Maine Portland

Portland Travel Guide: Discover Maine's Food City

The smell of fresh bread pulls you down the brick sidewalk before you've finished your first cup of coffee. Portland's Old Port wakes early: bakers sliding morning buns from ovens, oyster bars icing down the first delivery, chefs chalking the day's specials on blackboards. This city of 68,000 has famously become one of America's great food destinations, and breakfast is only the beginning.

The streets here are narrow and brick-lined, the storefronts housed in 19th-century warehouses built for a shipping port that traded in lumber and ice. Now those buildings hold James Beard nominees working alongside neighborhood joints, raw bars where locals crowd in for happy hour, and coffee roasters who've earned cult followings.

Portland Lobster Co sign glowing red against the twilight sky in Portland, ME

Portland Head Light lighthouse in Portland, ME

A couple eating lettuce wraps at Blind Tiger Portland, Maine

Lobster boats and traps along a dock in Portland, ME

Boats docked in harbor in Portland Maine at sunset

Quick Facts

Getting Here	Portland International Jetport (PWM), 10 minutes from downtown
Getting Around	Walkable downtown; car useful for lighthouses and beaches
Best Time	May–October for outdoor dining; year-round for the food scene
Lark Property	Blind Tiger Portland (15 rooms between two guest houses on Carleton and Danforth) with small plates on-site

Things to Do in Portland

The Old Port rewards those who come hungry. Start early at Standard Baking Co., where the croissants and morning buns sell out by noon. From there, work your way through the brick streets: Eventide Oyster Co. for oysters and their famous brown-butter lobster roll, Duckfat for Belgian fries elevated to art, Fore Street for the wood-fired cooking that helped put Portland on the map. The restaurants are close enough that you can try more than one in a night.

Blind Tiger Portland offers small plates on-site that fit right into the neighborhood's culinary culture. For coffee, Tandem has developed a cult following that’s worth the walk to Congress Street. The Portland Museum of Art anchors the cultural scene with strong holdings of American and Maine artists, and the Eastern Promenade offers harbor views and waterfront trails when you need to walk off a meal.

Beyond downtown, the coast calls. Casco Bay Lines ferries run to the islands—Peaks Island is just 20 minutes and entirely bikeable, a perfect afternoon escape. Portland Head Light, one of the most photographed lighthouses in America, stands watch at Fort Williams Park, 15 minutes from downtown with picnic grounds and rocky shoreline.

Our Favorites

1

PICNIC AT THE PROM

Portland's Eastern Promenade offers a gorgeous, grassy 180° vista of Casco Bay. Bring a picnic (or hit up one of the food trucks) and enjoy the view from the hill or the beach.
2

LIGHTHOUSE VISIT

Portland Head Light at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth is the #1 most photographed lighthouse in the US—and just a spectacular place to visit. Get in on the action!
3

WANDER THE OLD PORT

Wander Portland's Arts District and quaint historic Old Port and pop into the incredible galleries, shops, restaurants, breweries, and more.
4

EAT ALL THE FOOD

If you're planning a visit to Portland there's a 99% chance it's for the food / brewery / music scene. We love to provide suggestions, but our friends at Portland Food Map have a great interactive map and loads of recommendations and reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Portland, Maine?
Portland International Jetport is just 10 minutes from downtown with direct flights from East Coast cities. Boston is about 2 hours south by car via I-95.
How do you get to Peaks Island from Portland?
Casco Bay Lines ferries run from the Maine State Pier in downtown Portland, about a 20-minute crossing. Ferries run frequently in summer. Peaks Island is small enough to explore by foot or bike, with rental shops near the ferry landing. Most visitors make it a half-day trip.
What are the best restaurants in Portland, Maine?
Fore Street pioneered wood-fired cooking and remains essential. Eventide Oyster Co. serves oysters and a famous brown-butter lobster roll. Duckfat elevates Belgian fries. Hugo's offers tasting menus with local ingredients. The city has enough variety to eat well for a week without repeating. The Old Port concentrates many options in a few walkable blocks. Reservations are recommended.
What is the best time to visit Portland?
May through October for outdoor dining and island ferries. The restaurant scene thrives year-round, and winter is actually a great time to get reservations at popular spots. Fall brings foliage and the harvest season on nearby farms.
What is the Old Port?
Portland's historic waterfront district, where 19th-century brick warehouses now house restaurants, bars, shops, and galleries. The narrow streets are cobblestoned in places, and the harbor is visible from most corners. It's the heart of Portland's dining and nightlife scene, all within easy walking distance.
What is there to do in Portland, Maine?
Portland is a food city on a working waterfront. The Old Port's cobblestone streets hold restaurants, bars, and shops in 19th-century brick buildings. The Portland Museum of Art anchors the arts district. Ferries run to Peaks Island for day trips. The Eastern Promenade has trails along the water. Breweries and distilleries have tasting rooms scattered through town. Portland Head Light, one of America's most photographed lighthouses, is 15 minutes away at Fort Williams Park.
What Lark Hotels property is in Portland?
Blind Tiger Portland, with 15 rooms in a historic 1823 mansion and small plates on-site. The property is in the West End, walking distance to the Old Port, waterfront, and museums.