Après
East Bayside, Portland
Bar in Portland, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Drinks-First Kitchen Pairing
Why go
Après is a bar in Portland, Maine's Anderson Street area, operating in a city with a stronger cocktail culture than most visitors expect. Booking is easy, making it a low-friction addition to a Portland evening. Confirm current hours and menu details before visiting, as specifics are limited — but the city's bar scene generally rewards a walk-in.
About Après
What to Expect at Après
The assumption with a name like Après is that this is a seasonal or après-ski-themed novelty bar. Set that aside. At 148 Anderson St in Portland, Maine, Après appears to be operating in one of the more interesting pockets of the Portland bar scene — a city that has quietly developed a serious cocktail culture worth paying attention to, especially if you are visiting from outside New England.
Because the venue database is sparse on Après specifically, here is what that means for a first-timer: go in with calibrated expectations and treat it as an exploratory visit rather than a confirmed destination. Portland, Maine's bar scene skews toward craft-focused, ingredient-driven programs — venues here tend to take their drinks seriously even when the room stays casual. If Après fits that mold, the cocktail program is likely the reason to visit, not the food or the space.
For context on where Portland sits as a bar destination: it punches above its size. The city has produced cocktail bars with the kind of program depth you'd expect from Boston or New York, without the volume or the wait times. If you are comparing across cities, bars like Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu, Jewel of the South in New Orleans, and Julep in Houston set a useful benchmark for what a serious regional cocktail bar looks like. Whether Après is operating at that tier requires a visit or more current data.
Booking here is rated Easy, which is useful to know: you do not need to plan weeks ahead. Walk-in or same-day is likely workable, which makes Après a reasonable addition to a Portland evening that already includes dinner. If you are building a full night out, cross-reference our full Portland bars guide for a ranked view of where Après sits relative to the rest of the city's options.
For broader trip planning, see our full Portland restaurants guide, full Portland hotels guide, full Portland wineries guide, and full Portland experiences guide.
Quick reference: 148 Anderson St, Portland, ME 04101. Booking difficulty: Easy.
Planning details
- Location
- 148 Anderson St, Portland, ME 04101
- Website
- apresmaine.com
- Phone
- +1 207 613 8231
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Après presents a modest, purpose-driven barroom where restraint in staging serves the program. The writing emphasizes technical seriousness: cocktails and food are crafted with precision rather than theatrical flourish. The interior favors function over ornament, signaling that the craft in the glass and on the plate is the main attraction. That combination produces a modern, sophisticated, and intimate feel — a room that rewards attention and quiet appreciation rather than spectacle. The result is an unpretentious yet polished neighborhood bar that reads as thoughtfully designed and focused on the pairing experience.
Best For
Après is best for evenings when food and drink are treated as a single experience. The pieces highlights the bar’s commitment to pairing cocktails and small plates, so it works well for dinner-focused nights, date nights, and after-work gatherings where conversation and deliberate tasting are the point. Because the room is described as modest and chef-adjacent rather than loud or theatrical, it’s a good fit for small groups or pairs who want a concentrated, culinary-minded bar experience rather than a loud late-night scene.
Ordering Tips
Approach Après with the pairing mindset the write-up advocates: let drinks and dishes inform one another. Ask the bartenders or servers about recommended pairings and the logic behind them rather than ordering cocktails or plates in isolation. Plan for an evening of shared plates and sequential sips so the feedback loop between food and drink can develop. Given the bar’s emphasis on precision and restraint, trust the team’s guidance and favor tasting-style ordering over large, single-plate meals.
Venue details
Ambiance
Industrial-chic tasting room with a laid-back, community-focused atmosphere.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Late Night
- Closes by Midnight
- Music
- Played Music
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 148 Anderson St, Portland, ME 04101
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Teardrop Lounge, Notable alternative
- Bible Club PDX, Notable alternative
- Multnomah Whiskey Library, Notable alternative
- Rum Club, Notable alternative
- Takibi, Notable alternative
Bar context
How Après Compares to Other Portland Bars
Within Portland's cocktail bar set, the clearest reference points are Teardrop Lounge and Rum Club, both of which have documented reputations for program depth and consistent execution. If your priority is a verified, well-reviewed cocktail experience with a known quantity behind the bar, those two are the safer bets until Après builds more of a public record. Multnomah Whiskey Library is the choice if spirits selection and a serious whiskey list matter more than a cocktail-forward menu, though it requires advance booking and operates more like a private library than a drop-in bar.
For atmosphere and a more eclectic experience, Bible Club PDX is the option if you want something genuinely distinctive in its concept and room. Takibi is worth considering if you want a bar experience connected to a stronger food program. Après, with its easy booking and Anderson Street address, is best treated as a neighbourhood bar with potential, lower commitment, lower risk, and a good candidate for a first drink before moving on elsewhere in the city.
If you are newer to Portland bars overall, the full Portland bars guide gives a broader picture. Also worth knowing: Abigail Hall, 3808 N Williams Ave, and 10 Barrel Brewing Portland round out the range from craft beer to neighbourhood drinking, depending on what format suits your evening.
Explore Portland
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Après guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Après
| Venue | Awards |
|---|---|
| Après | No published awards |
| Teardrop Lounge | 2022 North America's 50 Best Bars · #48Pearl Recommended Bars |
| Bible Club PDX | Pearl Recommended Bars |
| Multnomah Whiskey Library | No published awards |
| Rum Club | Pearl Recommended Bars |
| Takibi | No published awards |
How Après stacks up against the competition.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Après good for a date?
Après at 148 Anderson St works well for a date, particularly if you want somewhere with a distinct identity that doesn't feel like a formula bar. The name signals a certain ease and atmosphere without the noise level or crowd pressure of louder Portland spots. For a first date, it gives you enough to talk about without competing for attention with a big group scene.
Is Après good for groups?
Après is better suited to pairs or small groups of three or four than to large parties. It's located on Anderson St in a neighbourhood that isn't built around high-volume nightlife, so don't plan a birthday crawl starting here. For a relaxed evening with a handful of people, it's a reasonable anchor stop.
Is the food good at Après?
Food details for Après aren't confirmed in current records, so treat it primarily as a drinks destination when planning. If food is a priority for your evening in Portland, build your plan around a separate dinner spot and use Après as a before or after stop rather than a standalone dining option.
Does Après have outdoor seating?
Outdoor seating at Après hasn't been confirmed in available records. Given Portland, Maine's climate, any outdoor option would realistically be seasonal at best. Check directly with the venue at 148 Anderson St before planning an outdoor visit, especially outside of summer months.
Do I need a reservation at Après?
Reservation requirements for Après aren't documented, and the venue doesn't have a listed phone or website in current records. Walk-in is likely the default approach for now. Arriving earlier in the evening on weekends is the safer call if you want to secure a spot without waiting.
