Check out the Longfellow Hotel in Maine

Sights in New England

The opening took place in spring.

Guests at the Longfellow Hotel in Maine sleep in style.

The Longfellow Hotel in Portland’s historic West End was designed by Architecture Digest as part of the magazine’s Hotel Great Design Awards 2024. The awards recognize the best-designed new hotels in the world.

The 48-room boutique hotel from the Maine-based, family-owned hotel group Uncommon Hospitality is named after Portland poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Designed by the Post Company, the hotel is believed to be the first independent, full-service hotel to open in the city in more than two decades.

“Our design for The Longfellow celebrates the city’s history and rugged beauty while nodding to the integrity of the surrounding buildings,” said Jou-Yie Chou, partner at Post Company, in a press release. “The interiors feel familiar but still convey a real sense of place, blending contemporary elements with traditional accents to evoke a modern timelessness. The design creates a sequence of spaces that invite visitors in, while beautiful details encourage them to linger and enjoy.”

Offering “understated and balanced design with durable, well-crafted details,” according to the team, guest rooms feature natural wood paneling, wide oak plank floors, velvet-upholstered beds and Windsor-style chairs. The Evangeline or Gabriel suites offer freestanding bathtubs and separate living areas.

“Guests can choose from a range of room types, from views of Back Cove or inviting balconies with breathtaking sunrise views to rooms with a window desk that provides inspiration for writers, poets and wordsmiths of all kinds,” the company said.

The Longfellow offers mattresses hand-crafted in New England from high-density foam, selected by Mattress Concierge. Each room features spa-quality robes, special alarm clocks and “ideal sleeping conditions as certified by Sleep Wise Consulting,” the hotel’s website states.

The hotel lobby serves as a lounge, café and bar throughout the day.

Breakfast and lunch restaurant Twinflower Café serves local ingredients and guests can order espresso, fresh juices, salads, sandwiches and more.

European influenced Cross Five features comfortable seating, natural stone, warm brass features and artwork inspired by the natural landscape. Inspired by the literary society of five founded by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the restaurant serves a health-conscious menu as well as classic and non-alcoholic cocktails, beer from Portland breweries and a sommelier-selected wine list.

The 1,700-square-foot Astraea, the hotel’s wellness spa, is a “gentle and tranquil” space with private infrared sauna rooms, massage rooms and state-of-the-art meditation loungers. Guests enjoy Voya products and handcrafted items from local Maine producers and artisans.

Hotel guests have access to free bicycles, electric vehicle charging stations and a luxury electric car service to the nearby Old Port.

Beginning of the year City and country has named the Longfellow Hotel one of the world’s best new hotels in its T&C Hotel Awards 2024.