When spending hours—or days—touring a town or city, you need to have a plan of attack. Translation: Be sure there are plenty of spots to stop in for a quick snack and libation between outings. In Bangor, you won’t go wanting in that department; there’s plenty to choose from, whether you’re a local beer type or more of a craft cocktail lover.
To me, exploring a new place (especially a city) means checking out the bars, too—everything from down-and-dirty dive bars to chic, rooftop lounges. Doing so can sometimes give you an even better sense of place than any museum, walking tour, or pamphlet.
Map of Bangor Bars & Breweries
This map of Bangor bars & breweries is perfect for your next night on the town.
Blue Sky Lounge
Located at the Bangor Grande Hotel and featuring a lively lineup of weekly events and entertainment, the Blue Sky Lounge has plenty of seating at the bar—which is where I prefer to be.
Catch a game on TV, enjoy live music and comedy acts, and join in the fun on Mixed Drink Mondays ($4 well drinks), Whiskey Wednesdays ($5 pours of Jim Beam and Canadian Club), or Tropical Thursdays (discounted island-themed drinks); there is also a pub fare menu for those late-night munchie attacks.
Location: 357 Odlin Rd, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: Blue Sky Lounge
Timber Kitchen & Bar
As if the giant Paul Bunyan statue in town wasn’t obvious enough, Bangor was the main global lumber supplier back in the day—and where this restaurant and bar got its inspiration for its name and vibe.
The upscale bar area is cozy and rustic-chic, and the beverage menus alone are darn-near flabbergasting—and that’s even before you get to the food offerings.
If you can’t find a cocktail, glass of wine, or type of beer to love at Timber, you may as well throw in the bar towel, become a teetotaler, and head for the hills.
Start by trying the Log Jam: Bacardi spiced rum, Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, fresh-squeezed lime and Valencia orange juice, pineapple juice, fresh mint, Angostura bitters, and milled nutmeg. Timberrrrrrrrr!
Location: 22 Bass Park Blvd, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: Timber Kitchen & Bar
Penobscot Pour House
Offering live music every weekend, weekly specials, karaoke, trivia nights, and Texas Hold ’em tournaments as well as free pool every Sunday and Monday, there’s always something fun going down at the freewheeling Penobscot Pour House.
Come in Monday through Thursday from 2-5 and 8 to close for happy hour specials; the new Gastro Kitchen is also now open with oodles of yummy appetizers, sandwiches, and salads to titillate your taste buds (and soak up some of those beverages).
Location: 14 Larkin St, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: Penobscot Pour House
The Back Alley Bar & Restaurant
Part of the Family Fun Bowling Center, The Back Alley makes it easy to have a family-friendly excursion…or enjoy a night out with a group of friends for bowling, playing pool, catching a game on TV, and just having a ball (see what I did there?).
Happy hour is from 2-6, seven days a week, and there is even a bar service window in the bowling alley so you can grab a round in between strings. There is also an enormous menu of pub fare and all-day breakfast offerings to help keep up your energy for strikes.
Location: 15 Hildreth St, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: The Back Alley Bar & Restaurant
Happy Endings Martini & Dessert Bar
Whaaaaat? Genius! Cocktails and dessert—a match made in heaven, I say. Made-from-scratch desserts, tapas, and of course, craft cocktails await you at Happy Endings…and prepare to be transported.
In addition to all of the classic martinis you can drum up, the signature creations here are dessert-worthy themselves; I suggest the Tangled Treat, made with strawberry-infused New Amsterdam gin, basil, and a splash of soda.
Location: 32 Main St, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: Happy Endings Martini & Dessert Bar
Rack City
If you’re a fan of playing pool and sipping suds (or cocktails, or wine, or…you get the picture), Rack City could be your new go-to spot.
This pool hall offers an expansive bar as well as an affordable menu of appetizers, pizza, burgers, wraps, salads, and dinners to enjoy while sinking your shots. There are weekly pool tournaments as well as dart boards for those who prefer throwing stabby things at a target to playing pool.
Location: 1215 Broadway, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: Rack City
The Main Tavern
With DJs, karaoke, sports on TV, and a lively bar, The Main Tavern is a popular local hangout that welcomes one and all. If you’ve ever seen the iconic “Bangor Greetings” postcard mural, then you’ve found this establishment; the giant, retro-style image can be found on one of the outside walls of The Main Tavern (as can the famous “Hopeful” neon sign).
Location: 152 Main St, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: The Main Tavern
The Claddagh Irish Pub
Tucked into the Hilton Garden Inn, The Claddagh offers a higher-end, family-friendlier Irish bar experience.
Happy hour is from 5-6 Monday through Saturday with $6 well drinks, $5 drafts, and $6 glasses of wine. The dinner menu has a little something for everyone, there’s lots of bar seating, and the bartenders can concoct anything you can dream up.
Location: 250 Haskell Rd, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: The Claddagh Irish Pub
Half Acre Nightclub
“Bangor’s Premium Nightlife Venue” offers dance fans not one, but two full-service bars. Open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, this is the place to go if you’re hankering for a top-40 dance party.
You can reserve booths at Half Acre—which is highly suggested at this popular nightclub. Every Thursday is Ladies’ Night and features no cover charge for the fairer sex as well as drink deals—and military personnel never have to pay a cover charge here.
Location: 190 Harlow St, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: Half Acre Nightclub
Nocturnem Draft Haus
Offering customers a carefully-curated list of beers and fare, the folks at Nocturnem focus on serving the best of everything, whether it be their rotating selection of top-notch beers, cocktails, wines, or small plates.
Rather than calling their food and drink menus “limited,” they like to refer to them as “focused,” with each drink and comestible passing their strict levels of quality, singularity, and sheer yumminess.
Location: 56 Main St, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: Nocturnem Draft Haus
2 Feet Brewing Company
You’ll always find at least six house brews on tap at 2 Feet—one being their signature beer, Barn Burner (a roasted jalapeño ghost pepper dark saison).
Family-run and aiming to support local libation-makers, this brewery also utilizes locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible for their house-made fare.
Location: 80 Columbia St, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: 2 Feet Brewing Company
The Bangor Beer Company
Always on the hunt to craft something new and different, the brewers at The Bangor Beer Company love to step outside the microbrew box. The taproom features “weird décor,” a “goofy and fun staff,” great pub fare, pinball, trivia nights, and spectacular beer (duh).
The tap list is always being updated, so if you’re headed in for a pint, be sure to check it before you get too set on any one beer.
And while I’m typically a dark beer kind of girl, I suggest you try the Pumpkin Spiced Derailed, a white/golden stout (yup, a blonde stout) brewed with lactose, pumpkin spice, cocoa nibs, and coffee beans. It’s a seasonal brew, though—so hurry up before it’s gone.
Location: 330 Bangor Mall Blvd, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: The Bangor Beer Company
Black Bear Brewing Company
Black Bear’s original taproom and brewing equipment are in Orono, but their newest taproom is here in Bangor. Beyond providing customers with amazing, craft-brewed beer and a menu of small plates and pizza, you’ll also enjoy live music at Black Bear’s Bangor location.
The tap list includes year-round, seasonal, and limited-edition brews; if you’re lucky enough to visit when their Voodoo Porter is available (it’s seasonal), give it a quaff.
Location: 193 Exchange St, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: Black Bear Brewing Company
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