Ruski's Tavern is a bar in West End, Portland.
Ruski's Tavern on Danforth Street is the West End neighborhood dive bar, opened 1980s, with cheap beer, well drinks and a breakfast plate from 07:00 daily.
Food program: Breakfast all day, burgers, classic diner
Tip: Open from 07:00 daily; cash and card both fine. The breakfast plate is the daytime draw.
Address: 212 Danforth Street, Portland, ME 04102
The bar at Central Provisions on Fore Street runs a seasonal cocktail program alongside the kitchen's small plates of crudo, tartare and pork belly.
Signature drink: Seasonal craft cocktails
Food: Small plates from Central Provisions kitchen
Tip: Downstairs bar is walk-in only; upstairs takes Resy reservations.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
