Sightseeing
Willard Beach
Great place to enjoy the beach - only 7 min drive from the house.
Bug Light Park
Enjoy a lighthouse and some historical sight seeing.
Great hike about 4min drive from the house but easy to get lost so definitely use All Trails app for maps
Winnick Woods, Greenbelt Trail
Great hike about 4min drive from the house but easy to get lost so definitely use All Trails app for maps
Beautiful hike around two ponds just down the street within walking distance from the house.
11 locals recommend
Hinckley Park
288 Highland AveBeautiful hike around two ponds just down the street within walking distance from the house.
A great beach with surfing about 13min away by car. Make sure you check the tide because the beach disappears completely at high tide.
115 locals recommend
Higgins Beach
A great beach with surfing about 13min away by car. Make sure you check the tide because the beach disappears completely at high tide.
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park
426 Wolfe's Neck RdBeautiful state park with nice hikes
Cute little uninhabited island off of Falmouth that has a 1.5 mile hike around the island and several beaches. Parking can be tough here and if there are no spots and already a car waiting, they turn you away so be prepared with a backup plan.
130 locals recommend
Mackworth Island State Park
U.S. 1Cute little uninhabited island off of Falmouth that has a 1.5 mile hike around the island and several beaches. Parking can be tough here and if there are no spots and already a car waiting, they turn you away so be prepared with a backup plan.
Nice beach but it pretty much disappears at high tide so plan your trip accordingly.
110 locals recommend
Scarborough Beach
Black Point RdNice beach but it pretty much disappears at high tide so plan your trip accordingly.
The most photographed lighthouse in the world (with good reason)! This is a 12min drive from the house.
346 locals recommend
Portland Harbor Museum
12 Captain Strout CircleThe most photographed lighthouse in the world (with good reason)! This is a 12min drive from the house.
You can rent kayaks here and paddle through the Scarborough marshes. They are very beautiful and it’s a nice way to enjoy Maine’s beauty.
39 locals recommend
Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center
92 Pine Point RdYou can rent kayaks here and paddle through the Scarborough marshes. They are very beautiful and it’s a nice way to enjoy Maine’s beauty.
Cute little Maine island with a few restaurants. This island is mostly residential but it’s fun to rent bikes or a golf cart and cruise around to see what island life is like in Maine. It’s also a nice ferry ride out.
176 locals recommend
Peaks Island
Cute little Maine island with a few restaurants. This island is mostly residential but it’s fun to rent bikes or a golf cart and cruise around to see what island life is like in Maine. It’s also a nice ferry ride out.
Soakology
511 Congress StSoak your feet and relax after a long day of sightseeing.
Free entry on certain Thursday and Friday nights. Check their website for details.
785 locals recommend
Portland Art Museum
1219 SW Park AveFree entry on certain Thursday and Friday nights. Check their website for details.
Food scene
Delicious and reasonably priced fine dining restaurant. Reservations highly recommended.
73 locals recommend
Davids 388 Restaurant
388 Cottage RdDelicious and reasonably priced fine dining restaurant. Reservations highly recommended.
Great place for a lobster roll or a crab roll with a beautiful water view of the rocky coast
136 locals recommend
The Lobster Shack at Two Lights
225 Two Lights RdGreat place for a lobster roll or a crab roll with a beautiful water view of the rocky coast
OTTO
576 Congress StDelicious pizza! They will deliver to the house.
Good sourdough bagels for breakfast but go early because they sell out almost every day.
164 locals recommend
Scratch Baking Co
416 Preble StGood sourdough bagels for breakfast but go early because they sell out almost every day.
Waterfront restaurant with good food. Pretty pricey for what it is but the scenery is nice and it’s a big restaurant so it’s easier to get into than some of the other waterfront options.
48 locals recommend
Saltwater Grille
231 Front StWaterfront restaurant with good food. Pretty pricey for what it is but the scenery is nice and it’s a big restaurant so it’s easier to get into than some of the other waterfront options.
North 43 Bistro
1 Spring Point DrWaterfront fine dining restaurant with a great menu
Great lobster restaurant right on the pier in the old port.
45 locals recommend
Luke's Lobster Portland Pier
60 Portland PierGreat lobster restaurant right on the pier in the old port.
Hard seltzer bar with unique and delicious hard seltzer flavors. They also sell cans to go so you can get a 4 pack and enjoy it in the sunroom at the house
10 locals recommend
Après
148 Anderson StreetHard seltzer bar with unique and delicious hard seltzer flavors. They also sell cans to go so you can get a 4 pack and enjoy it in the sunroom at the house
Fore Street Restaurant
288 Fore StUpscale fine dining. Reservations highly recommended.
Scales
68 Commercial StUpscale fine dining. Reservations highly recommended.
Great little lobster place where you can grab it at the window and eat on the pier.
131 locals recommend
Portland Lobster Co
180 Commercial StGreat little lobster place where you can grab it at the window and eat on the pier.
Duckfat
43 Middle StGreat restaurant for lunch (or dinner).
The Honey Paw
78 Middle StA favorite Asian fusion restaurant of locals
Great American style food and a great atmosphere! This place is especially stunning during Christmas time as they go all out with decorations. You definitely need reservations during the holiday season.
11 locals recommend
Batson River Brewing & Distilling - Portland
82 Hanover StreetGreat American style food and a great atmosphere! This place is especially stunning during Christmas time as they go all out with decorations. You definitely need reservations during the holiday season.
The Grill Room & Bar
84 Exchange StreetBest place for a steak in Portland
Super popular Italian restaurant that usually requires reservations about a month in advance to get in. That said, I’ve also been able to walk in and eat at the bar with only a 45 minute wait 
20 locals recommend
ViA VECCHiA
10 Dana StreetSuper popular Italian restaurant that usually requires reservations about a month in advance to get in. That said, I’ve also been able to walk in and eat at the bar with only a 45 minute wait 
Lincolns
36 Market StCool secret speakeasy that’s hard to find
The Great Lost Bear
540 Forest AveGreat burgers!
Little Tap House
106 High StGreat fine dining restaurant but hard to get into. Reservations required.
114 locals recommend
Street & Co
33 Wharf StGreat fine dining restaurant but hard to get into. Reservations required.
Great place for oysters but there is usually a very long line and they don’t take reservations. Get there right when they open to get in 
272 locals recommend
Eventide Oyster Co.
86 Middle StGreat place for oysters but there is usually a very long line and they don’t take reservations. Get there right when they open to get in 
Red's Dairy Freeze
167 Cottage RdPopular local ice cream spot
Luna Rooftop Bar
285 Commercial StreetGreat place for drinks and appetizers with views of the whole city.
68 locals recommend
Top of the East
157 High StGreat place for drinks and appetizers with views of the whole city.
Tandoor
88 Exchange StThe best Indian food in Portland!
One of my favorite restaurants in Portland. Japanese style small plates. Get the oysters and the bacon mochi 🤤
61 locals recommend
Izakaya Minato
54 Washington AveOne of my favorite restaurants in Portland. Japanese style small plates. Get the oysters and the bacon mochi 🤤
Bird & Co.
539 Deering AveGreat tacos 🌮
Yosaku
1 Danforth StGreat sushi 🍣
A place for breakfast sandwiches near my house. Order at the counter and bring to a table.
27 locals recommend
Cia Cafe
72 Ocean StA place for breakfast sandwiches near my house. Order at the counter and bring to a table.
St. Joe's Cafe
220 Gorham RdInsanely big and delicious breakfast sandwiches on biscuits
Miyake
468 Fore StGreat sushi.
Central Provisions
414 Fore StDelicious small plates tapas restaurant.
Portland Pie Co. Portland
51 York StYummy pizza and salads
Cute little breakfast and lunch spot on the way to Higgins beach. Great sandwiches and cookies. It’s actually called Hank’s. Not sure why AirBnB has it listed as Spurwink Country Kitchen.
Spurwink Country Kitchen
150 Spurwink RdCute little breakfast and lunch spot on the way to Higgins beach. Great sandwiches and cookies. It’s actually called Hank’s. Not sure why AirBnB has it listed as Spurwink Country Kitchen.
The Friendly Toast
Great place for breakfast. Lots of indulgent items.
The Front Room
73 Congress StGreat for brunch or dinner.
Bread & Friends
Great place for baked goods.
The Holy Donut
For donut lovers 🍩
The Cookie Jar
554 Shore RdEveryone loves the donuts here. Everything else is so so.
Gross Confection Bar
172 Middle StA wonderful place for dessert or breakfast pastries.
This is a food truck at Fort Williams and it’s delicious. These are my favorite lobster rolls in Portland. They also have a storefront in Portland.
44 locals recommend
Bite into Maine
1000 Shore RdThis is a food truck at Fort Williams and it’s delicious. These are my favorite lobster rolls in Portland. They also have a storefront in Portland.
This is the permanent storefront as opposed to the food truck version that is at Fort Williams. Same great food but this one is near a lot of breweries. You can get a lobster roll and bring it to the breweries. This location is also BYOB so you can bring a beer from the breweries into the restaurant. My favorite lobster roll in Portland!
Bite Into Maine
This is the permanent storefront as opposed to the food truck version that is at Fort Williams. Same great food but this one is near a lot of breweries. You can get a lobster roll and bring it to the breweries. This location is also BYOB so you can bring a beer from the breweries into the restaurant. My favorite lobster roll in Portland!
Super yummy gelato and sorbetto. The peanut butter gelato is a favorite of locals. Also the raspberry truffle sorbetto mixed with chocolate noir 🤤
19 locals recommend
The Gelato Fiasco Old Port
425 Fore StSuper yummy gelato and sorbetto. The peanut butter gelato is a favorite of locals. Also the raspberry truffle sorbetto mixed with chocolate noir 🤤
Wilson County Barbecue
82 Hanover StReally good barbecue and fried chicken in Portland.
Elsmere BBQ and Wood Grill
448 Cottage RdYummy barbecue in South Portland close to the house.
Rosemont Market & Bakery
Cute little grocery market with local goods and high-end food.
Cute little grocery market with local goods and high-end food. There’s also a great butcher here.
Barber Brothers Meat & Provisions
Cute little grocery market with local goods and high-end food. There’s also a great butcher here.
Green Elephant
608 Congress StAwesome vegetarian restaurant.
Good Chinese. It’s nice inside and they also do carry out and delivery to the house.
Zen Chinese Bistro
4501 45 Danforth StGood Chinese. It’s nice inside and they also do carry out and delivery to the house.
Well loved small plates Chinese restaurant. There’s often a long line and I don’t think they take reservations.
102 locals recommend
Empire
575 Congress StWell loved small plates Chinese restaurant. There’s often a long line and I don’t think they take reservations.
Neighborhoods
Willard Square
Cute little neighborhood by Willard Beach
This multi-faceted area has restaurants, breweries, food trucks, and a concert venue. Thurs nights in the summer they do a sunset festival with games and food trucks.
28 locals recommend
Thompson Point
Thompsons PointThis multi-faceted area has restaurants, breweries, food trucks, and a concert venue. Thurs nights in the summer they do a sunset festival with games and food trucks.
This is a wonderful place for a day of shopping. Many major stores have outlets here so you can often find some great deals.
202 locals recommend
Freeport
This is a wonderful place for a day of shopping. Many major stores have outlets here so you can often find some great deals.
The Old Port has tons of great restaurants and shops. With cobblestone streets, it’s a great place to sight see and enjoy the city.
223 locals recommend
Old Port
The Old Port has tons of great restaurants and shops. With cobblestone streets, it’s a great place to sight see and enjoy the city.
The East End is home to a bunch of great breweries and my favorite hard seltzer bar, Aprés. Some popular breweries and bars in the area are Austin Street, Rising Tide, and The Zoo. There are many more though. Park along Anderson Street and just walk from brewery to brewery.
East End
The East End is home to a bunch of great breweries and my favorite hard seltzer bar, Aprés. Some popular breweries and bars in the area are Austin Street, Rising Tide, and The Zoo. There are many more though. Park along Anderson Street and just walk from brewery to brewery.
This is an area with a bunch of popular breweries. Park on Industrial Way and walk from place to place sampling different beers along the way.
Riverside St, Portland, ME, USA
This is an area with a bunch of popular breweries. Park on Industrial Way and walk from place to place sampling different beers along the way.
City advice
Don't miss
Ordering takeout
Want to skip the wait for a table and eat at home? Many of the local restaurants are on the Door Dash, Grub Hub or Uber Eats app.
Getting around
Bike rentals
There are 2 places in South Portland where you can rent bikes, if desired. Lighthouse Bikes offers bicycles and Lincoln and Main offers electric bike rentals.
Getting around
Uber
It’s easy to get around via Uber. It’s about a $10 Uber ride from the house to the Portland Old Port.