Aura is a nightlife spot in Old Port, Portland.
Aura on Center Street is Portland's flagship live-music and dance venue, hosting touring acts, EDM nights and ticketed Friday and Saturday DJ events from a 1,200-capacity converted hall.
Tip: Friday and Saturday DJ nights run 21:00 to 02:00; tickets via the venue calendar. Concert nights have separate ticketing.
Address: 121 Center Street, Portland, ME 04101
The Broken Dram is the speakeasy downstairs at Blyth & Burrows on Exchange Street, accessed via an alley entrance.
Tip: Walk down the alley next to Blyth & Burrows for entry. Smaller than upstairs; fills earlier on weekends.
The State Theatre on Congress Street is Portland's flagship historic concert hall, a 1929 Spanish Revival venue programming touring rock, indie, comedy and DJ acts in a 1,800-seat room.
Tip: Tickets via statetheatreportland.com. Bars on each level; food trucks often park outside for big shows.
The rooftop at Bayside Bowl on Alder Street is Portland's flagship summer rooftop bar, atop the downstairs bowling alley, with city views, a long drinks list and Standard Baking biscuit sandwiches from the kitchen.
Tip: Rooftop opens noon in summer; closes mid-October. The downstairs bowling alley runs year-round.
The Broken Dram is the speakeasy downstairs at Blyth & Burrows on Exchange Street, accessed via an alley entrance.
Tip: Walk down the alley next to Blyth & Burrows for entry. Smaller than upstairs; fills earlier on weekends.
The Bearded Lady's Jewel Box on Congress Street, since 2014, is the Portland cocktail bar built explicitly to welcome marginalised communities including LGBTQ patrons.
Tip: No sign outside; look for the street number. Evenings only.
LFK on State Street is a literary-themed bar with a curated rotating sound system, programming jazz, lo-fi and indie throughout the evening.
Tip: Daily 11:00 to 24:00. Sound quality favours a sit-and-listen evening rather than DJ dance crowd.
Ruski's Tavern on Danforth Street is the Portland West End neighborhood tavern, opened in the 1980s.
Tip: Open from 07:00 daily; cash and card both fine. The breakfast plate is the daytime draw.
