The 7 Best Brunch & Breakfast Restaurants in Portland Maine -- A local's guide to the best breakfast restaurants in the Port City that are anything but touristy.
Double Fri-yay high fives friends!
This weekend looks gar-geous (said with my worst Southern accent) here in Maine, and I fully intend to take full advantage of the chance to bronze these casper legs of mine and chug iced coffee far too fast.
Now that it is coming up on a year since I moved to Portland, I have eaten and drank my way around this gorgeous town enough to feel as though I have a good grasp on some it's best offerings.
Sure, you could do the touristy thing and eat at the waterfront, buy something with a lobster and/or anchor on it, and snap pictures of the lighthouses and seagulls. We're in Maine after all.
But one thing that local Portlandians love even more than the end of tourist season is BRUNCH.
On any given weekend, you can find folks en mass groggy eyed and messy bunned eagerly awaiting bottomless coffees and egg benny's all across town. Myself included.
People effen love brunch here. And rightly so, because there are so many delicious options to break your fast after a night of chowder eating and shell hunting.
So I rounded up my favorite spots for brunchin' breakfast restaurants in Portland, Maine, including my recommended dishes. Insider tip: GET THERE EARLY.
Bayside American Cafe
Formerly (or still known to the locals) as Bintliff's, this is a serious must for brunch in Portland. A little further out from the downtown Old Port, but so worth the $4 Uber ride.
Their portions are generous, mimosas are strong, and you feel like you stayed the night over Grandma's house with the eclectic decor and homey feel inside.
Brunch Hours:
7 AM - 2 PM, daily
Recommended Dish:
House Smoked Salmon Platter (see above)
Local 188
By far one of the biggest restaurant spaces in Portland, this typically tapas restaurant turns on it's brunchy charm once the weekend comes.
The open air feel of it's kitchen and ginormous bar are a welcome change to the usual intimate charm of most spots of Portland's food landscape, and a unique menu to follow.
Brunch Hours:
9 AM - 2 PM Saturday & Sunday
Recommended Dish:
Mushroom & Herb Scramble (see above)
The Saltbox Cafe
While technically not a sit down restaurant, The Salt Box is not to be neglected. A tiny house food truck that sits atop the picturesque Eastern Promenade, the view is entree that no other brunch spot is serving up.
Grab a cup of coffee, one of their from scratch breakfast sammies, and take in the salty Saltbox air. Just make sure to check their Facebook page first to make sure they're open, since they do travel to different spots. And get there early before they run out!
Brunch Hours:
8:30 AM - 2PM, or until sell out daily
Recommended Dish:
Pesto & Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich, with a side of sunshine (see above)
Hot Suppa
Bringing me back to my Southern days in Alabama, Hot Suppa is a small space with a big personality. They feature a lot of Southern favorites, brunch included.
Local grits, pulled pork egg sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, and even chicken and waffles, there's enough Southerness going on here to make Paula Deen consider relocating.
Brunch Hours:
7 AM to 2 PM, daily (7:30 AM on Sunday)
Recommended Dish:
Red Green Burrito (not pictured above, but just take my word on this one)
Portland Pottery Cafe
By far my #1 favorite place and best kept secret (until now) of the Portland brunch scene. Nestled next to the actual pottery workshop, this quaint little cafe is dishing out some serious good eats.
You can find all types of pottery for sale throughout the restaurant, and is a nice way to poke around while waiting for your food. It's bright and sunny, yet still has a home-y feel, which I can totally see myself setting up shop for a day with a good book and bottomless coffee (in a handcrafted pottery mug I might add).
And make sure you visit the dessert case before you leave, because they have the most ginormous and ohmygod amazing cookies & rice krispie treats the size of your face (not even kidding), homemade cakes, and even gluten-free options! I could go on forever baby...
Brunch Hours:
9 AM - 2 PM, Sunday
open all day for breakfast every day at 8 AM
Recommended Dish:
Good Morning Wrap, served "naked", or with toast instead of a wrap. (see above)
Bayou Kitchen
Another gem straight out of the bayou (duh), has some seriously delicious eats. A little further out from the hub of downtown, but totally worth the excursion for a truly southern (Maine) experience.
The decor brings me back to the streets of New Orleans aka Nawlins, with gators and beads galore, and my waitress even threw some y'alls in there for good measure. I assure you, you won't leave there hungry and you may just sport a Southern accent for the rest of the day. Just warning you.
Brunch Hours:
7 AM to 2 PM, daily (8 AM Sundays)
Recommended Dish:
El Rancho Verde Omelette (not pictured above)
Local Sprouts Cafe
In at a close second to Portland Pottery, I can never say enough good things about Local Sprouts. I guess if a place has the word cafe in it in Portland, there's a good chance it's gunna be amazing. As it's name implies, most everything is sourced locally and organically, and is worker-owned much like a food co-op.
Everything I've had here is phenomenal, but I'm especially obsessed with their coffee. There's lots of local coffee roasters right here in Portland, but Local Sprouts uses a different yet still local roaster than most restaurants and shops and I can't get enough of it.
If you come on Sunday for brunch, there's usually a live band playing as well. Breakfast and a show, plus the most amazing coffee you'll ever have? What more could you ask for?! And if there's more, you're just being greedy.
Brunch Hours:
8 AM to 3PM, daily
Recommended Dish:
Bones Scramble, and Coffee is a must (see above)
There you have it. A local's guide to breakfast in Portland, Maine. I will gladly be your tour guide to any of these fine establishments as well, so don't hesitate to ask. 😉
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Make it a great day!
What's your favorite meal to go out for?
What do you usually get for breakfast or brunch when you go out?
Abbey
Great tips!! I plan to head here soon so I'm bookmarking your suggestions!
Lauren
I absolutely love posts like this 🙂 And Portland is definitely on my list of places to visit - totally bookmarking this! Thanks!
Hannah @CleanEatingVeggieGirl
I spy sweet potato tots and they look SO good!
Emily Cooper
The absolute best! Dipping in maple syrup is a must though.
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner
I've never been to Portland before but that pesto cheese egg sandwich looks amazing
Sarah- A Whisk and Two Wands
Oh I love this, Portland is on my list! I'm a major foodie geek when we travel and I have a rule we can't eat at any place we have back home, with the exception of Starbucks if there aren't other options around. Marking these down for when we head there. Was on the list for this year but probably won't head that way until next year since we have been traveling so much with my husband for work.
RFC
My sister in law lives in Portland, so we've spent a ton of timing checking out restaurants when we visit. SO much good food!! Anyway, one of our favorite brunch places is Silly's. Their food & bloody Mary's are amazing!
Emily Cooper
I LOVE Silly's too, but haven't tried their brunch yet!
Liz @ The Clean Eating Couple
So many options!! Now I kinda want to have breakfast for dinner 🙂
Lex @ Flecksoflex
I love brunch! Brunchin' is basically a sport here in the DC Area! My brother visits Maine annually, so I'll be sure to share this list with him. I've never been, but I've always wanted to go (in the summer!).
Emily Cooper
Summer is definitely the time to visit. It makes living through the winters so worth it. I'll have to check out the DC brunch scene soon!
Christina Bauer
Fun! I'd love to be your brunch research partner 🙂 My bf is from Berwick, ME, so maybe we'll hit up a few of these places next time we visit.
Cassi
I don't remember ever going out for brunch before. I generally just do dinner.
Angela @marathonsandmotivation.com
I love Local 188 & Hot Suppa! I have not tried the others, but will check them out 🙂 My favorite Brunch spot in Portland is Bintliffs, I love their Lobster Frittata, Veggie Benedict & the Hub's favorite is their classic Corned Beef Hash. Now, I'm Hungry!!!
Emily Cooper
Haven't tried the lobster frittata, but that sounds delicious! Have to give that a try next time!
dixya @food, pleasure, and health
brunch is my favorite meal....im not visiting maine anytime soon but i just drooled a little and hopefully will get to someday visit these places 🙂
jill conyers
I think I would try Sprouts first. It sounds like my kind of place.
Emily Cooper
Seriously SO good. I have not had a bad meal there!
Kayla @ Blondes Have More Run
I am a brunch-fanatic!!! I would go to Portland, Maine for these restaurants alone!!
Marisa | Marisa Moore Nutrition
Bookmarking this post!I Portland is on my short list of places to visit in the U.S. and this will surely come in handy!
Emily Cooper
Awesome! Hope you make it up here soon!
Giselle Rochford
I love going to brunch spots when I visit new places. Definitely checking these out if I ever make it to Portland!
Emily Cooper
Definitely worth a visit! I always judge a place by their brunch options. 😉
Chrissy @ Snacking in Sneakers
Oh man, I SO wish I had this list before we went to Portland last month! I will definitely bookmark it for the next time we head up that way.
Jill Silander
Hi, could you correct the hours on the Bayou listing? We are open 7am to 2pm Monday - Saturday. And 8am to 2pm on Sundays. Thanks for the great post!!!!
Emily Cooper
Not a problem. Thanks for the update!
Rona BerryMorin
I'm from Portland, Maine so when I saw the title of this blog post I had to stop by! Awesome picks. Also wanted to second that regarding your brunch comment. Sundays were my friends' favorite day for brunch. Sometimes, I showed up at 2 brunch dates in a day because it's all about the company and the food!
Emily Cooper
Aww so fun! I just moved from Portland to Princeton, NJ, but miss it so much already!
kate
Thanks for posting this I will definitely visit these places will check it will in the area... and Best Regards!