Portland, Maine is a foodie destination and a ‘restaurant city’ ready for you and your loved ones to indulge in and chow down. This small but mighty seacoast city packs big flavors into its restaurants and breweries. Ready to go on a food and drink vacation to Portland, Maine? We’ve rounded up our top stops for food and drink, and whether it’s rainy, sunny or cloudy, you’ll be sure to discover the hidden gems, award-winning restaurants and unique beverages of Portland, Maine.
“Maine has been dubbed ‘x marks the spot’ for the treasure of lobster,” reports Visit Portland Maine. “That title is well-deserved considering the state produces 40 million pounds of lobster annually or 90% of the nation’s lobster supply.” Are you ready to see and what the fuss is about? If you’re ready to find succulent local lobster, we know just where to go.
If you’re going to Portland, Maine, you’ve got to get a lobster roll. The only question is – where? With so many different restaurants in Portland, Maine offering this savory seafood delicacy, it may be hard to choose. One restaurant in Portland, Maine that lives up to the hype is The Highroller Lobster Co. and with eclectic décor including a disco ball, it’s a guaranteed good time.
Order the Lobster Roll Flight to get a taste of three of their mini rolls and don’t forget a flight of sauces to dip them in; you won’t regret it! Each bite is absolute seafood perfection and if you’ve still got an appetite, order the monster Surf & Turf. This dish is the Highburger topped with lobster meat – need we say more? As “Maine’s Best Sandwich” the medley of meat will be sure to take you away.
While there are plenty of breweries in Portland, Maine, locals like to frequent Austin Street Brewery. With rotating beers on tap with alluring names like Patina, Proximal and Anodyne, beer lovers will have a variety to choose as their favorite. The Obsolete Vernacular, for instance, is a tart blond ale with pineapple and mango puree and its citrusy and satisfying.
Founded by local entrepreneur, Eli Cayer, when he began experimenting with local sugar sources found in apples, honey and grains. Cayer founded Urban Farm Fermentory in 2010 and since then has been producing flavorful fermented beverages for more than a decade.
“We capture seasonal flavors through the platform of fermentation,” said Cayer. “We keep it really simple; we’re not creating crazy, weird things; we’re using what’s available here and now. We’re not in the game of coming up with fanciful names for things. When you come to the tasting room, our signs literally tell you what each drink is – Blueberry Cider, for instance, and what it’s designed to do: clearly present fermentation and the flavors of the here and now for Maine.”
Urban Farm Fermentory is a one-stop shop where you can partake in 24 crafted beverages: jun, kombucha, cider, mead, gruits and beer. The fermentation process combined with local ingredients makes each drink a unique blend, with flavors including blackberry, blueberry and strawberry rhubarb, it’s as if you’re drinking a garden blend of beverages!
Co-owned by Sam Pierce and Dave McConnell, and proudly “women-managed,” Three of Strong Spirits is a rum distillery celebrating the spirit of spirits. Dedicated to supporting local, the distillery uses ingredients from Maine’s gorgeous Sebago Lake and each rum contains no artificial flavorings or colors.
“At Three of Strong Spirits, we are focused on quality, community, sustainability, and most of all, fun. Our name is derived from a colonial-era punch recipe and the idea of gathering around the proverbial punch bowl is integral to who we are. Our tasting room is at the heart of that effort,” said Rachel MacArthur, Sales and Marketing Associate and former bartender at Three of Strong Spirits.
“As the only rum-centric distillery in Portland, there is nothing we enjoy more than sharing our love and knowledge of sugarcane-based spirits and craft cocktails. We’ve got games, snacks, puptails (puppy mocktails) and a staff that was nominated as one of the friendliest teams in Portland!”
The Mojito is on tap and after tasting one, or two, you just might have to take it back to your Best Western Merry Manor Inn room for an evening cocktail. Add the seasonal infusion rum for just an extra $2; we recommend the Blueberry Stone Pier to make an already excellent drink even more excellent.
Inspired by the other Portland on the west side of the country, Founder and Captain of Maine BayCycle, Neil Kinner, was excited and amazed by the possibility of bringing the pedal party boat to Portland, Maine.
“When I first told people I was going to do it, they thought I was insane. They didn’t even know what I was talking about,” said Kinner. “But it caught on pretty quick.”
As Maine’s only human-powered party boat, ditch the traditional tours and charters and get on Maine BayCycle’s boat instead. With ten pedal stations, a tour of the harbor and an awesome BYOB policy, it’s one of the best things to do in Portland, Maine, and a must-do for your foodie vacation.
“It’s a unique experience because it’s not a narrated thing,” said Kinner. “It can be really fun because you meet people who are also traveling and are fun people. I’ve seen a lot of groups that will exchange phone numbers and go out.”
If you’re ready to bike on a boat with a beer, book Maine BayCycle, one of our favorite things to do in Portland, Maine.
Plan your food and drink escape to Portland, Maine by booking your stay with Best Western Merry Manor Inn. Located right off I-95, the property is only a few minutes from The Highroller Lobster Co., historic Old Port and the East Bayside neighborhood for all your foodie conquests. Request the cabin-themed room which includes a cozy king bed, log-cabin style décor, a roaring fireplace and a relaxing whirlpool in the room. For further relaxation, enjoy the year-round outdoor heated swimming pool and complimentary breakfast.
