Skip to main content

Maine Micro Guide: Portland & Boothbay Harbor

By Amanda Gabriele Dec 16, 2019 6:04 PM

Maine Sunset

The Danforth

Duckfat

Eventide Oyster Co.

Boast House Bistro

Lobsterman's Wharf

Atlantic Edge Lobster

Downeast Ice Cream Factory

Anderson Studio

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

If you have never been to the Maine Coast, you’re truly missing out on one of the most beautiful places in the world. Situated at what feels like the edge of the Earth, its pristine waters, luminous skies and abundant wildlife make for a peaceful and utmost relaxing holiday. Not to mention the seafood is some of the freshest you’ll ever sink your teeth into.

Recommended Videos

If you’re looking for a summer getaway that is relaxing, affordable and the perfect mix of city and country, check out our Maine micro guide to Portland and Boothbay Harbor. A mere 90 minute drive from one another, spend a day and night in Portland before heading northeast to Boothbay where you should spend as much time as humanly possible.

Portland

Stay

The Danforth – This is how a bed and breakfast should be done – always. Situated in a historic house almost two centuries old, each room offers a unique design, wood-burning fireplace and WiFi. Don’t miss homemade breakfast every morning, prepared with the most delicious ingredients Maine has to offer.
163 Danforth Street | 207-879-8755 | danforthinn.com

Eat

Duckfat – This awesome little sandwich shop is the perfect place for lunch. Be bold and order the duck confit panini or corned beef tongue reuben and grab some crispy french fries, fried in duck fat, for the table.
43 Middle Street | 207-774-8080 | duckfat.com

Eventide Oyster Co. – Eventide was featured on Bon Appétit’s shortlist of the 50 best new restaurants in America in 2013, and it’s still not a meal to be missed. With more than 20 oyster varieties on the raw bar, expect a wait on the weekends – or grab five friends and make a reservation.
86 Middle Street | 207-774-8538 | eventideoysterco.com

Drink

Portland Hunt & Alpine Club – Andrew Volk’s craft cocktail bar not only keeps the spirits flowing until 1am daily, food is served until close to satisfy late-night munchies. Try the Chilton County (bourbon, lemon, peach butter, egg white) or Late Night at OOB (rum, other things, shame) if you have a sense of humor.
75 Market Street | 207-747-4754 | huntandalpineclub.com

Boothbay Harbor

Stay

Cottage Connection – Forget about the hotels in Boothbay Harbor, you want to rent a cottage. Not only will you be able to cook for yourself (if you’re into that) and settle into ultimate relaxation, the character of these homes cannot be matched by even the most endearing bed and breakfast. Whether you want a place on the water or in town, Cottage Connection has the largest selection of rentals in the region.
675 Wiscasset Road | 800-823-9501 | cottageconnection.com

Eat

Boat House Bistro – This triple-decker restaurant has one of the best harbor views in town. Get to the roof and sip on a negroni while you wait for favorites like lemongrass cured salmon, the catch of the day sandwich or lobster every which way you can imagine.
12 By-Way, Boothbay Harbor | 207-633-0400 | theboathousebistro.com

Lobsterman’s Wharf – This East Boothbay eatery has a huge patio and massive dining room with great scenery both indoors and out. Have a drink at the big bar before tucking into steamer clams and the kind of Maine lobster dinner that will make every other lobster dinner seem inferior by comparison.
224 Ocean Point Road, East Boothbay | 207-633-3443 | lobstermanswharf.com

Atlantic Edge Lobster – If you rent a cottage, you’ll definitely want to take advantage of the fresh fish markets in the area. We love Atlantic Edge Lobster because the staff is friendly and knowledgable, the location is convenient and the seafood is spectacular. Get your live lobsters here if you’re brave enough to give them a hot bath.
71 Atlantic Avenue, Boothbay Harbor | 207-633-2300 | Facebook

Downeast Ice Cream Factory – When you’re ready for something sweet, visit this little mom and pop ice cream shop that has everything you’re looking for and more. Pile homemade blueberry cheesecake or Elvis Pretzel (salted caramel ice cream with chocolate covered pretzels and caramel swirl) into a waffle cone, or make a trip to the candy-laden sundae bar for a real treat.
1 By-Way, Boothbay Harbor | 207-633-3016 | Facebook

Drink

Mine Oyster – If you’re in the mood for live entertainment, Mine Oyster brings in some pretty awesome bands from near and far. Grab a drink and a table or boogie down on the dance floor. The vibe in here is truly awesome with people of all ages imbibing and have a great time. Check out the scene at the club downstairs from the balcony.
16 Wharf Street, Pier 1, Boothbay Harbor | 207-633-6616 | mineoyster.net

Knot Gray’s Wharf – And speaking of the club, this is the closest it gets to one in Boothbay Harbor. You probably won’t feel the need to drop it with all that relaxing you’re doing, but this is where the local 20-somethings hang after the restaurants and kayak rental spots close. Start at Mine Oyster (above) and gauge the music and crowd from the upstairs patio. You’ll know when to head downstairs.
16B Wharf Street, Boothbay Harbor | 207-633-5629 | knotgrayswharf.com

Shop

Sherman’s Maine Books & Stationery – With essentials like blueberry jam, lobster cookie cutters, nautical coasters and the like, you have to be a tourist for five minutes and check out the souvenir bounty at this bookstore / gift shop hybrid. It’s perfect for grabbing some postcards or keeping your lady busy while you sneak off for a beer down the street.
5 Commercial St, Boothbay Harbor | (207) 633-7262 | shermans.com

Anderson Studio – Rent a cottage like we told you, and you just may find a few ceramic pieces from Anderson Studio on the mantle. Since the 1950s, they have been creating USA-made wildlife sculptures for coastal Maine residents and visitors alike to remind them of their surroundings with lively creatures, bowls and vases.
5 Anderson Road, East Boothbay | 207-350-3057 | andersenstudio.com

Visit

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse – One of the most frequently visited attractions on the Maine coast, this beautiful white lighthouse receives about 100,000 visitors each year. Climb to the top, check out the old lantern and gaze out to sea. Walk through the Fishermen’s Museum next door for an eerie history of shipwrecks.
Pemaquid Point Road, New Harbor | 207-677-2494 | lighthouse.cc

Amanda Gabriele is a food and travel writer at The Manual and the former senior editor at Supercall. She can’t live without… Read Full Bio

Cafe Charmant, The Corner Store Crew’s Latest, Puts Food Ahead of the Scene

Clothing, Long Sleeve, Sleeve

I’ll be honest. If I weren’t a writer, there is no way in hell I could have landed a 7:15 Saturday night reservation at Cafe Charmant just a mere four weeks after its opening. The most recent jewel in the buzzy Catch Hospitality Group’s crown, the glitzy eatery is the newest IT restaurant to hit the downtown scene, so chalk it up to one of the perks of the job that I could walk in, order a drink, and be ushered to a corner table for two in under 10 minutes.

Though the state of making prime reservations in New York City may not come as a surprise to many, I’m still not able to reconcile with the current velvet rope of so many of this city’s restaurants. Sure, the 90s and early 2000’s had their Indochine, Moomba (if you remember that one, we need to grab a drink). The Waverly Inn, but for the most part, you could easily make a reservation or even walk in and wait for a table with a cocktail in hand at most popular establishments. And, let’s be honest, half the people weren’t even eating, if you know what I mean.

A tasting guide to Livermore Valley, California’s friendliest wine country

Adult, Male, Man

Livermore Valley sits in Northern California’s East Bay, where the hustle and bustle of neighboring Oakland and San Francisco give way to grassy rolling hills, big open skies, and over 40 tasting rooms. The region is home to some of the best wines I’ve tasted in the state, without the pretense and rigidity I’ve come to expect from other tasting rooms in the region.

And thanks to the valley’s marine-influenced winds, varied climate, and diverse soils, I tasted an unusually broad range of wines. Crisp whites, structured reds, and everything in between seem to be able to find their footing here.

High Society, Low Alcohol: A Trip to the Hamptons with Heineken 0.0

Ball, Sport, Tennis

After a multi-year bender of back-to-back press trips, I decided to swear off travel this past summer. The old dog was tired, and I desperately wanted to reconnect with old friends, visit family, and continue wooing a lovely lady in New York. Oh, and I needed to find time to actually write the stories I had promised publicists in exchange for gallivanting around the globe on their dime. I am, after all, a professional.

As summer raced by, my inbox swelled with tantalizing invitations. I turned them down one after the next with Spartan fortitude. A junket to the Loire Valley to review wineries? Thank you for considering me, but for the next few weeks, I’m committed to rekindling my relationship with my bed. A sailboat cruise on the Amalfi Coast? I hear it’s beautiful this time of year, but sadly, I’m in the weeds bingeing Landman.