Food is really unique and well prepared. Service great and atmosphere very authentic Latin vibe.

Such a cool little spot. Great atmosphere - very instagrammable. I had the mezcal drink - the "Tamarindo Lindo." I didn't try the food but I'll def be back! read more

Papi - Tamarindo Lindo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

The service was great, we sat at the bar area inside, this place fills up quickly but all the servers were really cool and attentive. Ambiance is so great, very cool vibe as it turns from restaurant to bar as well! The food was well seasoned and authentic. Great cook on everything we had! read more

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Although my friend and I only came for a drink and an app, I can tell by the few bites we had that they are doing great things at Papi and will have to return for a full on dinner! The interior of this place is amazing. You are transported to what I can only describe as a boujee Puerto Rican jungle. I wish I liked rum because they have done an extensive bar menu featuring a rum lovers dream list of cocktails. We stuck to mock tails, the beef empanadas, yuca fries and the flight of sauces. Everything was delicious, full of flavor, and all with a nod to their PR heritage. read more

Papi - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Stopped in for some apps. Sat outside with my husband, son, and dog. The waitress was great and brought our dog over some water. Our first round of drinks were great. We ordered the pineapple drink second, while it tasted great. It certainly wasn't worth $35, I don't believe it was 2 drinks as advertised. We had empanadas and a steak dish. Both were outstanding! Next time I would like to sit inside! Overall, we loved it! read more

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Only tried a few things, but it was all so good! Definitely be back again soon. Great vibe and look, I could see hanging out with friends and ordering one of everything. Service was quick and food came out fast. read more

Papi - Mmm.. braised pork!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

A surprisingly stunning little classy restaurant bar. It's been a long time since we been to Puerto Rico, but everything felt authentic and tasted magnificent. Within this historic old port facade (without signage) sits a vintage rustic door, through which you are transported to a uniquely beautiful oasis which contrasts with its touristy busy street. Having just opened, service can be a bit lethargic, but it's super friendly. People rave about the empanadas, but we thought they were upstaged by the pollo guisado, carne estofado and green banana escabeche. The cocktails were superb, including the non-alcoholic ones. And a real surprise was the cachaça selection! There are some you can't get here. No reservations for smaller numbers in a compact space, so expect a wait. read more

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Great food, wonderful service fabuleuse atmosphere ! We've been here many tiimes and never disappoint!

Go. First off, Puerto Rican food in the heart of Downtown, Portland was very appealing but than to be in the restaurant you can feel the culture! Ok now the food was certainly like homemade food with traditional food items! Packed with flavor and extreme compliments to the Chef Ron and co owner Fun fact he is a CT native and wanted to bring PR flavor over to Portland which is executed. I took lots of photos!!! So tastyyyyy! read more

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Complete disappointment. Ordered a regular mojito, fancy narrow glass with lots of ice, typical trick. Must give credit, the drink was very good. Disappointed with the appetizers, sorrullos de maiz and meat empanadas. The sorullos were soft, not crunchy, the empanadas were so greasy that all the grease dripped on the menu as I ate. For dinner, biftec encebollado and pernil. Very disappointed with the biftec, horrible garlic sauce on top, not even a half a cup of white rice, and the amarillos were cooked in the same oil as the empanadas. Not worth $32 dollars. As for the Pernil with yellow rice and pigeon peas, the rice was greasy. Rice is not served greasy. As for dessert, we did not have any, guava cake with coconut ice cream or flan de queso with orange marmalade. read more

I love Papi! The decor is fun from start to finish. Even the bathrooms are cool. There is a wide selection of drinks and the mojitos were very good. The wine list, like the menu, is very small but there were some excellent and unusual choices on both. The street tacos and empanadas in the appetizer menu were delicious, especially the empanadas. The service was top notch with a team style and all the staff were delightful. I loved having some different flavors in Portland and already made a follow-up reservation. read more

I have to admit that I was completely surprised to learn that there was a Puerto Rican restaurant in Portland, but I'm even more delighted to share that the food and cocktails were excellent. We walked in at around 5:30, thinking that there would be no problem being seated on a Monday night, but it was clear that Papi was a popular destination in the Old Port. Rather than be upset, I was thrilled to know that a Puerto Rican restaurant had become such a magnet for casual but elegant dining. We were texted within half an hour to take our seats at the bar. Most of the patrons were young couples or gatherings of friends. The cocktails were a big attraction, and we quickly learned why: each was made thoughtfully with exotic and delicious ingredients. We both ordered pernil, a Puerto Rican tradition served with arroz con gandules the way Abuelita used to make it. The pork was tender enough to eat with a fork and flavorful enough to savor - although one could be easily tempted to eat it too quickly. It's really that delicious. We don't get to Portland too often, but we sure hope Papi will be waiting for us the next time we do. read more

Let me start with Coño (damn) ! Papi is the place to be in Portland. From the drinks, apps and dinner(too full for dessert) Everything was delicious ! Can't wait to return. read more

Good, service and ambiance. Everyone is welcoming and the food is authentic! The drinks are all amazing, you can't just have one. Try them all! read more

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The service is top notch. Kind, generous and welcoming staff! However..... The tables are ridiculously small. We had a party of 4 adults at a table barely big enough for 2 ppl. They let us move to a corner seat next to us, which was definitely better but still tight and hard to find space for the food and drinks. And the food. Beautiful looking but beyond bland. Like no flavor without adding salt, lime or sauce. The exception being beef empanadas, which burst with flavor. I would go back but probably with just my husband and sit at the bar and snack. read more

Food is 10/10! Cocktails are as amazing as everyone says on yelp. The food portions are tapas style, but that's what they're known for! Food is flavorful, the tostanos was my favorite dish with the garlic sauce on it. We sat at the bar and the Bartender was attentive! Very vibey as everyone says! Will come back for sure! read more

Papi - The guava drink with the foam! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

We were simply driving through but the vibe of this place caught our attention so we stopped for a drink and a quick bite. Loved the decor, the vibey-ness of the place, friendly service and a good mocktail too. Had vegetarian options to snack on with our drinks. read more

We've wanted to try out this Puerto Rican inspired bar since it opened. Very authentic PR vibe and music. Intimate areas to visit throughout, very good drinks. We tried an appetizer of scallops which was very tasty and well cooked, good spice here as well! Bar service was very good and bartender was attentive, answered all questions, and was knowledgeable and friendly. We will return. read more

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We ate here on a Saturday night and the food was FANTASTIC. We got the chicken wing special appetizer, which was literally falling off the bone. Every entree was delicious. They also accommodated a gluten allergy at the table without issue. read more

Everything about this place is amazing. We had all the apps and the crab rangoon and tostones were my favorite.

Edited: Other than the bartender threatening you by saying you're the one who should be worried when we dared ask why my drink was taking this long this place is great. We got out of there because it's unheard of for a bartender who controls what you ingest to say such things. No apologies were offered if it was a misunderstanding. Just a very confrontational situation. It continues as they complained about my post here. Apparently in their eyes a customer has no rights to feel like they treated them poorly. Just go to the other bars in Portland and skip the drama. read more

Great vibe, it was festive/busy, and friendly staff! The beef empanadas were moist and not oily (they can be dry or oily at some restaurants). The shrimp was flavored well but I was a little disappointed in how tiny they were for the cost. read more

Papi - Shrimp skewers - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

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This place was recommended to me and it did not disappoint! Amazing drinks and food! The vibe is amazing and the service was great! Will definitely be back! read more

Was able to get bar seats on a Friday night with little wait even though it was packed! The bartenders were so friendly and amazing and the drinks were SO good! So many different kinds so there's something for everyone. I had a mocktail which was also amazing. The food was great. I had the steak dish and it was great. Would definitely go again and recommend. read more

Papi - Steak dish and mocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

Amazing! The music the ambiance the staff the flavors! We have been wanting to check this place out for a while. Walk in service, but quick turn around. Mainly bar seats for the experience and to interact. Family style service with vegan and gluten free options, and yes a separate fryer. We had an amazing meal and Lilliana was awesome. Friendly answers menu questions shared personal stories. One of top new favorites this year read more

I mean it's a nice venue but like two of the three entrees are either pork with beans and rice or haddock with white rice. Not really doing anything particularly interesting. Empanadas were good. Drinks were solid. I'll be surprised if it still there in two years though read more

Just great, really cool atmosphere/vibe, friendly waitstaff. The churrasco steak is still making go Mmm two days later.

Wow. Awesome find. Food, drink and service. Restaurant waa alive w/music and guests having fun. Bar vibe was great.

First time here and first time at a Puerto Rican restaurant. To begin the restaurant is small and reservations are strongly suggested. As far as ambiance it's a feast for the eyes. It immediately transports you to Old San Juan. Can be a little noisy. But not so much that it's a negative. The staff is warm and welcoming. Started with 2 well crafted drinks. Don't always have a cocktail, but they are known for their well crafted drink menu and they didn't disappoint. Our Senora Lola and Mojito were both delicious. We shared the Empanadas to start, really good, especially if you add one of the sauces, even better. We had perfectly prepared Pernil and a special stuffed shrimp dish for our mains. Both were fabulous. We had a very lovely red wine, our server's suggestion, with our main courses. We finished with one of each of the 2 desserts. Both were pudding like offerings and both were worth the calories. To sum up, Just go. Just having a drink and a nibble at the bar is more than worth the trip. read more

My sister and I came across this gem during a day trip to Portland early this fall. We were looking for a place to have drinks and relax after a day hike, and Papi's lively and pink decor immediately caught our eye. It was a Saturday night so we had to wait about an hour to be seated but it was so worth it. We were in such joy when we realized this was a Puerto Rican place, since we are natives. The tapas plates hit all the right flavor spots. The cocktails were definitely the star of the night. In spite of it being busy, the bartender was very attentive and friendly. This place makes one of the most creative cocktails I've had, and the flavor notes were reminiscent of my island. My favorite one was El Grito de Lares. The restaurant was also playing some great latin music, which transformed our night from good to amazing. If you're ever in the downtown Portland area, Papi is a must try. read more

Papi - Grito de Lares cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Finally made it to Papi after it opened a little less than two months ago. I went with a friend on First Friday Art walk and what a great place to begin our evening. We sat at the bar, and the bartender was super friendly and knowledgeable about the drinks. All the drinks are priced around $12-14 dollars, which is reasonable in Portland these days. We had three drinks total: the Hot N Sucio, a vodka based drink that tasted a lot like a bloody mary; El Cantante contained fig tequila and was very delicious; and finally, Salina Soundsystem - a drink with cachaca and cane sugar. Of the three, I think El Cantante was my favorite, but all the drinks were great. We also tried a few snacks. The Sorullo corn fritters were delicious. You bite into them and a creamy cheese filling oozes out. The Rellenos de Papa were also good, but I preferred the corn fritters. The Pincho grilled chicken skewers were ok, but the chicken was diced too small for me. I preferred the grilled plantains that were served with the dish. If it weren't for them, this dish would be overpriced and not very satisfying. The yucca fries were also great. Next time I would order a couple of those because they're so delicious and pair very well with the cocktails. The vibe of the place is great. Everyone who sat at the bar was friendly and excited to be there. The crowd is a mix of young and old. The decor is beautiful. It's hard to believe that this space was once Lululemon! The owners spent some money and took special care to create a beautiful venue. Overall Papi is a great addition to Exchange Street, and will likely give several of my favorite bars a run for their money. read more

Ambiance and drinks were good, but standard for the area. Food was a charcuterie board of free Costco freezer samples. This place reminds me of Rhum bar: https://www.pressherald.com/2018/01/02/no-more-room-for-rhum/ read more

Great food and good vibe sitting outside. The server was very nice and knowledgeable.

We had a great time at Papi,, the server was amazing and so friendly. The food was great tasting and freshly. Nothing to complain about our drinks. We will be back soon. read more

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I really am sad to leave this review because I wanted to like it. I am Cuban and Spanish, so empanadas are our favorite! The empanadas tasted frozen and so did the shrimp. The bartender was great but the food tasted sad. read more

We loved everything about our experience at Papi! The aesthetics are stunning, you are instantly transported to a different place with elevated decor details! We sat at the bar and had a great experience with the staff serving us. The cocktails here are divine, we had a few different ones all delicious but the Boriken Gold and Tekiki's Sonrisa were our favorites. For entrees you must ordered the sauce sampler to pair with you meal you won't regret it! I ordered the Canoa and would gladly order it again and my partner ordered what he said may have been the best steak of his life! read more

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Amazing vibes. Went there for drinks but couldn't resist the menu so got the tacos. Perfect amount and delicious! Pricy but not *not* worth it Wouldn't have expected this from Maine but loved it. read more

Papi - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

This is a must try for Portland. Definitely mixes up the typical Maine coastal scene with some tropical vibes and drinks. Hubby and I had a great date night tasting different cocktails and listening to the Latin dance music. Huge plus to having a super talented and charming bartender! Will definitely come again. read more

Papi - Grito de Lares and Cubanelle Mojito - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

Went here for drinks on Mother's Day and had such a nice experience! We were sat immediately at the bar and were waited-on by Leanna (one of the bar tenders and a co-founder of Papi). She was attentive and very friendly! Really nice to see a founder so active tending to customers and we could tell how passionate (and knowledgeable) she was about it! The menu featured some amazing cocktails which she created - we ordered the salinas soundsystem and even got a second round because they were so good. The decor and ambiance was what drew us to the location in the first place. Very inviting with plants hanging around the whole room and everything just very creatively and thoughtfully put together. We learned they just opened a few months ago and seem to be very popular, as the place was pretty busy. Even so, we had great service and can't wait to go back to try some of the food and other drinks on the menu! Highly recommend :) read more

Papi - Salinas soundsystem - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

10/10! Such a beautiful restaurant. Drinks were sooooo good, and we ordered multiple of the beef empanadas. Staff and management was so cheerful and helpful. Will DEFINITELY BE GOING AGAIN! read more