Food and drink is at the heart of any Irish wedding and with our warm Irish hospitality, your wedding at Rí Rá will be an experience not to be missed. Whether it’s an intimate occasion or a larger event we can guarantee that your day will be special, memorable and unique. Born in Ireland and meticulously restored here in Portland, Maine, Rí Rá brings you an unrivalled authentic Irish experience that you and your guests will remember long after you leave Maine.
Rí Rá offers a host of private banqueting choices. Our dedicated special event menus are inspired by the best in traditional Irish cuisine and classic bistro preparations. Whether your wedding plan is simply an hors d’oeuvres and cocktail reception or full course dining, we can tailor a menu to suit your needs!
Kate Hart(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 24-09-2022 We held our 130 person wedding reception upstairs RiRa and it was the absolute best venue. It was a sit down family style dinner, and the best wedding food we’ve had. Our guests couldn’t stop talking about how beautiful/perfect the venue was and how delicious the food was. Lacey was amazing to work with leading up to it, the whole staff was helpful and professional the night of. If we had to do it again, we wouldn’t change a single thing at RiRa!! Reviewed on 25-09-2022
Alex Fusco(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 04-09-2021 We held our rehearsal dinner at RiRa’s in September 2021 and it exceeded our expectations. We decided to book the upstairs bar which was perfect for our occasion. We had about 35 guests who got to mingle at high top tables, bars seats, and their couch area by the fireplace. Rebecca worked with us when we needed to revise our menu a few times. The staff was top notch and very professional. The food was delicious, there was plenty and it was affordable. I’d highly recommend Rebecca to help guide you through the process and RiRa as a venue to host any event. Reviewed on 23-12-2021
Louise Greer(other)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 28-08-2021 I held my daughter’s Bridal Shower at RiRa’s in May 2021 and it exceeded our expectations. Rebecca worked with me when we had to reschedule due to unforeseen circumstances and the day was wonderful. The servers were very courteous and helpful (gave me ideas on set up) and brought in an extra table I needed for games. The food was delicious, there was plenty and it was affordable. I’d highly recommend Rebecca to help guide you through the process! Reviewed on 22-12-2021
Kaity Mahoney(bride)4 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 29-05-2021 We had our rehearsal dinner at Ri Ra in May. Ri Ra hosted us in the Harbor Room, it was a perfect intimate setting for our party of about 30 with beautiful water views. They were easy to communicate with for planning purposes ahead of time and worked with our preferences for partial open bar for a set amount of time etc. Our servers were excellent, overall very happy we chose Ri Ra and would plan another gathering here in a heart beat! Reviewed on 22-12-2021
Lindsey Barbee(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 18-08-2018 Absolutely perfect! You will be so happy with Ri Ra! We had 80 guests and the space was absolutely perfect for it. Our guests haven't stopped talking about how perfect it was upstairs. They were all surprised at the size, modern decor, and perfection of the space upstairs! The rectangular tables in the main room were perfect, the mixed chair styles are modern and fun, and the views overlooking the water are perfection. The food was amazing, bar service was great, and the connection between the dance floor, dining room, and bar/parlor area was unique and absolutely perfect. Reviewed on 31-08-2018
Suzan Thigpen(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 27-05-2017 Amazing wedding reception location in the heart of the Old Port! The food was perfect and the staff were super friendly. Everyone had a great time. Thank you Rebecca for your help organizing our venue details!! Reviewed on 16-06-2017
DAWN (bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 19-04-2014 I give this place an A+ because they were great! Customer service was off the chain! The room we had reserved was so cute. Food was good, drinks kept flowin, we had our own personal bar and bar tender who was so very nice and social and patient. The staff was wonderful. They even let us extend for another hour (originally it was from 5-7pm) with no problems. Everyone had a great time there. No complaints. Reviewed on 07-05-2014
beth bdv(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 28-09-2013 As soon as we decided to get married in Portland, I knew I wanted to have our rehearsal at Ri Ra's so that we could invite all our guests to join us for drinks afterwards.....but, the 2nd floor bar was booked. So we looked long & hard, at Grace, at Joe's Boathouse-a bunch of other locations, but none were perfect (on the water and within walking distance of everyone's hotels)--we lucked out when Ri Ra's had a cancellation on the space we wanted! It was absolutely perfect and our bartenders Ian & Evan were amazing-we'd been their patrons previously, but seeing them at work with a large dinner party and then dealing with all our friends when they rolled in was awesome! They made everything easy, food was great, apps for the welcome party were great-everyone was happy, in their cups and having a good time. They made the night and set the tone for an amazing weekend! Reviewed on 14-10-2013
Monika Le(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 03-08-2013 We had our wedding rehearsal in the early afternoon, so we hosted our rehearsal cocktail hour immediately afterward at Ri Ra. We reserved the upstairs space, which has a great view of the water. It was great to have a private space.\r\rAudree helped us plan a great event. She helped us decide how much food we needed to order given our 65 guests. We discussed the layout of the space, linens, and she helped to stage an area for our DJ. We meet twice prior to the event, and we were in contact via email throughout the planning process. Audree was incredibly helpful.\r\rThe Ri Ra staff were all wonderful. We offered open bar to our guests. The food was delicious; our guests raved about the crab cakes in particular.\r\rWe were looking for a more informal rehearsal, hence why we went with a cocktail hour event; however, Ri Ra also offers a more formal sit-down dining option.\r\rWe couldn't have asked for a better venue for our rehearsal. Reviewed on 21-08-2013
Danielle Spang(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 06-10-2012 Audree from Ri Ra's was super-easy to work with for our rehearsal dinner. We planned the entire thing by email, since we don't live locally. It was the largest space on the water we could find without spending thousands to rent out an entire restaurant. Everyone raved about the food, the views, the room, the whole place. It is perfect, and I would recommend it to anyone. Also know of some people who've used the space for receptions as well - you really can't go wrong: great food, great drinks, great service, great views. Reviewed on 16-10-2012
Meet Tara Levy, our new Event Manager! Tara has extensive experience in the event industry. She studied Sports, Entertainment and Event Management at Johnson & Wales University in Providence Rhode Island before managing a full-service bridal boutique and directing Weddings & Events at a Golf Club in Southern Maine. Tara joined the Ri Ra team in the Winter of 2023 and is excited to start planning your special event today. Reach out to Tara for more information on weddings on the waterfront in downtown Portland, Maine!