16 Best Hotels in Portland, Maine

Elegance and history collide in the middle of Old Port at this property housed in the city's late 19th-century armory. Suites on the fourth level have floor-to-ceiling windows, private balconies, Jacuzzi tubs, sitting areas, gas fireplaces, and wet bars; all rooms have desks, flat-screen TVs, and terry robes. The impressive spa coddles guests with a full roster of treatments, and in good weather, The Garden Cafe is an ideal and lovely spot to chill out and people-watch.

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.

In the beautifully restored Mellen E. Bolster House, this charming inn has a mid-century-modern vibe that seamlessly complements the building's immaculately preserved historical design elements. The rooms and common spaces are filled with museum-worthy local art; the minibars have Maine products and refreshments; and massages in the on-site spa are blissful.

Personal wellness, environmental sustainability, and quiet luxury abound at this recently opened property, where beds are dressed in organic cotton and the spa is a focal point. From the incredibly soft Mansfield robes and a distinct lack of single-use plastic throughout the building, all kinds of thoughtful details pervade. There's also a lounge restaurant serving an abridged (yet delicious) menu, and a breakfast café. Complimentary luxury town car service and bicycles are on offer, as well as a beautiful quiet space called Henry's Study. (The hotel is named for poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.)

Upscale but unpretentious, this boutique hotel is the go-to for celebrities and luminaries traveling through Portland. Housed in a former newspaper building and part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, the space feels equal parts cosmopolitan and distinctly Maine. Many of the furnishings were created by Maine artisans like Thos. Moser, the recently renovated lobby area urges all to relax, and the sophisticated art gallery on the bottom floor features the work of contemporary Maine artists. Meals are not included but the excellent restaurant Union, and Inkwell coffee bar, are on-site.

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.

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 name notwithstanding, this relative newcomer may be a stone's throw from Old Port but is really more a part of the burgeoning eastern waterfront neighborhood. Book one of the rooms overlooking Portland harbor (especially on one of the upper floors), and you'll feel like you're sleeping out at sea. Photographic wallpaper in all rooms nod to Portland's history, while Cambria's restaurant, Alto Terrace Bar + Kitchen, gives everyone a reason to hang out in the adjoining lounge or rooftop patio.

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.

This bright, clean, and modern hotel is a perfect base for exploring on foot the adjacent Old Port and nearby East End, and it’s only a walk across the street to catch a ferry to the Casco Bay Islands. All rooms have a microwave oven, small refrigerator, and Keurig coffee machine. Laundry, fitness, and business rooms make extended stays even more convenient. An on-site restaurant cooks breakfast to order (not included in room cost).

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.

Extensively renovated in 2017 (the fitness room was redone even more recently), this tastefully nautical hotel is within walking distance of both the waterfront and the Old Port. (If you're in a mood to treat yourself, the Whirlpool Spa Suite is a world unto itself.) Meals are not included, but Harbor Bistro + Terrace, the on-site restaurant, serves breakfast and dinner with a focus on locally sourced seafood and, weather permitting, outdoor dining in the courtyard to the sounds of fountains and sea gulls. Each floor features a pantry area with automatic coffee machines serving Starbucks coffee. Early risers or night owls, take note: the fitness center is open 24/7. There is no self-parking; on-site valet parking costs $45 a night.

Just 2.4 miles from Portland International Jetport and close to The Maine Mall, South Portland’s recently renovated Marriott now sports sharp, contemporary design with funky industrial lighting fixtures, ergonomic furnishings, and tech perks like free Wi-Fi.

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.

This imposing structure was New England’s largest hotel, the Eastland, when built in 1927 and is a well-known part of the Portland skyline. According to lore, Charles Lindbergh stayed here after his solo transatlantic flight and former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt wasn’t allowed to stay with her dog. Today it’s run by Marriott as a luxury property with amenities to match, including 24-hour room service and fitness center. It’s a quick walk to the Portland Museum of Art and restaurants. A complimentary airport shuttle is available.