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I met a couple of friends here on a Saturday morning in January. The space itself was a welcome change of pace from the gray days of winter. The combination of the exposed brick of one of Portland's historic Old Port buildings with the wide assortment of green plants and pretty glass containers made for an inviting space. We commented on how the green plants were such a welcome sight during the cold gray days of winter. We ordered some Mimosas and got to work. The people at Terrarium were super friendly and helpful. After we chose our containers they brought us plants and gave us enough direction to get started, but also gave us enough space so we could have an independent, creative experience. A person in our party was clever and picked up a really attractive glass terrarium container at Goodwill before the visit. Very smart because I felt like the containers were pricey for what they were. I think my fairly small container was around $45, which made up the majority of the $74 bill for my visit (one mimosa, glass container, and stones, soil, small plants). Just know you are allowed to bring your own and I think they charge $25. We spent a couple of hours visiting and drinking mimosas while smoothing stones and soil and arranging plants in our new terrariums with the tools provided. At the end they offered to put some arthropods in to keep mold from growing and we agreed. It's been almost three months and my terrarium is doing surprisingly well. I keep it on a shelf where it gets indirect sunlight and bought a little atomizer and have watered it twice. The experience at Terrarium is like a fun little vacation from the gray days of winter and I hope to return. One last thing--although I'm familiar with the area, I still found it a little tricky to locate--fyi--it's on the back side of Free Street, behind El Rayo, etc.
This a great little shop! Its so vibrant and alive inside! I love that this tends to be a place you can spend as much or as little time as you like. There are plenty of options for shopping for plants, they sell drinks, and you can also make terrariums. I also had fun looking at example terrariums and all the different sizes they had for sale or on display in the store. We stopped in hoping to make a terrarium, asked a few questions first to understand the process, picked out our vessel, took a seat at a table, and they brought us some plants for our terrarium. At the end, they came around to add water and little bugs to the terrarium. We appreciated how helpful the staff was in answering our questions, giving helpful tips, and explaining everything. We also like how they were hands-off while we built the terrarium, letting us take our time and have fun with it!
Plants. Snacks. Seltzers (alcoholic). Guided terrarium lessons, what more could you want?! This place is an absolute dream, possibly my new favorite place in Portland. You can come here specifically with an appointment where a guide will show you how to build the terrarium of your dreams or you can do it independently or you can just shop their amazing array of all types of plants as it is a garden center. There is a snack bar with an array of options for eating and drinking which helped my father who just wanted to drink beer and watch lol. We had an absolute blast and it makes me want to be a better plant mom. From 10 years old to 65 years old all party members had a blast!!
I think Portland genuinely needed Terrarium. This urban garden center: is family-friendly! has fun homemade snacks (including vegan and GF options)! has adult beverages (with generous pours of wine)! offers board games and legos (for kids of all ages to enjoy)! offers terrarium building classes! has secret lizard friends (IYKYK)! has a ***TON*** of plants to purchase! and is ***INCREDIBLY*** knowledgeable about those plants! has exceptional customer service (problem with the plant you just bought or terrarium you just built? ***JUST ASK THEM***. they can advise and refund and replace [and don't make it into a huge deal so it's not awkward for anyone])! I hope folks don't see this as a novelty visit; although being able to just walk around and look at, touch, smell, and feel a whole bunch of common and unique (and oftentimes impressive) plants while enjoying a little drink midday when it's cold out is everything I never realized my seasonal affective disorder needed... Terrarium a) fills a much needed gap in the Greater Portland area for people OF ALL AGES to come and enjoy themselves (and, yeah, while there are huge workshops of people building expensive terrariums, there's also people who come here just to hang out with a seltzer water and a friend) and b) some nurseries are so pretentious and attitudinal that it makes asking simple questions like, "what plants do you suggest for people who live in apartments that get no light?" impossible without their judgment. Green thumb or not, hosting a workshop for your gathering or just needing a space to relax in, Rob and Anna welcome you as you are!
Abstract: Terrarium showcases both the brilliance and the sorrow of a reborn city. I'm not emotionally prepared to write this review. Anyone who saw me wander into Terrarium yesterday would probably snort upon reading these words, because frankly, I had a short, uneventful visit at this new greenhouse-esque beer bar. The emotions arrive because of change - change in Portland that has been happening for two, three decades now, change that exploded (and imploded) during the pandemic, change that has altered the landscape of my city nearly beyond recognition. It's "Solastalgia" - that is, "a sense of loss relating to a place, while remaining in the same place". The term relates to climate change, but I am borrowing it to describe the human tide that has washed over Portland, cleaned it up, but somehow sanitised it. I think it's important for new businesses and the people from away that run many of them to understand the complicated relationship that Portland natives like myself have with them. We want the good coffee, craft beer, unique restaurants. We're happy when people get nominated for James Beard Awards, open a second location, when the magazines write about our little foodie city. Yet the change comes so rapidly! It is bittersweet. Would most of us want to go back to the decrepit, rundown old port of the 90s? Probably not. I wouldn't. But I often feel loss. Loss of affordable housing for locals, loss of community, loss of "localness". Solastalgia. So I walk into Terrarium. I think of these things as I walk between the beautiful, vibrant, green corridors. These are complicated emotions to feel, but I feel soothed by the tranquility that seems to resonate from the plants themselves. It's noticeably a "notch down". Thinking back, I can't remember whether or not there was any music playing (it is a bar, after all), but frankly, that tells you everything you need to know. Terrarium passes the vibe check. It connects you to your roots, pun intended. You walk in, laugh for a moment (it's an off the wall idea, isn't it? Drink beer and build a terrarium?), and then realise, hey, it's nice in here. These plants are pretty. Green is a nice color, this is calming, why don't we have more green inside our stores, shops, restaurants? Wait, I can take that plant home over there? I can have one too many beers and end up bringing that giant Dracaena Marginata home? What even is that? Oh well, I own it now. I hope it's potty-trained. You get the idea. What seems a little silly, off the wall, perhaps too-strange-to-work, ends up WORKING. It's not a gimmick, it's not a novelty (although I doubt many of us will build a terrarium weekly, or even monthly), it just happens to fill a niche for those who don't like paint bars, subscription whiskey services, or sandwich of the club month. At $42** to build a terrarium, I wasn't included to immediately plop down and shell out the cash, but since yesterday, the idea has been growing on me. They have high quality materials to make it happen, you can get your hands in the dirt, or leave it to professional implements, or heck, you can just shoot the breeze with a fellow green thumb (or a wanna be green thumb) over a pint or two. Why wouldn't I invite a friend or two to do something unique? Why wouldn't I recommend it to a couple hopelessly lost tourists that just want to get off their feet? Why wouldn't I mention it to my book club? **As the owner states below, it sounds like this is the "most deluxe" option and that other terrariums cost less. The more you know There are a couple things I found odd, such as the pairing of beers/soups and not much else, but that could just be me. I suppose on a cozy fall evening, building a terrarium, sipping a beer and slurping your soup could be quite appealing. The bar itself seems a bit small for the space, but perhaps I am just remembering Terrarium's predecessor, the tiki bar Rhum, and its massive, oversized vibe (good riddance, Rhum). The proprietors are a lovely couple and seem passionate about the idea. My only concern for them is the actual location as it just doesn't get much foot traffic, which I think was part of Rhum's demise. That said, this idea is different - not a bar to happen upon, but an session to book or a friend to meet somewhere a little quieter. It's not 1 of 100 in Portland, it is 1 of 1. So cheers to Terrarium. It is the creativity that our city needs to continue to be the excellent place it is. Bring your kids, your dog, your grandma (it is a bit of a younger crowd, but business is business, I am sure the owners would say). Drink a beer, buy a plant, smell some soil. You won't regret it.
Terrarium is a stunning shop and cafe, and is fairly-priced for gorgeous (and many rare) plants, big and small. I feel lucky to have them a train ride away. They have DIY terrarium-making, of course, which I must come back for-- and they have generous pours of wine.
Super fun night out with a couple co-workers. Could be great for a tween-teen bday party too. Everyone leaves with a beautiful new centerpiece created by you. They had yummy snacks and offer plenty of advice and ideas to get started.
This is so gorgeous. We built terrariums! They have crystals and whatnot to buy there but we had purchased several during our travels in Portland and Freeport. I have a baby cardinal for my aunt. And yes, I got a dino! Took me forever to make it the way I want it, but I love it!
My husband and I were staying in Portland on vacation and looked for things to do on a rainy day. I HIGHLY recommend taking time to stop at Terrarium during ANY type of weather. Both owners were welcoming, knowledgeable, and took the time to explain the process to build a terrarium. I learned to take better care of some houseplants, too. We walked in a bit intimidated about the process but were immediately put at ease. We walked out with an awesome looking terrarium. I suggest you order peanut butter bars to snack on while you create! We will be back the next time we take the journey from NY to ME and will spread the word about this awesome establishment.
My bestfriends and I were visiting from New York and this was possibly the best way to start our mini-trip. From the moment we walked in to the second we exited with our cute little terrarium, we were exhilarated and pleased by the friendly atmosphere this place radiated. You start off with picking your jar/vase and when you bring it back to your assigned table, the soil and rocks are neatly placed in a bowl at the center. There are also tools to use to fix the interior of the jar, it kind of felt like we were landscapers! They also have very cute gems, crystals and mini-figurines to add to your terrarium (sold separately). The owners were continuously helping everyone with their terrariums and whenever he came over to our table he would encourage us and even give us tips on how to make it better (as we were clearly struggling LOL) . After about 2.5 hours, we finally finished and the staff cleaned up the sides of the glass and educated us on how often to water it, how much water, etc. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting Old Port as a fun group activity. Everyone was so nice and accommodating and we were not scared to ask any questions. Lovely place and lovely people!
Rainy day stop on a day in Portland with my 19 & 12 yo kids. What a great time we had. We each made a terrarium that came out beautiful. Staff is friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. They gave us instructions and then let us have the freedom to construct our little ecosystems. I enjoyed a glass of rose while taking in the fun and great ambiance of the space. read more
5 months ago
Such a fun and chill experience in Portland! The shop is beautiful and chock full of gorgeous plants and greenery at every turn. Pick out a jar and get started, lots of adorable little curated plants to choose from to make your own terrarium. They also have snacks and beverages available if you're hanging out a little longer! I would love to have a place like this local to me but it was such a unique and lovely visit during our time in Portland. read more
WHAT A GREAT CONCEPT! Something for everyone: 1. 12 yr old daughter- making a terrarium with a friend 2. 3 year old- Loved picking out things to go inside the terrarium (especially little animal figurines) 3. my husband- BEER! There were 12 of us. We were walk in and we easily accommodated. Plus we all fit at one table- large, long tables. It did get hectic as there were so many of us grabbing things, moving at different paces. Lots obe beautiful, colorful plants to choose from. Lots of crystals, rocks and figurines to add. Keep in mind all extras COST EXTRA! You've been warned: this is an expensive adventure. The employees were very nice but had their hands full so that added to our confusion. I think it would be better if one person walked us through step by step even if some had to wait until others were at the next step. True score 3.5 read more
Business owner information
Anna S.
Hi Holly, thank you for taking the time to share your experience and…
I met a couple of friends here on a Saturday morning in January. The space itself was a welcome change of pace from the gray days of winter. The combination of the exposed brick of one of Portland's historic Old Port buildings with the wide assortment of green plants and pretty glass containers made for an inviting space. We commented on how the green plants were such a welcome sight during the cold gray days of winter. We ordered some Mimosas and got to work. The people at Terrarium were super friendly and helpful. After we chose our containers they brought us plants and gave us enough direction to get started, but also gave us enough space so we could have an independent, creative experience. A person in our party was clever and picked up a really attractive glass terrarium container at Goodwill before the visit. Very smart because I felt like the containers were pricey for what they were. I think my fairly small container was around $45, which made up the majority of the $74 bill for my visit (one mimosa, glass container, and stones, soil, small plants). Just know you are allowed to bring your own and I think they charge $25. We spent a couple of hours visiting and drinking mimosas while smoothing stones and soil and arranging plants in our new terrariums with the tools provided. At the end they offered to put some arthropods in to keep mold from growing and we agreed. It's been almost three months and my terrarium is doing surprisingly well. I keep it on a shelf where it gets indirect sunlight and bought a little atomizer and have watered it twice. The experience at Terrarium is like a fun little vacation from the gray days of winter and I hope to return. One last thing--although I'm familiar with the area, I still found it a little tricky to locate--fyi--it's on the back side of Free Street, behind El Rayo, etc. read more
This a great little shop! Its so vibrant and alive inside! I love that this tends to be a place you can spend as much or as little time as you like. There are plenty of options for shopping for plants, they sell drinks, and you can also make terrariums. I also had fun looking at example terrariums and all the different sizes they had for sale or on display in the store. We stopped in hoping to make a terrarium, asked a few questions first to understand the process, picked out our vessel, took a seat at a table, and they brought us some plants for our terrarium. At the end, they came around to add water and little bugs to the terrarium. We appreciated how helpful the staff was in answering our questions, giving helpful tips, and explaining everything. We also like how they were hands-off while we built the terrarium, letting us take our time and have fun with it! read more
2 years ago
Plants. Snacks. Seltzers (alcoholic). Guided terrarium lessons, what more could you want?! This place is an absolute dream, possibly my new favorite place in Portland. You can come here specifically with an appointment where a guide will show you how to build the terrarium of your dreams or you can do it independently or you can just shop their amazing array of all types of plants as it is a garden center. There is a snack bar with an array of options for eating and drinking which helped my father who just wanted to drink beer and watch lol. We had an absolute blast and it makes me want to be a better plant mom. From 10 years old to 65 years old all party members had a blast!! read more
Business owner information
Anna S.
These photos are so good!! Thank you for stopping by. Makes us happy…
I think Portland genuinely needed Terrarium. This urban garden center: is family-friendly! has fun homemade snacks (including vegan and GF options)! has adult beverages (with generous pours of wine)! offers board games and legos (for kids of all ages to enjoy)! offers terrarium building classes! has secret lizard friends (IYKYK)! has a ***TON*** of plants to purchase! and is ***INCREDIBLY*** knowledgeable about those plants! has exceptional customer service (problem with the plant you just bought or terrarium you just built? ***JUST ASK THEM***. they can advise and refund and replace [and don't make it into a huge deal so it's not awkward for anyone])! I hope folks don't see this as a novelty visit; although being able to just walk around and look at, touch, smell, and feel a whole bunch of common and unique (and oftentimes impressive) plants while enjoying a little drink midday when it's cold out is everything I never realized my seasonal affective disorder needed... Terrarium a) fills a much needed gap in the Greater Portland area for people OF ALL AGES to come and enjoy themselves (and, yeah, while there are huge workshops of people building expensive terrariums, there's also people who come here just to hang out with a seltzer water and a friend) and b) some nurseries are so pretentious and attitudinal that it makes asking simple questions like, "what plants do you suggest for people who live in apartments that get no light?" impossible without their judgment. Green thumb or not, hosting a workshop for your gathering or just needing a space to relax in, Rob and Anna welcome you as you are! read more
5 months ago
4 years ago
Abstract: Terrarium showcases both the brilliance and the sorrow of a reborn city. I'm not emotionally prepared to write this review. Anyone who saw me wander into Terrarium yesterday would probably snort upon reading these words, because frankly, I had a short, uneventful visit at this new greenhouse-esque beer bar. The emotions arrive because of change - change in Portland that has been happening for two, three decades now, change that exploded (and imploded) during the pandemic, change that has altered the landscape of my city nearly beyond recognition. It's "Solastalgia" - that is, "a sense of loss relating to a place, while remaining in the same place". The term relates to climate change, but I am borrowing it to describe the human tide that has washed over Portland, cleaned it up, but somehow sanitised it. I think it's important for new businesses and the people from away that run many of them to understand the complicated relationship that Portland natives like myself have with them. We want the good coffee, craft beer, unique restaurants. We're happy when people get nominated for James Beard Awards, open a second location, when the magazines write about our little foodie city. Yet the change comes so rapidly! It is bittersweet. Would most of us want to go back to the decrepit, rundown old port of the 90s? Probably not. I wouldn't. But I often feel loss. Loss of affordable housing for locals, loss of community, loss of "localness". Solastalgia. So I walk into Terrarium. I think of these things as I walk between the beautiful, vibrant, green corridors. These are complicated emotions to feel, but I feel soothed by the tranquility that seems to resonate from the plants themselves. It's noticeably a "notch down". Thinking back, I can't remember whether or not there was any music playing (it is a bar, after all), but frankly, that tells you everything you need to know. Terrarium passes the vibe check. It connects you to your roots, pun intended. You walk in, laugh for a moment (it's an off the wall idea, isn't it? Drink beer and build a terrarium?), and then realise, hey, it's nice in here. These plants are pretty. Green is a nice color, this is calming, why don't we have more green inside our stores, shops, restaurants? Wait, I can take that plant home over there? I can have one too many beers and end up bringing that giant Dracaena Marginata home? What even is that? Oh well, I own it now. I hope it's potty-trained. You get the idea. What seems a little silly, off the wall, perhaps too-strange-to-work, ends up WORKING. It's not a gimmick, it's not a novelty (although I doubt many of us will build a terrarium weekly, or even monthly), it just happens to fill a niche for those who don't like paint bars, subscription whiskey services, or sandwich of the club month. At $42** to build a terrarium, I wasn't included to immediately plop down and shell out the cash, but since yesterday, the idea has been growing on me. They have high quality materials to make it happen, you can get your hands in the dirt, or leave it to professional implements, or heck, you can just shoot the breeze with a fellow green thumb (or a wanna be green thumb) over a pint or two. Why wouldn't I invite a friend or two to do something unique? Why wouldn't I recommend it to a couple hopelessly lost tourists that just want to get off their feet? Why wouldn't I mention it to my book club? **As the owner states below, it sounds like this is the "most deluxe" option and that other terrariums cost less. The more you know There are a couple things I found odd, such as the pairing of beers/soups and not much else, but that could just be me. I suppose on a cozy fall evening, building a terrarium, sipping a beer and slurping your soup could be quite appealing. The bar itself seems a bit small for the space, but perhaps I am just remembering Terrarium's predecessor, the tiki bar Rhum, and its massive, oversized vibe (good riddance, Rhum). The proprietors are a lovely couple and seem passionate about the idea. My only concern for them is the actual location as it just doesn't get much foot traffic, which I think was part of Rhum's demise. That said, this idea is different - not a bar to happen upon, but an session to book or a friend to meet somewhere a little quieter. It's not 1 of 100 in Portland, it is 1 of 1. So cheers to Terrarium. It is the creativity that our city needs to continue to be the excellent place it is. Bring your kids, your dog, your grandma (it is a bit of a younger crowd, but business is business, I am sure the owners would say). Drink a beer, buy a plant, smell some soil. You won't regret it. read more
Business owner information
Anna S.
I appreciate you giving us stay-ers a chance. The changes I’ve seen…
2 years ago
Business owner information
Anna S.
*editing my response simply because Yelp has hidden it after Ian…
1 year ago
Business owner information
Anna S.
Thank you for stopping by and for sharing your experience!
Terrarium is a stunning shop and cafe, and is fairly-priced for gorgeous (and many rare) plants, big and small. I feel lucky to have them a train ride away. They have DIY terrarium-making, of course, which I must come back for-- and they have generous pours of wine. read more
3 years ago
Business owner information
Anna S.
So glad to hear the Hoyas had a successful flight and are acclimating…
4 years ago
Super fun night out with a couple co-workers. Could be great for a tween-teen bday party too. Everyone leaves with a beautiful new centerpiece created by you. They had yummy snacks and offer plenty of advice and ideas to get started. read more
3 years ago
This is so gorgeous. We built terrariums! They have crystals and whatnot to buy there but we had purchased several during our travels in Portland and Freeport. I have a baby cardinal for my aunt. And yes, I got a dino! Took me forever to make it the way I want it, but I love it! read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
My husband and I were staying in Portland on vacation and looked for things to do on a rainy day. I HIGHLY recommend taking time to stop at Terrarium during ANY type of weather. Both owners were welcoming, knowledgeable, and took the time to explain the process to build a terrarium. I learned to take better care of some houseplants, too. We walked in a bit intimidated about the process but were immediately put at ease. We walked out with an awesome looking terrarium. I suggest you order peanut butter bars to snack on while you create! We will be back the next time we take the journey from NY to ME and will spread the word about this awesome establishment. read more
3 years ago
My bestfriends and I were visiting from New York and this was possibly the best way to start our mini-trip. From the moment we walked in to the second we exited with our cute little terrarium, we were exhilarated and pleased by the friendly atmosphere this place radiated. You start off with picking your jar/vase and when you bring it back to your assigned table, the soil and rocks are neatly placed in a bowl at the center. There are also tools to use to fix the interior of the jar, it kind of felt like we were landscapers! They also have very cute gems, crystals and mini-figurines to add to your terrarium (sold separately). The owners were continuously helping everyone with their terrariums and whenever he came over to our table he would encourage us and even give us tips on how to make it better (as we were clearly struggling LOL) . After about 2.5 hours, we finally finished and the staff cleaned up the sides of the glass and educated us on how often to water it, how much water, etc. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting Old Port as a fun group activity. Everyone was so nice and accommodating and we were not scared to ask any questions. Lovely place and lovely people! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
4 years ago
4 years ago
This place is amazing. We were just visiting Portland and found this place. I think it was the best part of the trip. Rob was so welcoming and helpful. The space is very open and relaxing. I didn't know much about terrariums and I had so much fun learning and building one. I highly recommend stopping in, even if it's just for a beer or coffee. It felt like a special place. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
More info about Terrarium
98 Cross St N
Portland, ME 04101
Old Port
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(207) 747-4015
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http://www.terrariumportlandme.com
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