Mother-Daughter Getaway at The Danforth

My daughter and I just spent one night at The Danforth, a small inn in the heart of Portland, Maine, with a lot of history dating back to 1812. From a prohibition hideout to episcopal housing, from boarding school to bank ruins, from Russian fortune to hard luck tales, The Danforth has a rich Maine history. It was transformed into an inn in 1993 and was recently renovated by brand new owners who plan on investing as much as $1 million and a new restaurant.  The result is comfortable,stylish and lavish and made for a cozy 24-hour visit for the two of us.

The Low Down

The Danforth, which was built in 1823 as a Federal-style mansion, offers a dose of old world charm, which started the moment we walked through the door. After being greeted by the inn’s manager and given a traditional key to our room, “Casco Bay,” we were escorted to the dining room for home made scones and biscuits, as well as tea and coffee. Our room was spacious and comfortable, filled with eclectic antique furniture, wooden shutters on the windows, a fireplace, a king sized bed and all the amenities we needed including free Wifi, high quality linens and my favorite touch, a pair of slippers at turn-down, alongside a small box of chocolates.

Modern art lines the walls of the hotel, and there was a sitting room next door to our room filled with modern and sleek white furniture as well as a modern lobby with cozy chairs, a grand piano and reading materials on the tables.

 

Breakfast was home made yogurt and blueberry cream cheese french toast, both of which were delicious and fresh. In addition, the inn is a short walk to the Old Port and great restaurants. You can’t beat the location.

The Verdict

My daughter and I spent the evening watching shows together, reading books, lounging on the cozy, big bed. We played cards in the sitting room, drank tea in the dining room and were basically very connected during our short time at the inn.  The Danforth provided for a cozy visit full of bonding and a real break from reality. In a city of a lot of choice for hotels, mostly mainstream, The Danforth is a great choice for something unique.

The Danforth is located at 163 Danforth Street in Portland. Rooms can be booked by calling (800) 991-6557 or (207) 879-8755.

Disclosure: I was provided with a complimentary room and breakfast, and I paid full price for another room. All opinions are my own, as always.