Portland Harbor Hotel Review

Portland, Maine is one of the most well-loved destinations for travelers as it offers some of the most stunning landscapes, outdoor activities, shopping and dining in New England. There’s plenty of exciting things to do in Portland with its expansive green spaces, breathtaking mountains, artsy people and delicious food scene. Portland is a main hub for economy, tourism and growth, making it an ideal place to visit. Maine is best known for its 65 lighthouses offering majestic views and historic monuments.

If you’re looking to experience Portland in its prime, then you must stay at Portland Harbor Hotel as it is truly a beautiful hotel. The hotel is located at 468 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101 and is within walking distance of the heart of downtown Portland. Here you have access to the harbor, shops and dining options with just a quick walk. Portland Harbor Hotel will surely complete your stay at the historical port city. As it’s conveniently located near everything you’ll want to do and see.

Portland Harbor Hotel Review

The Portland Harbor Hotel is described as a merge of modern design and nautical vibes, making it very nicely decorated and giving it a very classic coastal feel. Upon arrival I immediately felt the quintessential vibe of the hotel between the architecture, layout, colors, decor and fireplaces. While the temperatures can be quite cold and brutal outdoors, the hotel is warm and cozy. What makes the hotel unique is the hospitality and goal of having high standards for the ultimate hotel experience. Between the attention to detail, renovations to upgrade the hotel, friendly front desk staff making guests feel welcome and offering shopping packages to help you immerse yourself in the local culture, they truly offer a special experience. The hotel offers 101 cozy nautical-themed rooms all with details and special touches that make them a luxury worth enjoying.

The hotel itself is located in Portland’s Old District, just a few blocks away from Commercial Street. Making it an ideal location to stay when visiting Maine. Things to you can do in the Portland area include Maine Foodie tours, Brewery tours, Lucky Catch Cruises, The Victoria Mansion, Portland Museum of Art, Cape Elizabeth, Portland Observatory and more.

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Portland Harbor Hotel Accommodations

The Portland Harbor Hotel rooms are designed to “accentuate coastal Maine and scenic Portland Harbor.” The rooms are perfect for any traveler whether you’re on a business trip or staying for vacation as they are all cozy, stylish and comfortable. You’ll find local artwork and photography in each room with elegant, nautical themes.

Deluxe Rooms

The Deluxe Rooms include city views, different layouts and classic coastal design. These rooms are perfect for adventure seekers who love street-facing views. The rooms come with a signature Portland Harbor Hotel bed, make-up mirror, granite and glass-enclosed shower, a large soaking tub and a granite-top vanity.

Garden View Rooms

The Garden View Rooms are perfect for those looking for more of a tranquil view but still encompass the warm and cozy layouts of the Deluxe Rooms. The rooms come with a signature Portland Harbor Hotel bed, make-up mirror, granite and glass-enclosed shower, a large soaking tub and a granite-top vanity.

Junior Suite

The Junior Suites are spacious suites that have an open floor concept with sitting areas, furniture, extra space and beautiful decor. The rooms come with a separate sitting area, a signature Portland Harbor Hotel bed, make-up mirror, granite and glass-enclosed shower, a large soaking tub and a granite-top vanity.

Whirlpool Spa Suite

The Whirpool Spa Suite is for those who are looking for the ultimate relaxation. The suite comes with an oversized space overlooking the garden courtyard and includes an extravagant bathroom. The rooms come with a separate sitting area, a signature Portland Harbor Hotel bed, make-up mirror, granite and glass-enclosed shower, a whirlpool spa tub and a granite-top vanity.

Honeymoon King

The Honeymoon King is the perfect room for celebrating with someone special. Between the sophisticated design, king bed, whirlpool tub and fireplace, you’ll have a truly comfortable and memorable time. The rooms come with a fireplace, a king bed, a built-in sound system, make-up mirror, granite and glass-enclosed shower, a whirlpool spa tub and a granite-top vanity.

Executive Suites

The Executive Suites are the largest rooms in the hotel. Here you’ll find a double-sided fireplace, a king bedroom and a sitting area. The suites are also connected to Executive King Rooms. The rooms come with a double-sided fireplace, hard-wood floors, a sitting area with a high-top, a king bed, a built-in sound system, make-up mirror, granite and glass-enclosed shower, a whirlpool spa tub and a granite-top vanity.

Portland Harbor Hotel Amenities

Portland Harbor Hotel offers plenty of amenities to enjoy. The staff is kind and accommodating, making sure to make your stay as comfortable as possible. So you can always ask them if you need anything. Each floor is equipped with Starbucks coffee touchscreen machines offering coffee, tea or water. All the guestrooms are beautifully decorated with wood floors, nautical accents, local artwork and cozy furniture. You’ll also be able to enjoy things like the fitness center, room service, indoor dining, outdoor fire-pit, comfortable beds with down pillows and duvets as well as the ability to bring your pet! They offer valet parking as well for $38 a night.

Portland Harbor Hotel Dining

As for dining options, you have access to the exquisite BlueFin Restaurant next to the main lobby where you’ll see a bar, double sided fireplace and formal dining. It’s an awesome restaurant if you love seafood. Because they have plenty of local Maine seafood options to choose from. We loved dining here not only for the delicious and beautifully presented food, but also because it was warm, cozy and and quaint. It’s an excellent spot to enjoy dinner and a glass of wine outdoor on the patio where they have crackling fire-pits to sit near.

BlueFin Restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner with a wide array of options to choose from. For breakfast you can find things like fresh fruit, oatmeal, avocado toast, eggs Benedict, pancakes, french toast, smoked salmon and fresh coffee. For dinner they offer small plates like crab cakes, calamari fires and tuna poke, salads, large plates like lobster rolls, filet mignon, seafood scampi and pan seared halibut as well as a generous selection of wines, champagnes and cocktails.

The restaurant is open for breakfast from 7:30-11:30am. The bar is open from 3-11pm and dinner is available from 5-9:30pm.

Portland Shopping State of Mind

The Portland Shopping State of Mind Package offers guests a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in local culture while supporting local businesses and getting the best deals too. I always admire hotels that encourage local exploration and provide incentives for doing so. One of the best ways to see a city and get to know locals is to simply walk around, go into stores and restaurants, spark up conversation and learn more about where you are and the people who live here.

Here’s what’s included in the package:

10% off daily room rate for a 1-night stay, 20% off daily room rate for a 2-nights stay, 30% off daily room rate for a 3-nights stay
A shopping pass for a 10% discount at participating local retailers including Dean’s Sweets, Fat Face, Lisa Marie’s Made in Maine, Edgecomb Potters and Sea Bags

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Where to Eat in Portland

Gilbert's Chowder House

Gilbert’s Chowder House is a well-known chowder house located on Commercial Street right next to the water offering indoor and outdoor patio seating. It’s first come, first serve so as soon as you walk in you can decide to sit at tables, the bar area or the outdoor patio where a server comes by to take your order. It’s one of the best spots to come to in order to experience a taste of the local culture. As there are many conversations happening throughout the restaurant about Portland and Maine in general.

I highly recommend ordering a seafood bread bowl as it is one of the best I’ve had. The chowder is creamy, the seafood is fresh and the beers are cold. The restaurant is open 7 days a weeks from 11am-9pm offering indoor dining, full takeout and curb-side pickup.

Central Provisions

Central Provisions is a high-end, upscale and pricey restaurant offering delicious small plates. While the restaurant is a bit more expensive, you definitely want to make an effort to go here at least once to try their amazing signature dishes with insane flavor. The restaurant is beautifully detailed with rustic interiors, brick walls and rich wood floors. The dishes themselves are creatively presented and offer an array of choices to choose from between lunch, dinner, craft cocktails and wine. We ordered the Three Cheese Board, Smoked Carrots, Spice Crusted Steak. And classic margaritas with salt on the rim. We loved our experience here between the atmosphere, kind waiter and of course, the food.

The restaurant is open for lunch from 11am-2pm Thursday-Sunday. And is open between 5pm-10pm daily for dinner.

The Bar of Chocolate

The Bar of Chocolate was the place I was most intrigued to visit. And it definitely lived up to the expectations. There’s not much going on on the outside. But the inside brings a dimly lit space with white string lights, art decor inspired by Paris, table seating and an intimate bar to sit at. The atmosphere was moody and romantic. I loved experiencing such a unique bar that focuses mainly on speciality martinis, dessert drinks and treats. We ordered the Peanut Butter Martini, the Key Lime Pie Martini and the raspberry cheesecake. While I’m usually not a fan of regular martinis, dessert martinis are a whole different ball-game. The martini was paired just right with the cheesecake. And made for an excellent post-dinner spot to relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

The bar is open from 5pm-12am Thursday-Monday and offers dine-in only.

Portland Harbor Hotel Review

Portland Harbor Hotel was a the best place we could have stayed for our trip to Maine. Being that it resides so close to Old Port District, you have the ability to walk anywhere you want to go whether you’re interested in shops, boating, food and bars. Location is key, especially when you’re exploring a city. As it can be overwhelming and stressful to get around. Being able to walk on foot or take a short drive is super convenient and ideal for city travel. We loved that feature here!

The hotel interiors are also extremely admirable as it perfectly encompasses the Maine reputation and vibe of nautical, coastal details. The lobby, lounges, bookcases and guest-rooms are lined with gorgeous furniture, art and shades of blue, gold, red and white. The rooms were a bit smaller and didn’t have as much natural light. But we slept very comfortably and enjoyed the spacious bathroom. They also have a cool hand-made bureau to put your belongings in which gave it a unique touch.

The staff was extremely kind and accommodating and made us feel right at home. Whether we were looking for fresh coffee in the Starbucks machine, grabbing a drink at the bar, being taken on a tour of the hotel or getting assistance with our luggage, the staff was awesome. I always say that the people running the hotel are what make it so special. And it truly reflects here at Portland Harbor Hotel.