A couple months ago, someone on TikTok asked me for Portland, Maine bachelorette party ideas and it got me thinking… Portland, Maine would be such a fun and unexpected destination for a bachelorette party. 🦞🙌🏻 If you missed the TikTok video, you can watch it here.
Portland, Maine is home to some of the best restaurants on the entire East coast, and the chill, relaxed vibe would be perfect for someone who wants to enjoy the perks of a small, coastal city. Summer or early fall would be the best months to visit for a Portland, Maine bachelorette party, however, it’s definitely a destination that can be enjoyed in all seasons if you’re willing to bundle up.
Here are my recommendations for a Portland, Maine bachelorette party!
Portland Maine Bachelorette Party Ideas
The Chicken + Waffles from Hot Suppa
Brunch
Hot Suppa
Hot Suppa is one of my favorite brunch spots in Portland. They don’t take reservations and there’s usually a wait, so I suggest putting your name in, then walking to Tandem Coffee to get iced lattes and hang out at their picnic tables. Get the chicken + waffles – trust me!
Other Brunch Options:
The Front Room
Bayside American Café
Becky’s Diner
Donuts from The Holy Donut
Lunch
Highroller Lobster Co.
Highroller Lobster Co. is the perfect spot for a bachelorette party lunch in Portland, Maine. It’s a diner-style restaurant space and has bright, fun, red and white interior. There’s also a neon red lobster sign which would make for a fun photo op! They’re known for their unique lobster rolls where you can add more “out-there” toppings and mayos such as jalapeño mayo, lime mayo, charred pineapple mayo, relish, mustard, old bay, etc.
For something fun and different, try their Lobby Pop – a lobster tail on a stick. Delish! And they also have really good shoestring fries. If you want to eat outside, be sure to request their back patio.
Eventide Oyster Co.
Eventide is a must when visiting Portland, Maine (read my post about it here). It’s a great spot for oysters, a glass of rosé, and of course, their famous brown butter lobster roll. Yes, it’s really that good.
Eventide is definitely more of a tourist spot vs. locals, but make no mistake, it’s so worth it. I highly recommend making reservations well in advance of your trip.
The Brown Butter Lobster Roll from Eventide
Duckfat
Duckfat is another fun spot when visiting Portland, Maine. To be completely honest, I’m not ✨obsessed✨ with their lunch menu, but if you’re in the mood for a break from drinking or want light apps, they have the best fries and milkshakes.
If you’re not into the long wait (usually happens!), check out the Duckfat Frites Shack at Oxbow.
Dinner
Via Vecchia
Via Vecchia is my top recommendation for a bachelorette party dinner in Portland, Maine. It truly has everything you could want in a bachelorette party dinner spot – delicious, unique drinks, a beautiful, luxe interior, and yummy food. I especially love that while it’s truly luxe feeling inside – it still feels warm and welcoming.
It’s the kind of restaurant you want to be “trapped in” during a cold night or while it’s snowing outside. It’s just plain cozy. Get an Aperol Spritz (they serve it in a huge goblet) or their Mai Tai – it looks like a snow cone.
Drinks at Via Vecchia
Scales
If you’re in the mood for seafood, Scales is the perfect spot. It’s nice and semi-fancy without feeling too fancy…. which I feel like is the perfect mood for a dinner at a bachelorette party.
The scallop entreé from Scales
Drinks + Bars
Cellardoor Winery
Cellardoor Winery would make such a fun stop for a bachelorette party. They have a new tasting room in downtown Portland that’s ultra chic. Make sure to stop by for a wine tasting!
Bubba’s Sulky Lounge
If there’s one “out-out” bar spot you have to check out, it’s Bubba’s Sulky Lounge. It’s one of the most odd places I’ve ever been and is hard to describe unless you’ve actually been. I usually describe it to people this way: Imagine your grandparents had an antique sale in their basement that has a bar and they decided to invite their friends over (from every walk of life) for a party. The interior is so strange but it’s one of the most fun spots and bars in Portland, Maine.
One of the biggest reasons I recommend it for a bachelorette party is because it’s one of those places where you could dress up in costumes any day of the week and no one would bat an eye. It’s a place you can really let loose. They have 80s nights on Fridays and 90s nights on Saturdays, along with a light up dance floor. Save it for night two or three of your trip. The last time I went I was in bed till 4pm the next day. 😂
Bissell Brothers
Via Vecchia
If you can only choose drinks or dinner at Via Vecchia, I recommend drinks as I feel their drinks stand out just a bit more than their food, but if you can swing both, definitely do dinner and drinks. You could also stop here for drinks after dinner. I like their Aperol Spritz and their Mai Tai is so delicious. Don’t be afraid to ask your server for recommendations since many of the ingredients in their drinks may seem foreign – they did to me!
Luna at The Canopy Hotel
I have yet to stop by Luna at The Canopy Hotel, but have heard good things. Luna is a new rooftop bar in Portland. Any rooftop bar is always a fun time for a bachelorette party!
Root Wild Kombucha
If you need a break from drinking (I feel like every bachelorette party hits that point) I recommend stopping by Root Wild Kombucha in Portland. It’s a brewery style space and they have the most delicious kombucha. If you’re in the mood to keep boozin’, they also serve hard kombucha and beer.
Blyth + Burrows
Blyth + Burrows is one of my favorite bars in Portland. They have a unique cocktail list and Geoff says they have an amazing Old Fashioned cocktail. Their large, block ice cubes definitely help. Blyth + Burrows also has a speakeasy.
Blyth & Burrows
Aprés
Portland has so many amazing breweries, you really can’t go wrong. If you’re looking for something a little bit different, check out Aprés which serves hard seltzer in a brewery setting. The interior of their space is gorgeous and they always have spots on their patio as well.
The inside of Aprés
The Bar of Chocolate
I have yet to make it to The Bar of Chocolate (soon!). This is a great spot for late night drinks and dessert. Who doesn’t love an espresso martini?!
Breweries
There are so many amazing breweries in Portland. Truth be told, I’m not a huge beer drinker, but my husband and brother are. Here are a few of their favorites that I tag along to: Bissell Brothers, Belleflower Brewing, and Austin Street Brewery. If you want something that’s walking distance to downtown, check out Liquid Riot.
Wharf Street Bars
If you’re looking for a fun night out after dinner, Wharf Street is your spot as there’s a bunch of bars all in a row. If you’re used to true clubs in Boston, NYC, Miami, etc. you may end up disappointed about Portland’s late night “club” scene. They’re not really true clubs and definitely aren’t on the level of a big city, but are still fun.
You can get rum buckets at Oasis and there’s also Fore Play (lol at the name). I’ve been to both in my youth and both are really fun. If a country bar is more your style, there’s also Bonfire. These are more late night club/bars, so I would recommend going at 10pm at the earliest. But of course, whatever you’re into!
Tandem Coffee in Portland
Extras / Things to Do
Donuts at The Holy Donut
It’s not worth going out of your way, but if you happen to be near The Holy Donut, I recommend trying one of their potato donuts. The Chocolate Sea Salt is my absolute favorite. If this is a priority for you, go early since they tend to sell out by early afternoon.
Portland Headlight
This can be weather dependent, but if it’s a nice day and you have a car, I recommend checking out Portland Headlight for a fun photo op. If it’s summer or fall, be sure to get a lobster roll from the Bite Into Maine food truck and eat on the picnic tables. They have one of my favorite lobster rolls in all of Maine. Fresh and delicious. Definitely the best one in Portland!
Portland Headlight
Island Hop
If you go to a bachelorette party in Portland during the summer or early fall, I highly recommend island hopping and going to Peaks Island or Great Diamond Island. Ferry tickets are very affordable (check out Casco Bay lines here) and it’s an affordable way to “get on the water” without spending hundreds on a sailboat or tour style boat.
Going to the Crown Jewel would make for SUCH a memorable and fun night. The Crown Jewel is located on Great Diamond Island and has island-inspired cocktails and a really beautiful and fun interior. It’s seasonal and is typically open from around Memorial Day to Labor Day-ish.
Hit the Beach
We’re so lucky to be close to the beaches in Portland! If you want to stay in Portland, check out the East End beach. There are better beaches in nearby town, Scarborough if you’ll have a car. Check out Higgins, Pine Point, and Ferry Beach.
Go out on Wharf Street
I listed this above but there’s a bunch of fun bars on Wharf Street – it’s the spot where most people “go out” if they say they’re going out. Check out bars like Oasis and Bonfire, a country bar. Fore Play is also close by and is another favorite for “going out” bars.
Soakology
If you’re looking to do something different, check out Soakology for a foot soak/rub and a cup of tea.
For more reading and Maine travel ideas, check out: The Best Lobster Rolls in Portland, Maine, Rockland, Maine: The Ultimate Local’s Travel Guide, and The Local’s Travel Guide to Camden, Maine.
