In July, Portland was our second stop on our Maine Summer Road Trip. Summertime brings tourists to the Maine coast in search of cooler weather, but we found the crowds to be manageable for the most part within the city itself. Our priority in Portland was the food scene and we planned the rest of our day around our meals. I’ve included all of our favorite spots in this blog. I hope this weekend guide to Portland, Maine inspires you to plan your next weekend getaway or even your own Maine Summer Road Trip!
Snapshot
2+ DAYS
Best TIme to Visit – June through August for the best weather, October for fall foliage
Weather – Highs of 70-80F in the summer with cooler evenings
Getting Around – Rental Car
Nearby Airports – Boston Logan (BOS), Portland International (pdx)
Where to Stay
Black Elephant Hostel $ – private rooms and dorm rooms are available at its highly-rated hostel. This is where we stayed and had a great experience
Portland Harbor Hotel $$ – clean rooms with an excellent location in the Old Port near the waterfront
Pomegranate Inn $$ – a historic, pet-friendly bed and breakfast with whimsical rooms
Press Hotel $$$$ – a historic newspaper building turned chic hotel, this is where I’d want to splurge
Where to Eat
Tandem – excellent coffee with tasty bakery breakfast items
Bard Coffee – this small cafe has been serving coffee to Portland for over ten years. The Vietnamese iced coffee was fantastic!
Holy Donut – a very famous shop that makes their donuts with potatoes (so you don’t have to feel as guilty) and provides many unique flavors to choose from
Scratch – the perfect place to pick up your morning coffee, bagels, bread, and sweet treats
Rose Foods – one of our favorite breakfasts of the trip, they serve fresh, customizable bagel sandwiches
Standard Baking Co. – all the delicious pastries you could possibly want
Bayside American Cafe – a charming brunch spot located in a historic building in the Bayside neighborhood
Duckfat – well known for serving up casual eats and famous french fries
Eventide Oyster Co. – fresh seafood in the heart of the Old Port. Order the crab roll, fish sandwich, ceviche, and oysters of course! This was our favorite lunch of the trip!
Solo Italiano – authentic and fresh, this is the perfect spot to go for date night or with a group when you get tired of seafood (if that’s even possible)
Central Provisions – small plates with an ever-changing menu. If you have one meal in Portland, make it this one
Fore Street – upscale dining with a menu that changes daily. Reservations are recommended.
Street & Company – the sister restaurant to Fore Street, this is a great alternative
Beal’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream – in business for over thirty years, Beal’s now serves ice cream in five Portland-area locations
Portland Hunt and Alpine Club – come for a pre-dinner cocktail or a post-dinner nightcap
What to Do
Walk around the Old Port – Portland’s historic district, complete with cobblestone streets, salty ocean air, and an abundance of shops and eateries
Portland Head Light – an impressive lighthouse with lovely walking paths along the coast
Portland Breakwater Lighthouse (aka Bug Light) – the cutest little lighthouse you’ll ever see, complete with views over Casco Bay
Maine Mead Works – if the weather is not on your side, a mead tasting would be a fun and unique way to spend an afternoon
Portland Paddle – rent sea kayaks or stand-up paddle on a guided tour or on your own. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends
Ferry to Peaks Island – escape the mainland and get out on the water with this 20-minute ferry ride. We enjoyed watching the sunset from Peaks Island but you could easily make a day of it and rent bikes from Brad’s or kayaks from Maine Island Kayak
If you enjoyed this weekend guide to Portland, Maine, be sure to check out our Maine Summer Road Trip Guide and our Weekend Guide to Kennebunkport.