As temperatures rise, there’s no better way to beat the heat than with a perfectly crafted frozen cocktail. From waterfront bars to cozy hideaways, Portland offers an exciting array of spots where you can sip on icy concoctions that blend local flavors with creative mixology.
Join as we uncover the best places to chill out and enjoy frozen cocktail delights in the coastal gem we call Portland, Maine. Cheers!
Please note: This is not a complete list of frozen cocktail offerings in Portland, Maine, but a glimpse at what’s out there! Please also keep in mind that menus are subject to change.Â
First in the rotation we have The Porthole, known for being ‘The Way Portland Does Summer.’
With its expansive deck overlooking the waterfront, this hotspot is a prime destination for enjoying the season’s best. Live music sets the vibe while you sip on their signature frozen cocktails. Usual selection includes a choice between refreshing options like the Owen’s Craft Mixers Classic Lemonade or the fruity twist of a Blueberry Margarita.
Dock Fore, an iconic sports bar and pub, is a go-to spot for a summer cooldown with their buzzworthy Frozen Irish Coffee – a warm weather take on the Irish classic. Other flavors available this summer include Creamsicle, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, and Banana Split.
The perfect spot to chill out, stop by and enjoy cool concoctions on their outdoor patio overlooking the historic cobblestone streets. Patio is open during the summer months.Â
Rigby Yard, long famed for its prime people-watching perch on Wharf Street, has now elevated its status as a destination for frozen cocktails.
This relaxed industrial brewhouse – with a great outdoor patio – not only offers craft beer and elevated bar fare like lobster but also beckons with seasonal delights. Dive into summer withreturning favorites: the refreshing Frosè and the tantalizing Frozen Bourbon Peach Lemonade.Â
If you’re looking to explore frozen cocktails options outside of the Old Port, then Wilson County Barbecue should be first on your list.
Bridging into West Bayside, Wilson County Barbecue is first and foremost a haven for lovers of whole hog barbecue and Southern comfort classics. While their menu features mouthwatering barbecue, don’t miss their rotating lineup of frozen cocktails. The selection seems to change just about weekly but recent highlights include a refreshing Frozen Painkiller, a summery Blueberry Mojito, classic Piña Colada, and a tempting Strawberry Margarita. Continue to soak up summer vibes by taking your frozen cocktail and hitting their fantastic outdoor patio.
Looking to turn your summer outing into a West Bayside bar crawl? You can continue the frozen fun over at Bayside Bowl, adjacent to Wilson County Barbecue.
As a longtime favorite in the area, and well known for their frozen cocktails, Bayside Bowl offers a unique blend of bowling, beverages, and breathtaking scenery from their rooftop bar. Usual rotation of frozen cocktails includes a choice between a Blueberry Lemonade Vodka, a Mai Tai, a Passionfruit Cosmo and some other surprise options now and again. What better way to enjoy your frozen cocktail with stunning sunset views!
Speaking of fantastic rooftop bars that also serve frozen cocktails, Luna Rooftop Bar is a must-visit when looking to quench your thirst in style.
This summer, their staple frozen drink is an elevated slushie that’s equal parts pizzazz and deliciousness. The Ice Ice Luna is made with house-made strawberry rhubarb granita, perfectly complemented by a pour-over of Prosecco. When you’re feeling a little fancy, this elegant drink perfectly matches Luna’s sophisticated vibe. Plus, did we mention the stunning views of Portland’s working waterfront and Commercial Street?
It’s only fitting that the coolest spot in the Old Port, Highroller Lobster Co., also has the coolest cocktails around (literally speaking).
Known for their Frozé, this spot offers not one, but two spacious patios—one enclosed and another along Old Port’s Exchange Street (available during the summertime), leaving you the option to enjoy your Frozé on either of their inviting patios.Â
Photo: Cocktail Mary’s Miami Vice
Next we head on over to Cocktail Mary, a trendy neighborhood cocktail bar in the East End that’s as friendly as it is fashionable.
Known for their modern twists on traditional favorites, they offer local beer, cider, natural wines, and soft beverages. But strictly speaking frozen cocktails—options include a refreshing Strawberry Daiquiri and a classic Piña Colada. Can’t decide between the two? No problem! Mix it up with the Miami Vice, a delicious blend of both. Perfect for those indecisive summer days.
Just a hop, skip, and a jump from Cocktail Mary, you’ll find The End of Portland —a bar that embodies “Cold Beer, Dead Spirits, and Rock and Roll.”
With its unmistakable punky vibe, this local favorite is known for its frozen delight, the Festbaby! Frosé. This delicious concoction blends rosé, Aperol, and fresh-squeezed lemon juice, offering a refreshing kick that’s ideal for summer. This summer season, The End will be shaking things up with a rotating menu of frozen cocktails, including a Painkiller, a Hurricane, and more. In the mood for something classic? Maybe a bit adventurous? The End has you covered for a cool, rock ‘n’ roll summer.
This summer, cool off with some boozy slushies at Maine Craft Distilling!
This farm-to-flask distillery is a Washington Avenue hotspot for refreshing frozen cocktails available all season long. With weekly live music and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, it’s the perfect summer hangout. Swing by and enjoy their craft cocktails, made with locally-sourced ingredients and served with a frosty twist. Cheers to a perfect summer vibe!
Moving right along (and right on over to the popular Washington Avenue), Terlingua, a neighborhood restaurant combining Texas-style BBQ with south-of-the-border influenced dishes, featuring house-smoked meats, is also a great spot for frozen cocktails—hence their feature on the list.
Their Frozen Pussers Painkiller, made with Pussers rum, coconut, orange juice, and pineapple juice, offers the perfect blend of tropical flavors to complement their smoky, savory fare. Adding to the allure of their frozen drinks is the secluded back patio oasis, making it a dreamy escape for any summer day.
Continuing on our tour of Washington Avenue, next up we have Root Wild Kombucha.
Known for their artisanal kombucha brewed right on-site, this summer Root Wild is elevating refreshment with their Booch Slushies, blending the healthful essence of kombucha with delightful frozen concoctions. Recent introductions include the invigorating Watermelon Lime and the tropical Pineapple Coconut Cocktail. Booch Slushies are the perfect remedy for summer swelter.
Swinging on over next to Portland’s East Bayside, the first stop on the frozen cocktail tour takes us to Après, a trendy craft seltzer + cider house that’s making waves with its ever-evolving lineup of frozen drinks.
As they put it, ‘Our frozen drink program has always been an incredibly fun avenue for us to beta test new seltzers and to create unique flavor variations.’
Après passionately crafts small-batch drinks that celebrate both traditional and progressive flavors of the Maine lifestyle. Their eye-catching creations are as fun as they are delicious. This summer they’ve debuted: Seven Glaciers, a slushie-seltzer twist on their Black Tea + Lemon Hard Seltzer; Dino, a tropical frozen cocktail bursting with mango, passion fruit, citrus, and vanilla cream; and a classic Daiquiri, perfectly balancing rum, fresh lime juice, and sugar. But remember: their frozen selection is always changing!
Après’ next door neighbors have also gotten into the frozen cocktail game. Blue Lobster Urban Winery now settled into their new location at 200 Anderson Street (previously 219 Andersoon Street), has brought back their delightful Frosé for the summer. This refreshing blend, made with a splash of blueberry-infused wine, will definitely cool you down on a hot day.
Their Anderson Street tasting room offers an unpretentious, friendly, and funky vibe, making it a great spot to relax with a frozen drink!Â
Staying in the East Bayside neighborhood, The Portland Zoo, a buzzing beer bar and garden where the fun never stops is also known to run frozen slushies run 24/7.
Painkillers as the current star of the frozen cocktail selection, but who knows what delightful concoction they’ll dream up next? Famous for its secluded and sunny backyard garden, this laid-back spot is perfect for enjoying their “backyard boogies” with DJs and soccer on the screen.Â
Last on the list, but certainly not least, Freedom’s Edge Cider Co.
This family-owned and operated cider company from Albion, Maine, is all about “Cider done right!” Opening their first East Bayside location this past spring, the team debuted their cider slushy to the delight of many. Known for their real hard cider made with the best apples and natural ingredients, Freedom’s Edge’s cider slushies are here to stay for the summer. These refreshing slushies will feature a new flavor each week. Past hits included a Pomegranate Lemonade.
