The Francis Hotel

We loved our stay at The Francis! We visited Portland for one night, for a show at the State Theatre. We chose The Francis based on the proximity to the theatre (short 10-minute walk), and restaurants. We’re also tired of chain hotels and wanted to support a small business - we’re so glad that we did! Check in was super quick and easy - we arrived a few hours before check in time hoping that our room would be ready - and they delivered. We stayed on the third floor, in room 303 - the junior suite with a King bed. The room was large and welcoming, and nicely furnished. The bed and pillows were very comfortable. The building itself was very quiet - if there were other people staying on our floor, we didn’t hear a thing. The only complaint (which is out of the hands of the hotel), is the proximity to the fire station (a few streets over). There were a few emergency calls during our stay, so there was a bit of outside noise. Highly recommend the Tandem Cafe across the street for coffee + and a treat or breakfast.

What a great place with historical charm all over. The staff was amazing and made us feel like a guest in their own home. Love the coffee available in room. Great to see local coffee roaster supported. I'll be back even if just for a night.

The Francis is a boutique hotel located in the heart of Portland hip and historic West End. The bed was very comfy and the room was modern and clean in an historic building. The bathroom was well equipped, clean and had soft towels. It’s great to sit in the cool lobby and sip coffee or read a book. The staff is very friendly. There is free parking which is a huge perk! It was a great added touch to get a text each evening if there was anything you needed. I want to try the spa someday. I plan to return to the Francis again!

Do not stay here! I originally booked 5 months ahead of time and chose the refundable option then had to cancel after a few days of booking because I found out that there was actually not a spa located here. I tried reaching out several times over the next few days to book the spa over the phone only to find out a few days later when they answered the phone that it had moved. The manager refused to refund my full deposit and saying it was policy and said that I could walk across the street to a spa. One would think that completely misleading information and the fact that I had booked within 48 hours of the conversation would warrant a full refund from the manager but he refused to be understanding. I will be 7 months pregnant and I wanted to be able to walk from my room and back to the spa inside the hotel and I explained this was the reason I booked the Francis. His lack of empathy showed me this is not where I want to stay for this special trip I have planned for over a year. If the integrity and kindness of the hotel staff means anything to you, you will avoid it all together. I’m less disappointed by the money they kept and more concerned with how this situation was dealt with. Don’t expect them to correct anything they might be at fault for.

A fantastic building with lots of history, conveniently located halfway between the train station and the waterfront. Close to downtown and the Old Port for a nice walk. Terrific reception staff, and a lovely glass of bubbles when checking in. Room was very cosy, with good wifi connection. Tandem Bakery is right across the road and is amazing, an ideal place for breakfast. Hotel communications by email and texts are automated and a bit repetitive. Furthermore, they didn't take my response into account (e.g., multiple messages about car parking when I answered that I wasn't driving). Floorboards in the rooms are squeaking loudly, which fortunately wasn't too much of an issue as the people upstairs neither went to bed too late nor woke up too early.

I am almost worried to leave such a glowing review for the Francis because I do not want the secret to be out: this is where I will stay every time I come to Portland. It's enough that you can roll out of bed at 7:50 and be first in line for the best breakfast/ coffee/ pastries in Portland; better yet you can have a cozy, delicious dinner right next door and be snug in your room 2 minutes after you sign the check. You can have a wonderful culinary weekend without walking more than 30 feet. But, aside from that the hotel and the staff are beyond wonderful and attentive. Every small detail is thought of in the rooms and common areas. The rooms are very clean, quiet, and surprisingly spacious. It is not a stuffy BnB, but rather one that preserves the charm and coziness of its BnB predecessors with a modern, clean sheen. I can't get over how helpful the staff were in going above and beyond in making My reservation smooth and my stay comfortable. Thank you Francis!

My favorite place to stay while visiting Portland! Quaint, clean, lots of historic details. Centrally located, friendly staff, comfortable rooms and lots of charm. Can't wait to visit again! Would absolutely recommend.

The Francis consistently offers a civilized, friendly, elegant yet unpretentious experience. I’ve been fortunate to have stayed at The Francis for work-related travel several times (at least 10) in the past few years and recently stayed for a weekend with my partner and two dogs in one of the beautifully appointed and comfortable suites on the garden level (small bar, velvet sofa, dark wood floors, Parisian style bathroom…). My dogs were treated like visiting royalty and the staff were incredibly kind and helpful, as always. My partner said it was his favorite hotel experience, ever. It’s not cookie-cutter, and if you prefer the vanilla chain hotel experience, The Francis is probably not for you, but it is far and away my favorite hotel in New England.

We came to Portland for a birthday celebration and to see the Seinfeld show. We chose the Francis based on location, reviews, and we like staying somewhere that has character. Would definitely stay here again