Guidebook for Portland
Food Scene
Most of our recommendations are on or near Washington Street, 1 block from our house.
Places that are under a 5-minute walk from our house are marked with 2 stars **
Other walkable places (under 15 minutes) are marked with one star *
**Excellent lunch, brunch and breakfast (especially baked goods both sweet and savory), and a huge selection of gorgeous locally made ceramics. A neighborhood gem just a stone's throw from our house.
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Portland Pottery Cafe
118 Washington Ave**Excellent lunch, brunch and breakfast (especially baked goods both sweet and savory), and a huge selection of gorgeous locally made ceramics. A neighborhood gem just a stone's throw from our house.
**Tandem coffee is considered some of the best in the state, if not the country. Try the malt iced coffee.
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Tandem Coffee Roasters
122 Anderson St**Tandem coffee is considered some of the best in the state, if not the country. Try the malt iced coffee.
**This cheap, tasty Salvadoran place pre-dates the newer foodie restaurants on the street. Try the pupusas.
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Tu Casa
70 Washington Ave**This cheap, tasty Salvadoran place pre-dates the newer foodie restaurants on the street. Try the pupusas.
*For bagel purists, Union can't be beat. Started a couple of years ago by New York bakers, they stick to the basics: bagels & schmears, lox and coffee.
NOTE: Since COVID, their hours have been severely restricted. Call first.
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Union Bagel Company
147 Cumberland Ave*For bagel purists, Union can't be beat. Started a couple of years ago by New York bakers, they stick to the basics: bagels & schmears, lox and coffee.
NOTE: Since COVID, their hours have been severely restricted. Call first.
**Though we prefer Tandem's coffee, CBD has the advantages of Sunday hours, comfortable, loungey seating, and wifi.
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Coffee By Design
43 Washington Ave**Though we prefer Tandem's coffee, CBD has the advantages of Sunday hours, comfortable, loungey seating, and wifi.
*Gorgeous thin crust pizza, and a full bar to boot. Buy a pie or a slice.
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OTTO
576 Congress St*Gorgeous thin crust pizza, and a full bar to boot. Buy a pie or a slice.
*Fantastic bakery, especially for cakes and desserts.
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Katie Made Bakery
181 Congress St*Fantastic bakery, especially for cakes and desserts.
*One of the best (and hippest) of Portland's seafood establishments. Pricey, small-ish portions, but delicious.
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Eventide Oyster Co.
86 Middle St*One of the best (and hippest) of Portland's seafood establishments. Pricey, small-ish portions, but delicious.
*This tiny eatery offers amazing paninis, small plates and (best of all) poutine cooked in duck fat.
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Duckfat
43 Middle St*This tiny eatery offers amazing paninis, small plates and (best of all) poutine cooked in duck fat.
**Eritrean restaurant in the neighborhood. Classic eat-with-your-hands fare where the food is served on injera bread. Authentic and tasty.
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Red Sea
30 Washington Ave**Eritrean restaurant in the neighborhood. Classic eat-with-your-hands fare where the food is served on injera bread. Authentic and tasty.
*Grab a cup of coffee on your way to the Eastern Promenade. Taking in the park's sweeping views of Casco Bay is more fun with a strong cup of joe.
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Hilltop Coffee Shop
100 Congress St*Grab a cup of coffee on your way to the Eastern Promenade. Taking in the park's sweeping views of Casco Bay is more fun with a strong cup of joe.
*This sweet, tiny restaurant is simply lovely. Though it isn't the cheapest place around, the food is absolutely gorgeous, and they offer a shifting menu of exquisitely made cocktails.
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Blue Spoon
5 Congress St*This sweet, tiny restaurant is simply lovely. Though it isn't the cheapest place around, the food is absolutely gorgeous, and they offer a shifting menu of exquisitely made cocktails.
*Great brunch spot, especially if you can nab an outside table in the summer. Great food and a full bar, a block or two from the Eastern Prom.
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The Front Room
73 Congress St*Great brunch spot, especially if you can nab an outside table in the summer. Great food and a full bar, a block or two from the Eastern Prom.
Classic low end New England clam shack, right on the water. Chowder, fried clams, lobster rolls, etc; outdoor seating options. You'll also see tons of other restaurants if you walk down Commercial St.
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Gilberts Chowder House
92 Commercial StClassic low end New England clam shack, right on the water. Chowder, fried clams, lobster rolls, etc; outdoor seating options. You'll also see tons of other restaurants if you walk down Commercial St.
Commercial street is great for waterfront restaurants and bars, most with outdoor seating; ice cream; and souvenir shops galore.
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Commercial Street
Commercial StreetCommercial street is great for waterfront restaurants and bars, most with outdoor seating; ice cream; and souvenir shops galore.
**House smoked meats, Texas style, with good local beers and full bar. Great chili, lovely large terraced patio with heat lamps. Serves brunch.
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Terlingua
40 Washington Ave**House smoked meats, Texas style, with good local beers and full bar. Great chili, lovely large terraced patio with heat lamps. Serves brunch.
A bit farther from our house (not walkable), but I can't not recommend it. Simply the best, most decadent baked goods in Portland. Pies. pastries, cookies, and savory fare. Best of all is the breakfast sandwich on a fresh, buttery biscuit. The coffee is roasted at Tandem Coffee, right around the corner from our house.
Plan to wait in a line, this place is popular.
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The West End Deli & Catering Inc
545 Spring StA bit farther from our house (not walkable), but I can't not recommend it. Simply the best, most decadent baked goods in Portland. Pies. pastries, cookies, and savory fare. Best of all is the breakfast sandwich on a fresh, buttery biscuit. The coffee is roasted at Tandem Coffee, right around the corner from our house.
Plan to wait in a line, this place is popular.
**Delicious Japanese pub-style food. One of our favorite restaurants in the neighborhood! We recommend the JFC (Japanese Fried Chicken!)
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Izakaya Minato
54 Washington Ave**Delicious Japanese pub-style food. One of our favorite restaurants in the neighborhood! We recommend the JFC (Japanese Fried Chicken!)
*This bakery does proper, heavenly French pastries, starting with the Portland's best croissant. By night, they switch to pizza.
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Belleville
1 North St*This bakery does proper, heavenly French pastries, starting with the Portland's best croissant. By night, they switch to pizza.
**Award-winning Vietnamese food, with a focus on high quality ingredients. The decor is fresh and modern, with lots of bright colors. Highly recommended!
NOTE: Cong Tu Bot has been closed since the pandemic started. Cross your fingers that they open again!
NOTE: They have been closed since COVID, call first.
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Cong Tu Bot
57 Washington Ave**Award-winning Vietnamese food, with a focus on high quality ingredients. The decor is fresh and modern, with lots of bright colors. Highly recommended!
NOTE: Cong Tu Bot has been closed since the pandemic started. Cross your fingers that they open again!
NOTE: They have been closed since COVID, call first.
**Bakery and full-service cafe offering award-winning wood fired bagels, consistently rated Maine's best. Big windows, outdoor seating, one block from our house.
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Forage Market
123 Washington Ave**Bakery and full-service cafe offering award-winning wood fired bagels, consistently rated Maine's best. Big windows, outdoor seating, one block from our house.
Classic lobster and clam shack perched on the edge of the ocean at Two Lights State Park. A 20 minute drive from Portland, you can't ask for a better place to sit outside and eat a lobster roll while you enjoy the natural beauty of the rocky coast.
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The Lobster Shack at Two Lights
225 Two Lights RdClassic lobster and clam shack perched on the edge of the ocean at Two Lights State Park. A 20 minute drive from Portland, you can't ask for a better place to sit outside and eat a lobster roll while you enjoy the natural beauty of the rocky coast.
**Yummy! Poutine and fries of all kinds, this take-out window serves the Oxbow patio, which has great outdoor seating.
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Duckfat Friteshack
43 Washington Ave**Yummy! Poutine and fries of all kinds, this take-out window serves the Oxbow patio, which has great outdoor seating.
**Eat at the indoor or outdoor tables, or buy oysters to shuck at home!
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The Shop by Island Creek Oysters
123 Washington Ave**Eat at the indoor or outdoor tables, or buy oysters to shuck at home!
Lots of options for food at this beautiful park. They tend to be on the pricey side.
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Eastern Promenade
Eastern PromenadeLots of options for food at this beautiful park. They tend to be on the pricey side.
Everything Else
One of the most beautiful public parks I've ever seen, it's situated on a hill overlooking Casco Bay. Playground at the top, bike trail and beach at the bottom. Food trucks always parked in the lot.
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Eastern Promenade
Eastern PromenadeOne of the most beautiful public parks I've ever seen, it's situated on a hill overlooking Casco Bay. Playground at the top, bike trail and beach at the bottom. Food trucks always parked in the lot.
Beautiful sunset views of the city and Back Cove from the summit of Munjoy Hill.
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Fort Sumner Park
64 North StreetBeautiful sunset views of the city and Back Cove from the summit of Munjoy Hill.
This bike/jogging path runs just down the block from us and connects with Portland's bike path system. Go along the water to the Old Port or around Back Cove.
Bayside Trail
Bayside TrailThis bike/jogging path runs just down the block from us and connects with Portland's bike path system. Go along the water to the Old Port or around Back Cove.
Drinks & Nightlife
"Nightlife" is a bit misleading, since breweries and distilleries generally close by 8 or 9 pm.
Places that are under a 5-minute walk from our house are marked with 2 stars **
Other walkable places (under 15 minutes) are marked with one star *
**Another excellent craft brewery in East Bayside, usually featuring tastings, outdoor seating and one of Portland's many gourmet food trucks.
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Rising Tide Brewing Company
103 Fox St**Another excellent craft brewery in East Bayside, usually featuring tastings, outdoor seating and one of Portland's many gourmet food trucks.
**Maine Craft's space on Washington Ave is a homey spot to sample great cocktails and eat amazing food from the full kitchen. They often have live music, and a killer Sunday brunch. Also, foosball!
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Maine Craft Distilling
123 Washington Ave**Maine Craft's space on Washington Ave is a homey spot to sample great cocktails and eat amazing food from the full kitchen. They often have live music, and a killer Sunday brunch. Also, foosball!
**Makers of several varieties of delicious mead (honey wine), these guys have spent years developing a special type of yeast based on ancient South African strains. Often open for tours and tastings.
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Maine Mead Works
51 Washington Ave**Makers of several varieties of delicious mead (honey wine), these guys have spent years developing a special type of yeast based on ancient South African strains. Often open for tours and tastings.
**Oxbow always has delicious, eclectic beers on tap in addition to their flagship Farm House Pale. They also typically have unusual guest ales from far-flung locales. The space is large and open, with picnic tables and a long bar, and great outdoor seating. In non-COVID times, they often have live music. Grab some food from the Friteshack that shares their patio.
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Oxbow Blending & Bottling
49 Washington Ave**Oxbow always has delicious, eclectic beers on tap in addition to their flagship Farm House Pale. They also typically have unusual guest ales from far-flung locales. The space is large and open, with picnic tables and a long bar, and great outdoor seating. In non-COVID times, they often have live music. Grab some food from the Friteshack that shares their patio.
**Yet another great nano brewery in East Bayside with a tasting room, outdoor seating and frequent food trucks.
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Lone Pine Brewing Company
219 Anderson St**Yet another great nano brewery in East Bayside with a tasting room, outdoor seating and frequent food trucks.
**Distillery with nice tables and large doors that open up so you can enjoy the fresh air while you partake! There's also a nice beer garden in the parking lot out front.
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Hardshore Distilling Company
53 Washington Ave**Distillery with nice tables and large doors that open up so you can enjoy the fresh air while you partake! There's also a nice beer garden in the parking lot out front.
**The latest craft brewery to open on Anderson St, Goodfire shares a building with Lone Pine Brewing and focuses on delicious, hop-forward IPAs. Indoor & outdoor seating.
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Goodfire Brewing Co.
219 Anderson St**The latest craft brewery to open on Anderson St, Goodfire shares a building with Lone Pine Brewing and focuses on delicious, hop-forward IPAs. Indoor & outdoor seating.
**Yummy beer, pleasant atmosphere with huge windows and outdoor fires.
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Austin Street Brewery
115 Fox St**Yummy beer, pleasant atmosphere with huge windows and outdoor fires.
**Super cool little bar with a tiny indoor area and a large covered patio. Only place open late in this neighborhood. Often has someone selling BBQ or sandwiches outside.
Has been closed over the winter due to COVID, but we are crossing our fingers that they'll open again soon.
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The Portland Zoo
41 Fox St**Super cool little bar with a tiny indoor area and a large covered patio. Only place open late in this neighborhood. Often has someone selling BBQ or sandwiches outside.
Has been closed over the winter due to COVID, but we are crossing our fingers that they'll open again soon.
Three of Strong Spirits
35B Diamond St**ANOTHER distillery in our neighborhood!
**Delicious kombucha. Also beer. Lots of greenery in both their indoor space and outdoor seating.
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Root Wild Kombucha
135 Washington Ave**Delicious kombucha. Also beer. Lots of greenery in both their indoor space and outdoor seating.
**UFF specializes in Kombucha, cider, tempeh, and more. Nice atmosphere, including outdoor seating.
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Urban Farm Fermentory
200 Anderson St**UFF specializes in Kombucha, cider, tempeh, and more. Nice atmosphere, including outdoor seating.
Essentials
Places that are under a 5-minute walk from our house are marked with 2 stars **
Other walkable places (under 15 minutes) are marked with one star *
Hilltop Superette
135 Congress St*Great convenience store and deli.
*High-end mini-grocery specializing in organic produce, baked goods, prepared foods, wine and beer.
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Rosemont Market & Bakery
40 Pine St*High-end mini-grocery specializing in organic produce, baked goods, prepared foods, wine and beer.
Whole Foods Market
2 Somerset St*Closest big grocery store
*Portland's only food co-op, featuring local organic produce from Maine farms, along with lots of other organic and earth-conscious products and bulk dry goods.
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Portland Food Co-op
290 Congress St*Portland's only food co-op, featuring local organic produce from Maine farms, along with lots of other organic and earth-conscious products and bulk dry goods.
Rite Aid
713 Congress St*The closest pharmacy/drugstore to us.
Sightseeing
*This signal tower, built at the start of the 19th Century, offers expansive views of Portland and Casco Bay. Only open during warm months, be prepared to pay a fee for entry.
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Osservatorio di Portland
138 Congress St*This signal tower, built at the start of the 19th Century, offers expansive views of Portland and Casco Bay. Only open during warm months, be prepared to pay a fee for entry.
Taking the short ferry to Peaks Island is one of our top recommendations when the weather is good. You can rent bikes, get lunch at the cafe or the Inn, and explore some of the hidden beaches on the "back shore". Also, there is an extensive abandoned WWII bunker,. Battery Steele, that is open to explore--just be aware that it's not maintained or staffed, so use common sense (and bring a flashlight).
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Isola Peaks
Taking the short ferry to Peaks Island is one of our top recommendations when the weather is good. You can rent bikes, get lunch at the cafe or the Inn, and explore some of the hidden beaches on the "back shore". Also, there is an extensive abandoned WWII bunker,. Battery Steele, that is open to explore--just be aware that it's not maintained or staffed, so use common sense (and bring a flashlight).
Tha famous, iconic Portland Head Light, as seen on a zillion postcards. Adjacent to Fort Williams Park, where you can picnic and enjoy the views.
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Museo del porto di Portland
12 Captain Strout CircleTha famous, iconic Portland Head Light, as seen on a zillion postcards. Adjacent to Fort Williams Park, where you can picnic and enjoy the views.
Arts & Culture
Saint Lawrence Arts Center
76 Congress St*The East End's venue for local theater.
Portland's big performance venue, Merrill Auditorium is the place to look if you want to get some culture while you're in town. (PortTix is the vendor)
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PortTix
20 Myrtle StPortland's big performance venue, Merrill Auditorium is the place to look if you want to get some culture while you're in town. (PortTix is the vendor)
Getting Around
Catch a 20 minute ferry to Peaks Island for $4-$8 depending on the season; or check out the other islands or the mail boat cruise. BYOB!
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Casco Bay Lines station
Catch a 20 minute ferry to Peaks Island for $4-$8 depending on the season; or check out the other islands or the mail boat cruise. BYOB!
*Just a couple blocks from the house, and a stone's throw from Portland's network of bike paths, Cyclemania is a full service bike shop that also rents bikes.
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CycleMania
65 Cove St*Just a couple blocks from the house, and a stone's throw from Portland's network of bike paths, Cyclemania is a full service bike shop that also rents bikes.