The DL: Portland, Maine is a fun coastal town that has a little bit of everything. Mid/Late May – October is the peak season due to weather and lobster availability. Lots seem to be closed food wise before and after these dates, so it’s imperative to know that before booking. The people of Maine were so nice, everyone was super chill. The downtown felt a lot like Newport Rhode Island to me. Check out my weekend guide to make the most of your trip to Portland Maine.
Where to Eat in Portland Maine:
Portland was recently named one of the best foodie cities in America, so trying to narrow down was really hard. Below are some of my recommendations.
Breakfast:
- Holy Donut – popular potato donuts, they have GF and Vegan options – the line gets very long. Order online for pick up – I thought they were good but not out of this world
- The Front Room – American diner, comfort food
- Becky’s Diner – popular diner open all day and by the water
- Coffee – tandem coffee and pastries (not gf)
- Bam Bam Bakery (all gf and vegan!)
- Bard Coffee Shop
- Scratch baking – limited gf options
- Standard baking – elaborate but affordable pastries – not gf
- Bayside American Cafe – Brunch all day
Lunch:
- Portland Lobster Company – lobster rolls of course
- Nosh Kitchen – oversized burgers
- Flatbreads – pizza option
- Eventide – popular oyster spot
- Highroller lobster co – get the lobster tail on a stick
- Terilunga – bbq Mexican
- The Porthole – fish and chips
- Duckfat – fries, paninis, shakes (pictured above) – get the flight of sauces and the blueberry “cidah”
- Central Provisions – sandwiches during COVID times (no gf options really)
- Garden Cafe – Portland Regency (warmer months only)
Dinner:
- Fore Street – upscale, this place was really good – we had to get reservations in advance and we barely got one – you must get the squid app no matter what its amazing
- Boda – Thai
- Eventide Oyster Co – we went here for dinner, all was really good – they are known for their brown butter lobster roll on a bao bun, also the fried oysters (gf) and the burger and homemade chips were delish.
- Street and Co – American
- Hot Suppa – Southern food
- The Honey Paw – asian
- Union at the Press Hotel – more upscale American
- Woodford Food and Beverage – local Maine spot, retro feel
- Scales – high end seafood, by the water
What to Do in Portland Maine:
- Ferry to Peak Island for the day – this run almost the entire day, dog friendly, and about $6 per ticket round trip
- Explore the Downtown/Old Port – public market, shops, architecture
- Grab a Cocktail: Blythe and Burrows, Batson River Distilling, Portland Hunt and Alpine Club, Hardshore Distillery
- Visit the Lighthouses: Spring Point Ledge (this was my favorite one and it was a free spacious park, easy to get pictures), Cape Elizabeth (hard to see from the public viewing area), Bug Lighthouse
- Visit Willard Beach – we brought a blanket and just hung out and listened to the waves roll in
- Find a happy hour – Di’millos – boat on the water (open seasonly)
- Lucky Catch Lobster Experience – we booked this day of just because of weather was uncertain. We did the seal tour since that was the only one available compared to the lighthouse tour, the tour guides were great and it was worth the experience for sure
- Visit a speakeasy – Lincoln’s – cash only dive bar – all drinks are $5 – (this was impossible to find – look for the red door and go down the stairs to the left, then the rest is up to you!
- Listen to live music – Port City Blues
- Visit a brewery like Novra Rez, Rising Tide, Allagash, or Oxbow
Where to Stay in Portland Maine:
Definitely stay in downtown Portland so you can just walk every where. There are a lot of big brand hotels, we ended up staying at a Marriott with water views. A lot of people like the Press hotel, but they were sold out during our dates.
Transportation in Portland Maine:
You will need a car for this trip unless you are just staying in the heart of portland and planning to uber. Parking can be an issue since pretty much everywhere is paid. We were able to find free parking one night and then had to pay valet at the hotel the other night. Pay attention to the street sweeper signs, they will tow!
If you have more time, drive 30 minutes to Kennebunkport for the day or spend a few nights! Guide is here!
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