Guidebook for Portland
Food Scene
Fore Street is an absolute guaranteed excellent meal. Go here for a splurge dinner, but call well ahead for reservations and take an Uber.
92 molta ag muintir na háite
Fore Street Restaurant
288 Fore StFore Street is an absolute guaranteed excellent meal. Go here for a splurge dinner, but call well ahead for reservations and take an Uber.
Breakfast sandwiches and high test coffee to start your day. It's a 10 minute walk from the house.
163 molta ag muintir na háite
The West End Deli & Catering Inc
545 Spring StBreakfast sandwiches and high test coffee to start your day. It's a 10 minute walk from the house.
This is the original location and conveniently located about a 5-minute walk from the house.
The donuts here were featured in the NY Times 36 hours in Portland, and the hype is real. Get an Allen's Coffee Brandy donut and you'll check two Maine Stop boxes at once.
Go early because there will be a guaranteed line out the door. Donuts are sold until they're gone.
220 molta ag muintir na háite
The Holy Donut
194 Park AveThis is the original location and conveniently located about a 5-minute walk from the house.
The donuts here were featured in the NY Times 36 hours in Portland, and the hype is real. Get an Allen's Coffee Brandy donut and you'll check two Maine Stop boxes at once.
Go early because there will be a guaranteed line out the door. Donuts are sold until they're gone.
Woodford Food & Beverage
660 Forest AveFantastic food and drinks located nearby.
Go Friday morning and hope that you can snag one of Mill Cove Baking's homemade pop tarts.
17 molta ag muintir na háite
little woodfords
316A Congress StreetGo Friday morning and hope that you can snag one of Mill Cove Baking's homemade pop tarts.
Their sandwich game is strong. Lunchtime favorite.
11 molta ag muintir na háite
The Otherside Delicatessen
164 Veranda StTheir sandwich game is strong. Lunchtime favorite.
Stop in here for cocktails and some oysters on your way downtown.
Brunch is awesome here but the line starts developing around 10:45 so get in line early.
272 molta ag muintir na háite
Eventide Oyster Co.
86 Middle StStop in here for cocktails and some oysters on your way downtown.
Brunch is awesome here but the line starts developing around 10:45 so get in line early.
A recent James Beard finalist for best new restaurant in the nation. Worth every penny.
Seating is available on a walk-in basis only. I would recommend going in to put your name on the list, and pop downstairs for a cocktail while you wait for your table to be ready. They'll call you when your table is ready. Seriously you can't lose here.
145 molta ag muintir na háite
Central Provisions
414 Fore StA recent James Beard finalist for best new restaurant in the nation. Worth every penny.
Seating is available on a walk-in basis only. I would recommend going in to put your name on the list, and pop downstairs for a cocktail while you wait for your table to be ready. They'll call you when your table is ready. Seriously you can't lose here.
They have a Japanese garden patio that is amazing on a nice day.
Consider yourself lucky if you get to meet the friendly proprietor, Tak, or if you happen to dine here during the Blue Fin Festival.
Best sushi in town, hands down. (Trust me we've tried them all)
44 molta ag muintir na háite
Yosaku
1 Danforth StThey have a Japanese garden patio that is amazing on a nice day.
Consider yourself lucky if you get to meet the friendly proprietor, Tak, or if you happen to dine here during the Blue Fin Festival.
Best sushi in town, hands down. (Trust me we've tried them all)
Bayou Kitchen
543 Deering AveGreat breakfast spot, so close to the house.
Rose foods crafts delicious bagels, but the shining star here is the whitefish and salmon toppings. It's a little expensive but so so good.
30 molta ag muintir na háite
Rose Foods
428 Forest AveRose foods crafts delicious bagels, but the shining star here is the whitefish and salmon toppings. It's a little expensive but so so good.
Scratch bagels are the best around, hands down. Sourdough bagels that causes a line past 9AM so get there early on your way down to Willard Beach.
164 molta ag muintir na háite
Scratch Baking Co
416 Preble StScratch bagels are the best around, hands down. Sourdough bagels that causes a line past 9AM so get there early on your way down to Willard Beach.
Fantastic BBQ. Order at the counter and they will bring it over to you on a tray. Order a beer while you wait, they have a great diverse tap list that I would consider modest at 30 or so taps.
Get the ribs before they sell out and get the brisket sandwich if they have. Hush puppies on the side.
62 molta ag muintir na háite
Salvage BBQ
919 Congress StFantastic BBQ. Order at the counter and they will bring it over to you on a tray. Order a beer while you wait, they have a great diverse tap list that I would consider modest at 30 or so taps.
Get the ribs before they sell out and get the brisket sandwich if they have. Hush puppies on the side.
Breakfast sandwiches here are a must-have. Definitely a local spot. You wont find any tourists here but it's a secret favorite spot of ours. Grab a #1 sandwich. Voted best breakfast sandwich in town!
64 molta ag muintir na háite
Ohno Cafe
87 Brackett StBreakfast sandwiches here are a must-have. Definitely a local spot. You wont find any tourists here but it's a secret favorite spot of ours. Grab a #1 sandwich. Voted best breakfast sandwich in town!
For an extra special night, catch the ferry at Casco Bay Lines, head out to Gread Diamond Island, and enjoy a classic lobster dinner on the lawn at Diamond's Edge. The servers are great about getting you the bill before the last ferry.
13 molta ag muintir na háite
Diamond's Edge Restaurant and Marina
For an extra special night, catch the ferry at Casco Bay Lines, head out to Gread Diamond Island, and enjoy a classic lobster dinner on the lawn at Diamond's Edge. The servers are great about getting you the bill before the last ferry.
New place in town with great food. Check out their wine shop inside the restaurant.
35 molta ag muintir na háite
Drifters Wife
59 Washington AveNew place in town with great food. Check out their wine shop inside the restaurant.
Our friends own it. Solid tap list paired with dynamite food. Perfect stop on your way to or from Freeport Outlets. Sit on their patio if the sun's shining.
WOODHULL Public House
30 Forest Falls DrOur friends own it. Solid tap list paired with dynamite food. Perfect stop on your way to or from Freeport Outlets. Sit on their patio if the sun's shining.
Drinks & Nightlife
The GLB is an icon of the craft beer movement in Portland and New England. They have too many beers on tap to count, most of them are local and most of them are delicious.
Go on Monday or Tuesday night for "Talls for Smalls Night" where you get a big ol' glass for the price of a pint.
The dirty wings here are insanely good and you won't regret trying a half order.
76 molta ag muintir na háite
The Great Lost Bear
540 Forest AveThe GLB is an icon of the craft beer movement in Portland and New England. They have too many beers on tap to count, most of them are local and most of them are delicious.
Go on Monday or Tuesday night for "Talls for Smalls Night" where you get a big ol' glass for the price of a pint.
The dirty wings here are insanely good and you won't regret trying a half order.
Ruski's
212 Danforth StGood dive bar for a nightcap or people watching.
Grab a drink here before the show at Thompson's Point. Their beer has been raved about since they started pouring. The space is awesome and the beer is refreshing as all getout. The chicken shack next door has a secret window that they pass your meal through so your beer doesn't get warm while you wait.
Recommended Beers:
The Substance: The brew that started it all.
Swish: Double IPA that will have you calling an Uber.
102 molta ag muintir na háite
Bissell Brothers
38 Resurgam PlGrab a drink here before the show at Thompson's Point. Their beer has been raved about since they started pouring. The space is awesome and the beer is refreshing as all getout. The chicken shack next door has a secret window that they pass your meal through so your beer doesn't get warm while you wait.
Recommended Beers:
The Substance: The brew that started it all.
Swish: Double IPA that will have you calling an Uber.
This brewery is also a short walk from the house. We love these guys because they are funky, culturally interesting and great brewers.
Recommended beers:
Salad Daze for starters.
Eat the Sun for a second course.
Trashmaster when things get weird.
49 molta ag muintir na háite
Bunker Brewing Company
17 Westfield StThis brewery is also a short walk from the house. We love these guys because they are funky, culturally interesting and great brewers.
Recommended beers:
Salad Daze for starters.
Eat the Sun for a second course.
Trashmaster when things get weird.
Rising tide has a fantastic space with cornhole in the parking lot, lots of picnic tables and is very close to the house.
There is a rugby field across the street, it's always a good time when a match is happening to cheer on the red team.
Recommended Beers:
All of them. Get a 4-pack of MITA (Maine Island Trail Ale) to take home and drink on the back porch.
138 molta ag muintir na háite
Rising Tide Brewing Company
103 Fox StRising tide has a fantastic space with cornhole in the parking lot, lots of picnic tables and is very close to the house.
There is a rugby field across the street, it's always a good time when a match is happening to cheer on the red team.
Recommended Beers:
All of them. Get a 4-pack of MITA (Maine Island Trail Ale) to take home and drink on the back porch.
This place has some board games in the back room and sometimes a Hand Roll foodtruck shows up.
These guys are friends of ours and have been doing a heck of a job brewing up some delicious beers. Open concept brewery so you can see the tanks and get a glimpse of how it's made.
Recommended Beers:
Prime
Waves
Crystals
Tiny Wrist Circles (Gretchen's Favorite)
Hydro
37 molta ag muintir na háite
Goodfire Brewing Co.
219 Anderson StThis place has some board games in the back room and sometimes a Hand Roll foodtruck shows up.
These guys are friends of ours and have been doing a heck of a job brewing up some delicious beers. Open concept brewery so you can see the tanks and get a glimpse of how it's made.
Recommended Beers:
Prime
Waves
Crystals
Tiny Wrist Circles (Gretchen's Favorite)
Hydro
Lone Pine is another great space to enjoy a beer in Portland, and is conveniently located in the same building as Goodfire Brewing Company and is a stones throw from Urban Farm Fermentory, Rising Tide, and One Eye Open brewing company.
Recommended Beers:
Portland Pale Ale
Tessellation
68 molta ag muintir na háite
Lone Pine Brewing Company
219 Anderson StLone Pine is another great space to enjoy a beer in Portland, and is conveniently located in the same building as Goodfire Brewing Company and is a stones throw from Urban Farm Fermentory, Rising Tide, and One Eye Open brewing company.
Recommended Beers:
Portland Pale Ale
Tessellation
Oxbow Portland is one of our favorite spaces in town. The bar is wide open with picnic tables throughout, cool art on the walls, and it's bring your own food.
This is a great place to go if you are into sour beer, or farmhouse style ales.
Recommended Beers:
Farmhouse Pale Ale (FPA)
Momoko
Blended Oxtoberfest
Liquid Swords
106 molta ag muintir na háite
Oxbow Blending & Bottling
49 Washington AveOxbow Portland is one of our favorite spaces in town. The bar is wide open with picnic tables throughout, cool art on the walls, and it's bring your own food.
This is a great place to go if you are into sour beer, or farmhouse style ales.
Recommended Beers:
Farmhouse Pale Ale (FPA)
Momoko
Blended Oxtoberfest
Liquid Swords
Destination. This is the brewery that took the craft beer game in Maine and New England to the next level.
They produce the finest example of a Belgian White, that even outshines the Belgians.
Their sour beers are incredible and are worth buying to bring home as souvenirs.
Recommended Beers:
White
Interlude
Any of their Coolship series
Resurgam.
156 molta ag muintir na háite
Allagash Brewing Company
50 Industrial WayDestination. This is the brewery that took the craft beer game in Maine and New England to the next level.
They produce the finest example of a Belgian White, that even outshines the Belgians.
Their sour beers are incredible and are worth buying to bring home as souvenirs.
Recommended Beers:
White
Interlude
Any of their Coolship series
Resurgam.
It's right beside Allagash so you might as well stop in for a pint. They are seriously good brewers and make a few varieties that never cease to amaze me.
Recommended Beers:
If Epiphany is available, get it!
Zurrzing (Sour)
Cosmic Bloom
Everything is good here actually...
39 molta ag muintir na háite
Bull Jagger Brewing Company
1 Industrial WayIt's right beside Allagash so you might as well stop in for a pint. They are seriously good brewers and make a few varieties that never cease to amaze me.
Recommended Beers:
If Epiphany is available, get it!
Zurrzing (Sour)
Cosmic Bloom
Everything is good here actually...
It's in the same building as Foundation and you can throw a stone to Allagash from here. Can't afford not to stop in and say hello. Definitely call an Uber for your trip out to Industrial Way.
Recommended Beer:
Flume
20 molta ag muintir na háite
Battery Steele Brewing
1 Industrial WayIt's in the same building as Foundation and you can throw a stone to Allagash from here. Can't afford not to stop in and say hello. Definitely call an Uber for your trip out to Industrial Way.
Recommended Beer:
Flume
Foulmouthed's brewpub is a quick trip across the Casco Bay Bridge and worth the drive. They are always coming up with unique styles and keep the taplist fresh at all times.
Their food is UNREAL. Highly recommend the pulled pork nachos, and a house made corndog. Grab a pint to wash it down.
Recommended Beers:
Brat
Nightvillian
Uzu Gose
Maggy
Botanical Brett (ask for it by name)
They also make a sneaky good margarita.
47 molta ag muintir na háite
Foulmouthed Brewing
15 Ocean StFoulmouthed's brewpub is a quick trip across the Casco Bay Bridge and worth the drive. They are always coming up with unique styles and keep the taplist fresh at all times.
Their food is UNREAL. Highly recommend the pulled pork nachos, and a house made corndog. Grab a pint to wash it down.
Recommended Beers:
Brat
Nightvillian
Uzu Gose
Maggy
Botanical Brett (ask for it by name)
They also make a sneaky good margarita.
Keep your eyes peeled for this place. It may be a bit hard to find, but worth it for the cocktails.
76 molta ag muintir na háite
The Jewel Box
644 Congress StKeep your eyes peeled for this place. It may be a bit hard to find, but worth it for the cocktails.
Entertainment & Activities
Bayside bowl is the fanciest and most entertaining bowling alley (nice bowling alleys are a thing?) I've ever seen. The rooftop bar has been bumpin ever since it opened, and the bowling lanes are well maintained.
It stays pretty busy in here.
93 molta ag muintir na háite
Bayside Bowl
58 Alder StBayside bowl is the fanciest and most entertaining bowling alley (nice bowling alleys are a thing?) I've ever seen. The rooftop bar has been bumpin ever since it opened, and the bowling lanes are well maintained.
It stays pretty busy in here.
Parks & Nature
Willard Beach
A short walk from the house.
Saturdays hosts a Farmer's Market from 7AM - 1PM. Don't miss it!
87 molta ag muintir na háite
Deering Oaks Park
A short walk from the house.
Saturdays hosts a Farmer's Market from 7AM - 1PM. Don't miss it!
One of the Portland Trails, close to the house, marked 5k. If you run from the house, around back bay and return to the house, it's a 5 mile run.
22 molta ag muintir na háite
Back Cove
One of the Portland Trails, close to the house, marked 5k. If you run from the house, around back bay and return to the house, it's a 5 mile run.
Higgins Beach is great because the beach goes on forever at low tide. High tide leaves little beach for the sun worshipers.
115 molta ag muintir na háite
Higgins Beach
Higgins Beach is great because the beach goes on forever at low tide. High tide leaves little beach for the sun worshipers.
Mackworth is a good walk (2 mi or so) with constant water views and lookouts into Casco Bay.
There are a couple of spots where you can go down to the beach and build fairy houses in the woods.
130 molta ag muintir na háite
Mackworth Island State Park
U.S. 1Mackworth is a good walk (2 mi or so) with constant water views and lookouts into Casco Bay.
There are a couple of spots where you can go down to the beach and build fairy houses in the woods.
Sightseeing
Go on Wednesdays at 6pm and watch the sailboat racing. Bring a picnic dinner.
251 molta ag muintir na háite
Eastern Promenade Trail
Eastern PromenadeGo on Wednesdays at 6pm and watch the sailboat racing. Bring a picnic dinner.
Portland Head Light. The most photographed lighthouse in the world!
Grab a lobster roll at the Bite into Maine food truck.
229 molta ag muintir na háite
Fort Williams Park
1000 Shore RdPortland Head Light. The most photographed lighthouse in the world!
Grab a lobster roll at the Bite into Maine food truck.
Arts & Culture
Músaem Ealaíne Portland
7 Congress SqClassic American artist Winslow Homer's house. From his home, you can see so much of the inspiration for his paintings.
While you're in this neighborhood, I highly recommend the Prout's Neck Cliff walk, very do-able for families and kids.
10 molta ag muintir na háite
Winslow Homer Studio
5 Winslow Homer RdClassic American artist Winslow Homer's house. From his home, you can see so much of the inspiration for his paintings.
While you're in this neighborhood, I highly recommend the Prout's Neck Cliff walk, very do-able for families and kids.
Essentials
Local market with a great meat, produce, beer, wine, cheese, snacks and bakery.
223 molta ag muintir na háite
Rosemont Market & Bakery
40 Pine StLocal market with a great meat, produce, beer, wine, cheese, snacks and bakery.
Local market with a great meat, produce, beer, wine, cheese, snacks and bakery.
223 molta ag muintir na háite
Rosemont Market & Bakery
40 Pine StLocal market with a great meat, produce, beer, wine, cheese, snacks and bakery.
Local market with a great meat, produce, beer, wine, cheese, snacks and bakery.
223 molta ag muintir na háite
Rosemont Market & Bakery
40 Pine StLocal market with a great meat, produce, beer, wine, cheese, snacks and bakery.
These guys get the good stuff. You can buy up 4-packs of the local craft beers, specialty finds from Belgium, cidre from France, and so much wine! Best of all, it's right down the street from the apartment. Better take a car because it'll feel like a long walk lugging a box of bottles back up the hill with you.
6 molta ag muintir na háite
Bier Cellar
299 Forest AveThese guys get the good stuff. You can buy up 4-packs of the local craft beers, specialty finds from Belgium, cidre from France, and so much wine! Best of all, it's right down the street from the apartment. Better take a car because it'll feel like a long walk lugging a box of bottles back up the hill with you.