Portland is a foodie city.  What are you in the mood for?

• Breakfast

  • Donuts: Holy Donut (multiple locations)

  • Bread & Friends

  • Just outside Portland

    • Breakfast sandos: Honeycomb cafe + golf (hitting balls into a lake)

• Lunch

  • Lobster Rolls

    • Portland Lobster Company (summer months)

    • Bite Into Maine (multiple locations)

  • Sandwiches

  • Yosaku - Japanese, known for lunchtime bento boxes

  • 
    

  • Just outside Portland

    • Indy's Sandwich (SoPo)

• Dinner

  • Asian Vibes

    • The Honey Paw (They tend to open up a few reservation options a week out)

    • Empire Chinese Kitchen - Great Chinese takeout and gluten free options

    • Boda - Thai food

  • Farm to Table/Spanish

    • Chaval

  • Seafood

    • Lobstah

      • The Highroller Lobster Co.

      • Portland Lobster Company (often have live music)

      • Luke's Lobster (lobster roll varieties, incl. gluten free)

      • Bite Into Maine (lobster roll varieties, incl. gluten free)

    • Oysters

      • Maine Oyster Company (can be a bit of a sketchy area but should be ok if you pay attention)

      • The Shop (prosecco on tap)

  • Tacos & Warmer Climate Fare

    • Bird & Co - unique and delicious taco combinations

    • Maiz - Incredible Columbian food, don't forget to add a pan de bono as a snack before (and/or after) your arepa!

    • El Rayo - amazing fish tacos

    • Taco Trio (SoPo)

    • Bayside Bowl - rooftop taco truck

  • Popular right now

    • Twelve for seafood vibes (if you can grab a spot at the bar when they open that usually works)

    • Leeward is the other popular Italian spot right now (haven't been but good reviews)

  • Pinky Out Ish

    • Fore Street Restaurant (Likely need a reservation but they do take some walk ins)

    • Scales (seafood focused, get a reservation or head to the bar at opening)

  • Vegetarian/Vegan

    • Green Elephant

  • Late Night

    • Boda - Excellent Thai food

  • Desert & Snacks

    • Hawaiian shaved ice - Zephyr Ice

    • Ice cream - Sticky Sweet

  • Happy Hour

    • Cafe Louis (SoPo) - smashburgers and other treats/drinks

    • Chaval - Apps & vermouth flights

    • Little Tap House - woman owned

    • The North Point

There are lots of options for quenching your thirst! I would recommend picking a zone (I've made them up, they're not real zones!) and safely checking out options in an area of the city.

• • Zone 1, East Bayside area: Austin Street, Rising Tide Brewing Company, Three of Strong Spirits, Apres, Portland Zoo, Orange Bike, Belleflower Brewing, Urban Farm Fermentory, Lone Pine Brewing, Goodfire Brewing, Eighteen Twenty Wines, Blue Lobster Urban Winery, Freedom's Edge Cider

  • Zone 2, Washington Ave area, up the hill: Anoche, Oxbow Blending & Bottling, Hardshore Distilling, Maine Loire, Maine Craft Distilling, Root Wild Kombucha, Newscapes Brewing, (honorary around the corner: Night Mares, Jerome's, Cocktail Mary's)

  • Zone 3, Old Port area: Turn in any direction and you will find options!

  • Zone 4, on the move with a DD: Bunker Hill Brewing, Bissell Brothers, Great Lost Bear (lots of options on tap), Allagash

Choose your poison:

• • Beer

    • • Bunker Hill Brewing, Bissell Brothers, Great Lost Bear (lots of options on tap), Austin Street, Portland Zoo, Orange Bike, Austin Street, Rising Tide Brewing Company, Lone Pine Brewing, Goodfire Brewing, Belleflower Brewing, Allagash, Sea Dog Brewing, Nova Res Bier Cafe

  • Whisky - Independent Ice Co., Bramhall

  • Cocktails - Go closer to open to Blythe and Burrows.  

  • Wine / vermouth / cider - Anoche (they have my fav g&ts of all time too, Spanish style), Chaval, Maine Loire (more of a wine store but have 3 options on tap and many natural options), Eighteen Twenty Wines, Blue Lobster Urban Winery, Freedom's Edge Cider, Angoor

  • Good vibes

    • • In SoPo - Lambs

  • Miscellaneous

    • • Seltzer - Apres does an incredible job for drinks and ambiance

      • Cider - Freedom's Edge Cider

      • Rum - Three of Strong

      • Coffee - Tandem Coffee Roasters, Coffee by Design, Rwanda Bean

  • Cheap & Easy:

    • • Lincoln's is $5 cash for every drink... if you can find them!

      • Most places on Fore St. if you're feeling bachelor(ette) party vibes

    • Mocktails

      • Botanically Curious

There are things for everybody to enjoy around the Portland area!  Here are some highlights:

• Outside Activities

  • Land Walks (dog and sneaker friendly): 

    • Oat Nuts Trail (1.4-3.5mi, dirt hiking trails, approx. 20-60min depending on starts/ends/loops)

    • Mackworth (Fairy) Island (1.25mi, pressed dirt, approx. 40min loop)

    • Back Cove Trail (3.5mi, mix of paved and dirt, approx. 75min loop)

    • Eastern Promenade Trail (2.1mi, paved and crushed stone dust, approx 45min)

  • On the Water:

    • Sail on a schooner

    • Mail boat run (or other cruise)

    • Book a magical tour of Fortland

  • Summer: 

    • Concerts at Thompson's Point

    • Farmers Market at Deering Oaks Park (Saturday mornings, 7am-1pm)

    • Eastern Promenade: Food trucks, play ground, lounge space on grass or by the water

    • Watch a baseball game (Portland Sea Dogs, the Double-A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox)

    • Lighthouses of South Portland: Bug Light, Portland Head Light, Spring Point Ledge

  • Winter: 

    • Ice skating at Thompson's Point

    • Maker's Market at Thompson's Point

    • Farmers Market at The Maine Girls' Academy (Saturday mornings, 631 Stevens Ave, Portland, ME 04103)

    • Watch a hockey game (Maine Mariners)

• Indoor activities

  • Live music

    • The best thing to do is check socials for more specific events and timing.  If you're downtown, check out The Thirsty Pig closer to 7pm and late night closer to 10pm at Ri Ra down by the water. Top of the East has a cool view and has music 6-8pm on some nights.  Many breweries will have live music on various evenings as well.

  • Museums

    • Portland Museum of Art

  • Entertainment

    • Bowling - Bayside Bowl (2 locations, Portland (has a taco truck on the roof) & SoPo)

    • Barcade - Arcadia (21+)

  • Go shopping

    • See what deals you can find at Marden's over in Scarborough