Our Local Guide to Portland, Maine
Brunch Baby!
Good news! The best brunch spots in town are right down the street!
Best sit down brunch in town. Five minute walk. Walk in only, can be about an hour wait. Thankfully, Tandem is right across the street if the line gets too long!
330 locals recommend
Hot Suppa
Best sit down brunch in town. Five minute walk. Walk in only, can be about an hour wait. Thankfully, Tandem is right across the street if the line gets too long!
Best breakfast sandwich in town! A very popular bakery and coffee spot with local ingredients and a trendy vibe. Abundant outdoor seating.
386 locals recommend
Tandem Coffee and Bakery
Best breakfast sandwich in town! A very popular bakery and coffee spot with local ingredients and a trendy vibe. Abundant outdoor seating.
Sights!
Right in our neighborhood and throughout the city!
Just a few blocks from the home, check out the view at the Western Prom as well as the brick Victorian architecture throughout Portland’s famed West End.
69 locals recommend
Western Promenade
Just a few blocks from the home, check out the view at the Western Prom as well as the brick Victorian architecture throughout Portland’s famed West End.
Gorgeous view with trails that lead to the Back Bay and Old Port. 2 miles from the house. If you walk there down Congress and back through the Old Port you get a tour of the entire downtown.
Eastern Promenade
Gorgeous view with trails that lead to the Back Bay and Old Port. 2 miles from the house. If you walk there down Congress and back through the Old Port you get a tour of the entire downtown.
Gorgeous overgrown historic fort. If you go to Portland Paddle at the East End beach, ask for Zach. He will take you on a paddle trip to the fort and you can walk around it!
15 locals recommend
Fort Gorges
Gorgeous overgrown historic fort. If you go to Portland Paddle at the East End beach, ask for Zach. He will take you on a paddle trip to the fort and you can walk around it!
Beautiful coastal park + old fort with the Portland headlight, Maine’s oldest lighthouse. One of the best lobster rolls sold here. History, cliffs, lobster rolls. All in one!
349 locals recommend
Fort Williams Park
Beautiful coastal park + old fort with the Portland headlight, Maine’s oldest lighthouse. One of the best lobster rolls sold here. History, cliffs, lobster rolls. All in one!
Neighborhoods! Ours and others!
Architecture, History and Views
A beautiful historic neighborhood. John Calvin Stevens homes make up many of the historic homes in the West End. The photo with ivy covered home is on a street just two blocks away and on the way to many great restaurants and downtown. Deering Street is worth walking past, in our neighborhood, the West End/Parkside neighborhood. The rest of the West End can be accessed by walking down to the Western Promenade and through the neighborhood that borders it. We suggest taking time to walk through here on your way to the Old Port.
32 locals recommend
West End
A beautiful historic neighborhood. John Calvin Stevens homes make up many of the historic homes in the West End. The photo with ivy covered home is on a street just two blocks away and on the way to many great restaurants and downtown. Deering Street is worth walking past, in our neighborhood, the West End/Parkside neighborhood. The rest of the West End can be accessed by walking down to the Western Promenade and through the neighborhood that borders it. We suggest taking time to walk through here on your way to the Old Port.
The Old Port is a 20 minute walk from the house. Fabulous restaurants, shops, and beautiful old New England streets and wharfs. Try Exchange Street and Commercial St. for shopping. Judith is our favorite for women's fashion, David Wood for men's, and Edgecomb potters makes very cool pottery. Fore Street, Scales, and Street and Co. are among the great restaurant choices and take reservations. Don’t miss it :)
558 locals recommend
Old Port
The Old Port is a 20 minute walk from the house. Fabulous restaurants, shops, and beautiful old New England streets and wharfs. Try Exchange Street and Commercial St. for shopping. Judith is our favorite for women's fashion, David Wood for men's, and Edgecomb potters makes very cool pottery. Fore Street, Scales, and Street and Co. are among the great restaurant choices and take reservations. Don’t miss it :)
Trendy neighborhood with great views of the harbor. Check out the Eastern Prom!
18 locals recommend
East End
Trendy neighborhood with great views of the harbor. Check out the Eastern Prom!
Food scene
Hit us up for recommendations. We are shameless foodies and love supporting our local restaurants.
Street and Co and Scales are the best seafood in town. They are owned by the same group, and also own Fore Street. Scales is excellent fish and is in the Old Port harbor.
240 locals recommend
Scales
Street and Co and Scales are the best seafood in town. They are owned by the same group, and also own Fore Street. Scales is excellent fish and is in the Old Port harbor.
Perhaps the best all around dinner spot. Owners of this venue also own Scales and Street and Co, which I would argue is the best seafood in town.
153 locals recommend
Fore Street
Perhaps the best all around dinner spot. Owners of this venue also own Scales and Street and Co, which I would argue is the best seafood in town.
One of, if not the best, seafood places in town. Go here for Maine lobster!
162 locals recommend
Street & Co
One of, if not the best, seafood places in town. Go here for Maine lobster!
Really excellent Japanese street food a short walk away. We recommend walking through Deering Street and checking out the architecture on your way. If you like spice, get the Tokyo Abura.
183 locals recommend
Pai Men Miyake
Really excellent Japanese street food a short walk away. We recommend walking through Deering Street and checking out the architecture on your way. If you like spice, get the Tokyo Abura.
Authentic Chinese hot pot. Spicy and really excellent. Can't go wrong here, as long as you are ok with spice.
22 locals recommend
Sichuan Kitchen
Authentic Chinese hot pot. Spicy and really excellent. Can't go wrong here, as long as you are ok with spice.
Best Thai food in town! Right down the street. Check out Deering Street architecture on your way!
158 locals recommend
Boda
Best Thai food in town! Right down the street. Check out Deering Street architecture on your way!
A fantastic Spanish/american restaurant in the heart of the West End. Ilma is the owner and she is a world famous pastry chef. Everything is top notch here including the wine, vibe, and crew.
65 locals recommend
Chaval
A fantastic Spanish/american restaurant in the heart of the West End. Ilma is the owner and she is a world famous pastry chef. Everything is top notch here including the wine, vibe, and crew.
Miyake
Best sushi I've ever had, and I have had a lot of sushi.
James Beard award winner 2024, down the street. If the line is too long, ugly duckling and ocotillo, both fabulous brunch spots are right next door :)
26 locals recommend
ZUbakery
James Beard award winner 2024, down the street. If the line is too long, ugly duckling and ocotillo, both fabulous brunch spots are right next door :)
Food to Cook, Shuck, and Roll Scene
Local ingredients, local folks, local flavor.
The real deal! This is where the restaurants get their fish and lobster and oysters! Worth checking it out while you are in the Old Port, even if you wander up to Eventide for fresh shucked oysters afterward!
46 locals recommend
Harbor Fish Market
The real deal! This is where the restaurants get their fish and lobster and oysters! Worth checking it out while you are in the Old Port, even if you wander up to Eventide for fresh shucked oysters afterward!
Open Wednesdays and Saturdays at Deering Oaks Park, 2 blocks away. Fresh local ingredients and a cool arts scene to check out!
76 locals recommend
Portland Farmers' Market
Open Wednesdays and Saturdays at Deering Oaks Park, 2 blocks away. Fresh local ingredients and a cool arts scene to check out!
If you aren’t able to make it to Harbor Fish or the farmers market (the source) but feel like cooking up some delicious local flavors, Rosemont market is right down the street and stocks its shelves with locally farmed in season ingredients.
231 locals recommend
Rosemont Market & Bakery
If you aren’t able to make it to Harbor Fish or the farmers market (the source) but feel like cooking up some delicious local flavors, Rosemont market is right down the street and stocks its shelves with locally farmed in season ingredients.
Shows!
Coming to a theater near you!
State Theatre
Live and Direct and only a 10 minute walk!
Thompson's Point
More shows! Great outdoor venue 1 mile away!