This blog post is part of our ‘The Francis is turning five!’ celebrations…

Come stay with us in October for the chance to be part of our gift card giveaway! Throughout the month we’ll be giving away five $50 gift cards to some of the local businesses we work with on a daily basis.

Keep an eye out when entering your room as you may have one waiting for you.

Here are five local businesses that have really become part of the fabric of The Francis:

  • Tandem Coffee, a coffee roaster, café and bakery run by Will and Kathleen Pratt and supported by an incredible team of people. Their baked goods are internationally renowned, and their coffee is top-notch, so we offer a Tandem Breakfast in Bed package as an option to add on to your stay.
Bakery treats and pastries on display at a cafe in Portland Maine luxury hotel.
  • Burundi Star Coffee, a coffee shop run by Jocelyne Kamikazi, where you can find coffee sourced directly from Jocelyne’s home country and delicious baked goods from The Purple Whisk and Norimoto Bakery. We serve hot & delicious Burundi Star Coffee in our lobby every morning.
Friendly cafe owners smile behind the counter at a cozy coffee shop in Portland Maine.
  • Maine & Loire, a wine store and wine bar run by Peter and Orenda Hale. All wines highlighted in the shop are all-natural – farmed organically and harvested by hand. We offer a ‘Time for Wine’ add-on which includes one hand-selected bottle from Maine & Loire waiting for you on arrival.
Five assorted wine bottles displayed elegantly on a wooden table in a Portland Maine hotel.
  • The Cheese Shop, a full-service cheese shop located on Washington Avenue and run by Mary and Will Sissle. They spend so much time and care curating an amazing array of cheeses, meats, fine foods, beer, wine, cider and more – all available for purchase at the shop. Their cheese boards are a thing of beauty, and we offer them perfectly sized for 2 people as an optional add-on to your stay.
Family in local store, ideal for a Portland Maine getaway, surrounded by shelves of goods.
  • Wayside Tavern, a neighborhood restaurant and bar located right next door to The Francis. Run by Mike and Siobhán Sindoni, Wayside serves small plates with Italian and New England influences, accompanied by a stellar wine & cocktail list. We collaborate with Wayside any chance we get and are so grateful to count them as part of the Francis family.
The Francis hotel entrance in Portland Maine's historic West End with outdoor seating.

We’re lucky to collaborate with such great local businesses – make sure you visit them all during your next trip to Portland!

Image Credits: 
Image 1: Tandem Coffee
Image 2: Burundi Star Coffee
Image 3: Maine & Loire
Image 4: The Cheese Shop
Image 5 + Cover Image: Jen Trebino Wyllie for Wayside Tavern

Abigayle Clark

Abigayle Clark is the General Manager of The Francis, where historic character meets modern hospitality in the heart of Portland. She’s a go-to for local insight, and when she’s not at the hotel, she’s likely hanging with her cat George or skating with her roller derby team.
Back to Blog