20 Best Cocktail Bars in Portland

“We popped into Central Provisions today on our stay in Portland and I was blown away by this restaurant. It was a very intimate, beautiful space with amazing flavor. Our server, Andy, made the experience. They were very kind and made dining with an allergy a breeze. Do not skip Central Provisions when you come to Portland!

Dietary restrictions: Their allergen menu is wildly helpful. It's color coded and makes it very clear what is and is not safe, and whether or not an allergen can be removed from the dish. I have a severe nut allergy and I felt completely safe eating here.“

“Delicious drinks! Bartenders are knowledgeable and artfully craft fantastic drinks. If you’re looking for a unique drink, try the, “Green Eyes”. It’s made with a unique liquor called, Chartreuse and is a blend of sweet and earthy flavors. The snapper hot dog and pretzel are great items to enjoy. Get the pimento cheese with your pretzel!“

“A cute and welcoming bar on Congress, Jewel has a moody and ethereal feel with blue and pink lights, murals of a french riverside, and eclectic decorations.

The drinks are on a rotation and are usually a good mix of daring new drinks and classic crowd pleasers (usually centered around a theme such as Tarot, the Sailor Scouts, or other touchstones).

There is one bar area with 10 or so stools, with an additional couple of seating areas near the windows and edges.

They regularly host events like viewing nights, Karaoke, costume events and more.

All in all Jewel is a fun and laid back local bar, great for quiet conversation with friends.“

“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!“

“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!“

“Had brunch at this restaurant and it was fantastic!! The atmosphere in the hotel is cute. It used to be the newspaper building, so they carried this theme through. They have vintage typewriters on the wall in the lobby, so cute. Our server, Anna, was so sweet and kind! Food was sooooooo good. I would highly recommend this place. This is off the beaten path in Portland, it’s not in the port area, but the walk is so pretty to get to it. You can go up to exchange street, with so many cute shops. Definitely worth the short walk, especially if you’re there on a Sunday and all the other brunch places by the port have 45 minute waits.“

“We’d got pre-dinner drink and love the Sticky Ribs.“

“The espresso Martini and the Salted Caramel Martini were divine! The desserts are also to die for. During my visit, my partner and I shared the creme brulee and the chocolate tart with berries - they were light but decadent and paired perfectly with our martinis!“

“Cozy and inviting dining rooms. The food was delicious, every plate from chicory salad, bread asparagus and the entrees! All were absolutely delicious. Just as important were the staff. So so friendly and happy. You can tell they all really like working here and value every detail. Would highly recommend this place for date night!“

“Just an excellent experience overall“

“"Prepare for a sweet symphony of flavors at Gross Confection Bar! This place is truly the icing on the cake when it comes to dessert destinations. From their decadent chocolate creations to their fruity delights, every bite is a spoonful of happiness. The staff are as warm as freshly baked cookies, always ready to sprinkle some extra sweetness on your experience. So, if you're craving a treat that's a cut above the rest, head to Gross Confection Bar and let the dessert magic unfold!"“

“Great brunch spot. The mimosas were delicious. Food was great! I recommend the huevos Ocotillo and Clark Street Eggs Benedict. Churros were an awesome choice for dessert! Busy atmosphere and super friendly and helpful bartender. We will definitely be back.“

“Fabulous crafted cocktails! Great small plates! Wonderful staff!“

“We were on a weekend in nearby Maine when we realized North Conway was closer than the restaurant's in our town so we head over knowing how great this place was from a previous visit. They did not disappoint, service was excellent and the food was great again! Loved it!“

“Beautiful evening for outdoor wedding anniversary meal at the Regency Garden Cafe. The server was very attentive and offered us complimentary desert for our anniversary. Second time we celebrated our anniversary at this location and would do it again“

“We got there at 9:05 pm, they had just closed. But....they let our party of eight in anyways. Food was great and so was the service. Thanks Boones!“

“Despite staying at The Press Hotel numerous times we never grabbed a drink at the bar here and always went out instead. I kinda regret that and believe this was the perfect spot to end our night before returning to our room. With a small bar but a vast amount of lounge chairs and other comfortable seating, there is area for a good amount of people. Similarly priced cocktails as many other spots in the area with the ability to ask for other common drinks as well. I enjoyed both the Grapefruit Paloma and Bee’s Knees. It was quite a surprising dead night for a Friday according to the bartender but it was nice chatting about local spots including lots about some local breweries. Friendly and knowledgeable bartender with good drinks and nice vibes! What else could you ask for from a hotel bar/lounge? They do also offer some snacks/light bites but didn’t try any so no word on those. A popular spot for people grabbing a drink before or after a show at Merrill Auditorium.“

“If I could give this place more than 5 ⭐️, then I would, so I will…. 10000/10 would recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“TL;DR: best cocktail bar we tried in Portland, with great service, fun vibes and the most amazing drinks!

We almost walked past the door to this place which made me like it immediately - it's on a busy alleyway with a bunch of other bars and restaurants and has a nondescript entrance. It doesn't try hard at all and that is what sold me on the place.

It's very divey looking on the inside, and has super fun decor and played rock music amongst other things. The service was extremely friendly, helpful and fast and our server was so friendly. The drinks were really well executed and the furthest from divey I've ever tasted! The bathroom is fun - check it out when you're there. Their menu has great aesthetics and very fun to read.

One of the bartenders is a bartender I've seen featured on the Food52 channel so I was feeling very positive about our drinks. And they were... So. Good. And very reasonably priced after drinking through bars in NYC and SF.

Aviation: I loved the addition of pomegranate and cardamom. This is one of my favorite drinks and I loved their take on it.
Espresso martini: ridiculously good - they need to bottle that salty coconut foam and sell it
Pimms Cup: extremely well balanced and not too sweet, this was so refreshing
Oaxacan Old fashioned: not as smokey as expected since they had both mezcal and tequila, and the chili demerara added a nice kick

We got seated right away after an early dinner. But the bar got packed very quickly, though they also had seats outdoors. The bar serves food too but we didn't try anything.“

“This place is such a hidden gem in Portland. You may be quick to pass it since it's connected to the Hyatt hotel, but don't - absolute top notch bar tenders and incredible cocktails. I have not eaten here but the food does look good as well. If you like old fashions and/or manhattans, be sure to check this place out. I come here at least once for a drink every time i am in Portland.“