Set on a peninsula in chilly Casco Bay, the city of Portland, Maine, is a charming city full of maritime history, Victorian architecture, and the freshest lobster in America. It’s a creative hub, with attractions like the Portland Museum of Art and Merrill Auditorium; a craft beer lover’s dream, with breweries like Allagash Brewing Co. and Austin Street Brewery; and it’s the perfect place from which to set sail, especially on a Portland Schooner Co. vessel.
Portland’s boutique hotel scene is also thriving, making it tough to choose between a stay at a new hot spot like the Longfellow Hotel or a tried-and-true favorite like the Portland Harbor Hotel. And of course, you have to consider the cozy home rentals that make you feel like a local, from a waterfront penthouse suite to a sunny East Bayside apartment. To help you decide where exactly to check in, we’ve compiled a list of the best hotels and home rentals in Portland. Plus, we included a few Maine properties that are a bit further afield, in case you want to stretch your New England getaway.
Portland Hotels
Carley Rudd Photography
Named for poet and Portland native Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the Longfellow Hotel draws on one his central themes, living in the moment, to deliver wellness-focused hospitality. Every detail encourages guests to be present, from the plush handmade mattresses and sleep-enhancing Loftie alarm clocks to the nourishing menu at Twinflower Café and restorative treatments at Astrea spa. Complimentary bicycles, an in-town luxury car service, and valet parking make it easy to explore the city beyond the hotel’s West End address. Starts at $418 per night.
Read McKendree
Blind Tiger Portland occupies two 19th-century homes in the West End: a Federal-style mansion on Danforth Street and a Victorian town house a few blocks away on Carleton Street. You can decide which spot tickles your fancy, but both have been respectfully updated by the Lark group. Original details like ornate moldings have been preserved, and contemporary comforts like free Wi-Fi have been added. Each room has its own distinct vibe, thanks to vintage furniture and collected art. Starts at $230 per night.
Courtesy of Colwen Hotels
In the heart of the Old Port district, just steps from the best food and shops the town has to offer, Portland Harbor Hotel has been delighting guests with its great location since 2002. A recent renovation has infused the space with a preppy nautical aesthetic—guest rooms are decked out in a red-white-and-blue palette, graphic patterns, and seaside motifs, while the lobby is adorned with an elaborate stone fireplace and a model ship. The on-site Harbor Bistro + Terrace sources its ingredients from local farmers, fishermen, and foragers. Starts at $269 per night.
Irvin Serrano
A Marriott Autograph Collection property, The Press Hotel resides in a circa-1923 brick-and-stone building that once housed the Portland Press Herald, Maine’s largest newspaper. So it’s fitting that the 110 guest rooms are inspired by writers’ offices, with vintage-style journalist desks, wood floors, and herringbone rugs. Sustainable features like dual-flush toilets, operable windows, and automated lighting and equipment controls helped the hotel earn its LEED certification. And rooftop beehives produce honey for its restaurant, Union, which serves up local seasonal fare. Starts at $233 per night.
Courtesy of The Francis
Another historic West End property, The Francis is a 15-room hotel named for the architect behind the stately 1881 mansion it inhabits, Francis Faccett. The building was carefully restored before being equipped with fluffy Cuddledown duvets and pillows, pour-overs with local Burundi Star Coffee, and art by local photographer Nicole Wolf. For dog parents, there’s a whole pet-friendly floor, and for culinary-minded travelers, there’s a cozy neighborhood restaurant, Wayside Tavern, next door. Starts at $217 per night.
Courtesy of Canopy by Hilton Portland Waterfront
The best part of Canopy by Hilton Portland Waterfront might just be its buzzing rooftop bar, Luna, where guests can sip creative cocktails and snack on a cheese board while overlooking the picturesque harbor and South Portland. But its industrial street-level restaurant, Salt Yard Café + Bar, and its relaxed, modern guest rooms are alluring too, as is the fitness center with Peloton bikes, treadmills, free weights, and more. And it’s situated just four blocks from downtown, so attractions are within reach. Starts at $179 per night.
Portland Home Rentals
Airbnb
The best-views award goes to this window-filled corner penthouse in the Old Port district, which allows guests to warm their feet by the gas-fired Jotul stove while gazing out at the lobster boats on the water. There’s also a private deck for watching the yachts come in and out of DiMillo’s Marina, and a full kitchen that’s outfitted with alderwood, Shaker-style cabinetry, and stainless steel appliances. One of the two bedrooms even boasts a soaking tub. Starts at $432 per night.
Airbnb
For a stay among the craft breweries, distilleries, and coffee roasteries in East Bayside, consider renting this bright two-bedroom apartment in a quiet three-unit building. A restful night of sleep is almost guaranteed with sink-right-in Tuft & Needle mattresses, organic cotton linens, blackout shades, and white noise machines. The decor is modern and simple, with playful accents peppered throughout. Plus, there is abundant free parking on the street all year round. Starts at $245 per night.
Matthew Stucky; Courtesy of East Brown Cow
The Docent’s Collection is a series of luxury lofts that are available for both short- and long-term rental. Each apartment offers a full kitchen stocked with modern appliances, cookware, and cutlery. All of the hospitality services are digital, from check-in to concierge recommendations to check-out. And the prime Old Port district location means you’ll be walking distance from fantastic restaurants, impressive art galleries, and the Casco Bay Lines Ferry Terminal. Starts at $350 to $750 per night, depending on the season.
Airbnb
Ideal for a couple, this cozy Munjoy Hill studio combines original 1860s wood floors and exposed brick with new Haier appliances and, the pride of Maine, an L.L. Bean tote bag to borrow. The jewel box space includes a queen bed, a full galley kitchen, and a large bathroom with a soaking tub, a washer, and a dryer. Thoughtful touches like a record player and a reading nook with a collection of Maine-oriented books add to the charm. Starts at $300 per night.
If you want to venture out of Portland…
Courtesy of The Viewpoint
If you’re heading southwest from Portland, stop at The Viewpoint in York for a couple of nights. The oceanfront hotel offers shoreside rooms that CR Design imagined with board-formed poured concrete so they blend into the rocky coastline, as well as classic suites in the white château on the hilltop. All guests can access the heated saltwater pool and the beach club, with its chairs, umbrellas, towels, and games. During the summer, pop-up restaurant A Little Auk is operated out of a 1969 Airstream. Starts at $467 per night.
Reel Maine Co.
Also in York and from the same owners as The Viewpoint, The Nevada is a 1951 motor motel on Long Sands Beach. The interiors of the curvy midcentury building were recently remodeled for modern travelers with wood floors, king-size beds, and tiled bathrooms. Each room has its own dedicated deck and chairs with views of the Atlantic Ocean—and some guests can see the waves crashing from under the covers. Downstairs, Lulu’s Tiki Bar + Restaurant provides a taste of the tropics in Maine. Starts at $313 per night.