Decor Maine’s Definitive Guide

Find 150 vetted picks for Maine’s best dining, getaways, shopping, and more

Words By Alexandra Hall

Remember last year’s Definitive Guide when we predicted that this year’s would inevitably be different? If we only knew. With all the gifted and original newcomers to Maine this year, things have undoubtedly been shaken up among some of the winners. You’ll also discover newly tweaked categories that cover camping, alfresco dining, jewelry, and vegetarian dining options. That said, we’ve also leaned back deeply into some of those familiar classics we can’t live without. After all, it wouldn’t be summer in Maine without lobster shacks and fine seafood or irresistible additions like ice cream and breweries. And given the extraordinary players out there, why would we even want to try?

EAT & DRINK

BEST OVERALL EXPERIENCE/GENERAL EXCELLENCE

So many memorable things to devour, and only three meals per day to fit it all into. Such is many a Mainer’s daily dilemma. And yet, when we want a take-no-prisoners-delicious meal with dependably top-notch service, we make a reservation (usually far in advance) at one of the following winners.

FORE STREET
LEEWARD
PRIMO
TWELVE
WAYSIDE TAVERN

NEW RESTAURANT

If this past year’s brigade of incredibly promising new eateries is any indication, Maine just continues to hit it big on the gastronomic front. We had some trouble narrowing this list down, given all the talented newcomers—a trend we can only hope continues.

FIVE OF CLUBS
DOS GATOS
OCOTILLO
THE ALNA STORE
THE GOOD TABLE

ROMANTIC

Maybe it’s a rustic artist’s shed-turned-private-dining-room for two. Or a beloved table overlooking a sparkling bay. Or a candlelit barn dotted with antiques hidden in the rafters. What conjures up romance is the setting, the service, the meal, and, of course, the couple. You provide the latter; these winners always deliver on the rest.

CLAY HILL FARM
EARTH AT HIDDEN POND
MAGNUS ON WATER
NATALIE’S RESTAURANT
NINA JUNE

WINE LIST

A confident and robust wine list doesn’t need to start at $75 a bottle, be 200 pages long, and involve a pretentious show involving a spittoon. Just give us diversity, knowledgeable presentation (including helpful pairing suggestions), and some playful, unexpected choices. Cheers to that.

ALSACE
CHEZ ROSA
HAVANA
SAMMY’S DELUXE
LITTLE FERN

FINE SEAFOOD

Not all sea creatures were intended for the fryolator. Some are made exquisite by curing, braising, smoking, searing, and myriad other-ings. And then made even more ethereal paired with new and inventive flavors. This year, these winners did that best.

ARAGOSTA
MIYAKE
REGARDS
SCALES
STREET & CO.

ALFRESCO

The outdoor seating offered at the following restaurants is nothing short of cinematic. To make the grade, each need to somehow capture a special slice of the season in its own way. Which these do—and then some.

18 CENTRAL
SALT WHARF
CHAVAL
CHEBEAGUE ISLAND INN
THE WELL AT JORDAN’S FARM

VEGETARIAN

Disclaimer: Not everything on the following menus is exclusively vegetarian. But in a world with divergent dietary habits, we’re calling out the establishments that offer enough excellent veggie-only dishes that any vegetarian could enjoy (either in the company of fellow vegetarians or carnivore friends) and go home extremely happy.

40 PAPER
CENTRAL PROVISIONS
MAÍZ
SALT + PEPPER SOCIAL
THE HONEY PAW

BEST CASUAL

When it’s primarily about the food (as opposed to the decor, the scene, the view, the bucket list brag, etc.), that means it had better be good. Well, with these winners, it is. It really, really is.

CÔNG TÙ BÔT
FISH & WHISTLE
BREAD & FRIENDS
THISTLE & GROUSE
CASA SEVENTY SEVEN

BEST TAKEOUT

Any food could be takeout, one could argue—even if it’s in a doggie bag. Ah, but therein lies the rub: Does the establishment actually know how to package well for takeout? And does the food, in fact, travel well? And then there’s the question of whether the food is sufficiently delicious in the first place. In the case of all the below, the answer is yes, yes, and yes.

THE BLACK BIRCH
GOODS
GREEN ELEPHANT
LONG GRAIN
RAMONA’S

BAR

When does a bar take on such personality that it becomes something else entirely? It can’t just be the superb cocktails (though there’s certainly that). And nor can it only be the affable barkeeps (although they’re key). We say it’s all of that, plus the joie de vivre—or call it vision, if you really must—of the establishment. That’s what sold us on these.

HEY SAILOR!
OLD VINES KENNEBUNK
PAPI PORTLAND
THE JEWEL BOX
WOODFORD F&B

BREWERY

We know, we know. We probably haven’t included your favorite brewery here. But with the beer wonderland that Maine has become, the only reasonable way to choose only five is to score by the quality, atmosphere, and amenities at the exact moment we went to each last. And that can—and no doubt will—change. So, stay tuned.

BELLEFLOWER BREWING
BISSELL BROTHERS
MAINE BEER COMPANY
MAST LANDING BREWING CO.
OXBOW BLENDING & BOTTLING

DISTILLERY

One of the most impressive developments in Maine spirits in the last few decades has been not only the growth of the industry, but how our makers have creatively used the state’s natural ingredients to vigorously flavor their products. And they seem to be getting better by the day.

ROUND TURN DISTILLING
BATSON RIVER BREWING & DISTILLING
LUCE SPIRITS
MOSSY LEDGE SPIRITS
BARREN’S DISTILLERY + RESTAURANT

SEAFOOD SHACK

With all due respect to the high-end seafood places out there, that’s not what this category is about. Just give us the flapping-fresh fish, creaky boards underfoot (real ones—no phony embellishments or “Ye Olde Anything,” please), and a blissful spot by the water. Game over.

ABEL’S LOBSTER
BOB’S CLAM HUT
HARRASEEKET LUNCH & LOBSTER
MCLAUGHLIN SEAFOOD
MCLOONS LOBSTER SHACK

BAKERY

At this point, Maine has so many award-winning bakeries it’s getting a tad embarrassing. If it isn’t a Euro-Japanese pâtisserie perfect enough to put Escoffier to shame, it’s a triple ginger cookie made from stone-milled flour that supports local farms. We love them all and were hard-pressed to boil them down to these deserving winners.

BELLEVILLE
MAINE GRAINS
NIGHT MOVES BREAD
NORIMOTO BAKERY
TINDER HEARTH

COFFEE HOUSE

Is it really about the coffee? Well, sure. At least it should be. But it’s also about the vibe. The music. The pastries, even. But we say it’s still primarily about the coffee. These winners score on all counts.

COVESIDE COFFEE
DOUBLE GREAT COFFEE
DOWNSHIFT COFFEE
SMALLS
TANDEM COFFEE ROASTERS

FOOD TRUCK

Favorite food trucks are like favorite foods—everybody’s got one, so we can all argue forever over which is best. But a couple things are crucial here: Quality consistency (including freshness—a big challenge on a truck especially on a hot day), and how they treat customers. On those points, these contenders deliver.

CRÊPE ELIZABETH (Cherry Hill Farmers Market, Gorham; Root Wild Kombucha, Portland; Congdon’s After Dark, Wells)
DISCO JALISCO (Après, Austin Street Brewery, and Oxbow Blending & Bottling, Portland)
FALAFEL MAFIA (Eastern Promenade, Portland; Maine Medical Center, Scarborough)
THE GREEK OF PEAKS (Peaks Island, Portland, and Yarmouth)
BLACK SALT (Root Wild Kombucha, Bunker Brewing, Definitive Brewing, Lone Pine Brewing, Portland)

ICE CREAM

New Englanders may eat more ice cream than the rest of the country, but Mainers eat it with better flavors and texture. That’s thanks to folks like these, all dedicated to sourcing from local dairy farms and using ingredients—ranging from comforting to quirky—straight from the gardens and wilds around us.

BRESCA & THE HONEYBEE
FREYA’S
GORGEOUS GELATO
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND ICE CREAM
WILD COW CREAMERY

STAY

RESORTS

It isn’t just the astoundingly beautiful locale, the spot-on service, or the bevy of activities. It isn’t just the artisanal dining options or the spa that beckons from your impeccable suite. It’s all of the above, without fail.

THE CLAREMONT HOTEL
HIDDEN POND
INN BY THE SEA
BLAIR HILL INN
THE DUNES

BOUTIQUE HOTELS

What separates a boutique hotel from a boilerplate hotel is the same thing that separates a superior boutique hotel from an unremarkable one: Character. And these winners all have it in spades.

THE LINCOLN HOTEL
250 MAIN HOTEL
THE VIEWPOINT
THE WANDERER COTTAGES
BLIND TIGER

INNS

New England is jam-packed with inns. So, what makes these special? It’s that thing that raises any inn above the rest: A sense of true personal interaction, a uniqueness of place, and an overall excellence that belies its smaller size.

THE NORUMBEGA
CAMDEN HARBOUR INN
THE BAYVIEW HOTEL
PENTAGÖET INN & PUB
SALT COTTAGES

BED & BREAKFASTS

Forget pervasive chintz and forced conversations with awkward strangers over soggy waffles in the morning. These properties are more like scaled-down resorts— complete with spectacular food, interior spaces, and plenty of privacy.

WOLF COVE INN
TOPSIDE INN
POMEGRANATE INN
CAPTAIN NICKELS INN
BALANCE ROCK INN

CAMPING

Whether you’re sworn to ‘glamping-only’ or a devoted and rugged mountain individual, the spectrum in-between is wide—especially in Maine. Our winners here run the gamut but all combine extraordinary nature with unusual convenience and easy access to plenty of activities.

SANDY PINES CAMPGROUND
UNDER CANVAS
TOPS’L FARM
WOLFE’S NECK OCEANFRONT CAMPING
SEBAGO LAKE STATE PARK

SHOPPING

HOME & DESIGN

As a home design publication, this may be (okay, is) our most fraught category. And we admit to some hemming and hawing. However, at this current moment, these spots are stealing our hearts with their imaginations.

BLANCHE & MIMI
RUSTICATOR
HOME REMEDIES
A LITTLE MOORE
VIAND MERCANTILE

JEWELRY

Our favorite baubles are as much wearable art as they are jewelry. And they’re far more about personal meaning than status symbols. So, when in that market, we head toward these winners.

TROVE
HANDWORKS GALLERY
BROWN GOLDSMITHS
FOLIA
J. MCVEIGH JEWELRY

BOOKSHOP

As usual, size won’t win the prize here. When we want bookstores with the biggest stock, we can go online. But in a real bookstore, we want atmosphere—be it energetic or intimate. An imaginative selection. A staff that knows its stuff. A sense of discovery. These standouts have all the above.

ARCTIC TERN BOOKS
BARNSWALLOW BOOKS
BIG CHICKEN BARN BOOKS & ANTIQUES
BLUE HILL BOOKS
BACK COVE BOOKS

WOMEN’S CLOTHING

Dressing in Maine can be a delicate balance: You need clothes you can actually wear (ever try balancing in stilettos on Portland’s cobblestone streets?) but you also want clothes that feel special and beautiful. These visionaries nail that harmony.

ZANE
JUDITH
GINGHAM
FOURTWELVE
JILL MCGOWAN

MEN’S CLOTHING

For too long, men’s fashion has been the nigh-ignored sartorial stepchild. So, bravo to these intrepid shops and makers, giving our guys dressing options that are clever, high-quality, and by turns cool and bespoke.

DANNAH FOR MEN
PORTLAND DRY GOODS
DAPPER & CO.
DAVID WOOD
TONY SHIRTMAKERS

ART GALLERY

Local and regional artists are the beating heart of these acclaimed establishments—and of Maine itself. And the galleries celebrate how their artists, in turn, honor and represent the state.

GALLERY B.
CYNTHIA WININGS GALLERY
ARTEMIS GALLERY
GLEASON FINE ART
MOSS GALLERIES

FLORAL

From avant-garde vignettes and over-the-top romantic centerpieces to subdued, tight bouquets and gloriously dramatic explosions of color, every florist has their signature style. We applaud those listed, who excel at theirs.

VINE & BRANCH FLORAL STUDIO
HARMON’S FLORAL COMPANY
PETALAGE
STEM & VINE FLORAL
SWELL FARM
FIELD FLORAL STUDIO

GIFTS

It may be the thought that counts, but when it comes to finding a present to delight, surprise, or convey just the right sentiment, we turn to the inspired shelves of the following.