CITY GUIDE: Portland, Maine
In this special City Guide, we teamed up with our friend Ariel Knoebel — tastemaker, food + beverage entrepreneur, and event producer of Secret Supper, an ongoing series of pop-up culinary experiences around the country. With this series being based in Portland, Ariel was the perfect partner to help us daydream the best way to enjoy an NA visit to the city.
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Portland, Maine is a small town by the sea with a reputation for its exceptional food and beverage scene. It’s bursting with creative chefs, craft bartenders, and food producers highlighting the area’s thriving local farms and fisheries. Between meals, there is so much to see, from treasure-trove thrift stores and artistically-curated gift shops lining the cobblestone streets, to the majestic beauty of the surrounding Casco Bay and islands dotted with historic lighthouses. There are already so many great guides out there for the city’s best lobster roll or the hot new restaurants, so this one is really focused on where to go for a great craft mocktail and the best places to hang out with friends without feeling out of place if you choose not to imbibe.
Locally-Made Beverages
Kit: After a decade of brewing beer in some of the city’s most renowned breweries, Co-founders Will Fisher and Rob Barrett decided to try to brew non-alcoholic beer without sacrificing flavor. Safe to say, they succeeded. Now, most of Portland’s restaurants stock at least one of their award winning varieties for a crisp cold one, without the buzz, anytime.
Root Wild: This kombuchery blends freshly farmed and foraged ingredients into their inventive kombucha flavors to offer a “unique taste of Maine in every sip.” Grab some to go, or hang out at their Washington-street brewery – complete with comfy couches, fireplaces in the winter, and garage doors rolled open in the summer months – it’s a cozy place to hang, with some pretty great sunset views, too.
Best Bars and Restaurants
Apres: The outdoor patio of this industrial warehouse in East Bayside feels a little bit like a Miami pool deck, while the tasting room inside feels like your coolest friend’s cozy cabin. It’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon in any season, especially if you’re with a larger group. True to their ethos of welcoming anyone who enjoys a good drink and a good time, they always have a NA slushie on tap, amongst other zero-proof options. They also often have food trucks outside to curb any cravings!
Cherie: This adorable French bistro is a perfect date night or celebration spot. Their menu rotates based on what’s best in season, but their signature steak frites, homemade baguettes, and stunning desserts are excellent anchor offerings. The compact drink program rotates as well, with seasonal offerings like the Liv Lav Love – a picture-perfect lavender and butterfly pea flower mocktail. When the weather is nice, sip it outside on their beautiful back patio.
Crispy Gai: Gai means chicken in Thai, making this an apt name for this bustling Thai fried chicken joint. The interior is lush and tropical, the food and service are wonderful, and the acclaimed cocktail program pays just as much time and attention to spirit-free options as alcoholic ones. They’re the only place in town that stocks Casamara Club, a spirit-free amaro soda worth stopping in for. They make their own Thai chili shrub and Thai herb tonic for unique craft mocktails that’ll help wash down your fried chicken and a sauce party: a selection of five dipping sauces including garlic chili ranch and Nam Jim Gai, aka Thai sweet chili sauce.
Geno’s Rock Club: Geno’s is a funky, creative dive bar and event venue open every day with touring musicians, drag shows, and punk rock karaoke nights. Their doors are open to all stripes, including folks avoiding alcohol. Their bar program is designed to thoughtfully serve non-drinkers, so take a look through their robust events calendar and find a night to stop by for a show, or just to play some pool and hang out.
Hardshore Distilling: It may seem surprising to find a distillery on a list for alcohol-free Portland, but Hardshore has an incredible made-from-scratch mocktail program at their sleek tasting room. Settle in with a board game and order food from any of the surrounding restaurants to enjoy there, or stop by on the 2nd or 4th Friday of the month for live New Orleans Jazz from the Hadacol Bouncer. Bonus points: they’re dog friendly!
Portland Hunt and Alpine Club: This upscale lounge is a great place to stop before dinner for a snack and a thoughtfully crafted mocktail. The bartenders are well-versed in their craft, and eager to offer an exceptional hospitality experience, whether alcoholic or spirit-free. If you make the stop, don’t sleep on the popcorn!
Novare Res: This beer bar and back patio offers an extensive list of fermented drinks from around the world in a family-friendly setting. As part of their commitment to sourcing hard-to-find international offerings, they offer several different imported NA beers. Settle into the communal tables on a sunny day and try them all.
Spirit-Free Hangs
Another Round: This board game cafe and bar offers a selection of creative coffee drinks and NA cocktails to sip on all day, and into the evening, while playing one (or a few!) of their 300+ board games. A fan favorite is their Earl of Palmer, an iced Earl Grey with yuzu and smoked vanilla.
Arcadia: Pizza, hot dogs, skeeball, and arcade games – what else could you need? This arcade for adults has retro games like Mario Kart (on the big screen), one of New England’s best pinball collections, and generally just great vibes to hang out for the evening.
Botanically Curious: Botanically Curious is an educational apothecary, eager to support health and wellness and sober-curious journeys alike. They have a rotating menu of herbal elixirs, teas, and zero proof beverages. You can walk in for a drink and consult with the owner-herbalist, or sign up for one of their wonderful workshops to dive in a little deeper.
Onggi: This fermentation market and cafe has the best matcha (and some of the best cookies) in town. You can stop in for a cup of tea in the window, or peruse their wide selection of craft foods and condiments. You’ll almost definitely walk out with a new idea for dinner that night!
Local Activities
Mailboat: The Casco Bay Ferry boat leaves three times a day for a three hour loop through the islands that scatter the waters surrounding Portland. Pack a picnic and scout a seat on the bow to get a guided (depending on that day’s captain) tour of the Calendar Islands as the ferry boat delivers the mail. Pro tip: take the later afternoon boat during the shoulder seasons for a sunset cruise.
Bayside Bowl: This bowling alley comes equipped with 20 lanes and one of the best rooftop decks in town. They have a robust food menu and a dedicated mocktail list to keep you fueled through every strike, spare, and gutterball.
Karaoke at East Ender: This postage-stamp sized stage offers karaoke every night of the week until midnight. End the evening belting out your favorite song like you’re in your friend’s parent’s basement – the vibe of the crowd is always ready to cheer you on.
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All this, and we didn’t even scratch the surface of coffee shops, bakeries, or any other foodie offerings in town. There is truly so much to do (and eat!) here! Honestly, the best way to explore Portland is to wander; set yourself up with a walk from the Victorian mansions along the West End to the grassy hillside of the Eastern Prom, and discover a bit of the endless charm this city has to offer. Hopefully this list gives you a few great stops to make along the way.
