Why book?
A new boutique hotel in the heart of Portland’s charming West End, complete with a fabulous lobby bar, spa, and Scandi-Maine-ian rooms? Say less.
Set the scene
There’s been no shortage of boutique hotel openings in Portland in recent years, but the Longfellow is the grandest in scale–and that’s apparent from the moment you enter its sweeping lobby space. It feels like the West End’s unofficial living room, with enormous windows overlooking Congress Street, comfy banquettes, locally-sourced furniture pieces, and a welcoming lobby bar. Even in the middle of the day, the lobby hums with energy–and you’re as likely to see a local grabbing a cappuccino as a visiting New York or Boston couple plotting out their weekend plans.
The backstory
About five years in the making, The Longfellow is the latest project from Uncommon Hospitality, a family-owned hotel management and development company based in Portland. They also own The Francis, a fifteen-room boutique hotel located directly across the street, as well as two inns in the nearby beach town of Ogunquit. Design was handled by the tony Post Company (Mollie in Aspen, Inness in the Catskills, Marram Montauk, etc.), and the Longfellow is among those lifestyle hotels whose design is on par with what well-heeled travelers expect these days.
The rooms
The 48 rooms here offer a pared-back-yet-luxe take on the Maine aesthetic, offering a beautifully serene contrast to the city streets. The off-white walls and high ceilings create a light-filled canvas that lets the carefully-selected furniture pieces shine, including unbelievably comfortable TRNK velvet chaise lounges. Yes, there’s an entire city to explore just outside your door, but these are the kinds of rooms where you’ll want to kick back with a book and spend some time.
Speaking of lounging, we would be remiss to not mention the beds: Each room comes with a king-sized, plush mattress from Mattress Concierge, and it was among the comfiest and most supportive hotel sleeps we’ve had anywhere. And best of all, these rooms were built with double-thick sheetrock and special windows for blocking out noise, so even when there’s traffic on Congress Street below, rest assured that you will remain fast asleep.
Food and drink
If you’re looking for a quick and healthy refueling during the day, the small counter-service Twinflower Café offers breakfast and lunch options (with plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options) as well as fantastic coffee from local roaster Burundi Star. From 3:00 to 11:00 p.m., the lobby bar Five of Clubs comes to life, offering a robust menu of snacks (think crudos and tartares, caviar, charcuterie boards and, of course, local oysters) as well as a drinks menu with local beers and ciders, wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic mocktails that don’t feel like an afterthought. It’s not necessarily enough for an entire dinner, but in a city that teems with fantastic restaurants, Five of Clubs feels like a unique offering that perfectly complements the neighborhood. If you’re waiting for a table elsewhere–or in search of an elevated nightcap–this is where you’ll want to be.
The spa
Portland as a city is known for many things, but a thriving spa scene has never been one of them–so the debut of Uncommon Hospitality’s proprietary Astraea spa concept feels noteworthy. Two things stand out here: Astraea offers only body treatments (but with massages this good, you won’t mind going elsewhere for a facial); and there are several infrared sauna suites set up with rain showers and private lounge spaces, so you can bring a plus one along and enjoy some trendy yet time-tested hot/cold rejuvenation.
The neighborhood/area
Portland is super walkable, and the Longfellow stands amongst the gorgeous Italianate and Victorian architecture of its most desirable neighborhood, the West End. Just across the street is the homey Wayside Tavern, and a quick stroll away, you’ll find lovable gems like Isa Bistro and Pai Men Miyake. If a bigger culinary throwdown is in your sights, buzzy restaurants like Mr. Tuna, Eventide, Duckfat, and Twelve are located on the opposite side of the city’s peninsula, about a 30-minute walk away. (Not that you’ll always have to walk that far–one of the city’s most popular bakeries Tandem, known for its mouthwatering biscuits, is just next door.) When the weather is good, there’s no better way to experience the city and its water views than wander through these streets on foot.
The service
The Longfellow drew its staff together from some of the region’s other hotels, including the luxurious White Barn Inn, Auberge Resorts Collection, so everyone we encountered felt well-seasoned and professional. Considering that this is a newly-opened hotel (which can be notorious for service hiccups), everything ran smoothly, and the front desk was inviting and helpful without being smothering.
Eco effort
Sustainability plays a starring role here. You’ll find organic cotton linens and towels and organic wool throws up in the rooms, organic and cruelty-free products in the spa, and not a single single-use plastic on the premises. Driving up north in your electric vehicle? Don’t worry about charging–the hotel has seven EV charging stations on-site.
Accessibility
A swift elevator services every floor, and doorways and hallways felt wide enough to accommodate mobility devices. There are three accessible room categories: Standard Room, Standard Room with Balcony, and one of the hotel’s two suites.
Anything left to mention?
Make sure to inquire about catching a lift from the Longfellow’s house car, an electric BMW i7 that offers gratis rides around the peninsula for guests.
754 Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04102
United States
https://www.longfellowhotel.com/
(207) 800-3004