If you are working out where to eat in Portland, Maine, start in the Old Port. Within a few blocks you can get a brown butter lobster roll at Eventide Oyster Co., oysters at J’s on Portland Pier, duck fat frites at Duckfat and morning buns at Standard Baking Co. Then walk up to Munjoy Hill for brunch at The Front Room, and finish in East Bayside with a beer at Rising Tide or Oxbow.
That is a lot of good eating for a small city. Visit Portland says the city has more than 300 restaurants and more restaurants per capita than anywhere in the country outside San Francisco, and Bon Appétit named it Restaurant City of the Year in 2018.
Every place below was confirmed open when this guide was written, and they are grouped by neighbourhood so you can eat your way across the peninsula on foot.
Key takeaways
- The Old Port holds the classics: Eventide, J’s Oyster, Luke’s Lobster, Portland Lobster Company, Duckfat, Standard Baking Co. and The Holy Donut.
- Munjoy Hill is for a slower meal; The Front Room at 73 Congress Street serves brunch every day.
- East Bayside is the brewery end of town, with Rising Tide on Fox Street and Oxbow Blending & Bottling on Washington Avenue.
- Portland Lobster Company is seasonal and opens April through October, so late-autumn visitors should check before going.
- Duckfat seats on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early or late for a shorter wait.
Portland at a glance
Use this table as your shortlist. Everything in the Old Port is within easy walking distance, and Munjoy Hill and East Bayside are a short uphill stroll from the waterfront.
| Place | Area | Go for |
|---|---|---|
| Eventide Oyster Co. | Old Port (86 Middle St) | Brown butter lobster roll, local oysters |
| J’s Oyster | Old Port (5 Portland Pier) | Oysters, steamers, lobster rolls |
| Luke’s Lobster | Old Port (60 Portland Pier) | Lobster roll with a working-waterfront view |
| Portland Lobster Company | Old Port (180 Commercial St) | Lobster rolls on the harbour, April to October |
| Duckfat | Old Port (43 Middle St) | Duck fat frites, poutine, gelato shakes |
| Standard Baking Co. | Old Port (75 Commercial St) | Croissants, morning buns, baguettes |
| The Holy Donut | Old Port (Commercial St) | Maine potato doughnuts |
| The Front Room | Munjoy Hill (73 Congress St) | Brunch, New American comfort food |
| Rising Tide Brewing | East Bayside (103 Fox St) | Local beer, food from Ugly Duckling |
| Oxbow Blending & Bottling | Washington Ave (49 Washington Ave) | Oxbow beer in a tasting room |
Old Port: lobster rolls and oysters
Lobster is the reason many people come, and the Old Port gives you several very different ways to eat it. Visit Portland’s own line is that if it isn’t from Maine, it isn’t lobster. You don’t have to agree to enjoy the argument.
Eventide Oyster Co.
At 86 Middle Street, Eventide calls itself a revival of the great American oyster bar. Order a spread of local oysters from the raw bar, then the brown butter lobster roll it is famous for: the one it also ships nationwide. Eventide also serves takeout, which is handy on a sunny day by the water.
J’s Oyster
J’s Oyster has been on Portland Pier since 1977, and it looks the part. Small, casual and a little weathered, it serves oysters, steamers, lobster and lobster rolls to a crowd that mixes locals and visitors. Come here when you want a beer and a dozen on the half shell without any ceremony.
Luke’s Lobster, Portland Pier
Luke’s was founded by third-generation lobsterman Luke Holden, and its Portland Pier restaurant sits on a working waterfront with views of the boats coming in. Rolls come in several sizes, including a traditional version, and the menu runs to lobster dinners, steamed mussels and fish and chips.
Portland Lobster Company
On Commercial Street, Portland Lobster Company is the classic summer lobster shack experience, with lobster rolls, lobster dinners, harbour views and live entertainment. It is open April through October, so check before you plan a late-season visit.
In Portland, the lobster roll is not a single dish. It is a choice between a warm roll at a raw bar, a cold one on a pier and everything in between.
Old Port: frites, doughnuts and bread
Portland’s reputation isn’t built on seafood alone. Some of its most-loved food is fried, glazed or baked, and all three of these sit a few minutes’ walk from the lobster rolls.
Duckfat
Duckfat, at 43 Middle Street, has served Belgian-style frites since 2005: hand-cut, then twice-fried in duck fat. Add poutine or a panini, and don’t skip a gelato shake. There are no reservations, so plan for a short queue at peak times.
Standard Baking Co.
Down on the waterfront at 75 Commercial Street, Standard Baking Co. has been baking since 1995. Its case is full of croissants, pain au chocolat, morning buns, scones and cookies, and the breads are made with local, sustainably sourced grains. Buy a baguette for later; it will not last the walk back to your hotel.
The Holy Donut
The Holy Donut makes its doughnuts with real Maine potato. The Commercial Street shop is the one in the Old Port, and there is a second Portland location on Park Avenue.
Munjoy Hill and East Bayside
Walk uphill and east from the Old Port and the city feels more like a neighbourhood than a destination. This is where you go for a long brunch or a late-afternoon beer.
The Front Room, Munjoy Hill
On the corner of Congress and Howard streets, The Front Room serves New American comfort food in a room its chef wanted to feel like a friend’s living room. Brunch runs every day, which makes it the natural start to a Munjoy Hill morning, and dinner is served Wednesday to Sunday.
Rising Tide Brewing, East Bayside
Rising Tide is an independent, family-owned brewery at 103 Fox Street, and it describes itself as an anchor of the East Bayside neighbourhood. The tasting room opens daily from noon, and food comes from Ugly Duckling, so you can make a meal of it.
Oxbow Blending & Bottling
A short walk away at 49 Washington Avenue, Oxbow runs its Portland blending and bottling space and tasting room. It is a relaxed place to try Maine beer after a day of seafood.
Tandem Coffee Roasters
For coffee, Tandem roasts and pours at its café at 122 Anderson Street, near the breweries. Its second café, on Congress Street, doubles as a bakery selling cinnamon rolls and pies. Both open early and close by the early afternoon.
How to plan an eating day
Portland is compact enough to graze, so the trick is pacing rather than distance.
- Start with a bakery. Standard Baking Co. or The Holy Donut in the morning, when the cases are full.
- Walk the waterfront before lunch. Portland Pier puts J’s Oyster and Luke’s side by side.
- Make lunch the lobster meal. Eventide or a pier-side roll, then a slow walk along Commercial Street.
- Head uphill in the afternoon. Brunch at The Front Room if you started late, or a beer in East Bayside.
- Save Duckfat for when you’re hungry again. Frites and a shake are a perfect late snack.
Want more places to weigh up? Browse the restaurant directory, see our other dining guides, or read up on how to order oysters before you sit down at the raw bar.
FAQ
What food is Portland, Maine known for?
Lobster first, especially lobster rolls, plus local oysters, duck fat frites at Duckfat and Maine potato doughnuts. The city’s bakeries and breweries are a big part of the draw too.
Is the Old Port the best area to eat?
It has the highest concentration of classics, including Eventide, J’s Oyster, Duckfat and Standard Baking Co. Munjoy Hill and East Bayside are quieter and worth the short walk.
Can I get a lobster roll in Portland year-round?
Yes, though some places are seasonal. Portland Lobster Company opens April through October, while Eventide, J’s Oyster and Luke’s list regular daily hours.
Do I need reservations?
Duckfat is first come, first served. For the others, check each restaurant’s own site before you go, as policies and hours change with the season.
Pick your first stop
Choose one lobster roll and one bakery as the fixed points of your day, then fill in around them. If you are staying longer, our New England food guides and lobster stories are good next reads, and the Visit Portland food blog is worth a look for newer openings.
Featured photo: Lobster Roll at the Lobster Claw, Bar Harbor by Lee Coursey, BY 2.0.
