in Portland for nearly a decade, working in marketing and advertising and attending more company holiday parties than she can count. She knows the city’s bowling alleys, boat cruises, and old-school steakhouses firsthand.
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