A new bar is coming to one of Southeast Portland’s most beloved strips. Bar Scorpio, a locally owned concept from Portland native Aurelia Bardel, is targeting a mid-July opening. It will be located at 3638 SE Hawthorne Blvd, according to a liquor license application filed with the city and confirmed by Bardel in a conversation with What Now Portland.
While construction is still underway and many details are still being developed, Bardel described the upcoming venue as a “sexy dive bar” designed for date nights and casual gatherings. The concept will be a low-key neighborhood spot with a pool table, offering a tight cocktail menu of budget-friendly drinks in a very intimate space.
On the food side, Bar Scorpio plans to serve a menu centered around hot dogs made with locally sourced meat, along with a small cocktail selection. The goal is to keep offerings simple and affordable while creating a fun and approachable experience for guests. The team is also considering adding desserts to the menu.
For Bardel, the project is deeply personal. As a lifelong Portlander and single woman owner, she set out to build exactly the kind of bar she’d want to walk into in her own neighborhood.
“I’ve grown up in Portland my entire life,” she said. “I just really wanna open up a spot that I would enjoy going to in my own neighborhood.”
Additional details, including photos and final menu offerings, are expected to be released closer to opening. Bardel encouraged community members to follow Bar Scorpio’s social media channels for future updates as the project moves toward its anticipated July debut.
