By Amy Paradysz
Photo courtesy of Evo.
Outdoor dining (and drinking) doesn’t have to be a pleasure packed away until winter is over. Eating out—I mean, OUT—can be quite refreshing! You can ski up to a bar in South Waterford, eat lobster rolls in a snug igloo by the sea in Cape Neddick or enjoy dinner out with your “bubble” in a metro lumberjack dining dome in Bangor. From laid-back brewery-and-food truck setups to French- & Spanish-influenced cuisine gourmet dinner in a greenhouse, this roundup covers some of the best outdoor winter dining and drinking in Vacationland.
Dress for the season, because a “heated, open-air structure” isn’t necessarily warm. To be as warm as you can be, go early bird before the sun sets. And BYOB — as in, bring your own blanket. If outdoors is what you want, call ahead to confirm that option is open. And if you want to eat in a ski gondola or tiny fishing shack or something along those lines, you might have to make a reservation for a set time block.
Dining OUT
Photo by Heidi Kirn.
Batson River Brewing & Distilling
12 Western Ave. (near Dock Square), Kennebunk
batsonriver.com
Fishing shacks designed to mimic the kind of bob house that would be dragged out onto a frozen lake (except with better interior design) are available for parties of up to six. Reserve a shack in advance or stop by and see if one the six shacks available. Just put up your flag when you need something from your server.
Photo courtesy of Bear Mountain Inn.
Bear Mountain Inn
364 Waterford Road, S. Waterford
bearmtninn.com
Right off the snowmobile trails — but also accessible by car, snowshoe or cross-country ski — this bed-and-breakfast resort serves pub food and drinks around firepit tables weekends from 1 to 6 p.m. (and in the barn). From the fieldstone fireplace on the patio, take in the views of Bear Pond in the foothills of the White Mountains. By car, the inn is about 20 minutes north of Bridgton. For the more adventurous, it is at the base of the Hawk Mountain off the ITS80 and ITS89 trails.
Image courtesy of the Boathouse Waterfront Hotel.
Boathouse Waterfront Hotel
21 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport
boathouseme.com
Winter is ski season at the Boathouse, where red gondolas make a social distanced meal feel merry and bright. Reserve one in advance.
Cafe Miranda
15 Oak St., Rockland
cafemiranda.com
Enjoy lunch and dinner at the Fire Bar on Cafe Miranda’s year-round patio. Sip a cocktail while you wait for takeout or an indoor table. Thursdays-Sundays 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Brunch on the weekends until 3 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Chaval.
Chaval
58 Pine St., Portland (West End)
chavalmaine.com
This West End brasserie serves Spanish- and French-inspired cuisine in small greenhouses via reservation (and, when the weather warms up, the greenhouses are used to grow produce). They also have a patio with infrared heaters, heated chair cushions and locally made blankets. Open
Photo courtesy of The Cliff House.
The Cliff House
591 Shore Road, Cape Neddick
cliffhousemaine.com
Enjoy a decadent late afternoon for up to six people snug in a cozy igloo by the sea, with drinks, fondue and lobster rolls. Reservations are Thursday through Sunday, 3-6 p.m., starting Dec. 23, with contactless service from the onsite Nubb’s Lobster House. Call 855-867-0946.
El Rayo
26 Fore St., Portland
elrayotaqueria.com
Fresh Mexican food sourced as locally as possible, now served in heated greenhouses on the back deck of the Portland location.
Photo courtesy of Evo.
Evo
443 Fore St., Portland
www.evoportland.com
Reservations are available in five heated, sanitized greenhouse-style chalets that accommodate single parties of up to five for tasting menus only, with options tailored to guest preferences. Open all winter.
Photo courtesy of Fluvial Brewing.
Fluvial Brewing
Maple Ridge Road, Harrison
fluvialbrewing.com
Seven beers on tap plus cider and an artisan bites menu are served in five beer domes (make a reservation online) and around a half-dozen firepits. Open Thursday 3-7 p.m., Friday 3-8 p.m., Saturday 12-8 p.m. and Sunday 12-6 p.m.
Funky Bow Brewing
21 Ledgewood Lane, Lyman
funkybowbeercompany.com
On “growler nights” — Fridays and Saturdays, 4-9 p.m. — come for a bonfire, bluegrass music, wood-fired pizza in the greenhouse and, of course, beer. Kids and dogs welcome. There’s a skating rink, and the disk golf course is open all winter for those willing to trudge through the snow.
Gneiss Brewing Company
94 Patterson Road, Limerick
gneissbeer.com
The rural brewery in the foothills of the White Mountains specializes in German-crafted wheat beers and has a Biergarten with table service and two outdoor fire pits. Getting there can be a little tricky; check their website for directions.
Photo by Jonah Miller.
The Honey Paw
78 Middle St., Portland
thehoneypaw.com
Regional American cuisine with an Asian sensibility and a focus on handmade noodles and a heated patio.
Inn by Sea
40 Bowery Beach Road, Cape Elizabeth
www.innbythesea.com
Guests here enjoy nightly campfire s’mores making and hot toddies served around ocean-view fire tables.
Image courtesy of Legends Rest Taproom.
Legends Rest Taproom
855 Main St., Westbrook
legendsrest.com
Dig into pub foods like wings, burgers and mac and cheese in the “igloo” — a sheltered, heated open-air patio with a metal roof. Legends is just off Main Street on the banks of the Presumpscot River, and the igloo is behind the pub. Open seven days and as long into the winter as folks are willing to sit out there.
Photo courtesy of Maine Craft Distilling.
Maine Craft Distilling
123 Washington Ave., Portland (Bayside)
mainecraftdistilling.com
Locally crafted spirits and a new gastropub menu in a heated tent with picnic tables or around firepits with Adirondack chairs. Sip a hot toddy, hot wassail, hot butter rum or a boozy hot cider, hot coffee or hot chocolate. Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.
Millbrook Tavern & Green
21 Broad St. (Bethel Inn Resort), Bethel
bethelinn.com
Heated igloos on the terrace offer socially distanced dining with mountain views.
Photo courtesy of Odd Alewives Farm Brewery.
Odd Alewives Farm Brewery
99 Old Route One, Waldoboro
oddalewives.com
Maine farmhouse ales and wood-fired pizza, plus six firepit stations available for reservation. S’mores kits ($15).
Oxbow Blending & Bottling
49 Washington Ave., Portland (East Bayside)
oxbowbeer.com
Oxbow’s Portland location has six A-frame shelters with propane heaters, as well as a firepit, all first come, first served. Oxbow shares their outdoor space with Duckfat Frites Shack, which has an ordering window at 43 Washington Avenue.
Photo by Cait Bourgault.
Oxbow Brewing Co. Beer Garden
420 Main St. (Route 26), Oxford
oxbowbeer.com
Firepits and Scandinavian throw blankets warm up this beer garden offering farmhouse ales, house-made sodas and wood-fired pizzas. Oxbow Brewing — the owners of what used to be Carter’s CV Ski — also offers free access to a use-at-your-own risk network of mixed-use trails. The nonprofit Portland Gear Hub has Nordic skis, fat bikes and snowshoes available for rent here, too.
Photo courtesy of Pineland Farms.
Pineland Farms Market
15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester
pinelandfarms.org
Order sandwiches from the Pineland Farms Deli and, if you’re lucky, you might be a snag a snow globe (reserve “igloos” by phone at 207-688-4539).
Pine Point Grill
240 Pine Point Road, Scarborough
pinepointgrill.com
Fire tables keep the patio warm enough for a socially distanced but upscale seafood or Italian dinner or pizza and a glass of wine.
Rising Tide Brewing Company
103 Fox St., Portland
risingtidebrewing.com
This craft brewery in the East Bayside neighborhood of Portland has a new menu and outdoor seating with firepit tables and tower heaters.
Photo courtesy of Terlingua.
Terlingua
40 Washington Ave., Portland (East Bayside)
www.terlingua.me
BBQ-Tex Mex is served on an open-air deck Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. Bring a blanket and order a hot toddy.
The Thirsty Pig
37 Exchange St., Portland
thirstypigportland.com
Photo courtesy of Thirsty Pig.
House-made sausages, specialty hot dogs and Maine-made beer available in new three-sided Nordic-inspired ice huts by Phatfield Design.
Three of Strong
35B Diamond St., Portland
www.threeofstrongspirits.com
This craft distillery in Portland’s East Bayside keeps their outdoor patio open all winter, with spools available to sit on until the snow buries them. To take the edge off the cold, order a hot cocktail and something from The Paddy Wagon Food Truck, linger by a heater, or try one of the heated seat cushion by Maine-based company Huga.
Photo courtesy of Timber Kitchen & Bar.
Timber Kitchen and Bar
22 Bass Park Blvd. (Residence Inn by Marriott), Bangor
timberkitchenandbar.com
The industrial chic steak restaurant named in honor of Maine’s lumber industry has four outdoor dining domes that seat up to seven. The domes have window vents and are sanitized with an electrostatic disinfectant gun after every use. They’re available through April. If you can’t get a reservation for a dome, there’s a firepit on the patio (and a fireplace in the lounge inside).
Photo by Heather Chandler.
Woodfords Food & Beverage
660 Forest Ave., Portland
woodfordfb.com
This Woodfords Corner restaurant serves fresh Maine seafood, burgers, steaks, chops and seasonal produce. Heated patio dining (as well as dining room and takeout). Additional parking available at Woodfords Club, 179 Woodford St.
Photo courtesy of The Yard.
The Yard
82 Hanover St., Portland (Bayside)
yardportland.com
Extreme Hot Chocolate Boards are the specialty at this “barstraunt” that has fire pits, corn hole and three igloos.
Have a suggestion for somewhere we could add to our roundup of outdoor dining spots? Send us your tip at [email protected].
This article originally appeared in the 2020 Green & Healthy Maine Winter Guide. Updated 12-8-21. Subscribe today!
