Our Cozy Winter Getaway at the Portland Harbor Hotel

Maine is known as Vacationland, and while most think to escape to this northern destination in the summer, we actually headed up at the end of November for a quick, cozy winter getaway at the Portland Harbor Hotel. 

Recently awarded #18 on the Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards 2022 Top 30 Hotels in the Northeast, the Portland Harbor Hotel is located right in the heart of the Old Port District. Though we did bring our umbrella stroller, we found that we were only a block from the waterfront and most of the time we let Arielle just walk with us to the various shops and restaurants in the area. It was nice to be able to leave the car parked for most of our trip and wander the streets of this charming city. 

That of course was when we weren’t enjoying the beauty of the Portland Harbor Hotel. As soon as I walked into the lobby, I knew we were in for a treat. While most hotels focus on function and have adopted a modern motif, the Portland Harbor Hotel pays tribute to the local culture. Over the grand staircase is Geoff Herguth’s kinetic lobby sculpture featuring abstract elements reminiscent of fish swimming with the flow of air. Original artwork from notable Maine artists such as Jim Dugan can be enjoyed throughout the hotel’s public spaces and guest rooms. And the chairs in the hotel’s pantry were designed by Thomas Moser.

I loved cozying up to the lobby fireplace when we had some downtime. It was particularly lovely with a cup of hot tea, which was complimentary in the mornings, or a fresh citrus water that was offered in the afternoons. Even before checking into our room, it was obvious that the Portland Harbor Hotel was focused on their guests’ comfort and needs. 

The rooms were no different. We were greeted by two plush queen-sized beds, a small desk perfect for doing a bit of light work, a spacious wardrobe and, best of all, chocolate from local chocolatier, Dean’s Sweets. Above the beds were handcrafted nautical flags that spelled out “DREAM,” which was so appropriate because I only enjoyed sweet dreams during our stay! Between the beds was a night stand, equipped on either side with outlets that included USB ports making it very convenient to charge our phones and other devices. 

The spa-like bathroom (with heated floor!) was bigger than my dorm room in college. The extra long vanity made it easy to spread out, while the separate shower stall and oversized tub were a helpful touch. Also, the towels were soft and cozy. As a makeup lover, I appreciated the extra black towel labeled “Cosmetic” to wash my face at night, as well as the makeup removing wipes. Complimentary C.O. Bigelow toiletries added to that luxe feel. 

Patio doors opened out onto the hotel’s terrace and I can see how it would be a gorgeous place to spend time in the summer. While it was a bit too chilly for me, I loved seeing the firepit on the terrace lit at night where some of our fellow guests would gather with a drink from the Harbor Bistro & Terrace. 

And speaking of the Bistro, it’s not often that I’ve found a hotel restaurant to be on par with the local dining options, but the Harbor Bistro & Terrace is the exception to that rule. After a day full of shopping and exploring, we were treated to an absolutely delicious meal, right by the fire. We started with a refreshing shrimp cocktail and craft cocktails from the bar.

To take advantage of the local delicacies, I ordered the seafood scampi which was absolutely delicious and Alex savored the beef tenderloin. While the Bistro does not have a kids menu, the kitchen was kind enough to make Arielle  a grilled cheese which she wolfed down. Just a tip: do not skip dessert! The chocolate torte was so rich and chocolatey, I am still thinking about it!

The next morning we made a return visit to the Bistro for breakfast, to check out if they can serve up pancakes as delectable as their dinner offerings. Arielle said the pancakes were very good (though we did make sure the blueberry sauce was served on the side), while Alex had the Standard Breakfast (two cooked-to-order eggs, breakfast potatoes toast, and a choice of country sausage, bacon, or chicken sausage). But I think that I ordered the best option of all – the smoked salmon! Instead of enjoying it on a bagel, they served it up with toasted naan bread, a delicious alternative. If you’re a coffee lover, they have a delicious cappuccino too!

We were welcomed to the hotel as part of their newest promotion, the Portland Shopping State of Mind Package. If you book now, the Portland Harbor Hotel is offering 10% off their daily room rate for a 1-night stay, 15% off for a 2-night stay, or 25% off for a 3-night stay, as well as a shopping pass entitling guests to a 10% discount at participating local retailers! We enjoyed visiting Dean’s Sweets, Fat Face, Lisa Marie’s Made in Maine, and Salt Cellar as part of this promotion and all of these boutiques were conveniently located within walking distance from the hotel.  

A few other things to keep in mind during your stay at the Portland Harbor Hotel, Alex forgot his toothbrush and they had complementary ones available at the front desk as well as toothpaste – so thoughtful! Behind the front desk was a small hall that had other travel essentials as well as locally made products (such as chocolate and candy) that you could either enjoy or bring back to the folks at home.

Also, if you’re an early riser like Alex and need to get some work done on the computer but don’t want to wake the rest of the room (Arielle slept until 8 am the first morning – a very rare occurrence and very much appreciated!), he snuck out to the hallway where they had a large workstation that had space for laptops, as well as a desktop computer available. 

When budgeting out your vacation at the Portland Harbor Hotel, you need to take into account the valet parking directly under the hotel. It runs about $40 per day which is not cheap, but it is convenient to have your car right on the property. 

We really enjoyed our family vacation at the Portland Harbor Hotel and came home with much of our holiday shopping all set thanks to the Portland Shopping State of Mind Package. Make sure you book your holiday stay now!

A huge thank you to Portland Harbor Hotel for welcoming me to the hotel for the purposes of sharing my stay. As always all opinions and photos, with the exception of the bathroom shot which was provided by the hotel, are my own.