For decades, I harbored a secret longing for Portland, Maine. Then a Boston-based food and travel journalist covering the region, I was always ecstatic whenever my editors handed me an assignment covering Maine dining. I’d inevitably find an excuse to meander Old Port—following seagulls through its cobblestone streets between brick warehouses and the waterfront, discovering one revelatory meal after another at inventive, independent eateries.
But I never slept over. Back then, Portland had a dearth of worthy hotels. Until, that is, the dam broke. Savvy tourists caught on to the city’s creative, historic charm, and they all suddenly needed somewhere to stay. So right around the time I married a guy from Maine and finally moved to the area, a wave of upscale global chain hotels appeared. And yet, it’s Maine’s independent spirit that remains its superpower—which is precisely why not only is Portland quickly making up for lost time in the boutique hotel department, it’s also the ideal place to enjoy them.
These days, Portlanders are as inventive as ever, turning those historic warehouses into luxury-laden lofts, waterfront commercial buildings into artisanal suites, and Victorian mansions into history-packed hideaways. Now, no one leaves longing for a thing. Read on for the best boutique hotels in Portland, Maine.