6 Best Cafes in Portland, Maine for a Good Cuppa
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Since my homebase in Portland, Oregon, you can just imagine my excitement for finally visiting the famed “other Portland.” My trip to Maine was part of a two and a half week road trip through New England during the fall. Yes, it was gorgeous, but by the time I made it to Maine, I really needed some caffeine. Naturally since my homebase is known for its coffee shops, I had to pop into a few cafes in Portland, Maine to see if this city did the name Portland proud.
While there weren’t as many, they certainly made up for it in quality.
Because wow. Okay Portland, Maine. Y’all know your coffee.
I was only in Portland for three days, but I really got around when it came to caffeinated beverages. A lot were amazing, some were less-so, but I had such a great time sipping between my touristy activities. So whether you’re a local resident or just passing through like I was, make sure you put these cafes in Portland, Maine on your itinerary!
Cafes in Portland, Maine
Quick disclaimer, none of my visit was sponsored or gifted or anything. I paid for all of my drinks, food, and merch with my own money and these are honest recommendations based on my personal experience! So without further ado, let’s get into the list!
Burundi Star Coffee
address: 261 St John St, Portland, ME 04102
hours: closed Sunday; Monday-Friday 7am-3pm; Saturday 8am-3pm
We love a woman owned spot!!! This was actually my last coffee shop stop in Maine before continuing my road trip to New Hampshire and it was such a great send off. The owner’s father was actually a coffee farmer in the Ngozi province of Burundi, known for its high quality coffee beans, so she grew up surrounded by coffee and the coffee industry.
I give this backstory because she was the absolute sweetest person when I visited, and both the food and drink were fantastic. She gives back to both her local community and back in Burundi, so I also loved knowing this shop was part of something much much bigger.
Super cozy local spot, highly highly recommend!
Quiero Cafe
address: 3 Deering Ave, Portland, ME 04101
hours: Tuesday – Sunday 11am-8pm; Monday 11am-2pm
I really was not expecting to see a Latin cafe in the middle of Maine, but I should’ve known it would be absolutely delicious. I popped in for a quick bite and midday pick-me-up and was blown away by their assortment of empanadas (blessss) and drinks.
Coffee, juices, teas, limeades, cocktails, beer, you name it they got it. While I was really eyeing their smoothies, I knew I would probably be too full so I opted for a nice tea to wash down the delicious food. They have tons of seating so this is one of the best cafes in Portland, Maine for large groups!
Coffee By Design
address: 1 Diamond St, Portland, ME 04101
hours: daily 7am-6pm
Talk about a SUPER COOL spot!!! They are such an inclusive community hub that hosts events, champion for social change and justice, and are huge supporters of local arts and youth organizations. So just a heads up, you’re gonna feel the love the second you stop in.
Everyone, both staff and other customers, were super friendly and welcoming. There’s plenty of seating and the drinks were all great (and the perfect temperature)! My favorite bit though, and something I think residents and visitors alike will enjoy, is that you’ll find posters and notices for local events like plays and comedy shows.
I ended up going to one on my trip and it happened to be a highlight! Definitely one of the best cafes in Portland, Maine for the community connection alone.
Uncharted Tea
address: 662 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101
hours: daily 8am – 8pm
If you prefer your caffeine in the tea variety, then Uncharted Tea is hands down one of the best cafes in Portland, Maine. I mean, they do have a handful of coffee drinks as well, but wow the have such a deliciously diverse range of teas! They have straight teas, tea blends, boba tea (or bubble tea for non-SoCalifornians), and even some bites to go with them.
They are one of the most sustainable cafes in Portland, Maine and are committed to local and premium sourced ingredients. There are a number of different seats here, from individual tables to larger ones for groups, so it’s a great spot for multiple reasons. Oh, and it’s located on Congress street so super convenient to all the fun things to do in city too!
Arabica Coffee Company
address: 2 Free St, Portland, ME 04101
hours: daily 7:30am-5pm
Okay, full disclosure I originally popped in because I had just come from Kyoto, Japan and I didn’t know “Arabica” referred to a coffee term and I thought it was the same company I loved from Kyoto.
Turns out, it was even better.
Arabica Coffee Shop is a small family operated business and has been reliably one of the best cafes in Portland, Maine for over twenty years. They are right downtown so very convenient but also a very loved local spot so you might see a line. Don’t be discouraged though because it’ll move fast and trust me it’s worth it! The staff are absolute sweethearts and they have a lot of seating so you can always find a seat and take a break from all the walking you’ve been doing!
Novel
address: 643 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101
hours: Sunday-Wednesday 10am-10pm; Thursday-Saturday 10am-12am
And last but certainly not least is Novel, which was so amazing it actually gave me the idea for this list of cafes in Portland, Maine! In fact, if I were to open a cafe, it would probably be along the same concept!
Aptly named, Novel is a book bar conveniently located on Congress Street, and is one of the only late-night cafes in Portland, Maine. As someone who does the majority of their writing at night, this would be my SPOT if I lived here. They have an extensive coffee and cocktail menu, so there’s a drink for everyone.
I regrettably don’t have any pictures though because it was late at night and I’m a bad blogger and forgot (lol), but it really is great!
Conclusion
And that’s my list of all my favorite cafes in Portland, Maine! Hopefully you try a few of the out and find a new go-to spot! If you’ve visited Portland, are there any other cafes you think deserve to make this list? Let me know in the comments below!
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