Guidebook for South Portland
Food Scene
Really varied menu. Everything is absolutely fabulous. Mostly noodle and rice based dishes with special ingredients like fermented veggies, incredible local seafood, fresh herbs, etc. Excellent cocktails, too. Hip place. Entrees in the $12-16 range usually.
67 locals recommend
The Honey Paw
78 Middle St Really varied menu. Everything is absolutely fabulous. Mostly noodle and rice based dishes with special ingredients like fermented veggies, incredible local seafood, fresh herbs, etc. Excellent cocktails, too. Hip place. Entrees in the $12-16 range usually.
My friends who used to live in DC and profess expertise on the subject of Ethiopian food say Red Sea is the best. I personally like Asmara better, so we're in an ongoing dispute about this. In any case--both are great! This is right @ base of Munjoy Hill.
8 locals recommend
Red Sea
30 Washington AveMy friends who used to live in DC and profess expertise on the subject of Ethiopian food say Red Sea is the best. I personally like Asmara better, so we're in an ongoing dispute about this. In any case--both are great! This is right @ base of Munjoy Hill.
This is a restaurant built in a renovated cathedral! It's a fun experience. Big, open, beautiful space. Pricier--more of a splurge place. Fancy cocktails, apps, and American bistro entres.
26 locals recommend
Grace
15 Chestnut StThis is a restaurant built in a renovated cathedral! It's a fun experience. Big, open, beautiful space. Pricier--more of a splurge place. Fancy cocktails, apps, and American bistro entres.
Bonobo
46 Pine StYummy pizza!
Delectable Italian. Local seafood and produce. Pricier. (Menu doesn't list prices online; my recollection is entres in the $20 range.) Cozy little place.
27 locals recommend
Caiola's
58 Pine StreetDelectable Italian. Local seafood and produce. Pricier. (Menu doesn't list prices online; my recollection is entres in the $20 range.) Cozy little place.
Really fun place. Big, open, often live music. Great BBQ and huge local drinks selection.
62 locals recommend
Salvage BBQ
919 Congress StReally fun place. Big, open, often live music. Great BBQ and huge local drinks selection.
Yummy, simple, wholesome German food. Adorable little place. Quick service and really friendly waitstaff. Reasonable prices.
10 locals recommend
Schulte & Herr
349 Cumberland AveYummy, simple, wholesome German food. Adorable little place. Quick service and really friendly waitstaff. Reasonable prices.
Stupendous dumplings, light fare, and cocktails. Takes ordering quite a bit to fill up (and it's fairly pricey), so best for a light meal. Lovely decor.
63 locals recommend
Bao Bao Dumpling House
133 Spring StStupendous dumplings, light fare, and cocktails. Takes ordering quite a bit to fill up (and it's fairly pricey), so best for a light meal. Lovely decor.
Super fun stop. Kombucha, cider, mead, beer brewed on site. Tasting room with lots of reasonably-priced options. Wacky flavors combinations. Lots of stuff to do nearby in the neighborhood.
47 locals recommend
Urban Farm Fermentory
200 Anderson StSuper fun stop. Kombucha, cider, mead, beer brewed on site. Tasting room with lots of reasonably-priced options. Wacky flavors combinations. Lots of stuff to do nearby in the neighborhood.
Yummy tacos and Mexican food! Quick service. Affordable. Eat-in or take out. Local favorite! Block from CIA coffee shop.
62 locals recommend
Taco Trio
60 Ocean StYummy tacos and Mexican food! Quick service. Affordable. Eat-in or take out. Local favorite! Block from CIA coffee shop.
Cute little coffee shop. They serve ice cream. Super friendly staff. (Last time I was there, the barista was on rollerskates!)
27 locals recommend
Cia Cafe
72 Ocean StCute little coffee shop. They serve ice cream. Super friendly staff. (Last time I was there, the barista was on rollerskates!)
Totally locally famous bakery. Lines out the door and around the block on weekends. Bagels are to die for.
164 locals recommend
Scratch Baking Co
416 Preble StTotally locally famous bakery. Lines out the door and around the block on weekends. Bagels are to die for.
Willard Scoops
429 Preble StNear Scratch. Ice cream! Local favorite.
Fantastic breakfast place. Bagel sandwiches are the specialty. Good coffee too.
39 locals recommend
158 Pickett Street Cafe
158 Benjamin W Pickett StFantastic breakfast place. Bagel sandwiches are the specialty. Good coffee too.
Crazy good pizza. There's also an Ottos on Congress Street (right downtown). If you're looking for quick take-out to take home, this will be easier and faster. They deliver, too. My favorite topping is butternut squash, ricotta, cranberries. It's like Thanksgiving on a pizza.
192 locals recommend
OTTO
576 Congress StCrazy good pizza. There's also an Ottos on Congress Street (right downtown). If you're looking for quick take-out to take home, this will be easier and faster. They deliver, too. My favorite topping is butternut squash, ricotta, cranberries. It's like Thanksgiving on a pizza.
I hesitate to list this place because it's very touristy and usually very crowded. BUT, if you want the "go get lobster" experience, and are willing to pay for it ($ and time), it's a pretty damn fun place. Right on the wharf, usually live music, lively scene. You get a little lobster that lights up when your meal's ready. Tons of seafood besides lobster but it's mostly fried so not your healthy foodie type place.
131 locals recommend
Portland Lobster Co
180 Commercial StI hesitate to list this place because it's very touristy and usually very crowded. BUT, if you want the "go get lobster" experience, and are willing to pay for it ($ and time), it's a pretty damn fun place. Right on the wharf, usually live music, lively scene. You get a little lobster that lights up when your meal's ready. Tons of seafood besides lobster but it's mostly fried so not your healthy foodie type place.
Essentials
Best produce in the city--hands down. Also best local cheese, dairy, meat selection--also hands down, IMO! You can stock up on basics (I do my full grocery shopping there every week), or pop in for a couple treats. Plenty of parking in the lot. Same plaza as Rite Aid. At the base of Munjoy Hill.
49 locals recommend
Portland Food Co-op
290 Congress StBest produce in the city--hands down. Also best local cheese, dairy, meat selection--also hands down, IMO! You can stock up on basics (I do my full grocery shopping there every week), or pop in for a couple treats. Plenty of parking in the lot. Same plaza as Rite Aid. At the base of Munjoy Hill.
Rite Aid
713 Congress StRight around the corner from our house if you need anything.
Drinks & Nightlife
I love this place. Crazy good beer and comfort food-style apps. Little deck overlooking the wharf. Probably busier at "normal" times, so try to go at an off-time. (Generally, I steer clear of Commercial Street for eating in the summer cause it's just so packed.)
34 locals recommend
Liquid Riot Bottling Company
250 Commercial StI love this place. Crazy good beer and comfort food-style apps. Little deck overlooking the wharf. Probably busier at "normal" times, so try to go at an off-time. (Generally, I steer clear of Commercial Street for eating in the summer cause it's just so packed.)
Foulmouthed Brewing
15 Ocean StBrand new local brewery! Casual setting. Fun place.
Fun place. Little indoor bar and brewing space and big outdoor seating area. Tandem Coffee right nearby, as is Urban Farm Fermentary, Milk + Honey (84 Cove St), Coffee by Design (Diamond St). Easy to make an afternoon of the neighborhood.
49 locals recommend
Bunker Brewing Company
17 Westfield StFun place. Little indoor bar and brewing space and big outdoor seating area. Tandem Coffee right nearby, as is Urban Farm Fermentary, Milk + Honey (84 Cove St), Coffee by Design (Diamond St). Easy to make an afternoon of the neighborhood.
This is a below-ground bar that's like Hogwarts on the inside! Exposed brick, lots of candles. Often live music (bluegrass Thursday nights). Great beer selection and mixed drinks.
47 locals recommend
Bramhall
769 Congress StThis is a below-ground bar that's like Hogwarts on the inside! Exposed brick, lots of candles. Often live music (bluegrass Thursday nights). Great beer selection and mixed drinks.
Check listings for local shows. Big open space. Often dancey.
33 locals recommend
Port City Music Hall
504 Congress StCheck listings for local shows. Big open space. Often dancey.
Check listings. Seated venue (vs Port City which is big open space).
116 locals recommend
State Theater
609 Congress StCheck listings. Seated venue (vs Port City which is big open space).
Sightseeing
Iconic lighthouse. Big fields if you like to throw a frisbee. Or good for lounging, reading, picnicking. Great trail walk that goes down to the water on a rocky beach.
346 locals recommend
Portland Harbor Museum
12 Captain Strout CircleIconic lighthouse. Big fields if you like to throw a frisbee. Or good for lounging, reading, picnicking. Great trail walk that goes down to the water on a rocky beach.
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse
2 Fort RdIf you're doing the lighthouse circuit...!
Bug Light
South Portland Greenbelt PathwayIf you're doing the lighthouse circuit...!
If you want to make a 1/2-day or full day of it, take the ferry to Peaks to explore!
176 locals recommend
Peaks Island
If you want to make a 1/2-day or full day of it, take the ferry to Peaks to explore!
My favorite place to relax in Portland. Bring a picnic (grab food @ Co-op on Congress at base of hill), bring a book, bring a frisbee or kite, and chill! Beautiful view of the ocean.
If you're a runner, there's a trail at the bottom that hooks around the coast in both directions. To the left (if you're looking @ the ocean), the trail goes around Back Cove (3.5 mi loop around the cove) and is a beautiful run.
251 locals recommend
Eastern Promenade Trail
Eastern PromenadeMy favorite place to relax in Portland. Bring a picnic (grab food @ Co-op on Congress at base of hill), bring a book, bring a frisbee or kite, and chill! Beautiful view of the ocean.
If you're a runner, there's a trail at the bottom that hooks around the coast in both directions. To the left (if you're looking @ the ocean), the trail goes around Back Cove (3.5 mi loop around the cove) and is a beautiful run.
Parks & Nature
This is my favorite beach in Greater Portland. Big, sandy. Walk all the way to the left and keep going to get past crowds. Costs $10 cash to park in the parking lot that you'll see on your way in. There's a bathroom with rinse-off station by the parking lot. No beachside stores/restaurants, so bring food/drinks with you.
115 locals recommend
Higgins Beach
This is my favorite beach in Greater Portland. Big, sandy. Walk all the way to the left and keep going to get past crowds. Costs $10 cash to park in the parking lot that you'll see on your way in. There's a bathroom with rinse-off station by the parking lot. No beachside stores/restaurants, so bring food/drinks with you.
This is a small beach. If you want to spend a half-day or full day at the beach, I'd hit Higgins. If you want a quick post-meal or ice cream stroll, Willard is great choice.
135 locals recommend
Willard Beach
This is a small beach. If you want to spend a half-day or full day at the beach, I'd hit Higgins. If you want a quick post-meal or ice cream stroll, Willard is great choice.
Trail around the island is about a mile and makes for a lovely walk or run. Goes through woods and you can get down to rocky beaches. You can park on the island; occasionally if it's really busy you have to park on other side of bridge and walk over.
130 locals recommend
Mackworth Island State Park
U.S. 1Trail around the island is about a mile and makes for a lovely walk or run. Goes through woods and you can get down to rocky beaches. You can park on the island; occasionally if it's really busy you have to park on other side of bridge and walk over.
This is a Jersey Shore-style beach. There's a carnival and tons of restaurants, bars, etc. Not my cup of tea but I have friends who absolutely love it.
185 locals recommend
Old Orchard Beach
This is a Jersey Shore-style beach. There's a carnival and tons of restaurants, bars, etc. Not my cup of tea but I have friends who absolutely love it.
3.5 mi path around the cove; connects to Eastern Prom trail. Really beautiful walk/run. Early AM and evening particularly lovely.
38 locals recommend
Back Cove Trail
Back Cove Trail3.5 mi path around the cove; connects to Eastern Prom trail. Really beautiful walk/run. Early AM and evening particularly lovely.
Arts & Culture
Portland Museum of Art
7 Congress SqEverything Else
I go to this yoga studio. Lots of classes every day. Very relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Five min drive from our house.
11 locals recommend
Greener Postures Yoga
740 Broadway StI go to this yoga studio. Lots of classes every day. Very relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Five min drive from our house.