The Secret Society

116 NE Russell St, Portland, OR 97212, USA

Address:	116 NE Russell St, Portland, OR 97212, USA
Phone:	+1 503-493-3600
Site:	secretsociety.net
Rating:	4.4
Working:	5PM–12AM 5PM–12AM 5PM–12AM 5PM–12AM 5PM–1AM 5PM–1AM 5PM–12AM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 15

Xess Dx

There is something magical about the Secret Society. Everyone wants to feel special, and what better than going somewhere you feel part of an"elite" without having to pay any dues! Despite the spillover from Toro Bravo, there is something about how this place tries, successfully, to be genuine that it loses the hipster with a capital "H" stink that so many places carry. You come here either for the atmosphere, which is really cool, or for the drinks, which are outstanding in their thoughtfulness and attention to detail. Forget trying to show off how gastronomically cool or adventurous you are by scoring a table at Toro Bravo, bring a date here to show her you have class, and arent tied to the "beervana" mentality all the time. There is a back dancehall where you can find great live music, and if you use your social media to link up with them, theres often advance notice of shows, or super secret "passwords" for cocktail specials. as its part of the Wonder Ballroom structure, its also a great place to make a night special if youre catching a live band.

A Private User

I visit the Secret Society and usually love my experiences there. Pros - it has a great atmosphere, good dance floor, and plenty of space. Also, I have got to hand it to the sound guy, he is meticulous and it shows - the acoustics in the room are fantastic. Tonight, however, I had an awful experience with the female bartender. They only have 3 wine options, Red, White and Sparkling". I got a glass of the red, and it was one of the worst I have ever had. I have never taken a drink back to the bar, but after paying 8 dollars for a 6 oz pour of very gross wine, I decided to ask for something else. I took my full portion back, and she completely patronized me, said there was nothing wrong with the wine and just stood looking at my glass and me in silence until I picked it up and walked away. She later came to clear the glasses at our table, including my full glass of wine. It was really, very humiliating. She made me feel like I was trying to get something for free, and I just felt cheated .

Stephen Krajewski

A food destination this is not. As an entertainment venue, it does better, but is still flawed. The layout is basically an open ballroom, but the kitchen is part of the ballroom (partitioned off by a black curtain). This leads to all manner of kitchen odors permeating the ballroom, and attaching themselves to the patrons (think deep fryer). While the kitchens not polluting the air, the place is more tolerable. Good lighting effects, good ambiance, and a good sound system help to make up for the shortcomings. The venue is best suited as a dance destination with unique and excellent musical acts.

Patrick McNearney

Hard to beat for atmosphere, cozy vibe. Love to take a date here and sit at the bar, just the right vibe of quaint, sexy, dark, sophisticated yet casual at the same time. I think the food is above average and I wish they had longer hours, but this is definitely a fun "secret" bar to take a friend or date to when you want to impress them about all of your neighborhood knowledge. Try to go on an off time or day, otherwise youll feel the rush of Ox and Toro Bravo diners waiting to eat. 9pm on a Tuesday is honestly the best time to go to soak it all in.

Christina Collada

Secret Society offers a great selection of specialty cocktails. They were one of the first places in town to start serving absinth. They have a neat environment. It really does feel like youre in a secret place. Its a small place, so it fills up quick on weekends, and it seems to be where everyone goes when waiting for Toro Bravo. A little known feature of this place is that they have a huge ballroom in the back where you can have a private party, or catch the occasional concert or movie.

Zorin Dobson

They had some sort of live performance going on in one of the rooms o Friday night when we stopped by, but we enjoyed a couple of drinks in the lounge area. Having not quite enough time to enjoy one of the very elaborate absinthe drinks, we snacked on the spiced almonds, which were a steal at only $3. The perfect pre-dinner snack to accompany our drinks. The drinks by the way were phenomenal and coincided with the whole Victorian era theme that they had going on

gabriella summers

My wife and I had such an amazing time at the Secret Society! The venue had a very cool vibe to it...kind of old timey and it holds true to its name! When you go in the door you have to go up some stairs to get to the actual bar and lounge! The bathrooms were even swanky!! The lounge was really like a oversized livingroom so it was so nice to get such a personal concert experience! I would definitely recommend checking this place out!

A Private User

This bar is sooo amazing!! Clean, great service, perfectly mixed and priced drinks (they even have absinthe!), and a fun atmosphere, despite the small size of the establishments. With fun free weekend concerts and such a neat setup, you are bound to love The Secret Society! Oh, and the womens restrooms are so terrific that they even have a plush couch/hangout area within. ;)

Kyan Hartley

Great intimate space with hand crafted cocktails. Vaulted ceilings, perfect mood lighting and a couple of away-from-the-bar spaces in the hallway with great antique seating. Try the Bees Knees (gin) or the Moscow Mule (vodka). The only thing that might be a bit lacking is the amount of space. Its a little bit small inside, but perhaps thats part of the charm.

Joe van Waardenburg

Probably the best thing about having to wait to get into Toro Bravo is going up here for a drink. The prices are a little steep but the atmosphere is awesome. pro tip: Get the popcorn. Its kind of a weird thing to buy when just having a drink but they make it so delicious. I dont even understand how they do it!

James T Wood

If you want a hand-crafted cocktail in a speakeasy-type bar, this is your place. There arent cheap drinks (in both the sense that they cost a significant amount of money and they are made from high-quality ingredients). Go to sip a cocktail, ask your bartenders advice, and enjoy the experience.

Valerie Haney

Not what I was expecting. Its upstairs and really small; holds about 25 people. Its old fashioned which I normally love but this place felt grungy/dirty. I think the saving grace is the bartender and the decent drinks. There is another room that had a live performance but I didnt go into that.

Tanner Grayson

Always a fun place to visit! Situated right above Toro Bravo (an awesome first stop for dinner), so theres plenty to offer before and after a show. The live band (Pink Lady and the John Bennett Jazz Band) is full of energy and is always entertaining to see.

Alex Laughnan

I had almost forgotten about this place until it popped up on Google+ Local...I cannot describe to you how amazing this little bar is. Right above Toro Bravo (okay..that alone should seal the deal) it has some great food and delicious drinks! Check it out!

t walla

Great service, stiff, expertly made drinks in a great atmosphere. A dimly lit setting at night helps The Secret Society fill its speakeasy niche. A great menu of cocktails arranged by liquor is appreciated by explorers and the novice drinker.