Popular Portland Neighborhood Named Best in Maine for Food

One of Maine's most popular neighborhoods is being recognized nationally for its deliciousness.

The trendy website LoveFood recently took a close look at the country's best neighborhoods for food and restaurants. They decided to compile a list of the best in each state. Maine's representative should surprise literally nobody. It's Portland's Old Port.

The Old Port district is a slam dunk for this category. The neighborhood is literally the hub for dining, entertaining night life, brew pubs, hotels, local shops, and galleries. And all of that is situated in a small radius loaded with classically unique buildings and cobblestone streets. The neighborhood takes you down the hill from Congress Street all the way to the numerous piers in the harbor. It's family-friendly, and relatively easy to walk.

As for the food scene, well, it truly is unmatched. There's literally something for everyone in the Old Port. There's everything from fine dining to hot dog carts. Award-winning restaurants can be found right next to extremely old dive bars. It's an eclectic mix that wonderfully illustrates how food-diverse the city is.

But don't just take my word for it. Here is a little of what LoveFood had to say about the neighborhood.

Known for its cobblestone streets, historic Harbor Fish Market, and 19th-century brick buildings housing gourmet food stores and souvenir shops, this district comes alive at night with lots of pubs, cocktail bars, and traditional seafood spots by the waterfront.

I would argue the district doesn't come alive at night; it's always hopping, especially during tourist season, which might just be the entire year at this point.

As great as many Maine neighborhoods are, this is a no-brainer choice by LoveFood. The Old Port plays chess while the rest of the state is playing checkers. It's unquestionably in a league of its own when it comes to the food scene. And more and more people worldwide are (literally) coming to find out as well.