Portland’s new Longfellow Hotel, Maine’s first wellness hotel, wowed me. This 48-room boutique hotel has rooms designed for sleeping, a wellness spa, a counter-service cafe offering healthful breakfast and lunch fare, and a handsome lobby lounge serving cocktails and delicious tapas-style cuisine. All this is in a convenient location on Congress Street, adjacent to Tandem Bakery and across from its sister property, The Francis.
The hotel, a Small Luxury Hotels of the World affiliate, takes its name from a Portland native, poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Its lobby bar and lounge, Five of Clubs, honors the five-person literary society to which Longfellow belonged. Henry’s Room on the fifth floor provides a quiet place to work if it’s not booked for a meeting.
Wellness begins with sleep
The Longfellow’s guestrooms were designed to enhance sleeping. “It’s the quietest sleep in Portland,” says Bethany Wade, the hotel manager, adding: “Sleep Wise Consulting certified the rooms as having the ideal environment for restful slumber.”
Here’s how that’s achieved:
- The bedding comprises organic cotton linens and a custom-made Swans Island Co. blanket atop a Mattress Concierge mattress. It was heavenly.
- In-room amenities include a Loftie Clock, which offers meditations and sound baths. I especially liked that the clock had a setting to turn off its lighting.
- Lighting is minimal but not lacking; wherever I wanted light, I had it. It took me a few tries to figure out the room lighting, but I appreciated how adjustable it was once I did.
- Double drywall insulation decreases noise levels. If there was anyone in the rooms next to me, I didn’t hear them.
- Blackout curtains dress the windows. As a fan of a totally dark room for sleeping, I appreciated these and the fact that there was no gap. (I travel with a clip to hold curtains together that don’t close tightly)
- An in-room guide offers tips for better sleeping provided by Sleepwise Consulting. These addressed screen time, room temperature, sleep attire, and sleep schedule.
Bottom line: It was dreamy!
Room decor and amenities
Calming shades of white, beige, deep blue, and silver decorated my grand standard room. The king bed, bookended by tables and wall-mounted reading lamps, had an upholstered headboard and bench running full length along its base. An area rug defined the seating area. It comprised a chair, a chaise with a blanket draped over it, a stool, and a floor lamp, all grouped around a coffee table topped with a refillable water carafe (hydration!) and positioned to take in the view out the window. A lighting fixture descended from a ceiling medallion above it all. The window provided views of Congress Street with Back Cove sparkling in the distance.
The coffee/tea station had a small refrigerator, an electric kettle, and a French press, along with Burundi Five Star Fair Trade coffee and a nice selection of nonprofit Grace Farms organic teas (the Grace Farms Foundation donates 100% of profits to ending forced and child labor worldwide)—more about the tea below. Underneath it was a safe for valuables.
The bathroom had a spacious rainfall shower and a large granite vanity. In the morning, I wrapped myself in the oh-so-cozy robe. Slippers were the only thing missing, but the manager told me they’re still trying to figure out and source sustainable ones.
If I had forgotten any necessities, a guest pantry on each floor offered toothbrushes, shaving kits, combs, and vanity kits.
Astraea Wellness Spa offers unique options
The Astraea Spa emphasizes wellness, and it’s as important as food and beverage,” hotel manager Wade says. While I didn’t indulge in a massage or other treatment, I did sample two unique offerings. First, I spent 30 minutes in one of the spa’s meditation lounging chairs. The comfy chairs can be adjusted for back and leg positions. I opted to recline and elevate my feet. After choosing a nature sounds meditation from the menu, I donned the headphones, the weighted blanket, and a weighted sleep mask. Now I want one of these chairs for my home.
After my meditation chair session, I went into a private sauna suite. The suite had a comfy sitting area with two wooden armchairs and an upholstered couch with plentiful cushions grouped around a table, a half bath, a large infrared sauna with an adjustable chroma light system, and an oversized, adjustable rain shower, along with a tea and water station. Thirty minutes was just enough time for a mini Nordic retreat: hot sauna followed by cold shower chased with rest. Afterward, I was ready to conquer the world. Or, more realistically, retreat to my room, wrap myself in that robe, and chill.
The hotel also has a separate, well-equipped fitness room with cardio equipment, free weights, and yoga paraphernalia.
Dining at the Longfellow Hotel
“The hotel’s cuisine is wellness-forward, and the cocktails include functional, non-alcoholic ones,” Wade says. It’s also delicious. Executive Chef Wilson Suliveras came to the Longfellow Hotel with a distinguished culinary pedigree. A Culinary Institute of America grad, he’s previously worked as sous chef at The Inn at Dos Brisas, pastry chef and executive sous chef at the White Barn Inn, executive sous chef at Elda and Jackrabbit, and chef de cuisine at 555 North. He sources locally and opts for scratch-made whenever possible. “The menu is naturally healthy. I didn’t replace anything,” he says. Vegetarian and gluten-free choices are available.
The handsome Five of Clubs lobby lounge offers seating at small and community tables, on couches and stools, and at the bar. It’s an inviting space, and if I lived in the ‘hood, it likely would be a regular haunt for drinks and meals. Those who order breakfast or lunch from the adjacent Twinflower counter can eat here, too. And yes, room service also is available.
Tapas-style dinner at the Five of Clubs
The menu is broken into snacks, on ice, plates, and dessert; frankly, it was hard to decide. I wouldn’t hesitate to order everything I tasted again. I began with the tuna tartare prepared with verjus vinaigrette, mandarin orange slices, yuzu kosho, and caviar: the dish was bright, fresh, and delicious! I couldn’t decide between the two salads, so I tried a half-order of each. One comprised heirloom tomatoes, cucumber, herbs, and a delightful tahini dressing; the other, fresh greens with manchego, a yogurt dressing, and an herb mix. Honestly, I loved both equally. And if the tomato one was that good now, I can imagine what it will be like when local tomatoes come in. Mmmmm!
When I saw a smoking plate go by, I asked about it and ordered the scallop crudo, served on ice with green grape, pickled chili, and dill—hence the smoke. Another winner!
But the star of the night was the octopus, served with a pumpkin seed mole and fresh cilantro. I’ve never had octopus that tasted so fresh and delicious and was so tender. Although full, I was persuaded to try the chocolate and hazelnut ricotta profiteroles topped with a cocoa nib tuile. And I’m glad I did. It provided a sweet ending to a wonderful meal.
Breakfast from the Twinflower Cafe
The next morning, I went to the Twinflower Cafe counter and perused the breakfast menu, which emphasized healthful fare. As I dithered, the server mentioned that the chicken sausage in the breakfast sandwich was made in-house. Sold!
Someday, I’ll return for lunch.
Sustainability
Many hotels talk about sustainability, but the Longfellow Hotel incorporates it throughout the hotel. For starters, all kitchen equipment is electric, which reduces the hotel’s carbon footprint.
But here’s the biggie: The Longfellow Hotel has eliminated single-use plastics. It did so by:
- providing refillable water carafes instead of water bottles in guestrooms,
- using amenities crafted from bamboo or recycled materials,
- opting for real keys, not plastic cards,
- choosing eco-friendly coffee cups, lids, and straws,
- providing hand soap free of plastic packaging and refillable bath amenities, and
- sourcing tea bags made without plastic (not an easy task, according to Wade, who told me it took a year to find them).
The Longfellow Hotel: location, location, location
Located on Congress Street, adjacent to Tandem Bakery and across from its sister property, The Francis, the Longfellow Hotel makes exploring downtown Portland easy. The hotel offers a complimentary all-electric car service to the Old Port and complimentary bicycles.
Valet parking ($45/night) eliminates parking hassles, and, of course, EV charging stations are available.
The verdict
The Longfellow Hotel, Twinflower Cafe, Five of Clubs Lounge, and Astraea are welcome additions to Portland’s lodging, dining, and wellness scene. The hotel uses dynamic pricing (changes with demand), and when I searched on July 7 for July-August, rates began at $268-$755, depending on the date.
