Lux Coffee Lounge Is Open in the Hazelwood Neighborhood

The interior of Lux Coffee Lounge, in a black and gold theme. — Photo credit: Lux Coffee Lounge

Love it or hate it, social media’s Almighty Algorithm can feed you good stuff sometimes—and that’s how I learned about Lux Coffee Lounge on Instagram. I’m so glad Instagram showed me this account—it’s a lovely looking space with visually enticing food and drink, in a newly remodeled space on SE Division Street (not too far from Sunbela) in east Portland.

Lux Coffee Lounge: Some Background

Lux Coffee Lounge is run by Samir Abdul and Olesya Palamanchuk. From what I can tell, Samir was trained as a nurse; he and Qasim Abdul have run Cedar Senior Living in Milwaukie. Olesya is a professional photographer. I’ve reached out to them but have not heard back—when I do, one of the things I hope to pass on is what made them want to open Lux Coffee Lounge.

Samir and Qasim remodeled what seems to be the old Affordable Kars space (they now have a location up in Parkrose). They did some pretty impressive work—there are beautiful floors, black tables with black chairs and banquettes; a washed concrete look is on some of the walls with gold frames atop them. I find it pleasing to the eye.

Eat and Drink

More of the interior - tables, chairs, couches - plus some food at Lux Coffee Lounge. — Photo credit: Lux Coffee Lounge

As for food and drink, it’s more than the standard latte, cappuccino, and hot tea. To eat, you’ll find:

Pastries—European-style cakes (like strawberry pistachio mousse, caramel pecan tart) and Middle Eastern, Turkish, and Afghan sweets (like pistachio-coconut baklava, meat sambusa, and cream horns).
Sandwiches made with bagels and croissants, filled with things like shrimp salad, turkey and egg.
Toasts topped with things like smoked salmon, accompanied by a side salad.
Crepes, including strawberry Nutella crepes.
I also noticed they do a kind of extended (aka “high”) tea type of service with the multi-tiered tray with all sorts of delicious sweet and savory things on it.

To drink, you’ll find:

Hot tea served in beautiful etched glass cups (reminiscent of the cups I drank tea out of at Egyptian restaurants in Queens).
Espresso drinks (shots pulled in a La Pavoni machine), including a salted caramel latte and an Irish Cream latte.
Tropical energy drinks.

A spread of pastries at Lux Coffee Lounge. — Photo credit: Courtney Jackson

The owners would like this to be a place for people to gather in, whether it’s to work, meet, or hang out. Personally, I’m looking forward to checking it out soon. If you want to stop by, here are their hours: Monday to Thursday, 8am to 9pm; Friday and Saturday, 8am to 11pm; Sunday, 9am to 11pm. Always nice to know about spots open later in the evening in Portland, too.

Congrats to Samir and Olesya on the opening of Lux Coffee Lounge!

Lux Coffee Lounge [opened April 2024]
11059 SE Division Street, Portland
Instagram