4 Best Hotels in Portland, Maine

Housed in an 1823 Federal-style mansion with a rooftop cupola, Blind Tiger is an enclave of both historic elegance and personalized comfort. Rooms are elegant and serene, outfitted mostly in soft shades (one lovely exception: the deep blue walls of a king-bed room named Diavolo) and punctuated by soft abstract art pieces and contemporary lighting. And when you’re done exploring the city (service is incredibly thoughtful and informed, and willing to provide directions and recommendations), there’s a subterranean billiards room for hanging out in. There's another location on Carleton Street.

This 1869 Victorian-era town home has a curved mahogany staircase to the third floor, a bay window overlooking the street from the front parlor beneath a gleaming crystal chandelier, and shining pine floors. The six elegantly styled yet comfortable guest rooms have distinctive beds and updated en suite baths with tile showers and pedestal sinks. Rooms boast flat-screen TVs and electric fireplaces, and a small but lovely English garden beckons from the backyard. There's another location on Danforth Street.

The classic facade of this handsome 1884 Italianate in the architecturally rich Western Promenade area gives no hint of the splashy, modern (but cozy) surprises within. Large common spaces have who'd've-thunk-it combinations like bright faux-marble walls, a painted checkerboard floor, and a leopard-print runner; most guest rooms are hand-painted with fun florals, bird motifs, and even gold pom-poms—no two rooms are alike. The inn feels like a laid-back gallery, with almost every available surface covered by art; somehow it all comes together, creating a whimsical, outrageous, and wonderful effect. The delicious breakfast, featuring a wide range of buffet-style options—including, of course, pomegranates—can't be beat.

Set among the glorious homes of the Western Promenade, this 1871 Georgian displays much of the era's grandeur, with high pressed-tin ceilings, intricate moldings, and ceiling medallions. Modern touches include Wi-Fi flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and private bathrooms. A 2019 renovation added mid-century-modern furniture and cozy sitting areas painted in warm, soothing tones of gray, blues, and greens. The inn also has a cozy patio, which is a great place for coffee in a neighborhood not known for green space, and the foyer’s centerpiece is an automated wine machine.