Venue Info, Features and Facilities
Nearby Lodging:
Nearby Restaurants & Bars:
Counter-serve outpost dishing up creative burgers, including one with peanut butter, pickle, and bacon, plus fries and beer. Solid burgers and fries and directly across the street from the venue.
Handmade everything is the house motto—the breads, the pastries, even the tomato paste. Day or night, a massive, wood-glowing brick oven is in play, cranking out homemade, pastries, bread, pizza, etc. Delicous salads and delicious everything.
Upscale bar fare. Located directly underneath the Wonder Ballroom. Convenient.
Staple for family-style African dishes, including vegetarian options, housed in simple surrounds. Delicious Ethiopian food. Friendly service that can be a little slow at times.
Bag Policy:
No backpacks, suitcases, or large bags. Small bags may be searched. It is their security staff’s discretion to allow or not allow any bags. You may check your bag at coat check during the cold season.
Water Policy:
Free water stations are available. No water bottles allowed.
Parking:
Street parking available. A lot of the parking is neighborhood parking in front of homes, so please make sure not to block driveways.
Public Transit Information
Search Policy:
There is usually a tent set up outside where you will be frisked with a wand. Then you head to the entrance where you show your ticket and id.
ADA Accessibility:
Wonder Ballroom is located in a historic building with steps at the front entrance. Their staff is happy to escort guests into the venue via an alternate accessible entrance upon request.
Entry Process: Once you arrive at the brief security check, please let their staff know you will need assistance to access the main floor. They will guide you to their lift. (The lift is 35 in wide, and 54in deep, and has a 750lb capacity). Only you will be able to ride up to the main floor meeting any guests you may be with at our coat check. (The coat check door is 35in wide). You can have their staff guide you, or you can move on to their dedicated, unobstructed view, ADA sections on either side of the stage. If your needs are for sitting, please ask a staff member on the ADA side of your choice to get you a chair.
Please note: For All Ages shows the room may be split for OLCC rules/regulations, and one side will be for 21 and Over, and the other for All Ages. While at the Wonder you will be able to access the bar, the merch area, water station, and the restrooms. The restroom doors, and ADA stalls are 35in wide, and both restroom stalls have hand rails.
Once the show is over and you are ready to leave, the staff will guide you back to the lift, escort you out of the building, and back to sidewalk. If you may need any other further assistance throughout the show, please feel free to reach out to any of their staff members who will be happy to help you.
Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns at Info@wonderballroom.com
Complete ADA Information
Concessions Info:
Usually a small merch booth to the left after you walk into the main stage area.
Other Venue Info:
Directions: From South: Take I-5 N, exit 302A, left on NE Broadway, right on NE Williams, then right on NE Russell.
From North: Take I-5 S, exit 302A, right on N. Broadway, then right on N. Flint, and right on NE Russell.
Public Transit: The #6 MLK bus stops one block east on Russell Street.
Tickets are available via your mobile device 3 days before the concert.
Please screenshot and/ or save your tickets to your mobile wallet for easy access. Make sure to have your tickets ready when you get to the venue.
Confirmation emails are sent immediately upon completion of the transaction. If you have spam blocking or require senders to seek approval, you may not have received it. Please check your spam or junk mail folders.
Official tickets are available only through Etix – unauthorized sellers aren’t guaranteed, and are not refundable.
Sold Out Shows: Sometimes extra tickets are released on the day of the show, but it’s not guaranteed.
Nearby Dispensaries:
Venue’s Official Website:
Fan Reviews
Sound: 3
Entry Process: 4
Venue Staff: 3
Parking: 2
Let’s start with the positives. The Wonder Ballroom gets good acts. It is located in a central part of Portland where there are lots of restaurants and bars around and it is easy to get to from anywhere in Portland. Parking is limited and tough to come by and is all street parking. There is a bar and restaurant (Cliff’s) located underneath the venue, so that is very convenient. The staff is friendly enough. Not as unfriendly as some Pdx venues but not as friendly as others. The venue is also a decent size. Not too small and not too big.
Once inside the venue, there are 2 bar areas. One downstairs and one upstairs where there is some seating and space to stand. There is no space to sit downstairs. Actually there are 3 bars is you count Cliff’s in the basement. My biggest complaint about this venue is that it’s hard to find a good spot to post up. There is a staircase going downstairs to the bar right in the middle of the dancefloor. That makes things kind of awkward. If the show is an all ages show, they separate both sides between drinking and non drinking. This is a nice gesture for the youngsters but if you are wanting to imbibe the drinking side gets extremely crowded. It makes things feel awkward as well and doesn’t provide the venue with a nice flow.
The floor, like at many venues is not graded at all. If you are in the back, it can be hard to get a good sight line if you’re not 6’2 or over. The sound never seems that great in this venue as well. For some reason, this venue encourages people to be extra chatty. Not sure if it’s the venue or the sound just isn’t that great and you can notice it too easily.
The drink selection is decent but not great. The upstairs bar has a full bar while the downstairs bar has limited options. There is the aforementiond bar downstairs as well, so there are technically 3 bars. There is an area outside the downstairs bar where people can go to smoke.
I’ve seen many good shows at the Wonder Ballroom but I’m never excited when I hear a band is playing there. It’s not so bad where you would necessarily forego a show there but it’s definitely not the type of venue that is going to draw you in because it’s a cool, great place to see a show. It’s just not that type of place. There are some really good restaurants right around that area though such as Cafe Olli.
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