Erin And Steve’s guidebook
Restaurants: Old Port
Exceptional seafood in a beautiful open dining room right on the water with massive windows looking out on the boats. Beautiful light in every season. Fine dining but casual. Expensive, but worth it if you want exceptional seafood and you’re looking to splurge.
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Scales
68 Commercial StExceptional seafood in a beautiful open dining room right on the water with massive windows looking out on the boats. Beautiful light in every season. Fine dining but casual. Expensive, but worth it if you want exceptional seafood and you’re looking to splurge.
Also exceptional seafood, in a more intimate setting. Romantic place to sit at the bar for oysters and martinis.
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Street & Co
33 Wharf StAlso exceptional seafood, in a more intimate setting. Romantic place to sit at the bar for oysters and martinis.
Award-winning spot for oysters, lobster rolls, and other small plate seafood. Streetside tables. Can get crowded during peak hours.
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Eventide Oyster Co.
86 Middle StAward-winning spot for oysters, lobster rolls, and other small plate seafood. Streetside tables. Can get crowded during peak hours.
Breakfast/Lunch/Cheap Eats
Popular West End spot for breakfast on-the-go. Bagel and bialy sandwiches all-day, quality beer and wine selection at reasonable prices.
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Ohno Cafe
87 Brackett StPopular West End spot for breakfast on-the-go. Bagel and bialy sandwiches all-day, quality beer and wine selection at reasonable prices.
These guys roast their own coffee and make excellent artisanal pastries, sandwiches, and other baked items. Limited indoor seating plus outdoor picnic tables. Crowded on weekends. 8-minute walk from the house.
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The West End Deli & Catering Inc
545 Spring StThese guys roast their own coffee and make excellent artisanal pastries, sandwiches, and other baked items. Limited indoor seating plus outdoor picnic tables. Crowded on weekends. 8-minute walk from the house.
Nothing fancy about this place, but it's delicious, authentic, homey German food AND it's BYOB. Friendly and reasonably priced--a memorable experience.
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Schulte & Herr
349 Cumberland AveNothing fancy about this place, but it's delicious, authentic, homey German food AND it's BYOB. Friendly and reasonably priced--a memorable experience.
Bars: West End and Congress
Neighborhood bar with eclectic décor and literary ambience. Good beer and cocktail selection plus limited but good menu of soup, pizza, sandwiches. On Longfellow Square. One of our favorites!
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LFK
188 State StNeighborhood bar with eclectic décor and literary ambience. Good beer and cocktail selection plus limited but good menu of soup, pizza, sandwiches. On Longfellow Square. One of our favorites!
Iconic dive bar in the West End. Great food, cheap drinks, friendly neighborhood vibe, sports on small TVs. Famous for Bloody Marys.
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Ruski's
212 Danforth StIconic dive bar in the West End. Great food, cheap drinks, friendly neighborhood vibe, sports on small TVs. Famous for Bloody Marys.
Chill, stylish ambience and impeccable cocktails. Worth a stop for one drink on your way to the Old Port. Minimal street signage makes it feel like you’ve discovered a local hide out.
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The Jewel Box
644 Congress StChill, stylish ambience and impeccable cocktails. Worth a stop for one drink on your way to the Old Port. Minimal street signage makes it feel like you’ve discovered a local hide out.
Excellent draft beer selection, decadent burgers, some of the best fries in town. Great place to watch a game.
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Nosh Kitchen Bar
551 Congress StExcellent draft beer selection, decadent burgers, some of the best fries in town. Great place to watch a game.
Down-to-earth bar in prime location on Monument Square. Nice place to sit outside and people watch. Solid but unremarkable burgers, sandwiches, fish n’ chips, salads.
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Shays Grill Pub
18 Monument SqDown-to-earth bar in prime location on Monument Square. Nice place to sit outside and people watch. Solid but unremarkable burgers, sandwiches, fish n’ chips, salads.
Cozy underground watering hole. Especially lovely in winter with candles and evergreen boughs. Can get crowded on weekends. 5-minute walk from the house.
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Bramhall
769 Congress StCozy underground watering hole. Especially lovely in winter with candles and evergreen boughs. Can get crowded on weekends. 5-minute walk from the house.
Bars: Old Port
Best beer selection in town, with a wide variety of craft offerings from Maine, the U.S., and abroad. Dark “cave” interior is cool in summer, cozy in winter. Lively urban beer garden scene with long picnic tables in good weather.
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Novare Res Bier Cafe
4 Canal PlazaBest beer selection in town, with a wide variety of craft offerings from Maine, the U.S., and abroad. Dark “cave” interior is cool in summer, cozy in winter. Lively urban beer garden scene with long picnic tables in good weather.
Irish pub with a classic wooden bar. Expansive scotch and whisky selection.
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Bull Feeney's
375 Fore StIrish pub with a classic wooden bar. Expansive scotch and whisky selection.
Unpretentious and lively, catering mainly to younger crowds. Pub food and multiple TVs.
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Rosie's Restaurant & Pub
330 Fore StUnpretentious and lively, catering mainly to younger crowds. Pub food and multiple TVs.
Tiny hipster hole-in-the-wall with nightly food and drink specials. Clean and welcoming, though often crowded.
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Tomaso's Canteen
18 Hampshire StTiny hipster hole-in-the-wall with nightly food and drink specials. Clean and welcoming, though often crowded.
Markets
Our favorite store in Portland. Traditional family-owned Italian market with a wide range of quality import products, locally-made breads and sauces, Sicilian pizza slabs, a full deli, and good selection of reasonably-priced wine. Welcoming staff. Near the Old Port.
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Micucci Grocery Store
45 India StOur favorite store in Portland. Traditional family-owned Italian market with a wide range of quality import products, locally-made breads and sauces, Sicilian pizza slabs, a full deli, and good selection of reasonably-priced wine. Welcoming staff. Near the Old Port.
Hands-down the best seafood store in Portland. Go-to place for lobsters, crabs, shellfish, wild-caught and farm-raised fish, smoked salmon, sushi-grade tuna, etc. A family-owned institution. Worth a visit if you’re in the Old Port.
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Harbor Fish Market
9 Custom House WharfHands-down the best seafood store in Portland. Go-to place for lobsters, crabs, shellfish, wild-caught and farm-raised fish, smoked salmon, sushi-grade tuna, etc. A family-owned institution. Worth a visit if you’re in the Old Port.
Quality meat at reasonable prices. Friendly, knowledgeable staff will butcher specific cuts on request. Includes market and deli.
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Pat's Meat Market
484 Stevens AveQuality meat at reasonable prices. Friendly, knowledgeable staff will butcher specific cuts on request. Includes market and deli.
Small upscale chain offers quality locally-raised meat and organic local produce, house-baked breads, and pre-made lunches and dinners. Good beer and wine selection. Pine Street location is easy 10-minute walk from the house
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Rosemont Market & Bakery
40 Pine StSmall upscale chain offers quality locally-raised meat and organic local produce, house-baked breads, and pre-made lunches and dinners. Good beer and wine selection. Pine Street location is easy 10-minute walk from the house
Basic but reliable grocer within easy walking distance of the house. Known for tasty breakfast sandwiches and quality meat selection.
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Fresh Approach
155 Brackett StBasic but reliable grocer within easy walking distance of the house. Known for tasty breakfast sandwiches and quality meat selection.
Beaches, Walks, Scenic Excursions
A short but glorious stretch of beach right at Southern Maine Community College. Parking is easy and free in the campus lots. Climb the stairs up to a grassy bluff where you can get a great vantage on Casco Bay. Willard is something of a dog party during hours when off-leash rules apply. 10-minute drive from the house.
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Willard Beach
A short but glorious stretch of beach right at Southern Maine Community College. Parking is easy and free in the campus lots. Climb the stairs up to a grassy bluff where you can get a great vantage on Casco Bay. Willard is something of a dog party during hours when off-leash rules apply. 10-minute drive from the house.
Best at low tide. Spectacular, open beach, popular with surfers. 20-minute drive from the house.
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Higgins Beach
Best at low tide. Spectacular, open beach, popular with surfers. 20-minute drive from the house.
A mostly flat, shaded, 1.25-mile perimeter trail loop offers expansive views of Casco Bay, a few spots where you can climb down to rocky beaches. Be on the lookout for fairy houses! Well worth the short drive out of town for a taste of Maine's natural coastal beauty that is not a major undertaking. There may be a small fee to park, depending on season and time of day.
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Mackworth Island State Park
U.S. 1A mostly flat, shaded, 1.25-mile perimeter trail loop offers expansive views of Casco Bay, a few spots where you can climb down to rocky beaches. Be on the lookout for fairy houses! Well worth the short drive out of town for a taste of Maine's natural coastal beauty that is not a major undertaking. There may be a small fee to park, depending on season and time of day.
If you're venturing over to Cape Elizabeth, it's well worth stopping at this iconic lobster shack--or make the fried seafood your pretext for the drive!
Spectacular setting with sweeping expanse of rocky coastline, view of lighthouse and the wide open Atlantic. Eat outside at picnic tables or, indoors, where most tables still have a good view.
BYOB
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The Lobster Shack at Two Lights
225 Two Lights RdIf you're venturing over to Cape Elizabeth, it's well worth stopping at this iconic lobster shack--or make the fried seafood your pretext for the drive!
Spectacular setting with sweeping expanse of rocky coastline, view of lighthouse and the wide open Atlantic. Eat outside at picnic tables or, indoors, where most tables still have a good view.
BYOB
Visit Maine's oldest lighthouse at historic Fort Williams! Majestic views walking along bluffs above the sea, plus beach access, picnic areas, gift shop. Two hours is plenty of time for this excursion.
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Portland Harbor Museum
12 Captain Strout CircleVisit Maine's oldest lighthouse at historic Fort Williams! Majestic views walking along bluffs above the sea, plus beach access, picnic areas, gift shop. Two hours is plenty of time for this excursion.
For great photo ops and sea breezes, consider a ferry ride over to Peaks Island. Boats run hourly (roughly), and the crossing to Peaks only takes about 20 minutes. You can rent bikes (or golf carts) to explore the island, or treat yourself to an ice cream cone at Down Front (2-minute walk from the ferry landing) and make a quick turnaround back to town.
If you want to spend more time on the water, check out the Mail Boat Run! https://www.cascobaylines.com/maine-boat-tours/specialty-cruises/mailboat/
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Casco Bay Lines station
For great photo ops and sea breezes, consider a ferry ride over to Peaks Island. Boats run hourly (roughly), and the crossing to Peaks only takes about 20 minutes. You can rent bikes (or golf carts) to explore the island, or treat yourself to an ice cream cone at Down Front (2-minute walk from the ferry landing) and make a quick turnaround back to town.
If you want to spend more time on the water, check out the Mail Boat Run! https://www.cascobaylines.com/maine-boat-tours/specialty-cruises/mailboat/
Another great way to get out on Casco Bay! Operating out of the East End beach, this is a well-run kayak outfit offering lessons, tours, etc.
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Portland Paddle
1 Eastern PromenadeAnother great way to get out on Casco Bay! Operating out of the East End beach, this is a well-run kayak outfit offering lessons, tours, etc.
Walk the Eastern Promenade trail to this small city beach, popular with dog owners for off-leash morning and evening hours.
Up the hill from the beach, the Eastern Promenade park offers unparalleled views of Casco Bay and Portland Harbor. Great place to picnic!
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East End Beach
Eastern Promenade TrailWalk the Eastern Promenade trail to this small city beach, popular with dog owners for off-leash morning and evening hours.
Up the hill from the beach, the Eastern Promenade park offers unparalleled views of Casco Bay and Portland Harbor. Great place to picnic!
Arts and Entertainment
One of the true cultural engines of Portland, this nonprofit/indy venue curates an eclectic line-up of live music, films, and community events. Check out the calendar to see if this is your lucky night! http://www.space538.org/events
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SPACE
534-538 Congress StOne of the true cultural engines of Portland, this nonprofit/indy venue curates an eclectic line-up of live music, films, and community events. Check out the calendar to see if this is your lucky night! http://www.space538.org/events
The Portland Art Museum is FREE every Friday evening starting at 5 pm. It's a beautiful space, not overwhelming as art museums go, and the visiting exhibits are exceptionally well-curated .
If you happen to be walking by, consider popping in for a quick tour! We've had so many great experiences there, and we love to encourage visitors to check it out.
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Portland kunstmuseum
7 Congress SqThe Portland Art Museum is FREE every Friday evening starting at 5 pm. It's a beautiful space, not overwhelming as art museums go, and the visiting exhibits are exceptionally well-curated .
If you happen to be walking by, consider popping in for a quick tour! We've had so many great experiences there, and we love to encourage visitors to check it out.
Not just a bowling alley, this place has full-service food and drink, live music, open mic stand-up comedy, and an awesome rooftop bar. Well worth checking out!
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Bayside Bowl
58 Alder StNot just a bowling alley, this place has full-service food and drink, live music, open mic stand-up comedy, and an awesome rooftop bar. Well worth checking out!
THE PLACE TO GO if you want to DANCE. Every Friday is 80s night. Free admission if you show up in proper 80s style.
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Bubba's Sulky Lounge
92 Portland StTHE PLACE TO GO if you want to DANCE. Every Friday is 80s night. Free admission if you show up in proper 80s style.