Rehearsal Dinner and Welcome Reception Venues in Portland, Maine
Finding the perfect spot for your rehearsal dinner or welcome reception in Portland, Maine, can feel like searching for a hidden gem—exciting, a little overwhelming, but totally worth it when you strike gold. With its charming waterfront views, award-winning restaurants, and cozy, tucked-away venues, Portland offers the ideal mix of New England charm and foodie-approved flavors.
We’ve rounded up some top spots for rehearsal dinners and welcome parties—because your pre-wedding celebrations should be just as unforgettable as the big day itself!
AprèS
Located at 148 Anderson Street, Après offers an industrial chic atmosphere and specializes in hard seltzers and ciders. With a private event room, an open-concept tasting room, and an outdoor patio, their space can easily fit your needs.
*Photography // Jaimee Morse
Argenta Brewing
Settled in the West Bayside at 82 Hanover Street, Argenta Brewing Company is the city’s only “lager beer saloon.” The space includes picnic tables, benches, soft seating, and an outdoor patio. Rooted in community, Argenta will welcome your guests with open arms.
AUstin Street Brewery
This vibrant brewery resides in the East Bayside neighborhood at 115 Fox Street and is a popular community hub. Austin Street provides ample indoor and outdoor space, with a patio featuring fire pits and picnic tables. They offer a variety of beverages alongside their multiple craft beers, and are happy to work alongside catering partners.
*Photography // Antoinette Photography
Ballast
Located in Portland’s historic Old Port, Ballast sits at 345 Fore Street and offers an intimate, versatile space for private events. The venue features exposed brick walls, expansive glass windows, and hardwood floors, creating a warm and inviting backdrop. Ballast provides in-house dining furniture and access to a fully equipped commercial kitchen. For a unique experience, they also partner with Portland Schooner Co. to offer private sailing charters around Casco Bay.
*Photography // Peter Morneau
Batson River
Found at 82 Hanover Street, Batson River offers a distinctive blend of craft beverages and New American pub fare. The interior design boasts the warmth and charm of Maine’s outdoor heritage, creating a cozy and relaxing ambiance.
*Photography // Erin Little
BELLEFLOWER brewing
Residing in East Bayside’s vibrant warehouse district, Belleflower Brewing can be found at 66 Cove Street. The airy, loft-style taproom features exposed brick, high ceilings, and a variety of seating options. Their outdoor patio is the perfect spot for guests to mix and mingle. While they don’t offer catering in-house, they’re happy to partner with outside services.
*Photography // Photos With Cay
Bissell Brothers
Situated in the Thompson’s Point area at 38 Resurgam Place, Bissell Brothers is a vibrant location for any celebration. Their event space, “The Garden,” was fully renovated in 2022 and boasts modern designs and an energetic atmosphere. Along with innovative craft brews, Bissell also provides in-house catering.
*Photography // Red Stallion Media
Blue Lobster Winery
Located at 200 Anderson Street, Blue Lobster is a distinctive wine bar and tasting room. The venue offers a blank slate, allowing you to dress it up or down as you see fit. Their patio offers lounge seating and picnic tables, and a tent can fit in the parking lot to accommodate larger parties.
Boone’s Fish House
Tucked into the Custom House Wharf at 86 Commercial Street, Boone’s has been a landmark seafood restaurant since 1898. This two-story waterfront establishment features two kitchens, indoor and outdoor bars, two decks, and their “Oyster Room” event space.
Brickyard Hollow
Steps away from Portland’s waterfront, you can find Brickyard Hollow at 9 Commercial Street. This venue combines rustic and modern design, creating a welcoming ambiance for patrons. Their private event space has a dedicated bar offering craft brews, cocktails, and wine, and brewpub culinary offerings from their menu can be served buffet style.
Bunker Brewing
Nestled in Portland’s Libbytown neighborhood, Bunker Brewing resides at 17 Westfield Street, Unit D. This nano-brewery is housed inside an early 1900s garage creating a fun, laid-back vibe. With a spacious indoor tasting room and ample outdoor patio seating, Bunker is a great option for groups of all sizes.
Cambria Hotel
With a prime location in the Old Port, The Cambria is tucked away on 25 Hancock Street. The Forsley Room spans 1,400 square feet and offers versatile indoor space complete with AV equipment and floor-to-ceiling windows. For an outdoor option, the fourth-floor terrace boasts a semi-private space with skyline views. Cambria’s restaurant, ALTO Terrace Bar + Kitchen, features locally inspired dishes and craft cocktails, and is available for catering.
*Photography // Joe St. Pierre
Camp Pennant
Located in the Old Port district at 250 Commercial Street, Camp Pennant is a waterfront bar and restaurant that doubles as the home of Pennant Distilling & Brewing. The interior is meant to evoke the nostalgic essence of Maine summers while sipping house-made craft beers and spirits. They also offer a delicious selection of menu options for catering.
Canopy Hotel
Just steps from Portland’s working waterfront, The Canopy Hotel at 9 Center Street offers a variety of stylish and flexible event spaces, including four dedicated event rooms, a rooftop bar, and a ground-level café and bar. The hotel provides in-house catering with customizable menus, as well as audio-visual equipment to support any event’s needs. With 135 guest rooms on-site, it also offers the convenience of comfortable accommodations.
*Photography // Irvin Serrano
DiMillo’s on the water
This historic floating restaurant can be found at 25 Long Wharf in the heart of the Old Port. Events can be held in the converted car ferry’s topside rooms or the tented deck, offering panoramic views of the Portland Harbor. The award-winning cuisine features Maine’s rich maritime history and traditional American classics.
Hugo’s
Once a cornerstone of Portland’s fine dining scene, Hugo’s has transitioned from a traditional restaurant to an elegant private event space. Located at 88 Middle Street in the Old Port District, this venue is managed by Big Tree Hospitality and offers a warm, modern interior. Guests can enjoy a curated menu featuring favorites from sister restaurants Eventide Oyster Co. and The Honey Paw.
Longfellow HoteL
Longfellow is a newly opened, thoughtfully designed boutique hotel located in Portland’s West End at 754 Congress Street. Blending modern elegance with historic charm, the hotel offers a refined, intimate setting. Their culinary team is happy to collaborate on a menu that ensures exceptional flavors and intentional choices for occasions of all scales.
*Photography // Carley Rudd
Lucky cheetah
This intimate underground restaurant opened in August of 2024 and is tucked downtown at 11 Moulton Street. Its atmosphere blends vintage glamour with modern flair, all while honoring the rich traditions of Cantonese cuisine. The space features a private dining room, a full stone bar, and a variety of seating options.
*Photography // Artisan Agenda
Maine Studio Works
This contemporary industrial venue is located at 170 Anderson Street in the East Bayside neighborhood. It acts as a blank slate with roughly 8,000 square feet of space divided into two studios to accommodate various needs. Maine Studio Works welcomes the use of outside caterers and vendors to fully personalize each event experience.
*Photography // Emily Delamater
Oxbow Blending & Bottling
Found in the East Bayside neighborhood, this versatile venue is located at 49 Washington Avenue. The 2,000-square-foot open-concept layout encourages socializing and offers views of in-house production. The space includes a 12-tap bar, picnic table seating, and an outdoor patio.
*Photography // Emily Delamater
Portland harbor Hotel
Located at 468 Fore Street, the Portland Harbor Hotel is steps away from the city's beloved waterfront. As a AAA Four Diamond boutique hotel, it provides a blend of coastal charm and modern amenities to ensure a memorable experience for guests. It features three private indoor event spaces, and catering is offered through their in-house restaurant, Harbor Bistro + Terrace.
*Photography // Joe St. Pierre
Press Hotel
Located at 119 Exchange Street in the former headquarters of the Portland Press Herald, The Press Hotel has been thoughtfully reimagined to honor its historic roots with a modern, creative spirit. The property offers four distinct event spaces ranging from 300 to 1,000 square feet, each with its own unique character while sharing a warm and inviting ambiance. Additionally, the on-site Art Gallery provides a striking, open-concept setting ideal for cocktail-style receptions. An award-winning culinary team is available to provide tailored food and beverage experiences for any occasion.
*Photo 1 // Irvin Serrano and Photos 2 + 3 // Jamie Mercurio
Rí Rá Irish Pub
Providing stunning views of the Portland Harbor, Ri Ra resides at 72 Commercial Street. The establishment spans two floors with the lower embodying a traditional Irish pub aesthetic and the upper offering various dining spaces. The menu features a blend of classic Irish dishes and New England cuisine, and the bar is stocked with both local craft brews and imported Irish favorites.
Rising Tide BrewING
This family-owned craft brewery is situated at 103 Fox Street in the East Bayside. The East Room is a private space with an industrially modern vibe and large garage doors that open up to a tented patio for additional space. In-house catering is offered through their kitchen, The Galley, and a variety of beverages are available alongside their craft brews.
*Photography // James Hardman
Shipyard Brewing Company
Conveniently located at 86 Newbury Street, Shipyard’s tasting room offers charm, flexibility, and a lively craft beer culture. With two main bars, a private conference room, and 8,800 square feet of versatile space, this venue lends itself perfectly to events of all sizes. Catering is offered in-house, along with a wide array of audio-visual offerings.
Three of Strong Spirits
Settled in the East Bayside at 35B Diamond Street, Three of Strong is a craft distillery specializing in organic cane-based rums and sugarcane-based gin. Their tasting room includes an outdoor deck, a private function room, a prep kitchen, and AV equipment. Alongside their bottled spirits, they offer canned cocktails and a full bar menu.
