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Arguably the best-known among all of Maine's many outstanding breweries, Allagash was one of the state's pioneers, first opening in the '90s with its signature Belgian-style wheat beer, Allagash White. There are plenty of other styles to discover at the brewery, including wilds, sours, barrel-aged brews, and special seasonal concoctions on tap, and when hunger strikes, there's a Bite Into Maine’s food truck on-site, where you'll find burgers and excellent Maine staples like lobster rolls and whoopie pies. It's a bit out of the way from central Portland, but the above, plus a fun and friendly tasting room, make the brewery well worth the small trek.
50 Industrial Way, Maine, 04103, USA
Known For
- Bite Into Maine Food truck offerings
- One of Maine's brewing pioneers
- Home of Allagash White
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed.
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There are craft cocktails, and then there is Blyth & Burrows, where the alchemy of spirits is taken to the next level with creative concoctions that include the unholy integration of gorgeous (albeit unusual) ingredients such as absinthe foam, house-made black-lime cordial, blackstrap maple-chipotle syrup, and uncommon liqueurs and spirits. Delicious and inspired small plates, like squid ink bao stuffed with tuna tartare, tenderloin with chimichurri, and local meat and cheese boards keep you from falling under the table.
26 Exchange St., Maine, 04101, USA
Known For
- Knock-you-under-the-table cocktails
- Nautical-theme atmosphere filled with antique ships and mermaid figureheads
- Adventurous food that goes well with cocktails
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Housed in a former bakery building, this small and local coffeehouse company pours specialty coffee employing unusually high standards for environmental and economic sustainability. Flavor-wise, the sturdy coffee is brewed from beans they roast themselves, which have become a staple in many locals’ home kitchens. In this space they also bake up quirky and creative baked goods—everything from vegan poptarts to rich daily quiches.
67 India St., Maine, 04101, USA
Known For
- Among Portland’s original artisanal coffee roasters
- Community commitment
- Three locations citywide
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Even in midafternoon, this small, casual, and cool panini-and-more shop in the Old Port is packed. The focus here is everyday farm-to-table fare: the signature Belgian fries are made with Maine potatoes cooked, yes, in duck fat and served in paper cones, and standards include meat loaf and the BGT (bacon, goat cheese, tomato). Drink choices include gelato milk shakes, French-press coffee, lime-mint fountain sodas, beer, and wine.
43 Middle St., Maine, 04101, USA
Known For
- Decadent poutine with duck-fat gravy
- Hopping atmosphere—waits for a table can be long
- Thick milk shakes prepared with local gelato by Gelato Fiasco
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed.
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Not only does Eventide have fresh, tasty oysters from all over Maine and New England, artfully prepared with novel accoutrements like kimchi, ginger ices, and cucumber-champagne mignonette, it also serves delicious crudos and ceviches with unique ingredients like blood orange and chili miso. The menu constantly changes, depending on what's in season. So it's best to order a handful of small plates, a glass of bubbly or one of the signature tiki-style cocktails, and, of course, a dozen oysters.
86 Middle St., Maine, 04101, USA
Known For
- Brown-butter lobster rolls
- A decent selection of alternatives for nonseafood lovers
- Teaming up with other local restaurants for special cook-offs and menus
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Proper Italian gelato and sorbetto here come in traditional flavors as well as more offbeat varieties like torched marshmallow s'more, mascarpone pistachio caramel, and mint brownie cookie. There are new flavors every day, along with espresso and other hot drinks. If you are overwhelmed by all the choices, get the "mystery pint" and have the selection made for you.
425 Fore St., Maine, 04101, USA
Known For
- You can try every single flavor before deciding on what you'll get
- Long lines out the door in the summer
- Multigenerational bonding spot
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Japanese street food takes center stage at this cozy locale. The menu rotates regularly, but you're likely to find uncommon takes on burgers and soba noodles as well as some form of okonomiyaki—a savory pancake filled with crazy-delicious flavor and texture combinations.
339 Fore St., Maine, 04101, USA
Known For
- Ramen
- Steamed buns
- Grilled rice balls
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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In opening this pitch-perfect bagel shop, chef-owner Chad Conley filled a long-neglected gap in Portland's food scene. Here you'll find spot-on New York-style bagels (made in-house every morning) with both expected and unusual add-ons, including pastrami nova, chopped liver, and whitefish salad.
428 Forest Ave., Maine, 04101, USA
Known For
- Family-friendly, neighborhood environment
- House-cured gravlax
- General-store-style shop items including books, games, and specialty food items
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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Let the fact that this incredibly popular outfit doesn’t even bother to call its signature foodstuff “pizza” (but instead, “Sicilian street food”) be your first hint that the pie here is a different animal altogether. And while there are perfectly good sandwiches on offer, almost everyone’s here for the pillowy, chewy, old world--style pizza, by turns smothered in mushrooms or meats, freshly chopped herbs, or graced with a dollop of blue cheese dip. The thin-crusted, designer versions take a tad longer (about 25 minutes), but are always worth the wait—for renditions like pickle and bacon, sausage and bacon, or loaded with prosciutto cotton, black olives, mozzarella, and honey.
25 Preble St., Maine, 04101, USA
Known For
- Good sandwiches
- Dough and pizza fixings to make at home
- Excellent thick- and thin-crust pizzas
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed.
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You'd be hard-pressed to find a more pitch-perfect bakery in the Pine Tree State, but you'll have to pop by early (or put in an order in advance) to get your mitts on these delectable baked goods. The perfectly airy croissants, crusty baguettes, beguiling tarts, dainty Madeleines, and creative breads incorporate locally sourced grains and are nothing short of revelations.
75 Commercial St., Maine, 04101, USA
Known For
- Good selection of locally roasted coffees
- Amazing galettes and brioches
- Creative scones
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A regular stop for pie lovers around the city, Two Fat Cats bakes up delectable bourbon pecan, sour cherry, and coconut cream masterpieces. Meanwhile, the bakery’s whoopie pies rely on light and fluffy, hand-scooped chocolate cake batter and a filling that’s based on whipped vanilla buttercream, not the more typical marshmallow. The signature pie is made with wild Maine blueberries sourced from Maine-based and family-owned Wyman's. A second shop is located at 740 Broadway in South Portland.
195 Lancaster St., Maine, 04101, USA
Known For
- Delicious homemade pies
- Celebration cakes
- Whoopie pies
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The beans sourcing this shop’s delicious brew are bought from a handful of small growers—you can read their bios on the website—and roasted in-house. Enjoy your brew hot, cold, or iced with a locally made baked good.
185 Middle St., Maine, 04101, USA
Known For
- Close relationships with sources
- Passionate, knowledgeable baristas
- Bulk coffee and tea
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For some of the best Mexican food in town, head to this fun, hip spot where the flavors are as vibrant as the turquoise, yellow, and fuchsia decor and the guacamole and salsas are made fresh daily. Wash down achiote-seasoned fish tacos or a citrus-and-cumin-marinated chicken burrito with a lemon-hibiscus refresca (cold drink) or a house margarita.
26 Free St., Maine, 04101, USA
Known For
- Quick bites such as grab-and-go burritos daily until 11 am
- Mexican corn on the cob with chipotle mayo and cotija
- A killer key lime pie
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Opened in early 2018, this high-energy spot serves lobster numerous ways—in a roll, on a stick, on a burger, over a salad, or even with your Bloody Mary. If you're feeling adventurous, try one of the sauces (lime mayo, lobster ghee) on your roll, and wash it all down with a beer from the ever-changing menu, which depends on availability from local breweries.
104 Exchange St., Maine, 04101, USA
Known For
- Origins as a food cart
- The lobby pop (a lobster tail on a stick)
- Highroller whoopie pies baked by the owner's mom
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Don't pass up a chance to try these sweet and savory, all-natural, Maine potato-based doughnuts glazed in flavors such as dark chocolate--sea salt, maple, pomegranate, triple berry, and chai, or stuffed with delicious fillings like bacon and cheddar, or ricotta. There are always new inventions, too, such as salted chocolate caramel and key lime pie.
177 Commercial St., Maine, 04102, USA
Known For
- Long lines, but worth the wait
- Shop closes for the day once all the doughnuts are sold
- Vegan and gluten-free options are available
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This no-fuss counter-service spot, opened by longtime wholesale purveyors of Island Creek Oysters (from Duxbury, Massachusetts), serves seriously fresh shellfish and excellent Maine microbrews (and wine) on tap. A clutch of imported, tinned fish and house-made pickled items that pair very well with oysters are also available.
123 Washington Ave., Maine, 04101, USA
Known For
- Laid-back, family-friendly environment
- Impeccably scrubbed and shucked oysters
- House-made mignonettes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
