Port Of Call

Embark on an epicurean getaway to Portland, Maine.

- Kate Livie

Portland—Maine’s great, granite-clad city on the sea. At one time seen as the down-on-its-luck little sister to Boston, the city’s new status as culinary queen of New England (nay, the East Coast) may come as a surprise if you’ve always thought of it as the other Portland.

Once a gritty harbor town whose stone edifices bore testament to the bygone days of the cod and timber industries, the city has experienced a renaissance as restaurateurs discovered its affordable rents and proximity to fish, forests, and farms. Today, Portland is a walkable foodie mecca, where bustling breweries and innovative eateries in the cobblestoned Old Port vie to constantly set the culinary bar higher.

With the region’s best ingredients as the medium, Portland’s gastronomic scene is the great uniter, drawing everyone from vacationing families to urban hipsters, Down East Mainers to snowboarding hippies, brought together by their kindred search for an excellent meal. Its ample eats, drinks, and food experiences ensure that they won’t leave disappointed—or hungry.

While you can take the scenic, nine-hour drive (or the even longer Amtrak train ride) to get there, hop on a 1.5-hour direct flight from Baltimore via Southwest Airlines and you’ll find yourself there, belly growling, in no time. Once you arrive, go ahead—tuck in.

EAT

Although there’s always room for a lobster roll or two, Portland’s food scene—packed with James Beard Award winners—has broadened Maine’s reputation beyond just being the crustacean’s world capital. Glowing with accolades from the likes of Bon Appétit, which named Portland their 2018 Restaurant City of the Year, the city is a place where every meal—from humble diner fare to worldly tapas—is an epicurean adventure.