Long weekend in Portland, ME in March
March 2, 2016 9:38 AM Subscribe
Planning a short trip to Portland and would love some advice on veg-friendly restaurants, things to do in the off-season, and more.
We'll be in the area with a car for 3 days in March, staying at a hotel in Old Port. One of us is vegetarian (no fish), so would love any recommendations for restaurants that are veg-friendly but still offer enough meat/seafood for the other person. We love historic/antique-y things, cool houses, museums, drinking beer and cocktails, the ocean, and easy/moderate hikes.
Specific plans: art museum, Mackworth Island trail, ferry (will it be too cold? which one?), maybe visiting LL Bean/DeLorme, seeing the Portland Head Light, wandering Eastern and Western Prom
I need help with a day-by-day itinerary (Saturday afternoon, all day Sunday, all day Monday until about dinner time).
I've seen this, but many of those answers seem seasonally-dependent. Also familiar with the Portland Food Map, but I don't even know where to start!
We'll be in the area with a car for 3 days in March, staying at a hotel in Old Port. One of us is vegetarian (no fish), so would love any recommendations for restaurants that are veg-friendly but still offer enough meat/seafood for the other person. We love historic/antique-y things, cool houses, museums, drinking beer and cocktails, the ocean, and easy/moderate hikes.
Specific plans: art museum, Mackworth Island trail, ferry (will it be too cold? which one?), maybe visiting LL Bean/DeLorme, seeing the Portland Head Light, wandering Eastern and Western Prom
I need help with a day-by-day itinerary (Saturday afternoon, all day Sunday, all day Monday until about dinner time).
I've seen this, but many of those answers seem seasonally-dependent. Also familiar with the Portland Food Map, but I don't even know where to start!
Best answer: *waves* Hi from Portland!
Veg-Friendly - you should be able to find good options almost anywhere, but the famous ones are The Green Elephant and Silly's. Probably Kamasouptra in the Public Market House (menu changes daily). Bam Bam Bakery. Local Sprouts.
The Honey Paw was named by a number of places as "best new restaurant" in Portland for 2015. I haven't been, but that link shows their menu.
I find that the best way to use Portland Food Map is to either a) read the blog and take suggestions from that, b) find a place I want to eat and then look up reviews via PFM, or c) use PFM when we want to find a specific KIND of food (ie: what's the name of that Ethiopian place?) I would highly recommend you read the blog archives going back about six months, though. That will give a feel for what's new and hot in the very thriving food scene here.
Honestly, though, unless cross-contamination is in some way a concern, you should be able to find good veg options virtually anywhere (but probably not DuckFat, sadly). Be aware that Maine Restaurant Week goes from the 1st to the 12th, and many places have special menus during this time.
Sadly, the famous DeLorme Map Store recently closed, but the giant globe is still open to the public.
I will defer to others about the beer thing, but I'm sure you know that Portland has about a bazillion options for beer. Novare Res is the canonical suggestion.
In addition to the Art Museum (closed Monday), I really like the Maine Historical Society and Longfellow House. Its a bit chilly this time of year, but they are open and its worth a visit.
Normally I'd say the ferry in March would be a no-go, but play it by ear. Here's the current schedule. Bear in mind that all these islands are working islands, where people live. Looks like the (three hour) Mailboat run is 10 am and 245 pm daily. Its a nice tour around all the islands. Might be pretty chilly, though. You can also just take the 18 minute run out to Peaks Island, but not much (other than daily life) going on out there this time of year.
A visit to the Flea For All for sure. (More on Facebook.) Also The Merchant Company on Congress St.
The Osher Map Library is small but fabulous. (You'll need to drive there.)
A copy of Shakespeare's First Folio is on display at the Portland Public Library for the entire month of March. Free, right on Congress St, closed Sundays.
Its sort of weather dependent, but if I were to suggest, I would say arrive Saturday and check in and then just walk around the Old Port and Arts District. Lots of shopping options. (the Flea is open until 5.) Hit MHS/Longfellow this afternoon (probably 45 minutes total). Pick a nice place to have dinner. Walk over to Novare Res and have some drinks. Finish your evening taking in the view at Top of the East. Go back to your hotel and go to bed.
Sunday could start with brunch (maybe at Silly's if you want to hit the Eastern Prom), followed by the art museum when it opens at 11. Museum 11 - 1, then lunch somewhere. After lunch, choose either driving up to Mackworth and take a hike OR the 2:45 Mailboat cruise, but not both. Budget three hours for this either way. After your hike/cruise, go back tot he hotel and then pick a place for dinner. Then (unless you're passonate about seeing ALL the Freeport Outlet shopping) drive the half hour up to Bean Sunday night. They're open 24 hours, and its more fun late at night.
Just a note - the Western Prom is basically all old nice brick houses, but is just a posh residential neighborhood. It is easily walk-able from the Old Port, but can be kind of easy to get lost. Victoria Mansion is in the west end, but won't be open again until May 1. The Eastern Prom is also a residential neighborhood, but there is also a nice little shopping area (Ferdinand!) out there on Congress st between Franklin St and the Eastern Cemetery (and actually even a bit farther up the hill, toward the Observatory). You can walk over there, but it is kind of a hike and there is a section in the middle (where Franklin crosses the peninsula) that is kind of hard to traverse. You'll do best to take the long way and go down to Commercial St and then walk up around the Eastern Prom if you want to see the Park and stuff. Be aware that this is Munjoy HILL. And we do mean HILL.
Monday, a number of things (the art museum, Portland Library, I think the MHS, a lot of restaurants) will be closed. You could do the the other Mackworth/mailboat thing you didn't do on Sunday in the morning (again, budget about thee hours, Mailboat sails at 10, so call that 945 - 130 if you do that), then lunch. If you DO want to do the Whole Freeport Experience (ie: all the outlet shopping) Monday would be better choice than on the weekend. Then I'd do Portland Head light/Two Lights on the way out of town. (Sadly, The Good Table near Two Lights is also closed Mondays.)
I have a lot more suggestions if you have specific questions. Don't over schedule, honestly.
posted by anastasiav at 10:55 AM on March 2, 2016 [5 favorites]
Veg-Friendly - you should be able to find good options almost anywhere, but the famous ones are The Green Elephant and Silly's. Probably Kamasouptra in the Public Market House (menu changes daily). Bam Bam Bakery. Local Sprouts.
The Honey Paw was named by a number of places as "best new restaurant" in Portland for 2015. I haven't been, but that link shows their menu.
I find that the best way to use Portland Food Map is to either a) read the blog and take suggestions from that, b) find a place I want to eat and then look up reviews via PFM, or c) use PFM when we want to find a specific KIND of food (ie: what's the name of that Ethiopian place?) I would highly recommend you read the blog archives going back about six months, though. That will give a feel for what's new and hot in the very thriving food scene here.
Honestly, though, unless cross-contamination is in some way a concern, you should be able to find good veg options virtually anywhere (but probably not DuckFat, sadly). Be aware that Maine Restaurant Week goes from the 1st to the 12th, and many places have special menus during this time.
Sadly, the famous DeLorme Map Store recently closed, but the giant globe is still open to the public.
I will defer to others about the beer thing, but I'm sure you know that Portland has about a bazillion options for beer. Novare Res is the canonical suggestion.
In addition to the Art Museum (closed Monday), I really like the Maine Historical Society and Longfellow House. Its a bit chilly this time of year, but they are open and its worth a visit.
Normally I'd say the ferry in March would be a no-go, but play it by ear. Here's the current schedule. Bear in mind that all these islands are working islands, where people live. Looks like the (three hour) Mailboat run is 10 am and 245 pm daily. Its a nice tour around all the islands. Might be pretty chilly, though. You can also just take the 18 minute run out to Peaks Island, but not much (other than daily life) going on out there this time of year.
A visit to the Flea For All for sure. (More on Facebook.) Also The Merchant Company on Congress St.
The Osher Map Library is small but fabulous. (You'll need to drive there.)
A copy of Shakespeare's First Folio is on display at the Portland Public Library for the entire month of March. Free, right on Congress St, closed Sundays.
Its sort of weather dependent, but if I were to suggest, I would say arrive Saturday and check in and then just walk around the Old Port and Arts District. Lots of shopping options. (the Flea is open until 5.) Hit MHS/Longfellow this afternoon (probably 45 minutes total). Pick a nice place to have dinner. Walk over to Novare Res and have some drinks. Finish your evening taking in the view at Top of the East. Go back to your hotel and go to bed.
Sunday could start with brunch (maybe at Silly's if you want to hit the Eastern Prom), followed by the art museum when it opens at 11. Museum 11 - 1, then lunch somewhere. After lunch, choose either driving up to Mackworth and take a hike OR the 2:45 Mailboat cruise, but not both. Budget three hours for this either way. After your hike/cruise, go back tot he hotel and then pick a place for dinner. Then (unless you're passonate about seeing ALL the Freeport Outlet shopping) drive the half hour up to Bean Sunday night. They're open 24 hours, and its more fun late at night.
Just a note - the Western Prom is basically all old nice brick houses, but is just a posh residential neighborhood. It is easily walk-able from the Old Port, but can be kind of easy to get lost. Victoria Mansion is in the west end, but won't be open again until May 1. The Eastern Prom is also a residential neighborhood, but there is also a nice little shopping area (Ferdinand!) out there on Congress st between Franklin St and the Eastern Cemetery (and actually even a bit farther up the hill, toward the Observatory). You can walk over there, but it is kind of a hike and there is a section in the middle (where Franklin crosses the peninsula) that is kind of hard to traverse. You'll do best to take the long way and go down to Commercial St and then walk up around the Eastern Prom if you want to see the Park and stuff. Be aware that this is Munjoy HILL. And we do mean HILL.
Monday, a number of things (the art museum, Portland Library, I think the MHS, a lot of restaurants) will be closed. You could do the the other Mackworth/mailboat thing you didn't do on Sunday in the morning (again, budget about thee hours, Mailboat sails at 10, so call that 945 - 130 if you do that), then lunch. If you DO want to do the Whole Freeport Experience (ie: all the outlet shopping) Monday would be better choice than on the weekend. Then I'd do Portland Head light/Two Lights on the way out of town. (Sadly, The Good Table near Two Lights is also closed Mondays.)
I have a lot more suggestions if you have specific questions. Don't over schedule, honestly.
posted by anastasiav at 10:55 AM on March 2, 2016 [5 favorites]
One of the mornings, you should go to The Holy Donut for a the most delicious donuts you've ever tasted, made of a potato-based dough with a wide variety of well-flavored glazes. Can precede that with picking up coffee at my favorite, Tandem, if you want to make me jealous.
posted by aimedwander at 11:05 AM on March 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by aimedwander at 11:05 AM on March 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
Just got back from a weekend in Portland, Me this past weekend and had a blast. I used a few previous AskMe threads to help me narrow down my options. Unfortunately I can't suggest any vegetarian-specific places. Places we went and enjoyed:
posted by terrapin at 11:45 AM on March 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
- Foundation Brewing - nice selection off the IPA path. Great saison and an equally nice traditional porter.
- Bissell Brothers Brewing (these two are next to each other, but outside of town) - lots of IPAs, and busy at lunch on Friday.
- Duck Fat (not veg for sure, but if you do dairy the milkshakes are yum) - Learn about them on of all places Treehouse Masters TV show. Had frites and a charcuterie board. Also had a Liquid Riot DIPA.
- Andy's Old Port Restaurant - great little dive-isa bar with live music, beer, cocktails, full-sized pool table, and very nice and friendly bartenders.Was hard to find, but we enjoyed our time there.
- Bao Bao Dumplings - OMFG
- Little Tap House - only had drinks while waiting for a table at Bao Bao
- Local 188 - went for brunch. About the only complaint was the coffee. Hipster beyond belief. If I was doing brunch again, would have waited in line at Hot Suppa a half block away, but still enjoyed our meal.
- Tandem - yum coffee and pastry. Around the corner from our AMAZING B&B (Inn on Carleton).
- Portland Pottery on Washington - recommended by a pourer at Foundation after we admired his pottery at the brewery, we had a lovely lunch there and bought a few pieces. Vegetarian options here for sure.
- Maine Mead Works - surprised myself by leaving with a bottle of chai mead.
- Bunker Brewing - small brewery in a very small garage. Enjoyed the Russian Imperial Stout enough to lug a 4-pack with me after. Around the corner from....
- Rising Tide Brewing - Amazing d'hiver spicy rye brew, which I also took home.
- Holy Donut - picked up a half dozen on our way out of town, and found a while cute area of town we hadn't seen. Wander around the cobblestoned streets and cute shops here.
posted by terrapin at 11:45 AM on March 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
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posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 10:28 AM on March 2, 2016