Higgins Beach Portland, Maine
Renovated
2017
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Heritage LocalOutside the door
Retro seaside inn
The historic summer inn swaps stuffy New England tradition for bright retro style and easy afternoons on the covered porch.
What it’s good at
Notable
Bright coastal palettes and crisp en-suite updates shape Caleb Johnson's 2017 renovation.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
the seaside style in the guest rooms is turned up to 10, with vibrant colors, vintage postcard-inspired illustrations, and a bit of retro patina.
Somewhere quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Higgins Beach is a one-block walk away, where quiet residential lanes give way to open sand and tidal flats.
The rooms
Sunlit quarters pair crisp modern fixtures and en-suite baths with ground-floor suites featuring enclosed sun porches and soaking tubs.
At the table
Shade serves local oysters and coastal New England fare, moving from morning waffles to evening cocktails on the deck.
How it began
Edward Higgins built a family home here in 1897, later adding a thirty-room hotel wing where his wife Ora cooked.
Portland
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The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.