We LOVE living in Portland and we hope you can make the most of your time here. We've put together some recommendations for where to go and eat while you're here.

East End (Washington Ave/Munjoy Hill) – this is where we had our first date at a Japanese restaurant called Izakaya Minato. We love this part of town; there’s so much to do!

Breakfast:

LB Kitchen – healthy smoothies, breakfast bowls, and lunch items

Forage Market - bagels, coffee & more.

Portland Pottery Café – sweet café attached to a pottery shop. Amazing eat-in or takeout options, I love the shakshuka!

Onggi – amazing coffee & matcha, small pastries & fun shop

Belleville – the best pastries in town. Hands down.

Lunch/Dinner:

Ramona’s – takeout sandwiches (they are hearty!).

Terlingua – Mexican BBQ, super fun patio/outdoor seating!

The Shop – oysters and other small bites.

OTTO Pizza – enough said.

East Ender - fun bar vibes downstairs with restaurant seating upstairs. Great food, and karaoke every night!

Eventide - one of Portland's most famous restaurants. Home of Peggy Gilmore's favorite brown butter lobster roll. Very hard to get into, but they take reservations for groups over 6.

Honey Paw - right next to Eventide, asian fusion with an incredible soft serve honeycomb dessert.

Drinks:

Cocktail Mary

Maine Craft Distilling (yummy food too)

Oxbow Brewing

Shops:

The Cheese Shop – great if you want to grab some snacks for your hotel room or Air BnB

Post Supply – beautiful gift shop with really fun things

The Old Port – this is the heart of Portland and the area everyone will get on the water taxis.

Breakfast

Bread & Friends – a new bakery/restaurant with great food and coffees.

Becky’s Diner (Nothin’ Finer!) – Portland’s famous breakfast joint

The Porthole – typically known for its bar scene, but we’ve come to love their breakfast!

Starbucks – this isn’t an exciting recommendation, but it’s right on Commercial St. close to the water.

Lunch

Portland Lobster Company – can be hard to get into, but this is a Portland staple!

Central Provisions

Market Street Eats

Crooked Mile

Shops

Blanche & Mimi

Lisa-Marie’s Made in Maine

Old Port Spirits and Cigars – great to stop in and pick up beer & wine for wherever you are staying

West End

Coffee/Breakfast:

Tandem Coffee

Hot Suppa

Local 188

Lunch/Dinner:

Pai Men Miyake - Maddy's 2nd favorite restaurant in Portland, you must get the Lobster Bao.

Chaval - casually stylish brasserie for seasonal French & Spanish influenced cuisine & craft cocktails. One of the best burgers in Portland.

Lazzari - great pizza & cocktails!

Bayside

Breakfast

Bayside American Cafe

Coffee Me Up

Lunch/Dinner

Isa - cozy neighborhood bistro.

Coals - the thinnest crust pizza you'll ever try, and so delicious.

Batson River - Maine outdoor heritage inspired interior, craft cocktails and good American food.

Wilson County BBQ - yummy BBQ fare in a cool, up and coming area.

Bayside Bowl - fun bowling alley/restaurant & bar with Portland's best rooftop bar.

Rising Tide - brewery with lots of food options and cool outdoor seating.

General

Late night eats:

LFK

Pizzaiolo

Pizza Villa

Mash Tun

Paper Tiger

Bars

Mash Tun right on the heart of Wharf St. where all the action is, our favorite go-to bar.

Rosie’s the best dive bar in town.

Blythe & Burrows a swanky bar/lounge with a bit of a speakeasy feel.

Hunt & Alpine a craft cocktail bar with a Scandinavian feel.

Luna a modern rooftop bar.

The Armory on the ground floor of the Regency Hotel, old timey library vibes with the best martinis in town. They might still have their beautiful outdoor seating in the summer across the street from the hotel entrance. Great for lunch or an afternoon drink & snack.