Food Scene
My Favorite. Fantastic spot, fun bar, awesome BBQ, price performer, fast service and just down the street. There is an ample selection of Gluten Free offerings here.
Also, Elsmere offers take out off the menu, or order any of their meats by the half pound and sides by the pint for larger parties. Call 20-30 minutes ahead.
80 locals recommend
Elsmere BBQ and Wood Grill
448 Cottage RdMy Favorite. Fantastic spot, fun bar, awesome BBQ, price performer, fast service and just down the street. There is an ample selection of Gluten Free offerings here.
Also, Elsmere offers take out off the menu, or order any of their meats by the half pound and sides by the pint for larger parties. Call 20-30 minutes ahead.
Scratch Baking Co
416 Preble StMost incredible bagels ever. Don't miss their Sea Salt bagels.
The Cookie Jar
554 Shore RdExcellent donuts and cookies.
South Portland House Of Pizza
180 Waterman DrMy go-to-spot for take out pizza. Bland spot to eat-in.
Great cuisine for a small group. Reservations required. One of our long time favorites, and just down the street.
73 locals recommend
Davids 388 Restaurant
388 Cottage RdGreat cuisine for a small group. Reservations required. One of our long time favorites, and just down the street.
Great burgers, personal gourmet pizzas, and many craft beers. Super nice atmosphere in new building.
22 locals recommend
Bird Dog Roadhouse
Great burgers, personal gourmet pizzas, and many craft beers. Super nice atmosphere in new building.
Very good family style with Greek influence. The atmosphere is marginal, but the food is excellent.
41 locals recommend
The Good Table
527 Ocean House RdVery good family style with Greek influence. The atmosphere is marginal, but the food is excellent.
Nice bar, excellent patio w fire pit, tremendous views, easy walk to the beach, but the formal dining room might be a tad pricey for the food delivered.
13 locals recommend
Inn by the Sea
40 Bowery Beach RdNice bar, excellent patio w fire pit, tremendous views, easy walk to the beach, but the formal dining room might be a tad pricey for the food delivered.
Great take out pasta with all the sauces, wine and bread needed to complete your dinner. Easy way to solve the quick and healthy dinner problem.
31 locals recommend
Terra Cotta Pasta Co. So. Portland
435 Cottage RdGreat take out pasta with all the sauces, wine and bread needed to complete your dinner. Easy way to solve the quick and healthy dinner problem.
Red's Dairy Freeze
167 Cottage RdThe local soft-serve scene at a bargain.
Awesome hand-crafted ice cream...don't miss the sea salt or blueberry.
52 locals recommend
Willard Scoops
429 Preble StAwesome hand-crafted ice cream...don't miss the sea salt or blueberry.
Secret spot for farm-to-table. Unique screened huts for your dinner set in the farmers meadow. BYOB. I actually have not been here, but people rave.
21 locals recommend
The Well at Jordan's Farm
21 Wells RdSecret spot for farm-to-table. Unique screened huts for your dinner set in the farmers meadow. BYOB. I actually have not been here, but people rave.
Unbeatable sunset and city views from the deck and dining room. Nice bar, and good food. Mark is good at handling larger groups which are always tough in Portland.
48 locals recommend
Saltwater Grille
231 Front StUnbeatable sunset and city views from the deck and dining room. Nice bar, and good food. Mark is good at handling larger groups which are always tough in Portland.
Great new hip spot. Swank bar, outdoor pavilion. and excellent food.
13 locals recommend
North 43 Bistro
1 Spring Point DrGreat new hip spot. Swank bar, outdoor pavilion. and excellent food.
Great spot for Lobster Rolls, fried seafood, fries and pastries. I like lunch here, but get there around 11:45 to secure parking and avoid the line. Same gig for dinner, but bring a blanket and bug spray. And always...BYOB.
136 locals recommend
The Lobster Shack at Two Lights
225 Two Lights RdGreat spot for Lobster Rolls, fried seafood, fries and pastries. I like lunch here, but get there around 11:45 to secure parking and avoid the line. Same gig for dinner, but bring a blanket and bug spray. And always...BYOB.
The Grill Room & Bar
84 Exchange StreetExcellent steaks and grilled fish. Expensive.
Back Bay Grill
65 Portland StFantastic food. Expensive, and cozy. We got engaged there.
The Corner Room Italian Kitchen & Bar
110 Exchange StreetFun, price performer, and cozy.
The Front Room
73 Congress StExpensive, but great seafood, fun location, awesome atmosphere. I like eating at the bar where the cocktails are finely crafted.
138 locals recommend
Scales
68 Commercial StExpensive, but great seafood, fun location, awesome atmosphere. I like eating at the bar where the cocktails are finely crafted.
Great family place for upscale pizza over the harbor. Highly recommended for family dinner in Portland.
I'm told there is a good Gluten Free menu.
97 locals recommend
Flatbread Company
72 Commercial StGreat family place for upscale pizza over the harbor. Highly recommended for family dinner in Portland.
I'm told there is a good Gluten Free menu.
Generally considered to be Portland's best upscale seafood restaurant. Its tight, exciting, and fun. If you love garlic, you'll love Street & Company. Try the Lobster Diablo for Two.
114 locals recommend
Street & Co
33 Wharf StGenerally considered to be Portland's best upscale seafood restaurant. Its tight, exciting, and fun. If you love garlic, you'll love Street & Company. Try the Lobster Diablo for Two.
Vast menu of pizza, salad and beer offerings in downtown Portland. Great for a step up from SoPo Pizza, but not quite gourmet. Price performer.
14 locals recommend
Portland Pie Co. Portland
51 York StVast menu of pizza, salad and beer offerings in downtown Portland. Great for a step up from SoPo Pizza, but not quite gourmet. Price performer.
Green Elephant
608 Congress St...for the vegetarians in the group....
Sur Lie
11 Free StDelicious tapas....one of her favorites!
Boda
671 Congress StAuthentic Thia, the real deal with fun atmosphere.
Drinks & Nightlife
The North Point
35 Silver StFun and romantic bar with an excellent small plate menu.
Gritty McDuff's
396 Fore StGreat burgers and pub food with wide selection of their beers.
Fun Irish bar with several different venues within the property. Nice spot in the heart of the waterfront scene.
32 locals recommend
Rí Rá Irish Pub & Restaurant
72 Commercial StFun Irish bar with several different venues within the property. Nice spot in the heart of the waterfront scene.
Brian Boru
57 Center StFun Irish pub.
Swank, new and just voted one of the top 10 new bars in America. Three different bars in one building with an air of sophisticated mixology. Don't miss the speak-easy which is accessed through the hidden book-shelve door in the upper level bar.
51 locals recommend
Blyth & Burrows
26 Exchange StSwank, new and just voted one of the top 10 new bars in America. Three different bars in one building with an air of sophisticated mixology. Don't miss the speak-easy which is accessed through the hidden book-shelve door in the upper level bar.
Cowboy bar with free bacon at the bar, good country music, cheap beer, and super cheap burgers. A bit of a dudes place based on the barmaids, and always fun.
Bonfire Country Bar Portland
37 Wharf StCowboy bar with free bacon at the bar, good country music, cheap beer, and super cheap burgers. A bit of a dudes place based on the barmaids, and always fun.
A great little subdued place in the heart of the Old Port. Many craft beers, cheap burgers, and excellent grilled cauliflower.
12 locals recommend
Portland Mash Tun
29 Wharf StA great little subdued place in the heart of the Old Port. Many craft beers, cheap burgers, and excellent grilled cauliflower.
A good spot for a late afternoon beer. Iconic bar with a very long history. "One dollar looky, two dollar touchy, three dollar d.....y".
10 locals recommend
Three Dollar Deweys
241 Commercial StA good spot for a late afternoon beer. Iconic bar with a very long history. "One dollar looky, two dollar touchy, three dollar d.....y".
The Portland Hunt & Alpine Club
75 Market StHip spot for upscale cocktails...
Unique bar on top of the Westin Hotel. A bit off the beaten path (not in the Old Port) but alluring place for a romantic cocktail with unbeatable city, mountain and ocean views.
67 locals recommend
Top of the East
157 High StUnique bar on top of the Westin Hotel. A bit off the beaten path (not in the Old Port) but alluring place for a romantic cocktail with unbeatable city, mountain and ocean views.
Parks & Nature
...its awesome and its next door! Check out sun and/or moon rises. Alexa will tell you the times. Try the fantastic gourmet lobster rolls at the Taste of Maine food truck just opposite the large flagpole. If you look carefully, you can spot 7 lighthouses from Ft. Williams: Portland Headlight, Two Lights, Ram Island Ledge, Halfway Rock, Spring Point Light, and way in the distance (in direct line with Portland Head Light and Halfway Rock) you can sometimes make out Sequin Light.
229 locals recommend
Fort Williams Park
1000 Shore Rd...its awesome and its next door! Check out sun and/or moon rises. Alexa will tell you the times. Try the fantastic gourmet lobster rolls at the Taste of Maine food truck just opposite the large flagpole. If you look carefully, you can spot 7 lighthouses from Ft. Williams: Portland Headlight, Two Lights, Ram Island Ledge, Halfway Rock, Spring Point Light, and way in the distance (in direct line with Portland Head Light and Halfway Rock) you can sometimes make out Sequin Light.
Crescent Beach State Park
109 Bowery Beach RdNice local beach
Kettle Cove
Kettle Cove RoadNice spot for a sunset picnic. Limited parking, nice lawns and beach.
Good spot for family picnics, and place to enjoy the rocky coast of Maine
144 locals recommend
Two Lights State Park
7 Tower DrGood spot for family picnics, and place to enjoy the rocky coast of Maine
A 20 minute drive, but bigger, wider beaches with better waves.
110 locals recommend
Scarborough Beach
Black Point RdA 20 minute drive, but bigger, wider beaches with better waves.
Arts & Culture
New museum on the warfs with traveling exhibitions. Recent showings included Bodies, and Pirates.
29 locals recommend
Portland Science Center
68 Commercial StreetNew museum on the warfs with traveling exhibitions. Recent showings included Bodies, and Pirates.
A fantastic museum often cited as well surpassing the level for a city of our size.
412 locals recommend
Portland Museum of Art
7 Congress SqA fantastic museum often cited as well surpassing the level for a city of our size.
Tom will treat you to an afternoon of lobster fishing in Portland Harbor. Mention our name....and make a reservation.
40 locals recommend
Lucky Catch Cruises
170 Commercial StTom will treat you to an afternoon of lobster fishing in Portland Harbor. Mention our name....and make a reservation.
Entertainment & Activities
Portland Sea Dogs
271 Park AveSuper fun family event in a quaint downtown ballpark.
Essentials
Hannaford Supermarket
7 Hannaford DrOur go-to spot for food, beer, wine and sundries.
Shaw's
180 Waterman DrShopping
C Salt Gourmet Market
349 Ocean House Rd