The past few months have brought a few new places to Downtown Portland. We’ve seen Portland expand its overall scene with these new places. Each of these places are perfect destinations for different reasons.
Bonfire
37 Wharf Street
Occasion: drinks with friends, lunch
This is a new country music themed bar with a pour-your-own taps of beer on the back wall. The bar is located off of Wharf Street on the cobblestone. They have 10+ taps of good beer at the bar and a few pour your own in the back. You buy a pre loaded card at the front of the bar that you use as credit on the automated taps where you pay per ounce. The bar is fully equipped with shots and mixed drinks. Every drink you order from Bonfire is served in a red solo cup (even shots).
Bramhall
767 Congress Street
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bramhall/1466540246959719
Occasion: dinner, drinks with friends, casual first date
This is a brandy-new affordable establishment on the west end of Downtown Portland. When you walk down the stairs from street level you feel the laid back nature to Bramhall. You’re surrounded by exposed brick and open ceiling with exposed beams above you. Windows are boarded up to give you a complete basement feeling. It’s almost like a darker Novare Res Bier Café minus the vast Belgian-inspired tap list and massive bottle list. There are a few beers on tap that range from Shipyard Brewing Company to Maine Beer Company. The food is also very affordable. They also have a good liquor selection with shots and mixed drinks available to order. This is a place you should check out.
Arcadia National Bar
24 Preble Street
https://www.arcadiaportland.com/
Occasion: drinks with geeky friends
Do you like classic arcade games like pinball? Local craft beers on tap? Cards Against Humanity? If you answered all of these questions in the affirmative than you’ll love Arcadia National Bar. Arcadia is located across the street from Slab on Preble Street. You can play PS3 and Sega Genesis while drinking a Maine beer. How awesome is that?!
Slab Sicilian Street Food
25 Preble Street
Occasion: lunch, dinner, drinks with friends, casual first date
Have you ever had the desire to order pizza by the pound? Yes? Perfect! Slab serves their hand slab pizzas in 1 pound slices or more. Slab is a bit far from the central Old Port area but it’s worth the walk. You won’t be bored with Slab’s 29 taps of beer that range from Belgian, German, and local selections. Slabs serves awesome kitchen specials and has a massive outdoor space with a platform for entertainment. They just celebrated their first annual Oktoberfest a few weekends ago serving all their special beers that evening in 1 liter vessels.
Glass
433 Fore Street
https://portlandoldport.place.hyatt.com/en/hotel/dining/glass.html
Occasion: drinks with friends, small bit to eat
This is a new-ish bar attached to the Hyatt Hotel on Fore Street with a massive elaborate ceiling decoration that’s Las Vegas-like. The overall theme to the bar is classic movies, with all the mixed drinks names following suit. They also show classic 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s movies on the side wall with a projector. They have a full bar available with beer, shots, and mixed drinks as well as a full food menu.