Cocktail barold-port
Portland Hunt + Alpine Club on Market Street, since 2013 from Andrew and Briana Volk, is Portland's defining craft cocktail room with aquavit and smorrebrod.
Signature drink: Scandinavian-influenced cocktails, aquavit Bloody Mary
Food: Smorrebrod, Scandinavian small plates
Tip: Wednesday to Sunday from 16:00. Bar seats walk in; weekend evenings fill by 19:00.
Cocktail bar, speakeasyold-port
Blyth and Burrows on Exchange Street runs a vintage-inspired cocktail bar with a hidden speakeasy (Broken Dram) accessed via the alley behind the building.
Signature drink: Vintage-inspired craft cocktails
Food: Snacks, small plates
Tip: Mon-Tue 16:00-23:00; Wed-Fri 16:00-24:00; Sat 12:00-24:00; Sun 12:00-23:00. Walk in for the upstairs bar.
Cocktail bar, LGBTQ-friendlyarts-district
The Bearded Lady's Jewel Box on Congress Street, since 2014, is a small Arts District cocktail room with creative seasonal drinks and no street sign.
Signature drink: Creative seasonal cocktails
Food: Limited snacks
Tip: No sign outside; look for the street number. Daily evenings only, walk-up.
Literary cocktail bararts-district
LFK on State Street near Longfellow Square is a literary-themed bar with books on the walls, an eclectic cocktail program and a kitchen of sandwiches.
Signature drink: House cocktails, natural wine by the glass
Food: Sandwiches, small plates
Tip: Daily 11:00 to 24:00. Daytime walk-in; weekend evenings fill.
Belgian and craft beer barold-port
Novare Res Bier Cafe in Canal Plaza, since 2008 from Eric Michaud, is Portland's Belgian-and-craft-beer destination with a courtyard patio open all summer.
Signature drink: Rotating taps of rare Belgian and Maine craft beer
Food: Charcuterie, pretzels, sandwiches
Tip: The courtyard patio opens through summer. Bottle list is the city's deepest; ask staff for current rarities.
Craft beer bar, pubwoodfords-deering
The Great Lost Bear on Forest Avenue, since 1979, is Portland's craft-beer pub of record, with Sunday brewmaster events featuring Maine breweries on rotation.
Signature drink: Maine craft beer flight
Food: Pub fare, burgers
Tip: Daily 11:30 to 23:00. Sunday brewmaster events feature Maine breweries on rotation.