Looking to host the best outdoor-themed bachelorette on the east coast? Plan your bachelorette party in Portland Maine!
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Why Portland for a Bachelorette Party?
Looking for less of a party vibe and more of a coastal chic grandma vibe? Portland, Maine is the place for your New England bachelorette party!
I’ll be honest, I was a little surprised when my friend announced her bachelorette was in Portland Maine, but with most of the girls invited being located in New England states, it made sense. I’d never been before and was excited to explore a new city.
I am a very outdoor focused person who doesn’t party a lot so I was nervous about a large bachelorette party. I’m not into crowds or drinking, but Portland was an amazing place to attend a bachelorette party. There’s something to do for everyone in your group – whether they’d rather be hiking or drinking on a rooftop bar. The food was amazing, there are so many cool local bars, and our group was never bored. I enjoyed my trip and can’t wait to go back and explore more!
Below I’ve detailed the best things to do and eat in and where to stay Portland, with a done-for-you itinerary!
Table of Contents
- What to Do for a Portland Bachelorette Party
- Where to Bar Hop for a Portland Bachelorette Party
- What to Eat for a Portland Bachelorette Party
- Where to Stay
- The Best Portland Maine Bachelorette Itinerary
What to Do for a Portland Bachelorette Party
Yoga at Hustle and Flow
Hustle and Flow is an adorable studio billing itself as “eclectic movement studio”. THey offer pole dancing, yoga, dance and fitness classes. We booked a private yoga with Lucas, a great instructor. He understood the assignment when the bride told him we wanted something “chill”. I am not a yoga fan usually but this was so relaxing I couldn’t help but have an awesome time.
To book a private party, visit their website. As of 2024, private parties cost $350/group, which was very reasonable when split between all 10 of us.
Go for a Scenic Hot Girl Walk
What’s better than a hot girl walk by yourself? A hot girl walk with all your friends. I love a walk that has great scenery and good company! We walked along the shore on the south side of Portland with some stops to take in great ocean views.
If you’re looking for something a little longer, check out the Back Cove Trail. This 3 mile loops takes you around the cove in the northern part of Portland and offers great view of the city skyline.
Portland Party Bike
If you want to complete a group activity that also involves drinking, check out the Portland Party Bike. This group bike slash bar is an awesome way to make your way around town to different bars, jamming to tunes and getting a bit of a workout in too. While I didn’t do this in Portland, I have done it before in another city and it was an amazing time.
Portland Biking Tours
If you want to bike, but not make it a *party* bike, check out some of these bike tours from GetYourGuide! I love that some of these tours are food tours. What’s better than getting fresh air, some exercise, AND delicious snacks?!
Just make sure everyone in your party is comfortable with a bike tour, otherwise it might not be fun.
Where to Bar Hop for a Portland Bachelorette Party
Portland is home to the second most number of breweries in a US city, just behind Asheville, NC! If you’re looking for fancy cocktails or a pint, Portland has something for your bachelorette.
Luna Rooftop Bar
This chic rooftop bar offers great views of the waterfront that pair well with unique cocktails. I loved the vibe of this place. If you can get everyone in your party to agree on some drink choices, go for the cocktail tree. They’re a little pricey but the presentation is worth it. Note – I wouldn’t expect to get great shots of your group with views, unless you go on the early side. We went around 6:30p on a Saturday and it was packed!
Novel Maine
I have never met a bar that is more geared to my friend group than this bar slash used bookstore. I had an amazing time browsing books while sipping a cocktail. If I lived in Portland, I would probably come here once a week to read and drink. Novel’s cocktail menu is literary themed (of course) with drinks named after books like Flowers in the Attic, Pride and Prejudice, and Redwall. This was the highlight of the trip for me and I will definitely be coming back.
RootWild Kombucha
This unique kombuchery located in the East End neighborhood of Portland was one of my favorite stops of the trip. RootWild uses locally farmed and foraged ingredients to create some amazing tasting kombucha with flavors like pine & lavender, wild blueberry, and my favorite, the classic ginger. While RootWild doesn’t offer meals, they often have food trucks outside and are located conveniently close to DuckFat Frites Shack and Oxbow Brewing.
Looking for other options for an outdoorsy bachelorette? Check out my guide to the best places for an outdoor focused bachelorette party!
Where to Eat for a Portland Bachelorette Party
Portland is an amazing foodie town, with options ranging from casual to upscale!
Lobster Rolls at Portland Lobster Co
You can’t go to Maine without eating a Lobster Roll so it’s first on the list. Portland Lobster Co is a great place to eat or get takeout from. It is right on the water and the food tastes so fresh! I am not a lobster fan, so I got a crab cake which was one of the best I’ve ever had.
For those in your party who are vegetarian or don’t like seafood, check out Smalls, a cute cafe with options other than lobster.
Lunch at Duckfat Frites Shack
Duckfat Frites Shack offers the best fries I had all weekend and I taste tested a LOT of fries during this weekend. I highly recommend getting the sauce flight so you can try all of their dipping sauces, including truffle ketchup and curry mayo! Duckfat also has delicious milkshakes This cute lunch stand is located in a great neighborhood so you can also explore Oxbow Brewing, which is right next door. They also have a location on Middle Street that has more food options with the same great fries.
Dinner at Terlingua
This unassuming restaurant located in a neighborhood looked like it wouldn’t even be big enough to fit all ten of us from the front. Terlinqua has a beautiful outdoor patio with cute lights for the perfect dinner vibe. The food was also awesome. I had the pork tacos and they were amazing. While I don’t drink, I had a delicious non-alcoholic margarita. The only downside is that I couldn’t have a spicy one because it was already infused in the alcohol. However, they offer spicy and extra spicy which my friends said were AMAZING. Our service was awesome here and the outside patio is so cute. I would absolutely visit again.
Donuts at Holy Donut
These donuts were insane. If you love unique flavors and fun baked goods, Holy Donut has to be on your list of places to eat at in Portland. They have more traditional flavors such as vanilla sprinkle, or dark chocolate sea salt but also some surprisingly delicious seasonal flavors, like blueberry lemon or pomegranate. I am usually not a huge donut fan, but Holy Donut’s were delicious.
Breakfast Sandwiches at Oh No
Breakfast sandwiches from Oh No are sure to soak up any poor decisions from the night before (for others, alcohol, for me, a late bedtime!). You can get one of their premade sandwiches or customize your order. Don’t forget your iced coffee!
Dinner at Batson River
Batson River takes their commitment to Maine’s outdoor heritage seriously. This restaurant reminds me of a classy hunting lodge. The decor had big bookshelves, leather chairs, a fake roaring fire, and of course, some taxidermied moose on the wall. I had the Batson Smash burger here that was amazing – I recommend getting the double patty if you’re hungry. I also really enjoyed the duckfat cornbread and truffle fries as appetizers. They also have cornhole, darts, and shuffleboard if your bach party is a competitive group.
Looking for another area for a laid back bachelorette? Check out my itinerary for a weekend on Kelleys Island, Ohio for a taste of Midwest island life.
Where to Stay for a Portland Bachelorette Party
Portland is a small town, but there’s enough places for even the largest bachelorette party.
Canopy by Hilton Portland Waterfront
If your group is looking for a more upscale experience, check out this Canopy by Hilton property. It’s got the Luna rooftop bar located on the top floor, a pool and fitness center, and is located right on the waterfront for amazing views. If budget was no object, this is the hotel I’d choose.
Other Great Hotels in Portland
- Hilton Garden Inn, Downtown Waterfront
- The Weldon Hotel
- Cambria Hotel Portland Downtown
- The Press Hotel, Autograph Collection
- The Westin Portland Harborview
House Rental
Portland is home to many Airbnbs & VRBOs, which can be great when renting for a larger group. We rented a two apartment Airbnb located right off High Street and was walking distance to almost everything we did in the weekend. While I generally prefer a hotel as it usually ends up being better value, this Airbnb worked great for our group of ten. For house rentals, just make sure to respect the neighbors and the house rules.
The Best Portland Maine Bachelorette Itinerary
Just want to steal the itinerary? Check out my recommendations and when to go to each activity below!
Friday Evening
- Check into rental or hotel
- Head out for cocktails and book browsing at Novel Maine
- Dinner at Batson River
- Bar hopping
Saturday
- Breakfast sandwiches at Oh No
- Hot girl walk at Back Cove Trail or in town
- Yoga at Hustle and Flow
- Lunch Lobster rolls
- Boat Cruise or Party Bike
- Pre dinner cocktails at Luna
- Dinner at Terlingua
- Dancing at Porthole
Sunday
- Donuts from Holy Donut
- Wander around town and window shop
- Lunch at Duckfat stand
- Goodbyes!
Enjoy planning your Portland Maine bachelorette party! Have anything you’d like to add to the itinerary? Let me know in the comments!