Best Bars and Restaurants in Portland, Maine
My husband and I are on a fifty state tour! We’re completing it in chunks, and this time around we are in New England. Our first stop was Portland, Maine.
We were in Portland for 48 hours, and how I wish I had more time there! Even though we only a couple of days, we made the most of the time we had. Here’s a list of five of our favorite food and drink spots!
1) Portland Lobster Company
For lunch, we stopped at Portland Lobster Company who’s known for their fresh, delicious seafood. It was cold and rainy, so we kept warm inside and people watched by the window. They also had a heated outdoor patio right next to the water!
I ordered the Lobster Garden Salad and Tyler got the New England Clam Chowder in a bread bowl. Both were incredible! If you’re ever in Portland, be sure to check this place out. The staff was super friendly, and they have everything from fries to a full lobster dinner.
Hours:
Sunday through Thursday - 11AM to 9:30PM
Friday and Saturday - 11AM to 10PM
Website: http://www.portlandlobstercompany.com/
2) Gritty McDuff’s or “Gritty’s”
What I loved about this cozy, charming pub is that they had normal pub grub, but they also had some healthy options to choose from too. I felt like I had been transported to England due to the traditional style of the pub. They have a large upstairs area and a smaller, cozier, downstairs as well. The beer, food, and ambiance were all perfect and it is located on Fore Street in the center of everything.
I ordered the oysters and Tyler got chicken tenders and fries (pictured above). We both ordered beers but they have a variety of other drinks to choose from!
Address:
396 Fore Street
Portland, Maine 04101
Hours: 11:00am to Close
Website: http://grittys.com/
3) Liquid Riot
Liquid Riot is known for their house made beers but they also have spirits and gourmet bar food! Tyler and I stuck with beer since we already ate, but we definitely want to go back one day to try their food (it sounded delicious!) We loved the beer and atmosphere and we also enjoyed the fact that they provided a couple of games to play. We chose shuffle board, and I made a huge comeback to beat Tyler!
Address:
250 Commercial St
Portland ME 04101
207 221 8889
Hours: Sun – Thurs: 12-11pm
Fri & Sat: 12-1am
Website: http://liquidriot.com/
4) Novare Res
We had friends suggest that we visit Novare Res, a taproom that serves international beer and food. They had a variety of beers and other drinks to choose from plus a large food menu. We had a little trouble finding it at first, because it’s a bit hidden behind the street, but once we found it we were happy to take off our rain jackets and stay there for a while. The vibe was so relaxed and cozy, and the wait staff was very friendly and attentive. We were so busy drinking and chatting with friends that I forgot to a take a picture, so I snapped a quick one right before we left.
Address: 4 Canal Plaza, Suite 1, Portland, ME 04101
Hours:
Monday – Thursday 4-1
Friday 3-1
Saturday & Sunday 12-1
Website: http://novareresbiercafe.com
5) Blyth & Burrows
If you’re looking for a cocktail and appetizer or night cap and snack, Blyth & Burrows is the spot. They have a plethora of signature cocktails and a delicious choice of upscale small plates.
They are located in the middle of a ton of cute shops. Tyler and I browsed around the shops and then stopped here for a drink before dinner.
Address: 26 Exchange Street
Portland, Maine 04101
Hours:
M – F: 4 PM – 1 AM
Sat: 4 PM – 1 AM
Sun: 4 PM - 1 AM
Website: https://www.blythandburrows.com/
We were able to squeeze in lots of food, drinks, and shopping in the short time we were in this charming city. We brought the rain with us but despite the dreary weather, we still had the best time. This is an extremely short list of places, and we know there are many more to explore when we come back again to visit. Because it poured down rain, we weren’t able to get our run in at the Eastern Promenade, and there were a few more restaurants and bars on our list that we simply didn’t have time for. Have you been to Portland? What are your favorite spots?
