Portland, Maine is consistently rated one of the best beer cities in the US, they have incredible food, and it is super gorgeous! I highly recommend this cute little city!
Portland Tips:
Walk! Portland is small enough that you can walk from spot to spot most of the time instead of needing to drive/Lyft.
Go whale watching! But don’t be surprised if your tour is cancelled multiple times due to weather.
Portland is pretty small so you don’t need much time here, 2-3 days is perfect. Acadia National Park is another great spot in Maine to explore, check out my guide here!
I also have recommendations for Maine’s Midcoast, the Grafton Notch area, and Bangor/Orono that can be found here!
Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations:
Novare Res Bier Cafe: A great beer bar with a killer selection! They also have a nice patio and food options—I highly recommend the charcuterie board!
Tandem Coffee and Bakery: Delicious breakfast spot! I’d recommend ordering online as it can be quite busy, and parking can be tough as a forewarning but it is absolutely worth it!
Maine Beer Company: Located in Freeport, Maine, about 30 minutes north of Portland, this is a must-visit. They have a beautiful space, delicious pizzas, and phenomenal beers.
Mast Landing Brewing has their second location right around the corner in Freeport as well! Inside this location they also have Nighthawk’s Kitchen for eats.
Sacred Profane: This great brewery is located in nearby Biddleford and focuses on Czech beers. Their food is wildly good and I highly recommend a visit! They also have a nice patio.
Belleflower Brewing: An under the radar brewery that is crushing it. Definitely recommend checking out this little spot with great beers!
Mast Landing Brewing: A great spot just outside of town in Westbrook, Maine. They have a huge tap list focused on IPAs and a small food menu.
Brewery hop on Industrial Way:
Allagash Brewing: Easily the most popular brewery in Portland and for good reason! They have fantastic beers and don’t sleep on their onsite food truck Bite Into Maine! The lobster roll flight is super fun and so incredibly delicious!
Definitive Brewing Company: Industrial vibes, average beers, and frequent food trucks.
Foundation Brewing Company: Solid brewery with a variety of beers to choose from. They also have food here—the Detroit-style pizza is raved about!
Battery Steele Brewing: Another option on this brewery-packed street!
Oxbow Blending & Bottling: This brewery specializes in Farmhouse Ales. Their taproom has chills vibes, and they have Duckfat onsite for drool-worthy fries and other goodies.
Hardshore Distilling Company: This cocktail spot is located next door and is the perfect spot to end your night!
Bissell Brothers Brewing: A solid brewery focused on IPAs and a full food menu. They’ve got a small patio and a large taproom. Heads up, you’ll need to pay to park.
Hunt & Alpine: A cocktail bar and restaurant with a great happy hour. Trendy and delicious spot!
Argenta Brewing Company: This is a cute “Lager Saloon” with all Lagers on tap. Hank and Arties food truck is parked here most days as well.
Bom Dia Cafe: A super cute spot downtown for breakfast and coffee!
Allagash Brewing Company
touristy things in portland worth doing:
Hang out on the Eastern Promenade: Walk the trail and gaze at the sailboats!
Eventide Oyster Co.: This restaurant is very touristy, but the oysters truly are insanely good. They have accoutrements that are all ice-based and so good. I was not super impressed with their cocktails though, grab a beer or wine instead!
Wander around the adorable downtown and pop into shops!
Peak’s Island: Grab the ferry and adventure around! We rented a cheap and fun little golf cart to go around the island for a couple hours.
Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse: Gorgeous and totally worth the short drive from downtown Portland!
Gilberts Chowder House: Another touristy but great restaurant. Located on the waterfront with fantastic chowder!
Portland Head Lighthouse
Other Portland things to do:
Rising Tide Brewing Co.: Another good brewery option in Portland! They have cute little flight trays and a wide array of options.
Austin Street Brewery: Located right next door to Rising Tide, this is a solid brewery with a small tap list and good vibes.
Wolf's Neck Woods State Park: This park is 10 minutes from Freeport (making Maine Beer Co the perfect stop afterwards) and has a combination of shoreline and woods. I would recommend this short but pretty trail. As a heads up entrance is $6 for non-Maine residents.
Little Tap House: A restaurant with a farm-to-table menu and a large tap list. This spot is especially great for brunch and happy hour!
Lone Pine Brewing Company: Solid brewery with nice staff members and a large patio outback.
Goodfire Brewing: Right behind Lone Pine, this a cool spot with experimental flavors + shuffleboard in the back.
Bier Cellar: A beer store with a solid selection of to-go cans and bottles.
