Portland: Old Port Seafood Lovers Tour
Savor a Maine seafood luncheon and learn about Portland’s iconic working waterfront with a knowledgeable local guide.
Slow-baked Yellow Eye or Soldier beans simmered with salt pork, dark molasses, brown sugar and yellow mustard, baked low and slow in a stoneware bean pot until the beans are silky and the surface is mahogany.
Baked beans entered New England via early colonial necessity: dry beans, salt pork and molasses (the Caribbean trade triangle staple) were the affordable winter pantry, and the long bean-pot bake suited the wood-fired Saturday-evening oven. The Maine tradition codified by the 19th century around Maine-bred heirloom beans like Jacob's Cattle, Yellow Eye and Soldier, with a sweet-savoury profile drawn from regional dark molasses. Becky's Diner runs the canonical Maine breakfast plate with baked beans, brown bread, ham and eggs. Bean Suppers (community fundraiser dinners) remain a Maine institution and feature this dish.
4 editor picks for Maine Baked Beans in Portland, ranked by editorial score. All Portland signature dishes · Maine Baked Beans across every city.
Hot Suppa ★ 4.5
west-end · 703 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04102
Hot Suppa on Congress Street, founded 2006 by the Sabina brothers and under Nachreiner and Rodrigues since 2025, runs Southern brunch with andouille gravy.
The Front Room ★ 4.5
munjoy-hill · 73 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
The Front Room at the top of Munjoy Hill, since 2006 from Chef Harding Lee Smith, is the flagship brunch room with a full bar and Congress Street windows.
Becky's Diner ★ 4.1
old-port · 390 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101
Becky's Diner on Commercial Street has been on Portland's working waterfront since 1991, opening 05:00 daily for fishing crews and one of the longest weekend.
Amato's Original Italian Sandwich ★ 4.0
india-street · 71 India Street, Portland, ME 04101
Amato's on India Street, since 1902 from Giovanni Amato, is the original Maine Italian sandwich shop: ham, cheese, olives, onions and tomatoes on a soft roll.
Learn to cook it, or eat it with a guide
Maine Baked Beans makes more sense with someone from Portland explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
Book food experiences in Portland
Portland, Maine: Coastal Windjammer Sailing Cruise
Glide through the pristine waters of Casco Bay on Bagheera, Wendameen, or Timberwind sailing ships, and experience Maine's historic craftsmanship on this sailing boat ...
Portland: Fish Auction Tour & Cultural Seafood Tasting
Discover Maine’s working waterfront on a guided seafood tour. Learn about aquaculture, sustainability, and the local seafood economy, and enjoy a culturally-inspired s...