Old Orchard Beach Pier
Old Orchard Beach Pier
3.5
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- Old Orchard Beach Station • 4 min walk
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102 within 3 miles
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75 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
874 reviews
Excellent
217
Very good
225
Average
258
Poor
103
Terrible
71
SeñorElGreco
North Merrick, NY215 contributions
Jul 2020
The Old Orchard Beach Pier is over 100 years old, as so it seems to hold a special place in many peoples memories. While it may have been a nice place at one time (and it probably was better years ago), I think it is that rose-tinted nostalgia glasses are at work. The Pier is very run-down and dirty with many places selling expensive (and I am sure not quality) food, junk or touristy stuff. There is a cool wooden model of the pier you can see, other than that not much else, no place along the pier to get a view of the ocean or beach view without buying food. A large restaurant caps the end of the pier and even there you cant even get a good view without siting down for a drink or food, a shame really. The walkway is very narrow and I am sure it can get quite crowded. If you are thinking this may be like the Jersey shore or Fisherman's wharf then you are wrong, nothing in terms of entertainment other than drinking and eating, though I hear the restaurant at the end gets hopping with dancing and such at night if that is your thing. We were there for maybe 15 minutes. Will never go back.
Written August 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kathyg812020
Boston, MA50 contributions
Aug 2020 • Friends
Old Orchard Beach is worth a trip, the ocean is clean with big waves and very good sand, but the water is freezing but us New Englanders ride the waves. Yes, you can see the ocean from the pier without buying a drink or food as some negative people wrote on their review. I will be going up again this Saturday and I enjoy those pier fries with vinegar!
To those who have given negative reviews don’t know what your problem is, it’s not a Taj Mahal!!! It’s great for kids too with rides and arcades! I like the candy shop down the street and up the hill! They do have nice gift shops off the pier if you take the time to explore.
From a New Englander who has been going there since I was a kid with my parents and still enjoy going about 4 times during the summer.
Kathy
Boston,Ma.
To those who have given negative reviews don’t know what your problem is, it’s not a Taj Mahal!!! It’s great for kids too with rides and arcades! I like the candy shop down the street and up the hill! They do have nice gift shops off the pier if you take the time to explore.
From a New Englander who has been going there since I was a kid with my parents and still enjoy going about 4 times during the summer.
Kathy
Boston,Ma.
Written August 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
R H
1 contribution
Jun 2021
went to the pier pub on the 17th of June thinking of getting some seafood and figuring that this would be a nice place to go, the menu at the door look good. went inside and a little dirty but its the beach. i order the seafood platter, the menu says shrimp, whole belly clams, scallops, haddock, well i received the plate and i got upset(pissed)
this plate came with i wasn't sure. i asked the server what the items was. i held up a item that was as small as a piece of popcorn, he said that was whole belly clam, i picked up another item as small a unpoped cernal of corn he said it was shrimp, the shrimp was the can shrimp that you would put in potato salad, oh ya potato salad came in a cup the size of a shot glass , the scallops was as small as a small tater tot , the whole meal you could fit in a juice glass. they never asked if i wanted to change for something different,,so for $30 i wasn't happy.
this plate came with i wasn't sure. i asked the server what the items was. i held up a item that was as small as a piece of popcorn, he said that was whole belly clam, i picked up another item as small a unpoped cernal of corn he said it was shrimp, the shrimp was the can shrimp that you would put in potato salad, oh ya potato salad came in a cup the size of a shot glass , the scallops was as small as a small tater tot , the whole meal you could fit in a juice glass. they never asked if i wanted to change for something different,,so for $30 i wasn't happy.
Written July 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carrie D.
Cleveland, OH2,395 contributions
Jul 2022
I love the idea of this pier and from the beach it is kind of cool, although even from the outside it can clearly use a little bit of love (it doesn't really look like the main photo on this page any longer). But walking through the pier was a huge disappointment. It was dark and dingy and quite honestly, there's not much on it--a couple shops and food stalls, leading to the restaurant at the end. Maybe my expectations were too high, but it just felt dark and crowded and kind of a waste of time. We went in and got back out very quickly.
Written August 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ClaireWithLove
Germantown, MD2,065 contributions
Jun 2022
To the right of the pier is a path to the beach and there is a foot washing station. There is no bench to sit on though.
The pier was built big lumber like Santa Monica Pier in California but in a little worse shape. The pier was much smaller, and the amusement park was located to the right of the pier. Parking was near the amusement park.
There were a few boardwalk shops (closed during the day when were there), game places, and bars leading to the Old Orchard Beach Pier Restaurant and Bar. Although the food menu did not look exceptional, the restaurant had outdoor seating at natural wood tables that ran across the front of the restaurant facing the water and the right side of the beach. Sitting there to eat or drink and enjoy the view would be wonderful.
The pier was built big lumber like Santa Monica Pier in California but in a little worse shape. The pier was much smaller, and the amusement park was located to the right of the pier. Parking was near the amusement park.
There were a few boardwalk shops (closed during the day when were there), game places, and bars leading to the Old Orchard Beach Pier Restaurant and Bar. Although the food menu did not look exceptional, the restaurant had outdoor seating at natural wood tables that ran across the front of the restaurant facing the water and the right side of the beach. Sitting there to eat or drink and enjoy the view would be wonderful.
Written June 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lisasQ6074EP
8 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
My husband and I had never been, were in the area and paid 10$ to park, which was a total waste. This place did not have any redeeming qualities. The Pier itself was run down and depressing. A half dressed man wandering down the sidewalk and spitting summed it up. There appeared to be no sanitation or cleaning happening. Not a place for a 50 something couple!
Written July 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
elvisdepressly
82 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
Planned our night at Old Orchard Beach and was told by people the Pier was open. Weve been before and love to dance down there. So I got all dolled up and we walked down from our hotel only to be stopped at the entrance and told it was closed, despite seeing many people inside and having hours posted til 1 am and told even by the guard that "most nights they are open til 1 am but weve been told to shut down." I think something weird happened.
Written July 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NHjo
Saco, ME13,135 contributions
Apr 2022
The pier is an old-school architectural treasure. The inside is pretty rustic, with third-rate restaurants, bars, vendors, etc., and takes a certain mindset to enjoy. (Most of the Old Orchard Beach area is gaudy anyway). But, the pier is a historic landmark and is nice to look at. The pizza stands opened up (it's mid-April), so we grabbed a few slices and sat by the beach. It's quiet this time of year, like the calm before the storm of summer when the tourists will be pouring in.
Written April 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paulette Sirois
Maine1 contribution
May 2023 • Couples
We went to Sunset Deck today and it was almost 1pm. We had gone to listen to the band that was about to start playing. The bartender changed our minds on that one. As my husband and I approach the bar, the bartender say to us with real snotty attitude " you can sit wherever you want! (All we were trying to do is look in the cooler behind the bar to see what they had to offer befor we sat down) we walk closer to the bar and in her same snotty attitude says you can't sit there, it's taken! I said we are just trying to see what you have to offer in the cooler. She says here is a menu! My husband takes the drink menu and we at this point are completely disgusted with her poor attitude, we put the menu back on the bar and leave. How about a good afternoon, I'll be right with you? Nope instead a snotty attitude like we did something wrong! Oh and by the way we did stop at the myst and was treated much better! Oh and we actually got a good afternoon with a smile! Yup, I think the myst will be our go to.. we use to go to your place alot and have never been so disrespected!! May want to change bartenders attitude or I'm sure alot more will do the same!
Written May 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pisc0011
Ironwood, MI566 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
We have been to the pier a few times over the years. It has slowly morphed into different things. This time we were pleasantly surprised while we visited it during the day. They have seemed to update it a little bit with different vendors. There is one restaurant at the front and back. They had a vendor selling fried dough, nachos, lemonade, and etc. and all were at a reasonable price right around $5. They also had a few other vendors selling different items. It was family friendly enough to walk down and back for a little entertainment.
Written July 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
When does Old Orchard Beach open for the season (pier, restaurants, etc)? I'm looking to visit the week before memorial day.
Written November 21, 2021
There is a website for Old Orchard Beach for that kind of info. Just Google it.
Written November 22, 2021
Will anything on the Pier be open May 8-14 2021?
Written February 8, 2021
Will the Pier, restaurants and activities still be going on during the week of Labor Day and after?
Written August 31, 2020
All restaurants should still be open. There is not much in the way of “activities”. It is just a few kiosk type shops and places to eat and grab a drink. The game arcade and amusement rides were open. Rides were somewhat limited. Not all the rides were running. The rollercoaster and a few other rides and merry go round we’re open.
Written August 31, 2020
Walk up 2 blocks from the pier on the right side of the street. Make a right and go one block. On your right you will see a lady seating by a parking lot. $5 for 3 hours.
Written August 9, 2020
I am from Rhode Island, is the hotels and motels open for business from the tourist?
Written July 13, 2020
Yes they are but regulate by Maine coronavirus restrictions.
Written July 13, 2020
Is it open ? Lodging ? I am from out state am I slowed to get hotels ?
Written June 29, 2020
I am planning a trip to the area in October. Will there be anything operating at that time?
Written March 19, 2019
Not rides....but some of the food stands, and restaurants will be at least on weekends.
Written March 19, 2019
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