Keely & Matt’s guidebook
Food scene
There is so much food in Portland. Here are some favorites but our guest book (on the desk at the apartment) has even more recommendations.
Our absolute favorite place to eat in Portland. Get the chef's menu if you can. If there at lunch try the chicken shawarma
28 locals raden deze aan
Evo Kitchen + Bar
443 Fore StOur absolute favorite place to eat in Portland. Get the chef's menu if you can. If there at lunch try the chicken shawarma
Easy walk from our house and kid friendly. Good for breakfast or a quick lunch.
30 locals raden deze aan
Big Sky Bread Company
536 Deering AveEasy walk from our house and kid friendly. Good for breakfast or a quick lunch.
Rose Foods
428 Forest AveWalkable from our house. A NY Jewish Style deli/bagel shop.
Great margaritas made with fresh lime juice. Great value at happy hour. Tacos are small and good but a bit overpriced. I'd do happy hour and maybe a small bite and move on.
15 locals raden deze aan
Bird & Co.
539 Deering AveGreat margaritas made with fresh lime juice. Great value at happy hour. Tacos are small and good but a bit overpriced. I'd do happy hour and maybe a small bite and move on.
Not walkable but really close. A great place to grab a sandwhich if you're in a hurry. Call ahead and they'll have it ready for you. Highly recommend the golden shrimp po boy and make sure to add the hot sauce.
21 locals raden deze aan
Po' Boys & Pickles
1124 Forest AveNot walkable but really close. A great place to grab a sandwhich if you're in a hurry. Call ahead and they'll have it ready for you. Highly recommend the golden shrimp po boy and make sure to add the hot sauce.
A local gem. You won't find any tourists in here and that's intentional. The owners moved from a booming downtown location to slow the pace. You'll need a reservation. A little less than a mile walk but an easy one. Great food and tiny warm atmosphere.
9 locals raden deze aan
JP's Bistro
496 Woodford StA local gem. You won't find any tourists in here and that's intentional. The owners moved from a booming downtown location to slow the pace. You'll need a reservation. A little less than a mile walk but an easy one. Great food and tiny warm atmosphere.
One of the best bakeries in Portland. Get the almond croissants (Th-Sunday) but get there before 9 or they are gone. A grab and go place with a little outdoor area to quickly eat if you want. Chunky chocolate rye cookies (M-Sa) are to die for. The granola bars are a great snack for toddlers or kids.
114 locals raden deze aan
Standard Baking Co
75 Commercial StOne of the best bakeries in Portland. Get the almond croissants (Th-Sunday) but get there before 9 or they are gone. A grab and go place with a little outdoor area to quickly eat if you want. Chunky chocolate rye cookies (M-Sa) are to die for. The granola bars are a great snack for toddlers or kids.
A little off the beaten path but really good food at a reasonable price. Take an Uber or Drive because to get there you have to go through a little bit of a rough side of town.
28 locals raden deze aan
Isa
79 Portland StA little off the beaten path but really good food at a reasonable price. Take an Uber or Drive because to get there you have to go through a little bit of a rough side of town.
Amazing Japanese. Get the tasting menu. Fun fact - the owners and chef live next door to us.
61 locals raden deze aan
Izakaya Minato
54 Washington AveAmazing Japanese. Get the tasting menu. Fun fact - the owners and chef live next door to us.
If you can afford this place and possibly get a reservation - go. Get the tasting menu paired with wine. Go big or go home.
30 locals raden deze aan
Hugo's
88 Middle StIf you can afford this place and possibly get a reservation - go. Get the tasting menu paired with wine. Go big or go home.
Small plates. It is always slammed. You can get your name in and then they will text you. If you go down the hill and around back you can get to the lower level where there is a bar. Good happy hour specials.
145 locals raden deze aan
Central Provisions
414 Fore StSmall plates. It is always slammed. You can get your name in and then they will text you. If you go down the hill and around back you can get to the lower level where there is a bar. Good happy hour specials.
Amazing. They don't do takeout or deliver. Calamari and the scallop shooter are great.
147 locals raden deze aan
Boda
671 Congress StAmazing. They don't do takeout or deliver. Calamari and the scallop shooter are great.
High end Chinese food. I love the beef and broad noodles. They have a concert hall upstairs so going after 8 or 9 can get loud. Always packed.
102 locals raden deze aan
Empire
575 Congress StHigh end Chinese food. I love the beef and broad noodles. They have a concert hall upstairs so going after 8 or 9 can get loud. Always packed.
Great sushi. Expensive though. I love the Hamayaki, Pork buns, and Dragon Roll
34 locals raden deze aan
Miyake
468 Fore StGreat sushi. Expensive though. I love the Hamayaki, Pork buns, and Dragon Roll
Raman noodle house. Cousin to Miyaki. They also have hamayaki and dragon rolls and pork buns but cost less than at the more expensive main restaurant Miyaki.
148 locals raden deze aan
Pai Men Miyake
188 State StRaman noodle house. Cousin to Miyaki. They also have hamayaki and dragon rolls and pork buns but cost less than at the more expensive main restaurant Miyaki.
Best menu items are the lobster roll, oyster po boy roll. It is always incredibly busy and you can only get reservations for large parties. Try going at an odd hour, like 3 pm. Get some small bites and a drink and have a late dinner somewhere else.
272 locals raden deze aan
Eventide Oyster Co.
86 Middle StBest menu items are the lobster roll, oyster po boy roll. It is always incredibly busy and you can only get reservations for large parties. Try going at an odd hour, like 3 pm. Get some small bites and a drink and have a late dinner somewhere else.
Cheapest place in town to get a whole boiled lobster. No ambiance whatsoever. A true local's place. Picnic tables out back. Everything is fresh.
33 locals raden deze aan
Gilberts Chowder House
92 Commercial StCheapest place in town to get a whole boiled lobster. No ambiance whatsoever. A true local's place. Picnic tables out back. Everything is fresh.
One of the classic seafood places in Portland. You'll need a reservation. If you go right at 5 you might have luck getting one.
114 locals raden deze aan
Street & Co
33 Wharf StOne of the classic seafood places in Portland. You'll need a reservation. If you go right at 5 you might have luck getting one.
High end oyster bar and seafood place. Super nice interior with water views. It will cost you though.
138 locals raden deze aan
Scales
68 Commercial StHigh end oyster bar and seafood place. Super nice interior with water views. It will cost you though.
You can't imagine a place with a better view. Almost entirely outdoor seating (picnic tables) so don't go if it is cold, super windy, or raining. Good fried seafood and lobster rolls but you're really going for the scenery. It is bring your own beer so don't forget your cooler. Worth the drive. If you plan to check out Portland Head Light this is a good place to check out while you're over there. After dinner, swing by Willard Scoops for some home made ice cream.
136 locals raden deze aan
The Lobster Shack at Two Lights
225 Two Lights RdYou can't imagine a place with a better view. Almost entirely outdoor seating (picnic tables) so don't go if it is cold, super windy, or raining. Good fried seafood and lobster rolls but you're really going for the scenery. It is bring your own beer so don't forget your cooler. Worth the drive. If you plan to check out Portland Head Light this is a good place to check out while you're over there. After dinner, swing by Willard Scoops for some home made ice cream.
Great place for kids. Right on the water. The deck on the side overlooks the water taxi dock and is great people watching. Go right on past the hostess stand outside and onto the deck. There is a window to the bar and you can just grab a drink and a seat and watch ferries and taxis come and go. Great for kids because they love the view and it is a safe area to play.
98 locals raden deze aan
Flatbread Company
72 Commercial StGreat place for kids. Right on the water. The deck on the side overlooks the water taxi dock and is great people watching. Go right on past the hostess stand outside and onto the deck. There is a window to the bar and you can just grab a drink and a seat and watch ferries and taxis come and go. Great for kids because they love the view and it is a safe area to play.
Coffee
These are coffee shops within walking distance.
The Proper Cup
500 Forest AveAmazing coffee and a very short walk away.
A little further of a walk but good coffee and breakfast foods. Rose Foods is just a little further if you want more options for food.
17 locals raden deze aan
little woodfords
316A Congress StreetA little further of a walk but good coffee and breakfast foods. Rose Foods is just a little further if you want more options for food.
Beer and Beverage Store
Bier Cellar
299 Forest AveBow Street Beverage
495 Forest AveBreweries
If you know beer you probably know about Bissel Brothers. Enough Said. Try Substance, Swish (can only get certain months) and Baby Genius.
102 locals raden deze aan
Bissell Brothers
38 Resurgam PlIf you know beer you probably know about Bissel Brothers. Enough Said. Try Substance, Swish (can only get certain months) and Baby Genius.
Probably my favorite brewery at the moment. Cozy place to hang out and lots of good beers instead of just one flagship. Try the OJ.
68 locals raden deze aan
Lone Pine Brewing Company
219 Anderson StProbably my favorite brewery at the moment. Cozy place to hang out and lots of good beers instead of just one flagship. Try the OJ.
A big place with lots of selection. Specialize in farmhouse.
106 locals raden deze aan
Oxbow Blending & Bottling
49 Washington AveA big place with lots of selection. Specialize in farmhouse.
Cocktails
My favorite place to get a cocktail. Get the "White noise". It is inexpensive and won't disappoint.
74 locals raden deze aan
The Portland Hunt & Alpine Club
75 Market StMy favorite place to get a cocktail. Get the "White noise". It is inexpensive and won't disappoint.
Cocktails and mocktails. Huge selection. If you don't or can't drink but want to feel like you are at a true happy hour this place will be heaven-sent.
27 locals raden deze aan
Vena's Fizz House
90 Fore StCocktails and mocktails. Huge selection. If you don't or can't drink but want to feel like you are at a true happy hour this place will be heaven-sent.
Beer Bar
The biggest beer selection in Portland. All the good local ones are here and hundreds of bottles from around the globe. Outdoor deck area.
85 locals raden deze aan
Novare Res Bier Cafe
4 Canal PlazaThe biggest beer selection in Portland. All the good local ones are here and hundreds of bottles from around the globe. Outdoor deck area.
My favorite bar. Small, cozy, great happy hour and always have good local options. Not a big selection but where we go when we go out. Get the cake! It is so good.
21 locals raden deze aan
Maps
64A Market StMy favorite bar. Small, cozy, great happy hour and always have good local options. Not a big selection but where we go when we go out. Get the cake! It is so good.
The King's Head
254 Commercial StHuge selection of beer and good bar food menu.