Where to Eat
Lobster on the water, a few dinners worth dressing up for, blueberry pancakes, and a lobster boil at home when you’d rather stay in.
Abel’s, on Somes Sound
Local Favorites
Many island restaurants are seasonal, so check each one’s website for current hours.
Lobster
Mount Desert
Abel’s Lobster
Table service and sunset views at the head of Somes Sound, the only fjord on the East Coast. Book ahead for dinner. A guest favorite: “we recommend Abels.”
WebsiteBernard
Thurston’s Lobster Pound
A working lobster wharf on Bass Harbor, with a two-level deck under the yellow awning and one of the island’s best-loved lobster rolls.
WebsiteBass Harbor
Archie’s Lobster
Lobster rolls and seafood on the quiet side of the island.
WebsiteSouthwest Harbor
Beal’s Lobster Pier
Family-run for generations. Pick your lobster from the tank and eat on the pier.
WebsiteBar Harbor
Side Street Cafe
Bar Harbor’s best-known lobster roll, plus lobster mac and cheese and fish tacos.
WebsiteDinner
Northeast Harbor
Copita
A small Mediterranean-inspired restaurant with fresh local ingredients and a cocktail list that includes pre-Prohibition classics. A short drive from the house.
WebsiteNortheast Harbor
Dahlia’s at the Asticou
Dinner at the newly restored Asticou Hotel, with harbor views from the front porch and fresh seafood. Start with the oysters; the short rib is a favorite.
WebsiteBar Harbor
Havana
Chef-driven Latin cooking. Try the seafood paella or the lobster moqueca.
WebsiteBar Harbor
Peekytoe Provisions
Creative seafood like tuna tacos, a modern take on clam chowder and polenta fries.
WebsiteBar Harbor
Sweet Pea’s Cafe
Farm-to-table dinners on a vineyard just outside town, with wood-fired dishes and a patio overlooking the gardens and pond.
WebsitePizza and Pubs
Bar Harbor
Geddy’s
The best pizza in town, wood-fired, plus lobster bakes and a fun, kitschy room full of vintage signs. Almost everything is gluten-free.
WebsiteBar Harbor
Thirsty Whale Tavern
A friendly pub with lobster rolls, fish sandwiches and homemade chowder, and a back garden in summer.
WebsiteManset, Southwest Harbor
Peter Trout’s Tavern
A cozy harborside tavern on the quiet side for comfort food and a drink.
WebsiteBreakfast and Lunch
Southwest Harbor
Milagro Coffee Bar
Great coffee, pastries and breakfast sandwiches, open year-round.
WebsiteBar Harbor
Café This Way
Cozy and colorful, with blueberry pancakes and big breakfasts. Go early; it gets busy.
WebsiteTown Hill, Bar Harbor
Mother’s Kitchen
The best lunch sandwiches on the island. Grab them for a picnic in the park.
Order aheadNortheast Harbor
Milk & Honey
A farm-to-table café with excellent sandwiches, salads, pastries and coffee, plus porch seating. It’s tucked behind the Great Harbor Museum, out of sight from the main road.
Menu and orderingDrinks With a View
Southwest Harbor
Batson River Fish Camp
The oceanside bar at the Claremont Hotel, with creative cocktails, margaritas and seafood on the water.
WebsiteBar Harbor
The Veranda at the Balance Rock Inn
Drinks overlooking Frenchman Bay and the Porcupine Islands, steps off the Shore Path.
WebsiteBar Harbor
William’s on the Green
A romantic cocktail lounge at the Acadia Hotel, with food made to go with the drinks.
WebsiteClose to Home
Seal Harbor
The Lighthouse Inn & Restaurant
Seal Harbor’s own restaurant, family-run for more than 50 years, with breakfast, lunch and dinner, a full bar and a famous oyster stew.
WebsiteA walk from the house
Jordan Pond House
Tea and popovers on the lawn, an Acadia tradition. Walk there on the Seaside Path.
WebsiteSeal Harbor
Acadia Outdoor Center
Coffee and ice cream in the village, next to the bike rentals.
WebsiteSeal Harbor
Lobster From the Dock
Cook your own. The kitchen has a lobster pot, and we’ll give you the name of a local lobsterman who meets guests at the dock.
Let Someone Else Cook
For a birthday, a reunion dinner or a night off for the family cooks, local caterers bring dinner to the house.
Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor Catering Company
Private dinners, lobster bakes and brunches at home, with custom menus, from the island caterer behind Abel’s Lobster.
WebsiteServes the Maine coast
Coastal Critters Clambakes
Outdoor lobster bakes and charcoal grilling for family gatherings, catering the Maine coast since 1978. They bring their own cooking equipment.
WebsiteBook early for summer and holiday dates, and let Jen know your plans.
“Beautiful house and great location. Nice and quite neighborhood and easy drive to the park and restaurants. We recommend Abels. Would go back.”
Questions
Can we hire a chef or caterer?
Yes. Bar Harbor Catering Company does private dinners, lobster bakes and brunches at home, and Coastal Critters Clambakes caters outdoor lobster bakes for family gatherings. Book early for summer and holiday dates.
Where should we eat?
For lobster, try Abel’s on Somes Sound, Thurston’s on Bass Harbor, Beal’s Lobster Pier in Southwest Harbor or Side Street Cafe in Bar Harbor. For breakfast, Café This Way in Bar Harbor or Milagro Coffee Bar in Southwest Harbor. Many island restaurants are seasonal, so check hours before you go.
Can we cook lobster at the house?
Yes. The kitchen has a lobster pot, and we’ll give you the name of a local lobsterman who meets guests at the Seal Harbor dock.
Are restaurants open year-round?
Many island restaurants are seasonal or keep shorter hours from late fall to spring, so check each listing’s website for current hours. Milagro Coffee Bar in Southwest Harbor is open year-round.
Plan Your Stay
See live availability and the full price, including fees and taxes, and book online.
Questions? Call or text Jen at 207-801-8661.
More Ways to Stay
SummerBeach days, harbor paddles, popovers at Jordan Pond House and fireworks over Frenchman Bay.
FallFall color on the carriage roads and long evenings at the fire table.
WinterPlowed driveway, a warm house, and carriage roads for skiing and snowshoeing when there’s snow.
SpringWaterfalls running with snowmelt, spring birds, and the Park Loop Road by bike before it opens to cars.