I was out, looking for a place to have drinks alone. I just wanted a few. My criteria were: - more than just wine - food available (not crappy) - a woman could go alone and bring a book/her phone, and not be misunderstood to be looking for anything other than drinks alone after a long day. I had food and drink to Aalto since it was taken over by O&M, when they were making the menu. I first had cocktails made by Olivia at her old job. I used to always order a dirty vodka, but at some point, started saying "whatever you want to make." It was never the same drink twice! Everything was delicious. There I am, like a dummy, trying to figure out where to go. I am trying to search by "bars where a woman a drink and be left alone," but all they keep showing me is singles bars! Are bars still called that?!!! The minute I thought about Aalto, I knew that was the answer. Aalto is the way. So far I've had the "Snakes on a Paper Plane," which broke me from Paper Planes forever (they can taste like this??). Next I asked the bartender to make whatever she thought would be good. To say it was delicious, had not to devour, and a complex-in-a-good-way is to undersell it. Finally I had a Spaghett. A great way to finish out the night! Love the aperol. And that tiny High Life? Come on!! I had to try the new menu. I took advice on what to order right now. I had the rockfish ceviche and the cold noodle salad. Seriously. Seriously. Are you kidding me??? The ceviche came out first. Oh. my. god. The herbs were fresh and savory. The fish? Mind blowing. The calamansi dressing? So good, I ate the ceviche and then drank the marinade. No joke. The cold noodle salad hit a spot I didn't know I had. The noodles were not too chewy or soft. Perfect. I forgot to take a photo, because I saw it and immediately mixed it up to eat. Instead of zucchini they had cucumber, which is always a good sub in my book. Once I had mixed together the coconut dressing, house made chili crisp, mushrooms, and cucumbers. It was over. The portion wasn't huge, but it wasn't small - it was just enough. That sauce combination! Like an animal I wiped the sides of the bowl with my finger just so none of it got away. I am not some weirdo that eats the marinade and licks the bowl. Promise!! Really - read my other reviews. I appreciate good things, and yet usually maintain a modicum of maturity. The music mix is good. Right now Gary Numan's M.E, is helping me finish the night off just right. I'm old, I love music, but I forgot about this song until it showed up on a station a while ago. Now I can't get enough. Have you listened to it lately? Do it!! This is my new I-want-to-get-a-drink-and-not-be-hassled go-to. Also, the invite a friend who has taste spot. read more

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A very nice place to visit. Friendly and engaging staff, fresh tasting food and great margaritas! Check out Dj KingEarl dropping beats. read more

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Aalto probably still has the best happy hour in Portland. It's 5-7pm daily with dishes ranging from $3-7, a bottle of wine for $15, a cocktail for $5. Crazy, unheard of, there must be a catch... nope, just Aalto happy hour! It's located on a super cute strip of Belmont, which I feel like is slightly less touristy than Hawthorne but just as cool. Their space is great - a front area with a bar and bar seating, a moodier back lounge, and a patio. Staff has always been great when I've visited. read more

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A super vibey and casual spot serving some of the best happy hours I know of! $15 bottle of wine, $5 drinks, $3-$7 food. Daily from 5-7pm. Crazy! We really enjoyed the bottle of red we got, as well as the Cheese Curds in Hot Honey which were gooey and crunchy. Their Seasonal Jello Shot this time around was meh, sadly. The cocktail was also not so great...Very strong star anise. BUT still a great spot, especially for all the deals. Would definitely be back! read more

Aalto Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Incredible food and cocktails!! Everything we ordered was so delicious. Everyone that works here is so warm and friendly. Overall awesome experience and can't wait to be back! read more

Aalto Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We came for a round of birthday drinks for a friend and stayed because the food was surprisingly yummy and the seating in the second room was cozy for a group of 9. The patio looks cute as well (although it was too cold for us that night to hangout there). The happy hour at this place is wonderful! On the appetizer menu definitely try the grilled cheese and tomato soup and the fried cheese. I enjoyed the pretzel as well. No complaints on the food. The bar does get a bit full in a Saturday night but still cozy. read more

Aalto Lounge - Dranky drank - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Finally made it back! In 2018, Aalto had rejected my entry with a Canadian passport, which put me off of them for a few years. Now that I have US identification, a friend and I decided to give Aalto another shot. I am glad that I did! We had an interesting experience overall, enjoying the interior designs, vibes, and low-lit lounge in the back. We of course wanted to spend time on the quaint patio, which is designed to be comfortable but social. After ordering drinks at the bar, we made our way back for a few hours. Each round I requested the bartenders' recommendations, and I really enjoyed the unique margaritas and Eurovision cocktails. It was relatively dead in Portland over the weekend because of the heat, so we had the patio to ourselves for most of the night. However, there was a rowdy couple nearby who did taint our experience, but, this is not at the fault of Aalto. We are fans of photo booths, so we were bummed that the photo booth was inoperative, but, the team mentioned that Sugar Hill has one, so we decided to go there next. The bartending staff are social, fun, and will make your night memorable. I will definitely return for the renowned happy hour! read more

Went to the *new* and *improved* aalto lounge and it was amazing! Fun moody decor, local artists featured in their art wall, food was delicious and fresh, cocktails were inventive and cute, and the staff were so welcoming. 10/10 highly recommend. New owners are a precious little queer couple. Welcome them to the neighborhood! Can't wait to go back and see whats new on the menu. read more

Used to love this place & come here once a week. Since they switched owners it has gone down hill, so sad to see. I miss all the old food & drink options & vibe, why change what is working? I sadly probably won't be back. read more

Drinks are so delicious, and you really can't find a better happy hour price anywhere! Our bartender was really friendly, he definitely made us feel welcome. I definitely recommend trying the dandy, a refreshing lavender cucumber gin cocktail. Vibes of this place are very cool and moody, would be super cute for a first date. I look forward to coming back! read more

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You can't beat their happy hour! $3 cocktails every single day from 5-7 is an absolute steal! Their snacks are yummy too- would recommend the cheese curds. Wish they had a bigger menu because they could definitely do it well! read more

Still one of the best happy hours in town! Aalto is great because of the various spots to sit with different vibes (casual, moody, outdoors) and their drinks and food prices are great (although more expensive than they used to be, for sure). The bartenders are always so friendly and great service. We each got the Belmont Jewel and the pretzel and the hummus plate to share for a little over $20. All were delicious (the Belmont Jewel is incredible) and we enjoyed it sitting outdoors. One note about outdoors - definitely a smoking patio. If you're sensitive, I'd recommend sitting in one of the indoor spots. read more

Aalto Lounge - Belmont Jewels - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Best Jell-O shots for sure - classier and tastier than the basics. Love the ambiance, in front and back patio. Bartenders are friendly. Always enjoy it! read more

Aalto Lounge - Adult jello shot! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great food and EXCELLENT happy hour!! Yummy happy hour drinks and snacks for a really good price. Fun vibe for a small-medium group or a date night. They have a Photo Booth, double sided bar and good tunes. The bar tenders are nice too!! read more

Their happy hour is legit. $5 cocktails can't be beat, tip your bartenders well though! Don't want to blow up one my favorite places but want to make sure it never closes by encouraging others to check it out. Also great vibes inside and plenty of places to sit and hang out. read more

I've walked by this bar several times, on the way to Circa 33 or Sweet Hereafter, being completely unaware of its existence. It's easy to overlook, but that's a mistake I hope you will not also make. It's narrow, it's dimly lit, with a J-shaped interior that hooks around the bar into a private nook around the backside. The cocktails are reasonably priced, the bartenders and servers attentive and helpful. It's clean, cozy and classy, good for small groups, as well as private, hushed conversation between fledgling lovebirds. The Aalto Lounge is the sort of place I would frequent when I want to get out on the town and feel social, but also want to avoid the crush of crowds, karaoke butchers, the clack of pool cues, the inane droning of broadcast sports, and the roar of noisy drunks. So basically, all the time. read more

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Good music, great vibes, several different chill areas. Indoor bar area is a long corridor with difficult flow but it opens into a lot more in back. We wish the live music had gone a little longer, and bartenders were a little slow, but overall great experience. The DJ was music was spinning a mix of hip hop, retro, r&b and the crowd seemed to be laid back. read more

New happy hour. Inflation has finally hit Aalto as happy hour cocktails are now a whopping $5. OMG! No Portland happy hour list is complete without including Aalto Lounge. 2021 - $4 2016 - $3 2012 - $2 read more

Aalto Lounge - Happy Hour (July 11, 2023) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Came for happy hour and got great prices on each menu item we ordered. We got all the food options on the HH menu for $4 each and some drinks as well. Good portions! read more

Aalto Lounge - Happy hour Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Good people and good cocktails. Unique and interesting atmosphere. Location is typical heart of inner Eastside Portland vibes. read more

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Love this lounge! Their tomato soup and grilled cheese is a must and you can't beat $3 on HH! There are plenty of seating inside or outside, great lil neighborhood hangout. Perfect for grabbing a drink and a quick snack solo or with friends! read more

Aalto Lounge - Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The hot honey cheese curds were delicious. The coffee martini style drink was delicious and better than the one I got at the Starbucks reserve! Seating wasn't very comfortable. Photo booth was out of order. Bartender was nice but not sure if short staffed but seemed an overwhelmed. Would comeback read more

Great hummus and chips. Pro tip, if Sugar Hill has a a good DJ, just go to Aalto's back patio to enjoy the music without the crowds. Aalto feels like a Portland staple, and their happy hour can't be beat. read more

Aalto Lounge - Pita and hummus + pretzel. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

It was a nice revisit after over 15 years! Same cozy nice energy inside there. Thank you for keeping there that way!

Soft coffee shop vibes in this bar. The bartenders were sweet and lowkey but very attentive. I had the Summer of '99 drink and it tasted like minty pink lemonade. The lounge area would be perfect for a larger group, and the back patio is beautiful on a summer evening. read more

Aalto Lounge - Soft lighting and art wall aesthetic - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Awesome Sauce! I loved everything about this place. They don't open until 5pm which is exactly when happy hour starts! So wonderful and quite refreshing. I tried 2 drinks that were fantastic! My friend and I ordered spinach dip and of course we had to try their Famous Grilled Cheese! Wow was it super delicious. The cheese was so gooey and that bread was toasted to perfection! It was the best Grilled cheese I've ever had lol! Overall I was highly impressed with my great service, cool comfy atmosphere, and great food. We sat right in front of the window and just watched the streets of Portland that was a great time. Go Mondays! I'll be back for sure! Thank you for your Affordable prices and for serving quality food! read more

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Fun place with good music and a great cocktail menu that includes: Adult Jell-O shots (last night they had a bourbon based Jell-O shot which was delicious) They do a daily happy hour but in the evening their Happy hour includes 6 dollar cocktails They also have a rotating DJ night Easy to go to wish a big group read more

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I like this space. The design is appealing and the music was good and complimented the atmosphere of the space. I'm always looking for a place that I can get a good Mocktail, and the bartender whipped me up a tasty one on the spot. Tasty bar snacks and friendly, professional service. I will likely return. read more

The interior an ambience of this lounge is perfect for social gatherings or a couples get together because the mood is just right for a drink and nightcap before you call it a day. Hell it's even great for after work coworker gatherings on a Friday night. I love coming here every now and then and just kicking one back with the wife and relaxing after a long hard work week. The selection of alcohol and beer they have on tap is perfect and tasty but I can't just take one because I like so many of them and the only time I really drink is on the weekends. If you're looking for a great drinking spot and to socialize I highly recommend this place! read more

Probably the best happy hour I've been to. Snacks and drinks are fantastic. The service is the best, very friendly.

Another good place that that I used top frequent back in there days when their drinks and happy hour specials were $2 each. The times have changed and now they are $3 each. Its still a great deal for the drinks and food that they are able to put out at that price. You order at the bar and find a place to sit in the front area or in the back. They also have a small outside patio. Depending on the day you go, the will be a live DJ playing a wide range of tunes. This is still a great place to come and enjoy some inexpensive cocktails. read more

Aalto Lounge - Happy hour menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I have been here about 2-3 years ago for a road trip to Portland, and I came back again last year. I love their happy hour menu! I got a drink and a grilled cheese sandwich during happy hour for $6. It's a great place to hangout and have a snack. For the value and quality of food, it's worth it. I'll definitely come back here next time when I'm in Portland. read more

Aalto Lounge - Grilled cheese sandwich and Belmont jewel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Everyone has already said this, the happy hour deals are phenomenal. It's nice that there are spots in Portland that are so affordable. However, if you tell me that a mocktail costs MORE than your cocktail, I am going to be perplexed by that. Regardless of if you have to spend 20 seconds making a mocktail because the cocktails are already pre-mixed, it does not warrant such an upcharge on the drink and honestly makes me unlikely to return. It was my first time because I'd always wanted to check this place out because of said happy hour. I did get the grilled cheese and tomato soup which was tasty. I think the industry as a whole struggles to offer decent mocktails for folks who don't/can't drink. I want to return, but I want it to be fair. Don't misunderstand me, the servers were very kind and the space had a nice night life ambiance, but I hope that you might consider adding mocktails to the happy hour or NOT charging your customers more for a drink that has no alcohol in it. read more

The first bar I visited when I first landed in Portland 13 years ago. Always been one of my favs.

Great spot for happy hour and small nice selection of food. A true Portland gem! Love coming here for the Belmont jewel. It won't disappoint! read more

I'm always looking for a great happy hour deal. And if you are too, Aalto is for you. $3 cocktails?! Honestly I thought it wasn't real! But here I was strolling into this lounge on a Friday evening, truly looking at a $3 happy hour menu! I tried two of the three drinks on the menu and loved both of them. They have a couple snacks on there as well so I munched on a grilled cheese with tomato soup (yes, also for $3) while I drank. Service was good and the place started to pick up as happy hour ended. I tipped generously after receiving a bill for only $33 for my party. That included one snack and 10 drinks split between all of us. Steal of a deal! read more

Well where do I begin? Awful service from the start and end. I'm basing this fully on their service. We came in for dinner, fully compliant with the new vaccine proof, while showing proof they asked for ID to match my physical card. I showed them my CCL (concealed carry license) and they denied me instantly. Stating that my official CCL is not a proof of identification. While by Oregon state law, it is more than enough proof as identification as it has my address, photo, and DOB. These employees unfortunately used their personal beliefs on CCL to deny us based on their reaction. I will by filing a complaint on this establishment and hopefully the owners and management give their staff the proper training and common sense for the next time. read more

I organized a group happy hour here because one of my friends remembered it being a relatively quiet bar. Turns out that's not at all the case. We showed up right when it opened, at 5 PM on a Friday, and headed to the lounge area that some reviewers have mentioned being quiet. The music there is turned up just as loud as everywhere else in the bar. You don't get as much bar noise, obviously, but the music was LOUD. You could really only hear the person right next to you, and that was with voices raised. I asked the bartender to turn the volume down and he declined, saying that they had an established vibe. Apparently that vibe doesn't include good conversation between friends. I can't review the drinks or food, because I left early without buying anything. I don't believe in paying for hearing loss; there's plenty out there to be had for free. One of my friends got one of the $3 happy hour cocktails and reported that it wasn't that good. We agreed that the layout and lighting of the lounge section was fun -- very dark, candlelit, with sectional seats organized into squares. It's a pity the music ruins it. read more

The food, the excellent service, the ambiance, and the insanely decent happy hour prices!! Aalto Lounge is a hidden gem!

Best Happy Hour around, whether it's beer or cocktails or grilled cheese or tomato soup!