Guidebook for Hip Little Portland!
Food Scene
Great noodles and Vietnamese food and the closest restaurant to the studio!
10 residents recomanen
Veranda Noodle Bar
14 Veranda StGreat noodles and Vietnamese food and the closest restaurant to the studio!
Same owners as the noodle bar opposite, just Thai this time. It's a "dive" like a little shack, but good food.
7 residents recomanen
Veranda Thai Cuisine
9 Veranda StSame owners as the noodle bar opposite, just Thai this time. It's a "dive" like a little shack, but good food.
Very popular and the best fries (cooked in duck fat!) in town with a variety of accompaniments. Mostly paninis and fries with a salad or two and great milk shakes and homemade sodas. Lunch and dinner. It is small so often queues at busy times.
173 residents recomanen
Duckfat
43 Middle StVery popular and the best fries (cooked in duck fat!) in town with a variety of accompaniments. Mostly paninis and fries with a salad or two and great milk shakes and homemade sodas. Lunch and dinner. It is small so often queues at busy times.
Portland's own homegrown roaster. Fair trade. Greatly involved in the community. Several locations in town, but we think Diamond St has by far the best ambience.
100 residents recomanen
Coffee By Design
43 Washington AvePortland's own homegrown roaster. Fair trade. Greatly involved in the community. Several locations in town, but we think Diamond St has by far the best ambience.
Great handmade pizza with interesting topping options. Try the mash potato and scallion option!
192 residents recomanen
OTTO
576 Congress StGreat handmade pizza with interesting topping options. Try the mash potato and scallion option!
Sebastian says a great place to eat with friends. Can be outside in the summer. Waterfront. Brick oven pizza with cooking in front of your eyes!
98 residents recomanen
Flatbread Company
72 Commercial StSebastian says a great place to eat with friends. Can be outside in the summer. Waterfront. Brick oven pizza with cooking in front of your eyes!
Great bakery - with the best Whoopie Pies in town.Recently relocated to a new place with some eat in seats!
16 residents recomanen
Two Fat Cats
740 BroadwayGreat bakery - with the best Whoopie Pies in town.Recently relocated to a new place with some eat in seats!
Great homemade soups. It is upstairs in the Public Market House, which also houses other eclectic eateries in a bohemian atmosphere. Big open space with tables to eat at.
Kamasouptra
28 Monument SqGreat homemade soups. It is upstairs in the Public Market House, which also houses other eclectic eateries in a bohemian atmosphere. Big open space with tables to eat at.
A nice drive, maybe 15 mins from downtown, 20 from our house, to a seafood shack in a beautiful setting on the rocks on the coast. Quintessential Maine. Some would say the best lobster roll locally. Open April - October
136 residents recomanen
The Lobster Shack at Two Lights
225 Two Lights RdA nice drive, maybe 15 mins from downtown, 20 from our house, to a seafood shack in a beautiful setting on the rocks on the coast. Quintessential Maine. Some would say the best lobster roll locally. Open April - October
Fantastic Chinese food. Good ambience - not your usual Chinese. Almost always very busy. Only place in town that does Dim Sum. Delicious!
102 residents recomanen
Empire
575 Congress StFantastic Chinese food. Good ambience - not your usual Chinese. Almost always very busy. Only place in town that does Dim Sum. Delicious!
Bao Bao Dumpling House
133 Spring StPopular dumpling house, a little away from the fray.
Marcy's Diner
47 Oak StGreat, small, classic diner in the center of town. Cash only.
Yummy brunch/lunch on the edge of town - in a funky house. Often long lines at weekends.
21 residents recomanen
The Sinful Kitchen
952 Brighton AveYummy brunch/lunch on the edge of town - in a funky house. Often long lines at weekends.
Serves a great breakfast/brunch every day. Has a sweet outdoor patio in the summer. Large, great menu. Very busy at weekends.
52 residents recomanen
Bayside American Cafe
98 Portland StServes a great breakfast/brunch every day. Has a sweet outdoor patio in the summer. Large, great menu. Very busy at weekends.
Our own very close ice cream shop in our neighborhood. Makes a great evening stroll. Seasonal April - October usually
18 residents recomanen
Beals Old Fashioned Ice Cream
18 Veranda StOur own very close ice cream shop in our neighborhood. Makes a great evening stroll. Seasonal April - October usually
Small, fabulous coffee shop, owned by 2 wonderful young Albanians - Mateo and Alba - who provide a wonderful service. Great breakfast sandwiches and good lunch menu, with homemade pastries also. Recently started doing acai bowls. Outdoor seating. If you see Mateo or Alba, do tell them Hilary sent you:)
10 residents recomanen
Coffee ME Up
221 Cumberland AveSmall, fabulous coffee shop, owned by 2 wonderful young Albanians - Mateo and Alba - who provide a wonderful service. Great breakfast sandwiches and good lunch menu, with homemade pastries also. Recently started doing acai bowls. Outdoor seating. If you see Mateo or Alba, do tell them Hilary sent you:)
Dutch's
28 Preble StLarge, funky, open space environment with great breakfast menu.
Classic diner. Been in Portland for years. Great staff and have done a wonderful job during the pandemic to keep serving us. Good, reliable, breakfast and lunch menu.
16 residents recomanen
Miss Portland Diner
140 Marginal WayClassic diner. Been in Portland for years. Great staff and have done a wonderful job during the pandemic to keep serving us. Good, reliable, breakfast and lunch menu.
Walk-able from our house. Good brunch menu with interesting twists and nice atmosphere.
7 residents recomanen
Otherside Diner
500 Washington AveWalk-able from our house. Good brunch menu with interesting twists and nice atmosphere.
Forage Market
123 Washington AveGreat bagels!
Local bagel bakery. Tiny hole in the wall but the bagels warrant the line out of the door! And nice to support a small local business.
24 residents recomanen
Union Bagel Company
147 Cumberland AveLocal bagel bakery. Tiny hole in the wall but the bagels warrant the line out of the door! And nice to support a small local business.
Lovely bistro for dinner, with a small interesting menu. Reasonably priced for this town.
28 residents recomanen
Isa
79 Portland StLovely bistro for dinner, with a small interesting menu. Reasonably priced for this town.
Essentials
Self-explanatory:) Also has a really sunny nice space within which to eat your food or have a smoothie or coffee.
151 residents recomanen
Whole Foods Market
2 Somerset StSelf-explanatory:) Also has a really sunny nice space within which to eat your food or have a smoothie or coffee.
Trader Joe's
87 Marginal WayFor those familiar, fair priced groceries....8a - 10p every day.
Walgreens
127 Marginal WayClosest drugstore/pharmacy. Right near Trader Joe's!
Hannaford Supermarket
295 Forest AveClosest "regular" grocery store/supermarket
Sightseeing
4.2 mile path for walking, running and biking round the bay - an inlet of the ocean.....
14 residents recomanen
Baxter Boulevard
Baxter Boulevard4.2 mile path for walking, running and biking round the bay - an inlet of the ocean.....
Take a ferry to the Casco Bay Islands. Peaks Island is the most popular. 20 minute ride and a great little community to visit. Can take bikes on the ferry.
Also great to do the Cliff Island run.
140 residents recomanen
Casco Bay Lines station
Take a ferry to the Casco Bay Islands. Peaks Island is the most popular. 20 minute ride and a great little community to visit. Can take bikes on the ferry.
Also great to do the Cliff Island run.
Shopping
Material Objects
500 Congress StGreat funky second hand clothing store....
One of the streets "at the heart of the Old Port". Boutiques and eateries. Definitely worth a stroll.
36 residents recomanen
Exchange Street
Exchange StreetOne of the streets "at the heart of the Old Port". Boutiques and eateries. Definitely worth a stroll.
Fore Street
Fore StreetAnother "heart of the Old Port" street to stroll along.
Shopping and restaurants of the Old Port, but this time on the waterfront...
18 residents recomanen
Commercial Street
Commercial StreetShopping and restaurants of the Old Port, but this time on the waterfront...
Longfellow Books
1 Monument SqThe best local bookstore. Good used inventory also.
Print: A Bookstore
273 Congress StAnother excellent local bookstore
Find
16 Free StHip, good quality, second-hand clothing store.
Brilliant CD, DVD, books store with plenty of used inventory also. This is one of several branches, although the iconic store downtown closed.
7 residents recomanen
Bull Moose
456 Payne RdBrilliant CD, DVD, books store with plenty of used inventory also. This is one of several branches, although the iconic store downtown closed.
Lovely family owned garden nursery and gift shop. Has a wonderful small greenhouse open year round which is a treat to visit, especially in winter months. Has lovely gifts also.
Allen Sterling & Lothrop
Lovely family owned garden nursery and gift shop. Has a wonderful small greenhouse open year round which is a treat to visit, especially in winter months. Has lovely gifts also.
Yes Books
589 Congress StSecond hand bookstore, crammed to the ceiling with great finds.
Small sweet bookstore with friendly staff. A little away from downtown but worth a visit.
Letterpress Books
91 Auburn StSmall sweet bookstore with friendly staff. A little away from downtown but worth a visit.
Everything Else
A Saturday and Wednesday morning farmers market in the park. Delightful. Has been moving to an indoor location for the Winter
64 residents recomanen
Portland Farmers' Market
92 Deering AveA Saturday and Wednesday morning farmers market in the park. Delightful. Has been moving to an indoor location for the Winter
Arts & Culture
A really nice art museum. Has a cool cafe. Friday evenings 5-9pm admission is free.
Also shows alternative movies at the weekend.
412 residents recomanen
Museu d'Art de Portland
7 Congress SqA really nice art museum. Has a cool cafe. Friday evenings 5-9pm admission is free.
Also shows alternative movies at the weekend.
Our favourite cinema...right in the middle of town. Older classic movie theatre. Shows all current movies.
53 residents recomanen
Nickelodeon Cinema (Patriot Cinemas)
1 Temple StOur favourite cinema...right in the middle of town. Older classic movie theatre. Shows all current movies.
Portland Stage
25 Forest AveGood quality theatre
State Theater
609 Congress StPopular concert venue
Merrill Auditorium
20 Myrtle StNice Concert Hall with good varied programme.
Parks & Nature
Nice to walk around. Can drive over the causeway and park there.
130 residents recomanen
Mackworth Island State Park
U.S. 1Nice to walk around. Can drive over the causeway and park there.
Huge, beautiful white sand beach. About 1 hour drive from our house.
208 residents recomanen
Popham Beach State Park
711 Popham RdHuge, beautiful white sand beach. About 1 hour drive from our house.