43 Best Cocktail Bars near Old Orchard Beach

“Don't skip this absolute gem while visiting OOB. The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming. The hospitality of the staff is authentic. While I was waiting for my take out I overheard an interaction with an older gentleman sitting at the bar. The attention and kindness I witnessed from the employee (maybe owner or manager) was something you don't see every day. The food is great, the portions are great, the service is great. With so many options at OOB, Ocean Jade should be on your go to list.“

“Went for Oyster Social/Happy Hour they do on Wednesdays after a local recommended I try…had a little bit of everything and some punch. I’m not easy to impress. It was DIVINE!!! Delicious fresh seafood, excellent quality, great drinks, just a very nice experience I wish I were local to attend every week! Highly recommend!“

“Loved the concept. Modern dive bar. Good quality cocktails without the usual stuffiness, and most were only around $13-$14. I usually avoid bars around the Old Port area, but this one seemed different. On a Saturday night, the crowd looked like locals who knew exactly what they were getting.

We walked in at 8 PM to a completely packed house. Handful of booths, bar stools, and some standing tables in the back. We got insanely lucky and swooped into some bar seats the second a group closed out.

The ladies next to us mentioned that Esquire magazine named their Espresso Martini one of the best in the country. Had to try it. They used local Allen’s Coffee Brandy, which gave it a heavier, sweeter, and much more robust punch than a standard vodka-Kahlua build. But it was still the best out of all the martinis we ordered.

The food menu was mostly just dive bar snacks. Cheese balls and hot dogs. They intentionally don’t put much effort into it, and everything was really cheap.

Definitely recommend checking this place out. Just be prepared to elbow into a standing table if you roll in during the weekend rush.“

“Everything about this meal was amazing, even the playlist they had on! The perfect place for sharing plates and cocktails with the girls. Fantastic ambiance and super tasty food. Our server Will was so attentive and friendly, he made the experience even better. We would recommend this place in a heart beat to anyone visiting Portland!“

“The best…The new Peruvian comfort food menu & the drink menu is 11/10!“

“Went for brunch today and it was SO good! Really inventive menu. I had the bone marrow toast and my bf had the fish sandwich. Our standout was the blue fin tuna nduja dip with fennel jam and fried sour dough. I’ll be dreaming about it forever.“

“If you like Ginn you have to try this place!!“

“The owner/bartender makes the best cocktails I've had in Maine. His drinks are super balanced, authentic and presented well with a focus on early 20th century classics. The environment offers the best ambiance around with a lounge, outdoor deck and a ton of "vintage" game systems to play with. I would tell more people about it, but I'm afraid once word gets out there will be a line to get in and a cover charge. 10/10“

“Just an excellent experience overall“

“What a great place to discover!! One of my new favorites! Loved the cool vibe, incredible food, and special cocktails! Can’t wait to go back!!“

“Best martinis in Portland! It’s a must try if you’re in town. Chocolate salted caramel is my fav 🤤 but, you must ask for Miriam, she’ll take care of you!“

“I’ve always had good conversations with the bartenders when I come here! It’s been a bit since I’ve been able to stop by but it’s always on our list when in the Portland area!“

“Love it! So great! Amazing drinks!“

“Just finished one of the BEST Italian meals ive ever had in my restaurant going life in a place id never have expected to and thats saying something being a 1st Generation Italian coming from NY ! ViA VECCHiA is Portland, Maine was absolutely 10/10 on everything they did! We started with Meatballs, Whipped Ricotta & Grilled Octopus. The meatballs reminded me of my mothers, the ricotta was tremendous with truffle honey & sesame breadsticks and the octopus was grilled perfectly. One dish was better than the next. We shared ravioli with as an entree and we never felt gross like we ate too much. The portion sizes were PERFECT. Wrapped the night off with a espresso infused cheesecake over salted caramel. Wow. Staff was incredibly accommodating, professional and polite. Service was excellent! If youre ever in Portland, ME you must go get a meal here!“

“The wife and I had an amazing time for my birthday. Dinner was perfect. Our bartender Mikey was attentive and entertaining. Highly recommend! 5 stars.“

“Second time here, and again so good! Can’t wait to come back!!“

“This place is friendly, it looks great inside, and the food was great. The decor and the food are both very Instagrammable. The guac was very good as were the tacos and the birra brisket grilled cheese. The salsas are not the common salsa you get other places - they seemed pretty unique to me. The pancakes were good (corn which was a nice change) and the drinks were great too. Service was quick and super nice. We’d absolutely go back again.“

“If you want fantastic service, amazing food and a really cool and comfy atmosphere, this is your place. My boyfriend and I drive twice a year to visit our favorite hotel and restaurant :) we truly cannot express how amazing this team is. We LOVE the lattes and Greek yogurt with homemade granola (it is our absolute favorite breakfast/brunch ever). It was so good that we asked to have the house granola sent to us and the Salt Yard team sent it immediately!

We also recommend the charcuterie board (excellent cheeses) & any of their drinks! They also have trivia on occasion!

If ever you’re in Portland, we highly encourage you to check out this spot. Whether you’re picking something up or staying for a bit, it’s truly a gem.“

“My partner and I celebrated my 50th and our 30 year anniversary there. They had a special table set for us. The food, drink and atmosphere was amazing. Their was a surprise birthday cake for me made by Ilma. Such a memorable experience. Only complaint is that there should've been like 30 of those deviled eggs....lol Thanks for the great meal and everlasting memories.“

“Best food I ate in Portland all week (including upscale places) was the lobster bisque from Chef Ryan. Oysters were GREAT as well. Family friendly. Chef Ryan’s whole menu was top notch and the kitchen staff was so nice. Ty came up and offered to give my young kids a lobster lesson over FaceTime (was here for work). Lizzy was excellent at the bar for our group. Ashley was amazing and welcoming to our group. Couldn’t recommend more. But def order the menu items and not just the lobster!“

“Great venue, great staff. 10/10 would go every night!“

“Great food made on the premises, including homemade desserts and sourdough bread. Try the charcuterie plate with several cheese, fruit, nuts, bread and a rotating sliced meat. Or the grilled shrimp or tuna, both yummy. Cocktails, wine, espresso -- choices galore. gotta love the espresso martini, even a decaf one! Jazz or blues background music, no headbanger stuff. Relax and enjoy...“

“Went for a lupper date with my husband on the referral of a friend. Had the Natalie house drink which was well balanced and bright for us gin lovers. Enjoyed thier spin on Poutine with a tater tots base. Lots of goo goodness with bacon and sausage. Sausage pizza with Vodka sauce had real Greek olives and was delicious. Will be back again!“

“The best seafood I have ever had. Fresh! Hand breaded! Delicious! 🦞🍤🦀“

“pop up with Meet on the Street last night. Prix Fixe four course menu 😋. Food was outstanding, service…outstanding. Drinks?? Always outstanding! The gondola in the bar is always a fun little spot to sit. Such a great space on Wharf St, especially when the snow is falling. Food is warm and lovely, and the staff is always happy to see you. 100/10.“

“Our 1st experience was a great one, service was fantastic and the food was great especially the fries!“

“Absolutely love Aloft, first time staying at this hip Hotel on Commercial St , in Old Port, best walk in shower ever,,, perfect location. Front desk receptionists were over the top in being helpful. Priced right for winter season“

“We were there at the Regency for a 2 day conference and this was very convenient for us with a short lunch break. The food came fast and was very good. It was a beautiful day and very pleasant. The noise level was what I expected for a summer day in the Old Port with the background music blocking most noise.“

“Todd in the back lounge is the kindest, most talented bartender around. His cocktails are top notch and he is completely dedicated to his guests’ experience. We spend a lot of time at the Press Hotel and have personally witnessed him treating every guest with respect, class and above and beyond service.“

“An absolute gem in the heart of the old port. The margaritas are the best in all of Portland and served by the friendliest / warmest locals around. Not enough space to talk about the divine cuisine. ¡Salud!“

“This is a fun and beautiful restaurant right on the water. My waitress was super helpful and really nice. I enjoyed talking to her and I was able to order the meal I wanted with some adjustments. Lovely experience and I would return here for sure“

“Took my step mom here for a belated Christmas gift. We stayed at the restaurants adjoining hotel and were seeing a comedy show across the street at The Merrill Auditorium.

The food and service were amazing. We started with non alcoholic blueberry martinis which were delicious. We ordered off the fixe menu (we ended up picking the same options) which means we received three courses for one price. We also ordered two appetizers under the à la cart section - half a dozen oysters and bread with yummy cinnamon butter. I’ve never had oysters with froth on them before but they were so good!!

We had salads as starters and they were so fresh and colorful and the dressing was to die for. Our mains were scallop risotto. Flavor. Flavor. Flavor. It was a tad spicy but nothing we couldn’t handle, and the scallops were so tender they melted in your mouth. For our final course we ordered the chocolate semifreddo. It was so good that it should be illegal.

Service was great. Friendly, kind, attentive. My stepmom wasn’t sure if she wanted the non alcoholic wine or not so the waiter gave her a small sample to try first.

Atmosphere was beautiful. Modern but cozy. You can dress up or dress down but it is definitely more of an upscale restaurant and experience.

Overall - I highly recommend. Great for a romantic date, special occasion or if you’re just looking for an upscale restaurant with delicious food and great service.“

“We had our wedding at Grace, and I’m still speechless when I think about it. The venue itself is so unique and absolutely stunning — it truly speaks for itself. But what made the experience even more special was the incredible team behind it. Kate and her staff went above and beyond to accommodate our large wedding and made the entire day smoother and even more beautiful than we could have ever imagined. Every detail was handled with care, and their professionalism and kindness did not go unnoticed — they made us feel supported from start to finish. I honestly wish we could do it all over again. If you're looking for a breathtaking venue with an exceptional team, Grace is the one. Cannot recommend enough!“

“This might be the best overall bourbon list I have ever seen at an establishment. Prices were reasonable as well. I just wished they opened earlier than 4pm. Burger next door at Rigby is 5 stars.“

“Very nice layout that’s small but big enough for those staying in the area. Not super busy in evening or morning. Vintage yet updated modern clean feel throughout. Nice cafe next door support great breakfast and coffee and utilizes this space in the Longfellow lobby for seating. Great vibes, low to moderate noise that you can still hear a normal conversation.“

“Fire pizza service everything about this place is awesome if you haven’t tried not tried it your losing out amazing food get some“

“Fresh delicious authentic mexican food served with a smile. We love our neighborhood restaurant without the chain restaurant feel. It's been a great addition to the Dunstan area....“

“We really love this place. Stumbled on it by accident and now its one of our regular haunts when we are in Maine. The food is always delicious, we love trying new things they add. We love this restaurant and can't wait to be back.“

“Visited Saturday night. Delicious food at good prices. Great service. Relaxed atmosphere.“

“Small menu but very good options of interesting and delicious plates. The avocado crudo, charred cabbage salad and the cod were fantastic. The desserts... Charred corn ice cream and the Peruvian dark chocolate cake - WOW! Nice list of tequilas and interesting cocktails.“

“During our four-night stay at The Tides Beach Club, we found ourselves irresistibly drawn back to their restaurant, not once, but twice, a testament in itself to its magnetic charm.

On both evenings, we were attended by Ruel, whose service embodied the art of hospitality: attentive without intrusion, polished yet warmly personable. His grace and professionalism elevated the dining experience to something truly memorable.

The cuisine was nothing short of exceptional, each plate thoughtfully composed, balancing coastal freshness with refined execution. Cocktails were crafted with precision, showcasing top-shelf ingredients and a deft hand behind the bar.

Set against the serene backdrop of the seaside, the restaurant invites lingering conversation and quiet indulgence. The Tides Beach Club Restaurant is not merely a hotel dining option, it’s a destination unto itself, and one well worth savoring.“

“What an amazing experience. We would definitely recommend and will be back soon!“

“Delicious whole belly fried clams!!“