Maine & Loire
East End, Portland
Bar in Portland, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$20–30per person
Why go
Maine & Loire is worth using as an easy, wine-led Portland stop, especially for a date or low-pressure celebration add-on. Do not make it the main food booking.
About Maine & Loire
Maine & Loire in Portland is best planned around casual dress and limited posted hours. It is closed Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday, and open Wednesday through Saturday from 12–6 PM.
Consider Maine & Loire when the timing works for an afternoon or early-evening Portland stop.
Use it for flexible Portland planning
The schedule is the key planning detail. Wednesday through Saturday, 12–6 PM can work for a daytime or early-evening visit; it does not support a late-night plan. Casual dress also keeps the visit low-pressure.
Easy logistics depend on the posted hours
The main logistical point is the narrow weekly window: open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 12–6 PM; closed Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. That makes Maine & Loire a poor fit for plans outside those hours, but potentially useful when your Portland itinerary needs something earlier in the day.
For a more bar-led plan, use Pearl's Portland bars guide; for a broader trip plan, the Portland hotels guide can help with where to stay. Keep Maine & Loire in the mix for casual, daytime or early-evening Portland plans, and avoid assuming details beyond that.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: Closed · Tuesday: Closed
- Location
- 59 Washington Ave, Portland, ME 04101
- Website
- maineandloire.com
- Phone
- +1 207 805 1336
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Maine & Loire presents a quietly confident personality anchored in Portland’s East End. The bar leans into a precise, wine-driven program rather than tourist spectacle, occupying a secondary street where operators can prioritize craft over foot traffic. Maine & Loire is a small, focused operation that rewards attention: a refined, neighborhood spot for people who care about provenance and technique. The mood is understated and deliberate, serious without being solemn, and the space reads as a hidden-pocket destination for diners and drinkers who prefer thoughtful lists and local clientele to loud, high-traffic scenes.
Best For
This is a place for people who come to engage with wine rather than spectacle. It suits diners who enjoy exploring French regional thinking transplanted to Maine: especially those already curious about Loire varietals and styles. Locals and regulars who value a focused, locally minded program find it particularly rewarding; the bar is well matched to quiet dinners and conversational evenings where the wine list is the point of departure. Travelers with a moderate interest in wine appreciation will also get more from Maine & Loire than someone seeking loud nightlife or big-group service.
Ordering Tips
Center your choices on the Loire-oriented philosophy the bar foregrounds. Expect lighter reds and high-acid whites and prioritize transparency when selecting by the glass or bottle. If you have a preference, ask staff to differentiate styles like Muscadet versus Sancerre; the program is pitched to patrons who care about such distinctions. Treat the team as guides and lean into smaller-format or regionally focused pours.
Venue details
Ambiance
Cozy and intimate atmosphere in a mom-and-pop wine shop with a focus on soulful, alive wines.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Wine Bar
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 59 Washington Ave, Portland, ME 04101
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- 12–6 PM
- Thursday
- 12–6 PM
- Friday
- 12–6 PM
- Saturday
- 12–6 PM
- Sunday
- Closed
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Oxbow Blending & Bottling, Notable alternative
- Terlingua, Notable alternative
- The Shop by Island Creek Oysters, Notable alternative
- The End of Portland Maine, Notable alternative
- Après, Notable alternative
Bar context
How Maine & Loire compares in Portland
Choose Maine & Loire when the priority is an easy wine-focused stop and flexible pacing. Compared with Oxbow Blending & Bottling or Après, it reads as the quieter choice for conversation and browsing rather than a broader bar hang. That makes it stronger for a date warm-up than for a full group night.
If food is the deciding factor, Terlingua and The Shop by Island Creek Oysters are safer cross-shops because their names signal a clearer eating occasion. Maine & Loire is the better pick when wine is the point; those two are better when the table needs more of a meal structure.
For atmosphere-led drinking, The End of Portland Maine is the one to compare if the night needs more bar energy. Maine & Loire is easier to recommend for a calm, specific stop; The End of Portland Maine is the better backup when the group wants the evening to feel less retail-adjacent and more like a standalone bar plan.
Explore Portland
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Maine & Loire guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Maine & Loire
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Maine & Loire | Portland | No published awards |
| Oxbow Blending & Bottling | Portland | No published awards |
| Terlingua | Portland | No published awards |
| The Shop by Island Creek Oysters | Portland | No published awards |
| The End of Portland Maine | Portland | No published awards |
| Après | Portland | No published awards |
How Maine & Loire Portland compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maine & Loire good for a date?
It can work if the date fits casual dress and Wednesday-to-Saturday, 12–6 PM hours in Portland. For a full dinner format or late-night service, check directly with the venue before planning around it.
What's the crowd like at Maine & Loire?
Plan around the practical details: Maine & Loire is in Portland, has casual dress, and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 12–6 PM.
