Guidebook for the Charming West End
Bao Bao
BODA , 671 Congress Street. Just a couple of blocks away on Longfellow Square.Asian tapas that are delicious and affordable with cool bar to have drinks while you wait. Serve late 7 days a week and half price plates every Sunday night after 10. Always busy but they will take your cell # and call you when your table is ready.
147 locals recommend
Boda
671 Congress StBODA , 671 Congress Street. Just a couple of blocks away on Longfellow Square.Asian tapas that are delicious and affordable with cool bar to have drinks while you wait. Serve late 7 days a week and half price plates every Sunday night after 10. Always busy but they will take your cell # and call you when your table is ready.
Excellent food that we highly recommend. Lots of great press including Portland's Best new restaurant. No reservations but nice bar downstairs while you wait for table. One of our absolute favorites.
145 locals recommend
Central Provisions
414 Fore StExcellent food that we highly recommend. Lots of great press including Portland's Best new restaurant. No reservations but nice bar downstairs while you wait for table. One of our absolute favorites.
Friendly, bustling with excellent seafood pasta dishes. Great seafood pastas. An institution and one of of Portlands best.
114 locals recommend
Street & Co
33 Wharf StFriendly, bustling with excellent seafood pasta dishes. Great seafood pastas. An institution and one of of Portlands best.
Green Elephant
608 Congress StBest vegetarian restaurant. Asian cuisine.
Great little restaurant that Cindy and I love. Very reasonable for the culinary quality of food they serve and great friendly service. Lunch, dinners and Weekend brunch are excellent. 11;30am - 9:30pm
http://isaportlandme.com
28 locals recommend
Isa
79 Portland StGreat little restaurant that Cindy and I love. Very reasonable for the culinary quality of food they serve and great friendly service. Lunch, dinners and Weekend brunch are excellent. 11;30am - 9:30pm
http://isaportlandme.com
OTTO
576 Congress StGreat pizza in Portland
If you've never had a Sicilian slab, expand your concept of the meaning of pizza. My favorite. Great outdoor deck and excellent local craft beer selection. Serves late.
40 locals recommend
Slab
25 Preble StIf you've never had a Sicilian slab, expand your concept of the meaning of pizza. My favorite. Great outdoor deck and excellent local craft beer selection. Serves late.
Good small plates, tapas and bar. Great brunches on. Saturday and Sunday
142 locals recommend
Local 188
685 Congress StGood small plates, tapas and bar. Great brunches on. Saturday and Sunday
Best place to eat lobster that also overlooks Maine's classic rocky coast and next to the historic Two Lights park
Pretty basic with self service. Near two famous light houses and beautiful Two Lights State Park.
136 locals recommend
The Lobster Shack at Two Lights
225 Two Lights RdBest place to eat lobster that also overlooks Maine's classic rocky coast and next to the historic Two Lights park
Pretty basic with self service. Near two famous light houses and beautiful Two Lights State Park.
Excellent Asian noodles, good craft beer selection, open late and just a couple of blocks away. Their Brussel Sprouts are to die for.
148 locals recommend
Pai Men Miyake
188 State StExcellent Asian noodles, good craft beer selection, open late and just a couple of blocks away. Their Brussel Sprouts are to die for.
East Ender, 47 Middle Street • Restaurants • 426 Woodstock Rd
Thoughtfully sourced American fare, craft beer, wine & cocktails served in a relaxed atmosphere. Address: 47 Middle St, Portland, ME 0410
23 locals recommend
East Ender
47 Middle StEast Ender, 47 Middle Street • Restaurants • 426 Woodstock Rd
Thoughtfully sourced American fare, craft beer, wine & cocktails served in a relaxed atmosphere. Address: 47 Middle St, Portland, ME 0410
I don't even like oysters, which I hear are amazing, but Cindy and I love this place. Many excellent other small plate seafood dishes, cool atmosphere and service. Just won the 2017 James Beard Award for Best Northeast Chef.
272 locals recommend
Eventide Oyster Co.
86 Middle StI don't even like oysters, which I hear are amazing, but Cindy and I love this place. Many excellent other small plate seafood dishes, cool atmosphere and service. Just won the 2017 James Beard Award for Best Northeast Chef.
NEIGHBORHOOD WEST END BRASSERIE WITH
SPANISH & FRENCH INSPIRED SEASONAL CUISINE. Nice backyard deck, year around igloos and incredible food. Just a 1 minute walk around the corner on Pine street.
47 locals recommend
CHAVAL
58 Pine StNEIGHBORHOOD WEST END BRASSERIE WITH
SPANISH & FRENCH INSPIRED SEASONAL CUISINE. Nice backyard deck, year around igloos and incredible food. Just a 1 minute walk around the corner on Pine street.
Great breakfast and other sandwiches takeout.. Best neighborhood store to find many of Portlands excellent craft beers.
64 locals recommend
Ohno Cafe
87 Brackett StGreat breakfast and other sandwiches takeout.. Best neighborhood store to find many of Portlands excellent craft beers.
Duckfat
43 Middle StPossibly the best Belgian fries in America but everything there is good.
Our favorite place to get a lobster roll. The lobster bisque in a boule is delicious as well. Great beer selection.
61 locals recommend
The Highroller Lobster Co
104 Exchange StOur favorite place to get a lobster roll. The lobster bisque in a boule is delicious as well. Great beer selection.
Incredible duckfat fries and more. Also have a takeout at Oxbow brewing on Washington Avenue.
173 locals recommend
Duckfat
43 Middle StIncredible duckfat fries and more. Also have a takeout at Oxbow brewing on Washington Avenue.
Mi Sen
630 Congress StTandem Coffee and Bakery
742 Congress StGreat coffee, lattes and amazing baked goods
Tandem Coffee and Bakery
742 Congress StExcellent coffees and amazing baked goods.
Ugly Duckling Maine
West End's newest Coffee shop and breakfast spot
Excellent artisanal breads. Love the Sunflower Seed Rye bread on Saturdays.On Clark Street and near corner of Danforth St. Walkable.
ZUbakery
Excellent artisanal breads. Love the Sunflower Seed Rye bread on Saturdays.On Clark Street and near corner of Danforth St. Walkable.
Scales
68 Commercial StBest Breweries, Drinks & Pubs
Best neighborhood to explore Portland's excellent and ever expanding craft scene is East Bayside, now commonly referred to as "Yeast Bayside" and located on Fox Street, Anderson Street and Washington Ave. There are 7 breweries, 3 distilleries, as well as several meaderies, hard ciders, kombuchares and meaderies all within easy walking distance of each other.
Neat bar with great literary themed decor. Working typewriters in case you are inspired by Longfellows statue across the street. Excellent local beer selection. On Longfellow Square, 188 State Street
88 locals recommend
LFK
188 State StNeat bar with great literary themed decor. Working typewriters in case you are inspired by Longfellows statue across the street. Excellent local beer selection. On Longfellow Square, 188 State Street
Nice local beer selection and out side seating. Free appetizer with drink during Happy Hour 4-7pm Mon-Fri
28 locals recommend
Little Tap House
106 High StNice local beer selection and out side seating. Free appetizer with drink during Happy Hour 4-7pm Mon-Fri
Overpriced drinks and not locally owned, but one the best view in Portland. Great at sunset, with sun setting over Mt Washington in New Hampshire, overview of the waterfront and all the islands.
Eastland Park Hotel
157 High StOverpriced drinks and not locally owned, but one the best view in Portland. Great at sunset, with sun setting over Mt Washington in New Hampshire, overview of the waterfront and all the islands.
Phenomenal beer selection, cool rathskeller interior and lovely out door deck. Beer geek heaven.
85 locals recommend
Novare Res Bier Cafe
4 Canal PlazaPhenomenal beer selection, cool rathskeller interior and lovely out door deck. Beer geek heaven.
An excellent brewery with large indoor and out door tasting and their own food truck. The first brewery to open in this neighborhood called East Bayside. It is now such a Mecca for craft breweries, whiskey distillers, winery, mead, kombucha, mead and other fermentories that the neighborhood is nor referred to as "Yeast Bayside" . There are now over 15 tasting rooms within easy walking distance of each other.Try the MITA, Daymark, Cutter, Nikita stout and whatever their seasonal is at the time.
138 locals recommend
Rising Tide Brewing Company
103 Fox StAn excellent brewery with large indoor and out door tasting and their own food truck. The first brewery to open in this neighborhood called East Bayside. It is now such a Mecca for craft breweries, whiskey distillers, winery, mead, kombucha, mead and other fermentories that the neighborhood is nor referred to as "Yeast Bayside" . There are now over 15 tasting rooms within easy walking distance of each other.Try the MITA, Daymark, Cutter, Nikita stout and whatever their seasonal is at the time.
Allagash Brewing Company
50 Industrial WayAmazing Belgian beers with great tours.
One of the best IPA's in Maine. Try the Substance or if your timing is lucky then the amazing DIPA, Swish, if available.
Note; No longer at 1 Industrial Way but now at Thompson Point near the bus/AMTRAK staton.
102 locals recommend
Bissell Brothers
38 Resurgam PlOne of the best IPA's in Maine. Try the Substance or if your timing is lucky then the amazing DIPA, Swish, if available.
Note; No longer at 1 Industrial Way but now at Thompson Point near the bus/AMTRAK staton.
Phenomenally clean and crispy hoppy beers. Try LUNCH, Mo and Dinner if you can get it. Expensive, but worth the drive. Available in some stores and on tap around Portland,
86 locals recommend
Maine Beer Company
525 US-1Phenomenally clean and crispy hoppy beers. Try LUNCH, Mo and Dinner if you can get it. Expensive, but worth the drive. Available in some stores and on tap around Portland,
The beer is very good and it is right next door to Foundation and Alagash breweries, two of the best in New England.
70 locals recommend
Austin Street Brewery
115 Fox StThe beer is very good and it is right next door to Foundation and Alagash breweries, two of the best in New England.
Good way to tour multiple breweries and not have to drive or find them. Go to:
TheMaineBrewBus.com
43 locals recommend
The Maine Brew Bus
320 Commercial StGood way to tour multiple breweries and not have to drive or find them. Go to:
TheMaineBrewBus.com
My favorite double IPA at the moment but all their beer is excellent. Super juicy, hazy, unfiltered New England style IPA. Especially love Tessalation, but OH-J and Brightside are excellent too. Check out newest Portland brewery Good Fire upstairs in the same building, as well as Urban Farm Fermentory and Rising Tide just down the street.
68 locals recommend
Lone Pine Brewing Company
219 Anderson StMy favorite double IPA at the moment but all their beer is excellent. Super juicy, hazy, unfiltered New England style IPA. Especially love Tessalation, but OH-J and Brightside are excellent too. Check out newest Portland brewery Good Fire upstairs in the same building, as well as Urban Farm Fermentory and Rising Tide just down the street.
Some of the best New England style IPA's any where. Juicy, hazy, full bodied and not bitter like traditional West Coast style IPS's.
37 locals recommend
Goodfire Brewing Co.
219 Anderson StSome of the best New England style IPA's any where. Juicy, hazy, full bodied and not bitter like traditional West Coast style IPS's.
Love all their beers, especially some of their pilseners. Walking distance from house.
49 locals recommend
Bunker Brewing Company
17 Westfield StLove all their beers, especially some of their pilseners. Walking distance from house.
One of Portland's newest breweries and excellent as well.
10 locals recommend
Belleflower Brewing Company
66 Cove StreetOne of Portland's newest breweries and excellent as well.
Mast Landing Brewing Company
920 Main StArts & Music & Culture
Excellent music with 3 shows a night (jazz, folk, worldbeat, blues) No cover but a hat is passed through audience each show for the musicians.
71 locals recommend
Blue
650 Congress StExcellent music with 3 shows a night (jazz, folk, worldbeat, blues) No cover but a hat is passed through audience each show for the musicians.
Excellent art museum designed by IM Pei Associates. Jazz brunch on Sundays and Free admission on Fridays
412 locals recommend
Portland Museum of Art
7 Congress SqExcellent art museum designed by IM Pei Associates. Jazz brunch on Sundays and Free admission on Fridays
SPACE
534-538 Congress StGreat performance space and gallery.
Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine
250 Thompsons Point RoadGreat concert venue in historic vaudeville theatre. National and international acts. 1500capacity
116 locals recommend
State Theater
609 Congress StGreat concert venue in historic vaudeville theatre. National and international acts. 1500capacity
Nice small concert venue with diverse, national and local talent. Just a five minute walk and next to Portland native son.Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's statue.
61 locals recommend
One Longfellow Square
181 State StNice small concert venue with diverse, national and local talent. Just a five minute walk and next to Portland native son.Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's statue.
Congress Square Park
Thompson Point, Portland, ME 04102, USA
Great Outdoor Concert Venue May September
Parks & Nature
Great little park in the dead center of the Arts District. Food trucks, WiFI and numerous art and music events.
20 locals recommend
Congress Square Park
Great little park in the dead center of the Arts District. Food trucks, WiFI and numerous art and music events.
Gorgeous ocean views, second oldest lighthouse in the US and for your iconic, classic Maine coast group photo (Lighthouse, rocky coast, crashing waves and islands in the background. Also a really nice public park with playground, ocean trail, picnic tables and food truck
229 locals recommend
Fort Williams Park
1000 Shore RdGorgeous ocean views, second oldest lighthouse in the US and for your iconic, classic Maine coast group photo (Lighthouse, rocky coast, crashing waves and islands in the background. Also a really nice public park with playground, ocean trail, picnic tables and food truck
Just a couple of blocks away from your AirBnB. (Take right outside your door then left onto Pine Street. 5 blocks to the Western Prom)Great place to take a walk with great sunsets and views all the way to the White Mountains and Mt Washington in New Hampshire. Free Western Prom Sunset Concerts organized by your AirBnB host Kris so ask us him for details and check the concert calendar in your Guestbook lThey all start one hour before sunsets on Wednesdays from mid-July through September.
68 locals recommend
Western Promenade Park
Valley StreetJust a couple of blocks away from your AirBnB. (Take right outside your door then left onto Pine Street. 5 blocks to the Western Prom)Great place to take a walk with great sunsets and views all the way to the White Mountains and Mt Washington in New Hampshire. Free Western Prom Sunset Concerts organized by your AirBnB host Kris so ask us him for details and check the concert calendar in your Guestbook lThey all start one hour before sunsets on Wednesdays from mid-July through September.
Scarborough Beach
Black Point RdOur favorite beach.
Best surfing beach. 15 minute drive. Parking in Public Parking Lot only (on left as you head towards beach.)
Surf Webcam; http://www.higginsbeachproperties.com/id69.htm
115 locals recommend
Higgins Beach
Best surfing beach. 15 minute drive. Parking in Public Parking Lot only (on left as you head towards beach.)
Surf Webcam; http://www.higginsbeachproperties.com/id69.htm
Classic rocky Maine coast view. Picnic spots with grills. Drive further out to end of that peninsula to see famous twin lighthouses, painted by Edward Hopper. The Lobster Shack is the perfect place to grab a lobster roll and watch the crashing waves.
144 locals recommend
Two Lights State Park
7 Tower DrClassic rocky Maine coast view. Picnic spots with grills. Drive further out to end of that peninsula to see famous twin lighthouses, painted by Edward Hopper. The Lobster Shack is the perfect place to grab a lobster roll and watch the crashing waves.
Ferry Road Beach
50 Ferry RdNo waves, but warmer water and fantastic sunsets over the marsh.
A nice rail to trail hiking/biking trail across Scarborough Marsh.
8 locals recommend
Eastern Trail (Scarborough)
Eastern Trail (Scarborough)A nice rail to trail hiking/biking trail across Scarborough Marsh.
Beautiful park with playground, duckpond, tennis and pickleball courts, wading pool and farmers market on Saturday mornings May through October. Easy 10 minute waLK.
87 locals recommend
Deering Oaks Park
Beautiful park with playground, duckpond, tennis and pickleball courts, wading pool and farmers market on Saturday mornings May through October. Easy 10 minute waLK.
Best loop trail for walking, jogging and slow biking as well as great views of the city, the Back Cove and sunsets. 3.2 miles for a full loop
Baxter Boulevard
Baxter BoulevardBest loop trail for walking, jogging and slow biking as well as great views of the city, the Back Cove and sunsets. 3.2 miles for a full loop
A beautiful neighborhood park with gorgeous sunsets over the White Mountains. We organize a free Western Prom Sunset Concert Series every Wednesday evening from mid July until late August and starting one hour before sunset. A short 10 minute walk from your AirBnB. (Take a right outside of our building, then a left onto Pine Street. The Western Prom is straight ahead in 6 blocks). Ask us for concert schedule details.
68 locals recommend
Western Promenade Park
Valley Street A beautiful neighborhood park with gorgeous sunsets over the White Mountains. We organize a free Western Prom Sunset Concert Series every Wednesday evening from mid July until late August and starting one hour before sunset. A short 10 minute walk from your AirBnB. (Take a right outside of our building, then a left onto Pine Street. The Western Prom is straight ahead in 6 blocks). Ask us for concert schedule details.
Sightseeing
An excellent walk and bike trail with a small beach. Best view of Casco Bay, the islands and Portland harbor. Also a fantastic place to watch sunrise over the Atlantic. Connects to Baxter Boulevard trail which goes around the Back Cove.
42 locals recommend
Eastern Promenade Trail
Eastern Promenade TrailAn excellent walk and bike trail with a small beach. Best view of Casco Bay, the islands and Portland harbor. Also a fantastic place to watch sunrise over the Atlantic. Connects to Baxter Boulevard trail which goes around the Back Cove.
Cool wooden tower built to watch for incoming sailing ships in the 1800's.
Lots of steps to the top but worth it for the 360 degree view of Portland and the ocean
132 locals recommend
Portland Observatory
138 Congress StCool wooden tower built to watch for incoming sailing ships in the 1800's.
Lots of steps to the top but worth it for the 360 degree view of Portland and the ocean
Shopping
A cool sock for every kind of person in the world. The perfect gift for yourself or anyone
8 locals recommend
The Sock Shack
564 Congress StA cool sock for every kind of person in the world. The perfect gift for yourself or anyone
Entertainment & Activities
Beautiful park, with duck pond, playground, tennis courts, some live performances at the shell and great farmers market from 7am til 1 pm on Saturdays form May to end of October.
87 locals recommend
Deering Oaks Park
Beautiful park, with duck pond, playground, tennis courts, some live performances at the shell and great farmers market from 7am til 1 pm on Saturdays form May to end of October.
Sun Tiki Studios