The Best Places to Drink in Portland, Maine

Given that this is our hometown, and with so many fantastic options from cocktail bars to breweries, and everything in between, we’ve each decided to share our personal favorite picks for the best drinks in Portland, ME. Be sure to also visit our ultimate guide to dining in Portland, ME here.

Cocktails at Papi

Spicy Margarita at Lenora

Bissell Brothers

Cocktails

• Blyth & Burrows: Located in the heart of Portland’s Old Port, Blyth & Burrows is a stylish cocktail bar with maritime decor. With an extensive menu of expertly crafted cocktails, as well as a selection of wine and beer, Blyth & Burrows is a must-visit for cocktail enthusiasts. In the summer, they have outdoor seating that shouldn’t be missed!
• Hardshore Gin Distilling Company: This is a personal favorite for Karen! Visitors can take a tour of the facility, sample the gin spirits in the tasting room, or enjoy a handcrafted cocktail made with their signature gin.
• Anoche: Anoche is a tapas bar in Portland’s East End that serves up delicious cocktails (tip: try the gin and tonic!) and a large list of ciders. They have outdoor seating in the summer that is next door to Duckfat Frites Shack at Oxbow Brewing Company. 
• Apres: A stylish craft beverage destination that offers a stylish interior and an outdoor patio during the summer months with hard seltzer, hard cider, and a limited rotating beer and wine list. Be sure to ask what the frozen cocktail is and follow them on Instagram for more details on food trucks.
• Hunt & Alpine: A great location for a mid-day drink and dining stop, especially in the warmer months when they have the outdoor patio. In the cooler months, enjoy the beautiful decor inside at bar counter seats or the communal table. 
• Room for Improvement: Portland’s newest bar on Wharf Street (the cobblestone street in Portland’s Old Port), is an elevated dive bar with creative (and delicious!) cocktails, beer, and snacks. Our favorites include the espresso martini shot, Negroni, and margarita!

Wine

• Grippy Tannins: This wine shop and tasting lounge is our happy place. Its owner, Lindsay, is so friendly and knowledgeable, and makes learning about wine feel approachable. And we cannot emphasize enough how good the selection of wine is. Just beware, if you go, you may not want to leave.
• Angoor Wine Bar: We’re so excited about our hometown’s newest gem: Portland’s first self-pour wine experience! You can choose from 2, 4, or 6 oz pours of more than 30 wines at their self-service dispensers and explore a variety of wines with detailed tasting notes. Perfect for finding your favorite before committing to a full glass or sampling several options.
• Blue Lobster Winery: Located next to Lone Pine Brewing Company, they offer a selection of wines and ciders in a small and inviting tasting room.

Beer 

• Lone Pine Brewing Company, Rising Tide Brewing Company, Belleflower Brewing Company, and Austin Street Brewery are local favorites and all within walking distance of each other in Portland’s East Bayside neighborhood. Note: Kasey is not a big beer drinker, but genuinely enjoyed Belleflower’s options. Also, as fun fact, we are about 99% sure barn wood featured in Belleflower comes from a barn on Kasey’s family’s property.
• Allagash Brewing, Foundation Brewing Company, Battery Steel, Definitive Brewing, and a separate location of Austin Street Brewery are also all within close walking distance to each other, but in a different area and a little further from the Old Port (about a 15 min drive / an easy Uber ride away).
• Bissell Brothers is a very popular one, located on Thompson Point (about a 5-10 minute drive from the Old Port, but again an easy Uber ride away).
• If you don’t mind a bit of a further drive, we also recommend Maine Beer Company in Freeport (about a 20 minute drive). If you don’t make it up to Freeport, many of the local restaurants serve Maine Beer Company beer on their menus.
• Novare Res: If you love beer, put this place on your list. This taproom and beer garden offers a large selection of rotating, international beers. In the warmer months, the outdoor beer garden is a fantastic place to enjoy a cold beer and snacks.

Rooftop

• Luna: Located on the roof of the Canopy Portland Waterfront Hotel on Commercial Street, they offer small plates and cocktails with harbor views. Our personal favorite is the espresso martini. It’s recommended to make a reservation or get there close to opening time.
• Top of the East: Located on the top of the Westin Portland Harborview, this cocktail lounge offers craft cocktails, delicious small plates, and beautiful views.
• Bayside Bowl: The perfect location to enjoy a day with beautiful weather! A 20-lane bowling alley with a rooftop overlooking Portland with a taco truck, a full bar, and live music and events.

Live music

• The Porthole: A casual seafood restaurant located in the heart of Portland’s Old Port district. The restaurant is a local favorite for a cold beer or High Noon with live music on the deck on weekends during the summer. 
• Portland Lobster Co.: Located in Portland’s Old Port on Commercial Street, Portland Lobster Co. offers fresh Maine seafood, outdoor dining on the water, and live music make this a must-visit spot during the warmer months. Check out the live music schedule here. 

Late Night Fun

• Bubba’s: Truly a one of a kind experience. A light-up dance floor, eclectic decor (including a fake horse), and throw-back jams and sing along songs. If you’re looking to dance, this is the spot. Tip: Although very close to the downtown/Old Port, it’s not in the best location, so you should plan to take an Uber/Lyft/cab and not walk there.
• Bonfire (Country Bar): Located in Old Port, this bar can be very crowded late at night and tends to have a college-age/early 20s crowd. They don’t have a dance floor or dedicated area for dancing, but it can make for a good spot to enjoy country music.
• Arcadia: A fun barcade atmosphere with some of the best craft cocktails in Portland served from a a central bar. Don’t miss the 25 cent skeeball machines on the bottom floor.

– Karen and Kasey