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.

Though it's located a brief walk from many of Portland’s most popular sites—from East End Beach and Casco Bay Lines to shopping in Old Port—it isn’t just the location that brings many guests back to this hotel. Rooms are swathed in classic-meets-modern design, and many have unobstructed views of Casco Bay. Bathrooms have rainforest shower heads, and there's a quite-good tapas bar, a well-appointed fitness center, and a convenience store on-property.

One of the newer additions to Portland's hotel landscape, there’s a soft contemporary feel throughout the property—abstract carpets, plenty of warm lighting, textured headboards, compact tables, and multimedia artwork give guest rooms a nice mix of sleekness and coziness. The design aesthetic extends through the lobby as well as in its two eateries, Salt Yard Café & Bar (which serves breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinks) and Luna (the rooftop bar-restaurant with terrific views of the city and harbor).

For a place to sleep that's convenient to both the Portland International Jetport and The Maine Mall, this Hampton Inn location is a comfortable bet. It's also just off I–95, if you are traveling to other points by car, and it offers a complimentary hot breakfast, indoor pool, and fitness center.