Are you planning a dream coastal getaway to Maine? Bar Harbor invites you to slow down, wander, and discover unforgettable flavors, especially when it comes to Bar Harbor dining. Between the rugged coastal trails of Acadia National Park and the charming streets of downtown, you will build quite an appetite.
As a personal Maine blogger, I tracked down the absolute best bites in the region. This curated dining guide covers everything from upscale art galleries to the single best lobster roll in the state.
Strolling Through Bar Harbor: Charm, Views, and Schooners
Before diving into dinner, take time to soak in the local coastal atmosphere. Downtown Bar Harbor offers a perfect slice of classic New England beauty.
Agamont Park & Waterfront Views
We love to spend our late afternoons strolling through the quaint downtown streets and browsing the colorful shop windows. Eventually, your feet will lead you right to Agamont Park. This peaceful green space features a lovely fountain and plenty of park benches overlooking the harbor.
From this vantage point, you can watch elegant sailboats and historic schooners drift across the water. During our stroll, we photographed a striking four-masted vessel. It turned out to be the famous Schooner Margaret Todd. This iconic ship offers incredible windjammer cruises out into Frenchman Bay.
Just steps away from the grass, the historic Bar Harbor Inn and Spa commands the shoreline. The property looks like something straight out of a romantic historical novel. You can easily imagine high-society guests dining on the sweeping lawns by the sea.
Bar Harbor Inn & Spa
7 Newport Drive, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
(207) 288-3351
The Bar Island Land Bridge
If you time your afternoon walk perfectly, you can experience a true natural wonder. The Bar Island Land Bridge is a unique gravel causeway. It appears only at low tide, connecting the town to an uninhabited island.
Consequently, we crossed the rocky path safely and hiked up the island’s hilltop trail. From the summit, we enjoyed sweeping, elevated views of the bustling harbor below. Just make sure to watch the tide clock closely so you do not get stranded!
Four Best Restaurants in Bar Harbor with a View
After a challenging day exploring the granite peaks of Acadia National Park, you will want a spectacular meal. We tried four distinct dinner spots in downtown Bar Harbor. Each brought a completely different vibe to our vacation.
Dinner at Galyn’s: Artful Ambiance
For a more sophisticated evening, Galyn’s delivers a wonderfully upscale feel. The menu balances fresh Maine seafood, hand-cut steaks, chicken, and excellent vegetarian options. Inside, high ceilings and harbor views blend beautifully with local culture.
Galyn's
17 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
(207) 288-9706
The walls display original Maine artwork. In fact, it holds the largest publicly displayed private art collection in the entire state. We faced a brief half-hour wait upon arrival, which gave us more time to explore town.
Once seated, the food brought mixed results. The crab cake appetizer was decent but small. Additionally, the Caesar salad arrived a bit limp. Fortunately, the entrées saved the evening. Denis gave his bacon-topped charbroiled burger a solid 8/10 rating.
Dessert was the true masterpiece of the evening. I ordered a decadent flourless chocolate torte with rich ganache. The chef cleverly shaped the raspberry coulis into a little lobster! Denis thoroughly enjoyed his Indian Pudding, which is a unique traditional molasses and cornmeal dessert topped with vanilla ice cream.
Our Verdict: B+ The service felt slightly patronizing to Denis, but the art gallery atmosphere and stunning desserts made it a very memorable stop.
Paddy’s Irish Pub: A Cozy Break from Seafood
If you need a break from daily fish platters, head directly into Paddy’s Irish Pub. This Irish culinary staple sits right on the waterfront inside the West Street Hotel.
Paddy's Irish Pub
50 West Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
(207) 288-5033
Though open for just nine years, the architects successfully created a wonderfully historic pub environment. Dark woodwork and glowing lantern-style chandeliers create an instantly cozy, welcoming space. You can sit at the lively bar, the main dining room, or outdoor tables overlooking the water.
The massive menu features hearty comfort food like Irish stew, rotisserie ribeye, pork, and specialty sandwiches. I enjoyed the crisp Farmer’s Salad with feta, cranberries, and almonds. However, the vinaigrette dressing was a bit too light.
For the main course, we split the slow-cooked pork rack. This thick, juicy chop came loaded with sweet fruit compote, mashed potatoes, and roasted Brussels sprouts.
Ultimately, make sure to save room for the Guinness chocolate stout cake. It features rich Bailey’s chocolate sauce and velvety Guinness ice cream. It is absolutely indulgent.
Our Verdict: A- A fantastic, high-quality alternative to standard seafood joints with an exceptional historic pub atmosphere.
Stewman’s Lobster Pound: Classic Maine Fare
You cannot miss Stewman’s Lobster Pound thanks to its vibrant, bold “Lobsters” sign. This authentic waterfront spot does not take reservations, but the staff seated our large crowd remarkably fast.
Stewman's Downtown Lobster Pound
35 West Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
(207) 288-0346
We chose to split “The Pier House Catch” platter. This massive mountain of fried seafood included battered haddock, shrimp, sea scallops, and sweet whole belly clams. The clams tasted incredibly fresh and crispy. New Englanders truly know how to fry seafood correctly!
Next, we paired the platter with a smooth, savory bowl of classic lobster bisque. For dessert, the rich triple chocolate cake with dark chocolate shavings won us over completely. Just keep in mind that indoor tables lack direct harbor views. Therefore, you must sit outside on the deck for the best scenery.
Our Verdict: B+ Lightning-fast service, classic preparation, and excellent desserts for anyone craving a traditional, no-frills seafood feast.
West Street Café: A Dinner Worth Raving About
After several good-but-not-stellar meals, we finally found our absolute favorite restaurant in town. The moment you walk into West Street Café, the delightful decor sets a cheerful mood.
West Street Café
76 West Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
(207) 288-5242
An authentic rescue boat hangs directly from the ceiling. Bright, open spaces and hanging green plants create a lovely outdoor courtyard vibe.
Our amazing server, Lynn, provided incredibly speedy and attentive service all evening. She anticipated our needs perfectly and kept our water glasses full.
While they specialize in traditional multi-course lobster dinners, the menu offers something for everyone. I ordered the premium crab cake dinner. It arrived with crisp celery slaw, herbed focaccia bread, and steamed broccoli. Denis ordered a charbroiled burger along with another bowl of rich lobster bisque.
The burger possessed a great smoky flavor, though it lacked a bit of thickness. The golden french fries were completely flawless. Finally, we finished the night with a scrumptious slice of Italian lemon cream cake. It was incredibly light and refreshing.
Our Verdict: A Exceptional service, a joyful bright setting, and consistently delicious food made this our number-one dinner spot in Bar Harbor.
A Quick Heads-Up on Parking
Driving around downtown requires a bit of strategy. Parking spaces cost between $2 to $4 per hour. You can easily pay at any street kiosk or use the convenient ParkMobile app.
Denis usually circled the blocks patiently until a spot opened up. Thankfully, the turnover is quick, so finding a space rarely takes more than a few minutes.
The Dining Icon of Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park spans across Mount Desert Island, the Schoodic Peninsula, and Isle au Haut. Since most travelers spend their time on Mount Desert Island, let us focus on its primary culinary landmark.
Jordan Pond House: More Than Just a Popover
No trip to Acadia is complete without visiting the historic Jordan Pond House. Sitting on the lawn with a hot popover is a legendary park tradition.
Jordan Pond House
292 Jordan Pond Road, Seal Harbor, ME 04675
(207) 276-3316
The famous popovers are tasty, but the full sit-down menu deserves much more appreciation. They serve fantastic seafood chowders, fresh salads, and great lunch wraps. You can order premium entrées like short ribs, fresh haddock, and baked lobster macaroni and cheese.
Meanwhile, I grabbed a hot popover from the efficient self-serve line. Dave secured a scenic table out on the grassy terrace.
The view from the lawn is absolutely spectacular. You can look out over the shimmering blue water directly at The Bubbles mountains.
If you want a full table-service meal, book your reservations a month in advance. Parking lots fill up quickly during peak summer weekends, so give yourself plenty of extra travel time.
From Disappointment to Delight: Our Maine Lobster Tale
Every single roadside stand near Acadia claims to serve the absolute best lobster roll. However, we discovered that the heavy marketing hype is not always deserved.
A Cold Night in Trenton
After an exhausting day hiking the Anvil Trail on the quiet Schoodic Peninsula, we looked for dinner. We spotted Currents Seafood and Spirits along our route back to the inn.
We had to eat inside a drafty room that felt exactly like a heated garage. Despite the lack of ambiance, the prices were surprisingly high. My lobster dinner was thoroughly average, making the entire stop feel like a total fail.
Currents Seafood and Spirits
1006 Bar Harbor Road, Trenton, ME 04605
(207) 667-1200The Lobster Roll That Redeemed Everything
On our very last day in Maine, we set out to find culinary redemption. Denis insisted we try Travelin’ Lobster, a highly-rated roadside seafood shack.
Travelin' Lobster
1569 State Highway 102, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
(207) 288-8028
You order right at the outdoor counter. Guests can eat under casual picnic umbrellas or take their fresh seafood to go. We decided to pack up our lunch for a scenic road trip picnic.
I searched for a peaceful spot along our driving route toward Bangor. Luckily, I discovered the beautiful Ellsworth River Walk. This lovely city park features a quiet path directly along the Union River.
We unpacked our fresh lunch at a riverfront picnic table. The Travelin’ Lobster roll was absolute heaven.
The toasted bun was packed to the brim with sweet, tender, perfectly chilled lobster meat. It easily lived up to the massive local hype. We paired it with a slice of authentic Maine blueberry pie, which completed our coastal culinary checklist perfectly.
Fueling Up at Everyday Joe’s
The absolute best part of our stay at the inn was breakfast. Every morning, we took a quick fifteen-minute drive to Everyday Joe’s. A complimentary breakfast voucher was included in our nightly room rate.
Everyday Joe's
417 State Highway 3, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
(207) 288-2920
The food portions here are wonderfully hearty. We loved to split a fluffy stack of wild Maine blueberry pancakes and a savory breakfast quesadilla. The quesadilla comes stuffed with eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, fresh peppers, onions, and melted cheddar cheese.
As a major travel bonus, this cozy diner serves as an official pickup point for the Cadillac Mountain shuttle bus. Using this shuttle saves you from the massive headache of vehicle reservation congestion on the mountain summit.
Plan Your Bar Harbor Tasting Adventure Today
From local diner breakfasts to scenic riverside lobster picnics, Mount Desert Island provides an incredible culinary journey. Whether you want an upscale gallery dinner or a casual fried seafood platter, Bar Harbor satisfies every appetite. Use this guide to plan your stops, book your tables, and experience the absolute best flavors of Maine!
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