2 Best, Genuine Boutique Hotels in Downtown in 2026

This Old Port hotel, set as it is in the Portland Press Herald’s former Gannett Building, is the perfect boutique hotel for admirers of the written word. Sadly, you’ll no longer find hordes of camera-wielding Jimmy Olsens, though it’s not out of the question that you’ll see a Ron Burgundy type. The hotel still attracts its fair share of high-profile writers and performers; it’s a lovely place for anyone to spend a night. With a stash of vintage typewriters, letterforms and homages to Maine literaries on the walls, some might… > Read Our Full Review

More of a chic temporary (or not so temporary, if you prefer – there are long-term options) apartment than a hotel room, The Docent’s Collection in Old Port allows you to really live a Portland life. In many cities, this type of accommodation can feel a bit contrived, But Portland’s the kind of place where pretending you live there is far more rewarding than being a tourist. Just wandering the streets is more enjoyable than visiting any museums, and the markets and bakeries are as buzzy, and as upscale, as… > Read Our Full Review