The Ultimate 24 hour Culinary Tour of Portland, ME

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Photo by Will Stankis

​Portland, Maine has always been one of my favorite local cities to visit. Living in Massachusetts, it’s close enough to drive and stay for a night or two, while far enough away to give you the escape you’re looking for. This city is perfect for any type of getaway, whether it be a weekend with friends, a romantic night with a significant other, or a solo trip to explore the sights. This beautiful coastal location is filled with activities for all seasons, and most importantly, the ultimate destination for taste-filled food and drinks. Here, you’ll find a 24 hour culinary tour of Portland, ME.

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First thing’s first is finding a place to stay. During my last visit, I stayed in an apartment on VRBO that was absolutely everything I was looking for. It was a modern studio in a late 1800's building located on a beautiful street, just minutes from downtown Portland. For me, destination usually takes precedence over comfort but this unit had both! There was even a private outdoor patio (perfect for social distancing) where we enjoyed some light snacks and wine before venturing out into the city. You can find its availability here but act fast because this gem will book quickly.

Front of VRBO

Next, if you’re looking for a way to cross multiple breweries off your list without having to take an Uber each time, you’ll want to head to the East Bayside area. While Industry Way is also a brewery hotspot, East Bayside was a short ride from our VRBO and is home to some of my favorite breweries in the area.

Neverender DIPA by Austin Street Brewery

Starting at Austin Street Brewery was the perfect way to dive into the beer scene. It had a bright and airy feel and supplied numerous hazy IPA’s that I was unable to resist. Being a big fan of double IPA's, I sampled the "Neverender", which was tropical on the nose and full of hops. From there, we took a short walk to Goodfire Brewing. They’re currently only doing cans to-go and merch for sale but make sure to stop in and support local! 

Next to Goodfire is Lone Pine Brewing, which had a great variety, from sours to IPAs to stouts. I ordered their 13% Imperial Stout called, “Dance Macabre”, which was flavored with pumpkin, spices, vanilla, and cinnamon and it was like fall in a glass. Very delicious. 

Dance Macabre Imperial Stout

Espresso Martinis at The Armory Lounge

Our goal on this trip was to make as many stops as we could, not wasting a second of our short stay in Portland. We headed to The Armory Lounge at the Portland Regency Hotel & Spa for pre-pre-dinner espresso martinis. The lounge was downstairs and gave a very exclusive vibe. The bartender, Ben, was very accommodating and mixed us up some of the best espresso martini’s I’ve ever had (and that’s saying a lot coming from me as I have a short list of favorites). 

From here, we walked over to Via Vecchia, an Italian restaurant specializing in small plates and cocktails, for a snack before our upcoming dinner reservations. They had an impressive list of specialty cocktails which were as visually appealing as they were tasty. We shared two orders of the “Formaggio e Salumi”, VV's version of a meat and cheese board, and a Vignola pizza, topped with tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil. This was the perfect gateway to our next meal of the night.

Vignola Pizza at Via Vecchia

We arrived at Solo Italiano, a farm-to-table Italian restaurant that we had heard nothing but good things about. I’m happy to say that they met and exceeded all expectations that we had going into the night. We started with a bottle (or two) of red wine as the Chef brought out his chosen appetizers for us to sample. Our first, the “La Tartare di Tonno”, included an Atlantic yellowfin tuna with a colorful vegetable accompaniment and was served with thin, crispy wafers for scooping. We consumed it so quickly, I wasn’t even able to get a proper photo. It was THAT good. 

Appetizers at Solo Italiano

Burrata with Prosciutto

Our next dish was fresh burrata served over prosciutto on a light, baked phyllo dough, which I described as “little bites of heaven”, because there was truly no better way to do them justice.

​For our pasta course, we shared two very different dishes of hand-crafted pasta, made in-house. Our first was a unique dish recommended by our server. Being truffle season, we ordered the tagliolini pasta with shaved white truffle. It was topped with an egg yolk that was then broken over the dish and mixed in, creating a creamy, decadent consistency. Although it was a more expensive option, it was completely worth it.

Our final dish of the night was Solo’s handkerchief pasta with their fresh basil pesto. This was a meal I instantly regretted sharing as it literally melted in your mouth. To this day, I still think about its silky texture and cannot wait to return for more. Keep in mind, the menu at Solo Italiano changes frequently so some of these items may not be offered but regardless of what you order, I’m confident you won’t be disappointed.

Handkerchief Pesto Pasta

As the night was coming to an end, we decided to cap it off at Top of the East, Portland’s first rooftop bar, which opened in 1963. We admired the city and Casco Bay through the floor to ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view and toasted to another successful and taste-filled visit.

Night cap at Top of the East

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