Portland's Happy Hour Guide
From Classy to Deliciously Trashy
The Happiest Hours
Your Guide to More Than 75 of the City’s Best Happy Hours
Happy Hour Guide: North
The Happiest Hours in North Portland
Happy Hour Guide: Southeast
The Happiest Hours in Southeast Portland
Happy Hour Guide: Downtown
The Happiest Hours in Downtown Portland
Happy Hour Guide: Northeast
The Happiest Hours in Northeast Portland
Happy Hour Guide: Northwest
The Happiest Hours in Northwest Portland
Ate Oh Ate
2454 E Burnside
Brought to you by the guys behind Laurelhurst Market and Simpatica, Ate Oh Ate serves up legit happy hour Hawaiian fare and umbrella drinks without the tiki flair. The vibe at the E Burnside location is pretty straightforward (thereâs also a newer outpost on SE Woodstock), with counter service, a bar, and surfing themes throughout. But the happy hour menu is an absolute steal. Tempura spam musubi ($3) and two scoops of macaroni salad ($2) will have your white carb needs fully met, but lighter appetites can be satisfied on a cup of Japanese-style veggie curry ($2) or a variety of sliders ($2.50; the shoyu chicken with pineapple slaw is salty-sweet excellence). Cocktails and draft beers are a buck off, but you can kick-start an evening of debauchery with $5 rum-soaked shave ice or a couple of $6 Mai Tais. HEATHER ARNDT ANDERSON
Happy hour: daily 4-6 pm, $1 off cocktails and drafts, $5 rum shave ice, $6 Mai Tai, $10 for five Asahi bottles, $2-6 menu
Bamboo Sushi
310 SE 28th
Bamboo Sushi is intimidatingly nice, but itâs great. A handful of people were already lined up outside waiting for it to open at 4:30 in the afternoonâpeople like it. Itâs a modern, sushi-focused Japanese restaurant that plays ambient, spa-like music. As you sit down, theyâll bring out a bowl of edamame. To drink, I ordered some Hakushika White Stag premium cold sakĂ© ($5), served overflowing in a small glass in a traditional masu box. I liked it. To eat, I started with the cheapest thing on happy hour menu, inari ($2), essentially two rice-filled pastries. Then I got the more expensive karashi hangar steak ($7), served in small slices with a delicious mustard sauce. Conclusion: This place is fancy, but happy hour is affordable and good and busy. Note: You need to order a drink to get happy hour food prices. DOUG BROWN
Happy Hour: Mon-Fri 4:30-6 pm, $4-5 saké, $5 wine, $4 Sapporo, $2-9 menu
Bar Avignon
2138 SE Division
We need to talk about Bar Avignonâs lemon drop. To be perfectly honest, I canât remember much else about my experience there, other than thinking the words âmedium brow,â not getting enough tasty cheese, and disliking the photos in the bathroom. Either this drink is that good or everything else is that forgettable, but I think itâs probably the first one. Let me paint a picture: A frosted glass emerges from the freezerâs tundra. Its rim is coated in sugar, and it is filled with the purest of elixirsâsome magic alchemy of lemon, mint, lavender, honey, and the cold kiss of vodka. This lemon drop is neither sour nor sweet. Itâs earthy, but not indelicate. You might mistake its herbal notes for basil. Itâs all Iâve ever wanted from alcohol; for it to love me as much as I love it. CIARA DOLAN
Happy Hour: Mon-Fri 5-6 pm), $1 off wells & beer, $7 cocktails & wine, $2-9 menu
Bar Casa Vale
215 SE 9th
Bar Casa Vale is a place that applies fire to food. The vaulted, secluded spaceâin the same building as Biwa and Parasol Barâsuggests a venue that would work as either the start or end of a long date night, and the whole thing has a vaguely European upscale rustic thing going. In a good way. The happy hour menu has, among other things, daily skewers (I had octopus; it was great) and piri piri wings, both of which proudly bear the marks and taste of flame. The wings blended the piri piri spice with a bit of caramelization and the skewers complemented the taste of octopus with a bit of smoke. Bar Casa Vale has no shortage of happy hour drink deals. If you get the sherry flight, one of the bartenders will walk you through three different tart Spanish wines. The Bourbon Reign is a sweet, easy drinking cocktail with fig and lemon that resembles a fruity Manhattan. JOE STRECKERT
Happy Hour: daily 5-6 pm, $4 drafts, $5 wine, sherry flight $7, $4-7 menu
Bar Vivant
2225 E Burnside
Happy hour at Pix Patisserieâs Bar Vivant is weirdly formal and menu-less. Order yourself a glass of wine, and get a free tapas snack along with it. Beware: The tapas are very tiny and the glass of wine is, too. The weirdness of picking out one maybe-available snack from the case one small piece at a time made me feel like an unruly kid in my fancy auntâs house at this happy hour, half-expecting to be admonished for asking to water down my wine with water, or glared at for requesting a pedestrian condiment like ketchup. Even so, the tapas were deliciousâespecially a tiny duck and olive sandwich with spicy French family-style mustard on a crusty hunk of baguette. I was still hungry when I left, though, so beware. MEGAN BURBANK
Happy Hour: Wed-Sun 4-6 pm, all day Thurs, 10 percent off wine bottles, free menu (items vary)
Bazi Bierbrasserie
1522 SE 32nd
Bazi is a great place for Belgian imports, with each beer served in its proper stemware. Itâs also great for communal Timbers match viewing. But when you can get a pot of stoemp (an elevated version of mashed potatoes, much in the way Belgian frites raise the bar over French fries) for two bucks off ($6 instead of $8) then add grilled chicken or bacon, plus get a buck off a selection of Baziâs impressive taps, the dual early evening and late night happy hours make this off-Hawthorne spot a cozy classic. BRIAN YAEGER
Happy Hour: Mon-Sat 3-7 pm & 10 pm-close, all day Sun, $1 off beer, $3.50 wells, $5 cocktails & wine, $3-10 menu
CafĂ© CastagnaÂ
1758 SE Hawthorne
This place is white-cloth-napkin-fancy (Iâm a great restaurant reviewer), and I was the youngest of the handful of the people at the upscale restaurant on Hawthorne by about 25-30 years. I sat at the modern, stainless steel bar, which can accommodate about four people, and ordered one of the four $6 cocktails: a Kentucky Gingersnap, consisting of bourbon, ginger syrup, and lime. It was small and tasty. Theyâve got 10 food options priced between $2 and $9. I ordered a deviled egg for $2; it was tiny and adequate and I probably wonât order it again if I go back. But for $6, the chopped chicken livers were very much worth it. The pĂątĂ©-like spread comes in a small dish to distribute onto five small slivers of buttered toast and is legitimately good. Itâs not a place where Iâll be spending a lot of time, but if you live in Southeast Portland, itâd be a good place to drop in for a fancy cocktail and a bite while sitting at a candlelit wooden table. DOUG BROWN
Happy Hour: Tues-Fri 5-6 pm & 9 pm-close, Sun 5-9 pm, $4 beer, $6 wine & cocktails, $2-9 menu
Century
930 SE Sandy
Answering a question someone must have askedââWhat if we built a sports bar for New Portland?ââCentury is a far cry from scuzzy dives with TV screens half-assedly nailed to the wall. Here, massive screens hang from the ceilingâfancy retractable screens, paired with projectors powerful enough that even in Centuryâs spacious, sunlit space, itâs possible to both watch a game and sprawl out day drinking. And sprawl you will: While Centuryâs tiered, polished wood bleachers are clearly inspired by stadium seating, theyâre also significantly more roomy, comfortable, and pretty. Since Century is from the same crew behind the Bye & Bye and the Sweet Hereafter, the happy hour menuâwith a slew of vegetarian and vegan options, from artichoke wings ($6) to a vegan meatball sub ($7) to a bowl of nutritional yeast tofu, broccoli, brown rice, and peanut sauce ($7)âis great, with the standout being a vegan gyro with dill sauce, pickles, tomato, lettuce, and fried Field Roast ($7), which goes perfectly with a Double Mountain IRA ($5). For the sports-averse, Century has multiple patios, and um, tealights, which are not usually on hand during Blazers games. On a recent Thursdayâbeneath no fewer than 10 humongous sports screensâa couple bickered about whether heâd tricked her into coming to a sports bar. âThey have a space for a DJ!â he argued. ERIK HENRIKSEN
Happy Hour: daily 3-7 pm, $1 off wine, wells, and beer, $5-7 menu
The Conquistador Lounge
2045 SE Belmont
While one might feel slight trepidation eating Mexican food in a restaurant called the Conquistador, I was instantly transformed by the amber-lit ambience that made me feel like I was comfortably inside one of the many velvet paintings that line the walls. The stars of this happy hour menu are the black bean and cheese empanada bites ($4), which come piping hot, filled with gooey loveliness accompanied by a dollop of sour cream. Pair them with one of two varieties of veggie tacos ($3 each), and youâre instantly headed south of the border. Of course, any bar willing to make that leap has to have a killer margarita ($5.50), and Conquistador most certainly does! Take your treasures outside to the covered sidewalk patio and soon everything becomes vaguely reminiscent of the cafĂ©s that line Barcelonaâs famed La Ramblaânot bad for an everyday after-work destination. CHRIS SUTTON
Happy Hour: daily 4-7 pm, $1 off micros, $2 Rainiers, $3.50 wells, $4.50-5 wine, $5.50 margaritas, $2.50-7 menu
Delta Cafe
4067 SE Woodstock
The years have not been kind to this once estimable home for Southern comfort food. In the time since theyâve expanded their reach to include a bar and patio, much of Delta Cafeâs menu has taken a turn for the bland, even during their happy hour. The decent but unmemorable corn and black-eyed pea fritters ($5) are joined by an unnecessary and quickly curdling green chili and jack cheese dip, and their standard mac and cheese ($5) carries almost no flavor at all. Itâs good to know, though, that some things at the Delta will never change. Their fried chicken, as used in their hefty poâboy sandwich ($9), is still perfectly spiced and spine-tinglingly tender. And their wait staff remains casually indifferent to anyone who isnât a regular or a friend. ROBERT HAM
Happy Hour: daily 2-5 pm, 10 pm-close, $3 wells, $4 beer, $5 cocktails, $5-9 menu
Dots
2521 SE Clinton
A tried and true Portland institution! It hasnât changed since like the 1990s! Dots is where you go for the âauthenticâ shabby-chic Portland experience. Dotsâ generous hours of happiness are among the longest in town. The drink specials are pretty basic: $1 off wine and 50 cents off beer and well drinks, but the drinks are already pretty affordable to begin with. Some of the happy hour food is just okay ($5 nachos and $3 hushpuppies left a greasy film in the mouth) but the buffalo wings and classic fries will buoy you for a long evening of drinking. The dark and candlelit environment, velvet brocade wallpaper, and comfy booths encourage canoodling. HEATHER ARNDT ANDERSON
Happy hour: Mon-Fri 2-7 pm & 11 pm-1 am, $.50 off beers & wells, $1 off wine, $2-7 menu
Double Dragon
1235 SE Division
I could write a thousand love letters to Double Dragonâs sumptuous pork belly banh mi. It is quite possibly the most perfect union of ingredients I have ever held between two slices of bread. The baguette comes smothered in jalapeño aioli, topped with cilantro and pickled carrots and daikon, with pork thatâs so rich, so tender, so candy-sweet, it melts in your mouth like a meaty butter mint. Hereâs the best part: Itâs $2 off the regular price ($10) during the SE Division spotâs happy hour. Only flirt with the âBoyfriend Materialâ cocktail if youâre into the spontaneity of some ancho chili; itâs a little much to pair with the already-kinda-spicy sandwich. Instead try the ginger margaritaâtart, refreshing, and just a little hotâfor the perfect post-work refuel. CIARA DOLAN
Happy Hour: Mon-Fri 4-6 pm, $1 off beer & wells, $2 off cocktails, $7-8 menu
Doug Fir Lounge
830 E Burnside
This inner Eastside âTwin Peaks in the Atomic Ageâ institution is nationally renowned for the music venue downstairs, but itâs also a local happy hour favorite, with white-collar workers and paper-pushers vying for space with thirtysomethings who look like they just rolled out of their hotel beds. The food menu offers over a dozen optionsâall $5 or less during happy hour. I started with the Jack Danielâs chicken wings, which are slow-smoked and rubbed with Single Barrel BBQ sauce. The sauce is generous but not excessive, and the meat gives just right amount of resistance. I followed with the jalapeño artichoke dip and fried pita chips. The dip was tasty, though not at all spicy, and the fried pita chips were perfectly crisped and salted. Cocktails are mostly $5. The Full Monty tastes like orange fizz, and comes in a frosted tin mug; the Burnside 75 tastes like cucumber fizz, and comes in glass that looks like the alien pods from Arrival. Unless youâre the kind of person who enjoys fizzy cocktails in special cups, Iâd stick to the classics. SANTI ELIJAH HOLLEY
Happy Hour: daily 3-6 pm, $2.50 Pabst, $4 beer, $5 wine, $5-6 cocktails, $3-5 menu
Jacqueline
2039 SE Clinton
Thereâs one reason and one reason only to get yourself to Jacquelineâs terrific happy hour: DOLLAR OYSTERS. Thatâs right, each member of your party can get up to a dozen delicious raw oysters, priced at a buck a piece, during this lovable neighborhood eateryâs screaming happy hour deal. Itâs shuckerâs choice, and the available varieties of oyster change daily, but rest assured youâll get something freshly sourced from the Pacific served with six options of housemade sauces, which come in an adorable eyedropper bottlesâtry the blood orange mignonette or the tarragon vinegar. Actually, I take that first sentence back: There are other reasons to hit up Jacqueline during happy hour, including Rainier tall boys for $2 and their excellent regular menu, served in a casual but welcoming environment featuring Life Aquatic-themed dĂ©cor. (Donât miss the painting of Bill Murray as Steve Zissou behind the bar.) After you polish off your dozen oysters, youâll want to stick around for dinner. NED LANNAMANN
Happy Hour: Tues-Sat 5-7 pm, $1 oysters (12 max per person), $2 Rainiers
Kachka
720 SE Grand
Kitsch is king at Kachka, from throwback orange-and-white tablecloths to the little cartoon duck on the menu. The Russian restaurant is cozy but refined, like an elegant aunt who passes on hugs, instead opting for air kisses. Enjoy your happy hour at the long steel bar. Slavaâs Drinking Board is the thing to getâitâs named after the chefâs father, and comes fully loaded with everything you didnât know you needed, like cured meats, pickles, quartered hard boiled eggs, Russian druzhba cheese, super spicy mustard thatâll make you say âWHOA doggies,â and thick slices of brown bread. Naturally you should probably drink some fricking vodka, because look where you are, my dude. But if youâre like me and need to pace yourself at 4 pm, try the Moscow Mule. Itâs on the nose both in name and tasteâhighly slurpable, with incredible chemistry between the lime and ginger. CIARA DOLAN
Happy Hour: daily 4-6 pm & 10 pmâmidnight, $4 beer, $5 wine & cocktails, $9 house infusions, $2-24 menu
Killer Burger
8728 SE 17th
This local chain boasts some of the tastiest, most economical burgers in town. And their âCrazy Hourâ is a damn steal. A family of three can easily get out of there for $25, or you can step up your game and grab a couple extra $3.50 pints. The burgers on offer for happy hour include the Classic Burger (bacon, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, house sauce, pickle, and grilled onions) and the sweet and savory Peanut Butter-Pickle-Baconâboth are $6.75 and come with a mountain of fries. The rotating tap list is well chosen, too. On a recent visit to the Sellwood outpost, I went with a Contract Killer IPA from Culmination. (I also tried a surprisingly delicious Peanut Butter Milk Stout from Belching Beaver.) You wonât leave with an empty belly; in fact, afterward you may want to allow yourself an additional âNappy Hour.â MARK LORE
Happy Hour: Mon-Fri 2-5 pm, $3.50 beer, $1 soft drinks, $6.75 menu
La Moule
2500 SE Clinton
La Mouleâs afternoon happy hour is literally one hour. Thatâs probably good for them, because otherwise Iâd be there all the time eating for cheap. The chicken liver mousse ($6) is dense, pungent, and strong in the way the best stinky cheeses are. Had I not been sitting in a well-appointed sort of upscale bar with fashionable track lighting, I probably would have just eaten it with a spoon. Or without a spoon. The happy hour drinks are not disappointing by any means, but theyâre not cheap or distinctive, either. The daiquiri and the Sazerac are, well, a daquiri and a Sazerac. They are excellent, and both are seven bucks. The big draw of La Moule, though, is dollar oysters. Fresh, living mollusks on the half shell sitting in their own salty brine, a dollar each, available by the half dozen. If you like oysters, go to La Moule. Get there at five. See how many of those beautiful, one-dollar sea cookies you can eat in an hour. JOE STRECKERT
Happy Hour: daily 5-6 pm & 10 pm-midnight, $2-4 beer, $6-7 wine, $7 cocktails, $4-14 menu, $1 oysters
Lantern
726 SE Grand
This French-Vietnamese cocktail lounge has a bubbling yet calm energy, as though everyone was stopping off in preparation for the evening ahead. Itâs a good spot to start a night, especially if you need to eat first. Load up on steamed buns ($3), which are soft and spicy and even manage to make tofu interesting. The pork and shrimp meatballs ($6) are actually a mini meal in themselvesâa platter of sticky rice, light ânâ tasty meatballs, and a sauce that matches perfectly. I got talked into the fish sauce caramel corn (sounds disgusting, right?) but it turned out to be a delicious gem. Drinks are solid if not thrillingâthe Lost Pearl cocktail had a good dose of vodka but was one-dimensional, and the Prosecco ($7) could have been more keenly priced for what it was. MJ SKEGG
Happy Hour: Tues-Sun 5-6 pm & 10-close, $7 punch & bubbles, $1 off beers, $3-7 menu
The Matador
2424 E Burnside
The Matador makes for a strange sight on East Burnside. Itâs more the type of place youâd expect to see in a suburban strip mall or inside the Dallas airport. Its large booths, garish decor, flat-screen TVs behind the bar, indoor fire pit, and â90s spring break music do little to distinguish this place from any other upscale American chain restaurant. Itâs the kind of place you bring your visiting in-laws, or gather for an after-work mixer. While their tequila list is impressiveâwith over a hundred shots ranging from $6 to $60âthe Eastside Matador doesnât offer any drink specials for happy hour, so I made do with a $5.50 mug of Tecate on draft. The happy hour food choices are uninventive Meximerican fare. The shrimp in the chipotle shrimp taco ($4) was flavorless and unnervingly cold, and the grilled stuffed jalapeños ($6) were tough to chew and came with an unnecessary side of ranch dressing (because white people need to put ranch on everything?). At $1.50 each, the street tacos were the best buy, and if I could do it over again I wouldâve just filled up on those. SANTI ELIJAH HOLLEY
Happy Hour: daily 4-6 pm, 10 pm-1 am, $1.50-6 menu, no drink specials
Parasol
215 SE 9th
Parasol, Biwaâs around-the-corner bar, has the approximate feel of an actual small Japanese bar, tucked away underneath an office building or train station. I used to live in Japan, and I ate and drank at a lot of places that were a whole lot like Parasol. I got nostalgic just going in there. Parasolâs big happy hour draw is udon or soba for five bucks, with options to add in other fixings like an egg or inari for about a dollar or so. Both types of noodles are fresh and hearty, albeit in broth thatâs a hair on the spicy side. Parasol also has a pair of signature cocktails for five bucks. The yoyogi is tart and sweet, making good use of pickled plum. The ginger gimlet is, well, a gimlet with ginger in it. Both are lovely. JOE STRECKERT
Happy Hour: daily 5-7 pm, $1 tall boys, $5 cocktails, $5 noodles
Portland Cider House
3638 SE Hawthorne
I donât care what you think: I really like Portland Cider House. The vibe is almost aggressively boring: Itâs clean, characterless, a little bro-y, and usually seems at least half empty. Even so, settle in between the Tinder dates and middle-aged ladies getting their cider flights on, because happy hour here is a reliable route to a juicy beverage and a dinner-sized snackâyou get a dollar off all Portland Cider pints (mine had passionfruit and was nicely tart) and an assortment of standby bar snacks, including (HOORAY) Cajun fries. Thereâs a particularly nice pulled-pork slider option that comes on a jalapeño cheddar biscuit, which is so good youâll be kind of sad you canât just order, like, four of those biscuits meat-free. Sometimes Iâm fine with this cityâs preponderance of succulents and taxidermy. But sometimes I just want to go somewhere unhip that will feed me starches. Portland Cider House is that place. MEGAN BURBANK
Happy Hour: daily 3-6 pm, $1 off cider, $4-7.50 menu
Relish Gastropub
6637 SE Milwaukie
Relish may not be the restaurant the Sellwood/Moreland neighborhood wants... but itâs the one they have, and will do until something better comes along. Itâs not that anything on their happy hour menu is bad, per se; itâs just all overworked and begging for attention. The best bet cocktail-wise is the whiskey sour ($5.50), which features Old Taylor six-year-old bourbon and a housemade sour mix that has bite and flavor. Meanwhile, the pork carnitas tacos ($5.75) are served on thick, corncake-style tortillas that are very flavorful, but crumble underneath the weight of overcooked pork, cabbage, a lime wedge, and not much else. The potato-bacon-cheddar cakes ($6) had a decent flavor base, but also arrived over-crispedânot even a delightful crĂšme fraĂźche could raise it past the level of âmeh.â Relish is a good example of a neighborhood restaurant trying too hard, while not trying hard enough. WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Happy Hour: Tues-Sun 2:30-6 pm, $4 beer, $5.50 wine & cocktails, $4.50-7.50 menu
Revelry
210 SE MLK
With its faux âstreet artâ on the walls, DJ booth, and artfully arranged display of classic boom boxes, Revelry is the epitome of a concept restaurantâthe concept here being âKorean fusion meets Style Wars.â But take note: Revelry is not out to attract any spendthrifts. Food options for happy hour (in the afternoon it is literally one hour) consist solely of $2 off their noodle and rice bowls, which otherwise run $15-$17. I ordered their maitake mushroom noodle, tossed with kale-fermented black bean pesto and crushed walnuts. Admittedly, it was as good as it sounds, though not ample enough to justify the price tag. Of course, these dishes are made for sharing and sampling, but I rolled solo, and, as I was given a modest stipend by my cheapskate employer, I only tried the one dish. The drinks are where the deals are: You can order three different happy hour âhighballersâ for $7 each, or a soju and Rainier for $5, with your choice of one of three sojus. I had the Persian lime and fig soju, which was a perfect balance of earthy and sweet. Come to Revelry with a small group of friendsâor if you have a generous benefactor. SANTI ELIJAH HOLLEY
Happy Hour: Sun-Thurs 5-6 pm, daily 10 pm-close, $7 cocktails & wine, $5 soju w/Rainier, $2 off rice and noodle bowls
Rockinâ Crab CafĂ©
3113 SE Division
SE Divisionâs new beach shack serves as a second location for Cajun-Creole shellfish joint Rockinâ Crab CafĂ©. The main draws are the hot potsâ$2 off during happy hourâwhich come in a variety of flavors: Korean kimchi, Thai tom yum, curry, beef, and more. Just blocks from Pok Pokâs famous chicken wings, Rockinâ Crab bravely offers three styles of its ownâCajun, honey and spicy, or garlic. When the line snakes around the block up the street and youâre dying for a basket of crisp, spicy treats, these wings will stand on their own, perfectly fried and served up in a casual cardboard boat, just like on the boardwalk. The discounted drinks during happy hour are a huge plus, and while the draped nets littered with fake crabs and the driftwood paneled bar are a little on the kitschy side, the staff is sweet and attentive, and the open flame below the boiling, seafood-filled hot pots gives the ambiance of a bonfire on the beach, only without all the sand. Sold. BRI BREY
Happy Hour: Tues-Sun 4-6 pm, Sun & Tues-Thurs 8-9 pm, $1 off wine, $4 beer & wells, $6 cocktails, $3-12 menu, $2 off hot pots
Rue
1005 SE Ankeny
Happy hours are about drinking and eating, yesâbut mainly about decompression. And Rue is decompression central, with a bright and airy atmosphere and gracious windows from where you can watch the world pass by. While the comfort level is high, Rueâs stellar cocktail program and sophisticated eats will keep you returning. I suggest starting with their signature bourbon cocktail, Play Crack the Sky ($9), which plays like a spicy, aromatic Manhattan with a criminally smooth finish. Their potato and leek croquettes ($5) are perfectly crisped balls of mashed potato deliciousness. Meanwhile, meat lovers should flock to their pork belly confit ($6), a gorgeous tender slab topped with grilled cabbage and two dipping saucesâpickled mustard seed and a cabbage cream that, when paired with the pork, is a match made in mouth heaven. WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Happy Hour: Tues-Thurs 5-6 pm & 9-11 pm; Fri-Sat 4-6 pm & 9-11 pm, $4 beer, $5-7 wine, $2 off cocktails, $1-10 menu
Sapphire Hotel
5008 SE Hawthorne
The Sapphire Hotelâs promotional materials like to hype its past as a house of ill repute, full of sailors and loose women. But guess what? Itâs actually more like a library inside, with colorful cushions lining a long bench, a cute little pretend hotel room set above the bar, and an overall cozy neighborhood vibe. The happy hourâs solid, with a weekly punch (mine allegedly contained limoncello but definitely tasted like gin) and bar snacks that wonât leave you feeling like youâve lined your arteries with garbage. The arugula dip will make you feel virtuous, and the wait staff will bring you all the bread you want, stretching a snack into a frugal meal. If you know any hard-drinking librarians, you should definitely bring them to happy hour here. Theyâll fit right in. MEGAN BURBANK
Happy Hour: daily 4-6 pm, Sun-Thurs 10 pm-close, $2 Pabst, $4 wells, $5 wine, $6 cocktails, $3-7 menu
Sassyâs
927 SE Morrison
Letâs get right to itâthe beer special during Sassyâs happy hour is one of the best in the city. Drafts are just $2.50, and thatâs not for carbonated pissâweâre talking 24 well-chosen taps that include IPA, pilsner, porter, and even a couple of really good local ciders (currently a Portland Cider Kinda Dry and an Anthem Cherry & Hops). Not to mention this strip clubâs happy hour exceeds most others by several hoursâthis damn deal lasts all damn day (10:45 am âtil 6:45 pm), every day. During a recent visit I had two pints of Pallet Jack IPA from Barley Brownâs: $5. A couple of days later I had two Sierra Nevada Pale Ales, as well as the $5 Sassyâs Lunch Special (also served 10:45 to 6:45): a half sandwich, side (fries, tots, or salad or onion rings for a buck more), and a soft drink. The bartender recommended the Sassyâs Medianoche, their take on a Cubano (ham, bacon, salami, and Swiss with yellow mustard and pickle). Itâs not mind-blowing, but itâs an inexpensive and serviceable way to soak up the cheap beers (did I mention theyâre only $2.50?), while leaving you with a few more bills to spend on the real reason you go to Sassyâs. MARK LORE
Happy Hour: daily 10:45 am-6:45 pm, $2.50 beer, $5 menu
Saylerâs Old Country Kitchen
10519 SE Stark
The throwback charms of this 70-year-old Southeast mainstay are evident from the get-go, with an entryway adorned with pictures of celebrity diners. (Claude Akins! George H.W. Bush! Maya Angelou?) The nostalgia gets deeper in their cocktail lounge, where the decor (stuffed marlin! big fireplace! hotel furniture?) looks like it hasnât been updated since 1978. The menu, at least, tries to split the difference between the old and the new with a relish tray ($2.95)âa small plate of celery and carrot sticks, pickle spears, baby corn, and olivesâsitting next to jalapeño poppers ($3.95) and potato skins ($3.95). Being that Saylerâs is a steakhouse, your first choice should be the pepper steaks ($4.95), a perfect portion of red meat, cooked to lip-smacking perfection and served with just the right amount of horseradish for your dipping and smearing delight. ROBERT HAM
Happy Hour: Mon-Fri 3-6 pm, daily 9 pm-close, $3 beer & wells, $2.95-5.95 menu
Slingshot Lounge
5532 SE Center
If you live in the Foster-Powell neighborhood, youâre probably already familiar with the Slingshot. The go-to bar boasts spacious booths, a comfortable back patio for smokers, and a wide-open pool and pinball room off to the side, allowing for overflow space when things get busy. Happy hour at the Slingshot is a no-frills affair. You get a dollar off wells and any of the dozen beers on draft, along with a small selection of discounted food items. If you arenât looking for a meal, the $4 marinated prawn skewers and $3 grilled garlic crostini topped with tomato sauce are fine for snacking. The $5 hamburger or veggie burger, topped with tasty housemade aioli, is where itâs at if youâre hungry. Add the caramelized onions for a buck and a pair it with a couple of draft Olympias to get that crumpled 10-spot in your pocket to go the distance. CHIPP TERWILLIGER
Happy Hour: Mon-Fri 3-7 pm, $1 off drafts & wells, $3-5 menu
Slow Bar
533 SE Grand
Unless youâve been living under a rock (or in, like, Orenco Station), you already know how good Slow Barâs burgers are. You canât even mention the place without talking about their game-changing, mouth-stretching burgers. But donât sleep on their other options, especially during happy hour. Sure, you can get a six-ounce Angus beef burger on a Grand Central brioche bun for $6 during happy hourâand youâll be happy as hell about itâbut you can also get ceviche ($6), salads, pizzetta (three different personal pizzas at $5.50 each), two-for-$5 sliders (barbecue pork, curry chicken, or Oregon albacore tuna), or the $5.50 Southern Fryâa large plate of steaming hushpuppies and perfectly tender buttermilk fried chicken. The pork sliders, too, were dolloped with just the right amount of barbecue sauce and sweet-and-sour slaw, and the bun refused to get soggy or mushy. You get a dollar off drinks during happy hour, so wash it all down with a couple of ZerkpatricsâSlow Barâs specialty margarita made with pomegranate and peppercorn-infused Sauza tequila. By the end of your meal, youâll forget all about that burger. SANTI ELIJAH HOLLEY
Happy Hour: Mon-Fri 3-6 pm, Sun-Thurs midnight-2:30 am, $1 off drinks, $2-6 menu
Steinhaus
2366 SE 82nd
Iâve driven by the Steinhaus on my way to Southeast Portlandâs banh mi and pho spots a number of times, but now that Iâve acquainted myself with the German-style tavern, itâs going to be a lot harder to pass. The bar offers a warm and welcoming setting, as well as one of the neighborhoodâs best covered patios, lined with benches and booths to provide plenty of seating for groups. Happy hour offers 10 percent off any of the already fairly priced German and German-style beers, knocking delicious, full-flavored beers from the likes of Weihenstephan, Ayinger, Schneider Weisse, pFriem, and Logsdon down to the $4.50 mark. Mini corndog bites come in bratwurst and double smoked bacon sausage varieties ($4.25 and $5.25), while vegetarians can munch on a Tofurkey beer brat served with sauerkraut and kettle chips for $3. Pair the tasty batter-fried morsels with German potato salad ($3) or crispy potato cakes ($4), or just save room to work your way through one of the best tap lists in town. CHIPP TERWILLIGER
Happy Hour: daily 2-6 pm, 10 percent off draft beer, $2-6 menu
Yataimura Maru
3810 SE Division
The sister restaurant of downtownâs Shigezo, Maru is a sweet little izakaya made in the image of traditional Japanese drinking houses, with wood booths, rice paper screens, and greetings of âIRASSHAIMASE!â yelled at you when you enter. Their happy hour is a great deal any day, but weekends are the real bargain, running from 11:30 am to 6 pm, then again from 9 pm âtil close. A $5 bowl of straightforward Tokyo ramen is just as good as any the new fancy ramen places serve, with housemade noodles and divine broth, and a couple rashers of pork. The skewers of various grilled meats and vegetables, running you from $1.50 to $3, are salty-savory delights, and the sushi handrolls ($3-3.50) are a perfect combination of crunchy nori, tender slips of fish and vegetables, and pillowy rice. The happy hour drinks arenât all that outstanding, but the food makes it worthwhile. HEATHER ARNDT ANDERSON
Happy hour: Mon-Thurs 4-6 & 9-10, Fri 4-6 pm & 9-11 pm, Sat 11:30 am-6 pm & 9-11 pm, Sun 11:30 am-6 pm & 9-10 pm, $3.50 sake & Kirin beer, $4 wells, $5 wine, $1.50-7 menu
Zoiglhaus Brewing Company
5716 SE 92nd
Zoiglhaus (or ZHaus, as locals affectionately referred to it) opened just over a year ago and became the anchor for the Lents Town Center facelift now underway. And itâs been a boon for the neighborhoodâa family-friendly hub serving up tasty suds and quality German and American comfort food. Iâve considered setting up an office there, as the short walk from my house makes this haus an all-too-easy happy hour destination. Itâs become routine at this pointâI dump my kid in Zoiglhausâ toy-and-germ-strewn play area, and I order a PDC Pale (a constantly rotating single-hop) and loaded fries ($5) topped with pulled pork and a rich beer cheese sauce. Other days I go for the $5 Happy Burger, a simple and satisfying option. (I recommend adding the smoked gouda for a buck more.) Thereâs also a pickle plate, a soft and crisp German pretzel, and a pizza of the day, in addition to other options. After that and a couple beers (the Haus IPA, the Ramona Red, and the dark and malty Schwarzbier are solid options), the short walk home is always welcome. MARK LORE