Portland, Maine’s Must-Visit Bars: Wine Enthusiast’s Top 10

One of my favorite weekend pastimes is making a day trip within the state to discover a new restaurant, bar, or cafe. My wife and I enjoy long drives, guided by recommendations from reviews, articles, social media posts, or anything else that piques our interest.

It’s fun, adventurous, and always satisfies the palate.

While traveling through Maine, we've discovered amazing diners, great pubs, outstanding sandwich shops, delicious pizza parlors, and perfectly brewed coffee. The Pine Tree State is certainly not lacking in fantastic places to have a wonderful experience.

However, sometimes that travel is just a few miles away to a city that’s a culinary powerhouse. Of course, I’m talking about Portland.

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Portland, Maine, Restaurant & Bar Scene

It’s no exaggeration to say that Portland has it all.

The restaurant and bar scene in the Forest City is exemplary. There's no doubt in my mind that Portland stands shoulder to shoulder with the best of them.

I’ve been fortunate enough to experience meals and cocktails in some of the greatest foodie towns in America, yet most of my favorites come from spots right here in our little city.

Portland is extraordinarily lucky to have so many homegrown restaurateurs and mixologists, as well as those from afar who’ve figured out how amazing it is to live and work in our fine state. That melting pot has helped turn Portland into a “can’t-miss” culinary paradise.

While I have my favorites, it’s always fun to discover lists—especially from national publications—that discuss and rank some of Portland's finest.

Portland's Best Bars

The latest of these lists comes from the popular magazine Wine Enthusiast. The drink experts specifically singled out the spots where cocktails are the star. While there may be food on the menu, this list is all about the bodacious beverages.

However, this is not your average "best of" national list, because Wine Enthusiast actually listened to industry locals to make its selections. Essentially, it’s a crowd-sourced list from Portland’s own, making it peer-driven. I must say, that’s a very cool twist.

Below is the list that Wine Enthusiast put together. It features 10 of the finest places Portland has to offer (though it's really only 8, since two are technically not in Portland, but we'll let that slide).

Warning: You might be thirsty after reading this

10 "Essential" Portland, Maine, Bars According to Wine Enthusiast

Wine Enthusiast has released a list of the 10 "Essential" bars in Portland, although two of them aren't technically located in the city. This diverse selection features a range of establishments that consistently provide entertaining and impressive experiences. Here's a closer look at them.

Gallery Credit: Chris Sedenka