Every few years, a new resort pops up. Nowadays, it seems like everyone and their mom is traveling to Japan, Portugal, and…Maine? In fact, there’s no need to leave the country to visit one of this year’s most popular travel destinations: the northeastern corner of the United States, which has recently become a favorite and increasingly recognized for its stunning scenery and delicious food. More so than the world-famous lobster roll.
Portland’s Longfellow Hotel is taking advantage of Maine’s growing reputation in luxury hotels. Named after Portland-born poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, this charming boutique hotel will open in May 2024 in the historic West End neighborhood on the grounds of a former gas station. Uncommon Hospitality worked with design firm Post Company to ensure the area’s character is reflected in even the smallest details, from the artwork from Maine artists decorating the walls to the locally sourced wood in the lobby and products scattered throughout the 48 rooms. There’s a lot to see here, and it lives up to its name: Henry’s Study on the top floor offers a quiet place to work, while the Five Off Club, the lobby bar, hosts Longfellow Five literary society activity.
As the discussion about the “third place” — community space outside of the workplace and home — continues to grow, the hotel wanted to bring the spirit of long, slow conversations to the Five Gates Club, located near the lobby. In addition to a delicious wine and beer menu, the bar also offers lively and delicious drinks (a favorite is the Esmeralda, a mezcal cocktail blended with poblano, mint, lime and cilantro, but use them at You Can’t Go Wrong With a Slight Diamond) and shareable snacks like ricotta ganache crostini with warm honey and pine nuts, or kale Caesar salad with crunchy shawarma-spiced chickpeas — all of which make a perfect pre-dinner snack. (Longfellow is just minutes away from popular restaurants like Rice, which serves buttery dumplings with Siberian caviar, aioli fingerling potatoes and fleur de sel caramel sauce.) In the morning, guests can enjoy breakfast at the Twinflower Café. Those who don’t want to order coffee from counter service can enjoy a casual breakfast in the lobby’s spacious seating area — the avocado toast sprinkled with nori and fresh herbs is a favorite — and watch Portlanders enjoy the company of locals and their four friends.
Wellness is emphasized in every aspect of Longfellow. The cool, quiet rooms have thick mirrors to block out outside noise, blackout curtains, noise-reducing machines near the bed, and thick Swan Island wool blankets to ensure a restful night’s sleep. (In the future, they’ll also provide light-resistant bags for guests to keep their phones in overnight.) Sustainability is also key: Bathrooms are stocked with unbleached bamboo toilet paper and paper towels, and guests are provided with shaving kits, bamboo toothbrushes, and towels.
The hotel’s highlight is the Astraea Spa, which emphasizes sleep, relaxation, and immunity — even offering a PMS package for guests on vacation due to menstrual issues. The infrared sauna suite is a particular highlight and can comfortably accommodate two people. (The hotel recommends the Nordic method: 30 minutes in the sauna, followed by a cold shower lasting 30 seconds to three minutes, followed by 10 minutes of rest, but guests are encouraged to do whatever feels comfortable.) Massage services to help visitors relax include Mindfulness Dream Care’s more restful sleep and grounding sessions that include guided breathing work.
However, perhaps the most innovative part of the spa is the meditation room, which features two mind-syncing chairs. The vibrating zero-gravity recliners have been clinically tested for 13 years to reduce stress and insomnia among active duty military personnel. Guests are offered a variety of restorative guided meditations, including the Soul Soak, Emotional Reset, and Neo-Nap, lasting from 20 to 60 minutes. The vibroacoustic seats and weighted spaces and eyecups added by Astraea provide a completely unique regenerative experience.
For those who want to see more of this historic city, Longfellow’s 2025 BMW (with seats equipped with massage features) can take guests around town on short notice. But with an emphasis on comfort, no one will blame you for staying here.
