A Guide to Portland, Maine

Portland has been a regular stop for me since a few years back. I used to make the short trip north from Boston on every free weekend. Well regarded as a culinary hot spot that’s soaked in seaside charm, the easily walkable city is the perfect place to spend a long weekend—or more. The Old Port, Washington Avenue, and West End are all local favorites. It’s easy to instantly feel at home, but still enjoy the city as a tourist.

Best Hotels & Resorts

Longfellow Hotel

Longfellow Hotel The property is located in one of Portland’s most desirable neighborhoods, West End. It’s also quite large for the city. You can also book because the hotel is located just a few steps from Tandem Coffee + Bakery. That way, you’ll be among the first to try their legendary breakfast sandwich. The 48-room hotel is a boutique with a wellness focus. There’s a spa, infrared private saunas on site and guest rooms for a restful night.

The Francis

The Francis Uncommon Hospitality, the team behind the Longfellow Hotel has created a boutique hotel. The 15 rooms are housed in an 1881 building, each with its own charm. As with all historic properties it has its own quirks. Free parking and a complimentary breakfast are both great benefits, but the fact that the hotel shares a building in which Wayside Tavern is located, a top-rated restaurant, is one of its best features. Finn Naylor, marketing director at Rosemont Market & Bakery, says, “Wayside Tavern is at the top of my list. Their food is always thoughtful and seasonal, their wine list is outstanding, and they have a relaxed vibe.

The Collection of the Docent

The Old Port is one of the best areas in downtown Portland. The Docent’s Collection The Docent’s Collection offers loft-styled apartments with kitchens. Jordan Nugent is the director of Travel and Events at Experience Maine. He says: “I love the Docent’s Collection, because it feels like apartments. Each one has its own living and kitchen area. It’s located right in the Old Port. It’s perfect for groups of people traveling together, or staying longer.

Blind Tiger

Blind Tiger Two historic buildings are located in Portland’s West End. While traveling in New England, I make it a point to check if a Lark Hotels is nearby. Blind Tiger, like all Lark Hotels properties, is unique. There are no two identical rooms and each location is embedded in its neighborhood. The property offers complimentary breakfast and has ample, comfortable public spaces on the ground floor.

Press Hotel

You can also find out more about the following: Press Hotel The historic headquarters of the Portland Police Department is located in downtown Portland. Portland Press Herald. The 110-room Marriott property has a boutique vibe and offers amenities like valet parking and a room service. Union’s breakfast will make you wonder what happened to your blueberry sausage.

What to do?

Fort Williams Park is a great place to visit.

Fort Williams Park is a short drive from Cape Elizabeth. The park is located 15 minutes away from downtown Portland. It spans over 90 acres and features dramatic cliffs, as well as the iconic Portland Head Light. Take a picnic or stop by Bite Into Maine for one of the best lobster rolls in Portland.

Get on the water.

Portland’s beauty is best appreciated from the water. There are many ways to do this. Nugent suggests, “Get in the water during nice weather.” We can take boat tours and visit neighboring islands. Wine tasting can be done on a sailboat. Wine Wise Wine SailsSee how lobsters can be caught using Lucky CatchHop on a low key sunset lighthouse excursion with Portland Schooner Co.Or, take a leisurely cruise on the mailboat. Naylor said, “If it’s been a while since you took a sunset Casco bay Lines cruise, I recommend adding it to your bucket list.” It’s the best midweek reset—affordable, BYO everything, and totally magical. What’s my move? Stop by Rosemont beforehand for a chilled bottle of rosé, a fresh baguette, and some charcuterie, then hop on the ferry and let the sea do the rest.”

Hadlock Field is the place to be for a sporting event.

Do not miss a Sea Dogs match if you’re in Portland for baseball season. Hadlock Field, a short drive from downtown Portland, is known for its energy. Nothing feels quite like summer in Maine There’s nothing better than a Sea Dogs Biscuit Ice Cream Sandwich to enjoy while watching a sporting event on a sunny afternoon.

Take a trip to the beach.

Nothing beats a few hours on the beach with a cooler of snacks. Stop by Mr. Tuna For a bento, Ramona’s For a hoagie or Rosemont Market & Bakery Build your own snack platter, before you head to Willard Beach, Crescent Beach, or the locals’ favorite Ferry Beach, in Scarborough. Naylor says: “I believe that the beach is a great activity to do all year round. Kettle Cove is where I spend most Saturdays mornings with my friends, eating breakfast burritos. The proximity to beaches is part of what makes Portland so special—15 minutes in any direction and you’re there.”

Visit a local brewery.

Craft beer is one of Maine’s best assets. You’re almost guaranteed to find the style you like in Portland, with more than 100 breweries. It’s well worth your time to hop between breweries if you are a beer lover. Oxbow, Allagash Brewing Company, Bissell Brothers. Bunker Brewing Co. These are the local favorites.

Best Restaurants

Crispy Gai

Crispy Gai You will rethink the entire evening if you ever find yourself in its orbit. Crispy Gai has a stellar bar with original take on tiki style classics, and crave-worthy wings with spices that will have you dreaming for weeks.

Magissa

Magissa The Greeks of Peaks team, who previously operated the Greeks of Peaks mobile food van, now owns and operates a Greek style taverna located in East Bayside. The menu includes small bites, shareable meals, and meze. This is just what you need after a busy day at the beach, breweries, or both. The food and drinks are made with love, creativity, and expert execution.

Eventide

Portland is impossible to discuss without mentioning Eventide. Its brown butter lobster roll—made with warm lobster meat and piled high on a pillowy soft bao bun—and flights of oysters from here and away make vying for a parking spot and facing the ever-present waitlist more than worth it.

Scales

If you have images of fresh fish being eaten while looking out over the Old Port’s docks, then Portland is for you. Scales Then this is the restaurant for you. The restaurant is slightly upscale, without being fussy, and part of a powerhouse group that operates Street & Co., Fore Street, and Standard Baking Co.. Don’t miss the cloverleaf rolls, halibut with brown butter and hazelnuts, and whatever the custard of the day is.

Twelve

Nestled on Thames Street Twelve Is doing something really special. The front and back of the house are armed with stellar resumes—and it shows. Twelve takes classic Maine recipes and adds their own twist (think: martinis made with kombu). If you’re in the mood for a cocktail or a meal a la carte, try out the price fixe. Don’t forget the lobster on a flaky pastry.

The Best Time to Visit

It’s hard to find an even better product if you don’t consider budget. time to visit Maine It is better to book your trip between mid-June and late June. You won’t have the same idea as everyone else, so you will need to book early and pay more for your accommodations. Consider visiting in late spring (April-May), or early autumn (late September-October) if you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy cooler temperatures. While the weather will be mild, the increase in tourists during the high season can be overwhelming. The city is more enjoyable when you visit in the shoulder months.

How to Get There

If you’re fortunate, you might be able catch a flight directly into Portland International Jetport(PWM), located just 15 minutes outside of downtown Portland. Fly into Boston Logan International Airport. Rent a car and drive north for two hours. Take a Concord Coach bus or Amtrak Downeaster to get to Portland. Both run year-round.

Discover the best neighbourhoods in your area

Washington Avenue

Washington Avenue is the place where locals spend their free time. Washington Avenue has a variety of bars, restaurants and shops. Visit Maine & Loire Peruse the list to find a bottle or two of wine that you can bring back to your accommodation. Onggi For some ferment-forward pantry essentials, grab some snacks from Sissle & DaughtersBrowse through vintage and rare cookbooks Rabelais.

Eastern Promenade

You’ll need to find a way to get your appetite up before you eat. Enter the Eastern Promenade. The Eastern Promenade is a 78-acre park that features a harborside walk of two miles with sweeping views of Casco bay and the Portland Harbor. There are also benches and green spaces for those who want to relax in a beautiful setting. Naylor says, “I love strolling down the Eastern Promenade Trail—it drops you right onto Commercial Street, which is perfect for a little shopping, restaurant hopping, or just watching the working waterfront in action.”

South Portland

South Portland is just across the Old Port Bridge and offers some of the best beaches in the area, as well as great food. Don’t miss Night Moves Bread, SoPo Seafood. Red’s Dairy Freeze—all ideal stops before or after a walk on Willard Beach.

Old Port

Old Port is one of the most popular areas in the city. It has a working waterfront, as well as souvenir shops in abundance. This part of the city has some gems, as well as tourist traps. Room for Improvement The Red Snapper is Maine’s famous neon-red hot dog. Visit if your accommodation has a kitchen. Harbor Fish MarketYou’ll also find clams and mussels. Grab a lobster roll at Luke’s Lobster and get ready—the team will be reopening Portland’s legendary Dry Dock restaurant later this summer with chef Matt Ginn at the helm.

How to Get Around

Portland is an easily walkable city. However, if you plan to go to the nearby beaches or venture out of downtown, you will need a vehicle. While ride-share services can be affordable and accessible, wait times may be longer at off-peak times. Amtrak Downeaster can be taken to nearby towns The coast is also accessible. Rent-a-car companies have offices at Portland International Jetport. But, if you plan to visit during busy seasons, such as summer, or any other time, it is best to reserve in advance.