The Best Restaurants in Bar Harbor, Maine

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One of my favorite things about Bar Harbor, Maine is the bustling foodie scene. There are so many family-owned restaurants, pubs, and bakeries!

I’ve been visiting Bar Harbor for decades. My grandmother grew up here and I still have family in the area. So I’ve had plenty of time to try out tons of places to eat here. 

To make your trip planning easier, I’m sharing the best restaurants in Bar Harbor, Maine, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And let’s not forget, ice cream shops, too!

Let’s dig in. (Ha! Sorry, I couldn’t help myself!)

Best breakfast in Bar Harbor

Start your day off right or fuel up after hiking, biking, or kayaking in the park with a hearty breakfast.

Here are my top 3 Bar Harbor restaurants for breakfast.

Cafe This Way

Cafe This Way is a delicious spot to grab breakfast or brunch.

If you’re craving a fancy coffee and a hearty breakfast, this is the place to go! They’re also known for their breakfast burrito.

The big star here, however, is the outdoor dining.

Although Cafe This Way is located in downtown Bar Harbor, it’s set away from the main streets, so you can dine outside without the noise and foot traffic disturbing you.

Meg’s Pick: French toast with real maple syrup with a side of fresh blueberries with an iced chai OR iced dirty drunken chai.

Cafe This Way
14 ½ Mt. Desert St
(207) 288-4483

Jeannie’s Great Maine Breakfast

Open 6 AM to 1 PM daily, Jeannie’s serves up classic breakfast plates with HEAPING portions. 

Plus you can pick up some Great Maine Breakfast pancake mix (blueberry, oatmeal vegan, or buttermilk), blueberry muffin mix., or Jeannie’s strawberry rhubarb fruit spread. 

When you’re missing your Bar Harbor vacation, just pop open your mix or spread, and relive your vacay memories until you can visit again.

Meg’s Pick: Lobster Eggs Benedict with a cup of locally roasted coffee from Coffee Hound.

Jeannie’s Great Maine Breakfast
15 Cottage St
(207) 288-4166

Two Cats Restaurant 

Situated in an adorable inn in downtown Bar Harbor, surrounded by wildflowers, is one of Bar Harbor’s best breakfast spots, 2 Cats Restaurant. 

The menu is packed with classic breakfast dishes as well as unique twists on said classics, like Eggs Benedict with braised pork. 

Meg’s Pick: Wild Maine Blueberry Pancakes or Apple, Walnut & Cheddar Omelette.

Two Cats Restaurant
130 Cottage St
(207) 288-2808

Best cafes and bakeries in Bar Harbor

For a quick breakfast, snack, or coffee, head to Choco-latte or Mount Desert Bakery for a quick pick-me-up.

Check out my post about the best coffee shops in Bar Harbor for more options to get your caffeine fix alongside some great food.

Choco-latte

If you love coffee and chocolate, Choco-latte is your place. Their drink menu is packed with tons of options with coffee, espresso, tea, hot chocolate, and iced drinks. 

Choco-latte also serves breakfast sandwiches, bagels, and pressed sandwiches. 

As their name implies, their specialties are their coffee and espresso-based drinks, as well as chocolate!

Their chocolate is made in-house with natural ingredients. 

Meg’s Pick: The Choco-latte or Cafe de Olla latte, both of which can be made hot or iced.

Choco-latte
240 Main St
(207) 801-9179

Mount Dessert Bakery

Mount Dessert Bakery is perfect for an easy breakfast or lunch.

They have fresh pastries, sweets, bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and regular sandwiches. 

I also recommend stopping by to pick up a delicious pie for dessert or to take home with you if you aren’t traveling too far (or by air) to get home. 

If you can’t decide which flavor pie to get, I highly recommend the blueberry, blueberry pecan, and strawberry rhubarb pies!

Meg’s Picks: Maple Curry Chicken sandwich or salad, PB & Fluff sandwich, or Veggie Lover Breakfast Sandwich on a Cheddar Bagel. And of course, absolutely any of their homemade pies!

Mount Dessert Bakery
122 Cottage St

The Pink Pastry Shop

New to downtown Bar Harbor in Summer 2021 is The Pink Pastry Shop.

I first popped into The Pink Pastry Shop for an iced coffee, only to leave with a variety of pastries in addition to my drink. I also returned on my last day to grab a few more for the road trip home!

The treats here are delicious, as are the drinks.

Meg’s Picks: The blueberry iced tea, summer berry stack, peanut butter stack, broccoli quiche, cinnamon roll, raspberry danish, and any of the cupcakes. So pretty much the whole menu!

The Pink Pastry Shop
40 Cottage St
(207) 288-0110

Best restaurants in Bar Harbor for lunch

For a mid-day meal, these spots are my top recommendations.

Jordan Pond House

If you only eat out once while in the area, Jordan Pond House is a must.

Technically it’s located in Seal Harbor, but it’s inside Acadia National Park where it doesn’t feel like there are any town lines.

Jordan Pond House is well-known for its popovers and epic view of Jordan Pond and the Bubbles mountains.

I highly recommend getting a table outside on the lawn so you can enjoy the New England breeze while you sip on blueberry lemonade and nosh on popovers straight out of the oven.

If the popovers aren’t enough sustenance, the artisanal cheese plate and the organic chicken salad sandwich are delicious, too.

Jordan Pond House
2928 Park Loop Rd, Seal Harbor
Reservations only: (207) 276-3316

Mainely Meat BBQ

While New England certainly isn’t known for its barbecue scene, Mainely Meat BBQ is pretty dang good. Get the sampler so you can try it all!

Mainely Meat BBQ serves fantastic BBQ meat that pairs perfectly with your favorite pint of beer from Atlantic Brewing Company.   

Mainely Meat has 2 locations in Bar Harbor, 1 at Atlantic Brewing in Town Hill and 1 next to Bar Harbor Campground in Dreamwood Hill.

Meg’s Pick: Ribs with potato salad and jalapeño cornbread.

Mainly Meat BBQ
Town Hill: 15 Knox Rd @ Atlantic Brewing, (207) 288-9200
Dreamwood Hill: 369 State Hwy 3, (207) 288-1100

Thrive Juice Bar & Kitchen

Located next door to Side Street Cafe is Thrive Juice Bar & Kitchen.

This health food cafe features fresh squeezed juice, smoothie bowls, salads, wraps, toasts and coffee.

While not all items on their menu are vegetarian or vegan, there are lots of options for both.

Meg’s Picks: Lobster Salad Avocado Toast, Pink Dragon Smoothie Bowl, or Pineapple Snap Smoothie.

Thrive Juice Bar & Kitchen
51 Rodick St
(207) 801-9340

West Street Cafe

One of the best views in downtown Bar Harbor is right at West Street Cafe.

The upstairs dining area has excellent views of Frenchman Bay, while right below is great for people watching.

The West Street Cafe menu is heavy on seafood with dishes like crab meat rolls, lobster rolls, fish n chips, clam chowder, and baked stuffed lobster.

Non-seafood options are available, too.

Meg’s Pick: Lobster Roll, Crabby Patty, New England Clam Chowder, or the Downeast Special (1.25 lb lobster, cup of clam chowder, fries, and a slice of blueberry pie).

West Street Cafe
76 West St
(207) 288-5242

Best restaurants in Bar Harbor for dinner

When it’s time for dinner, these are my top recommendations.

Atlantic Brewing Midtown

One of my favorite things to do in Bar Harbor is to sample the latest beers from Atlantic Brewing, whether it be on a tasting tour at their Town Hill location or a beer flight at their Midtown tasting hall.

The food at their Midtown location is phenomenal.

On a recent visit, my family and I got a bunch of appetizers to share, all oof which we recommend: the Japanese Fried Chicken, Giant Pretzel, Grilled Peaches with Burrata, and garlic and herb french fries (all pictured above).

And of course, wash it all down with a beer flight! You can go with their standard flight or customize your own.

After your meal, head next door to buy a case or 6-pack of your favorite one!

Atlantic Brewing Midtown is an absolute must-do and one of the best restaurants in Bar Harbor!

Atlantic Brewing Midtown
52 Cottage St
(207) 288-2326

Bar Harbor Beer Works

If you’re a beer aficionado, Bar Harbor is a must-do. 

Situated right on the corner of Rodick Pl and Main St, Bar Harbor Beer Work’s rooftop deck is perfect for people watching while you eat. 

This buzzing pub specializes in Maine-brewed beer and cider, plus classic pub fare like burgers and sandwiches.

Meg’s Pick: The burgers here are pretty good, as is the Bavarian pretzel, which comes with cheese and mustard for dipping.

Bar Harbor Beer Works
119 Main St
(207) 288-2886

Geddy’s Pub

Geddy’s features standard pub fare and a great local beer selection.

You can’t go wrong with any of the burgers or sandwiches on the menu, nor the pizza. 

Meg’s Pick: If you haven’t gotten your lobster fill yet, get the Cap’n Geddy’s Lobster Bake, which includes clam chowder, steamed lobster, corn on the cob, and blueberry pie.

Geddy’s
19 Main St
(207) 288-5077

Paddy’s Irish Pub & Restaurant

Located on West St, overlooking Frenchman Bay is Paddy’s Irish Pub & Restaurant. Think typical pub food, but fancified.

I highly recommend the Dublin Pub Dip, a roasted ribeye beef sandwich with Irish cheddar, horseradish cream, carmelized onions and aus jus dip, or the Slow Cooked Chicken BLT, a BLT sandwich with rotisserie chicken.

Both are paired with the truffle fries, which are absolutely TO DIE FOR!

I usually don’t like truffle fries or anything with truffle, really, but these were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. YUM.

Paddy’s also serves breakfast with wild blueberry pancakes, lobster eggs benedict, and traditional Irish breakfast plate among the standouts.

Paddy’s Irish Pub & Restaurant
50 West St
(207) 801-3786

Side Street Cafe

This hidden gem is just as accessible as other downtown restaurants, but is nicely tucked away from the hustle and bustle. 

Head here for lobster rolls, clam chowder, burgers, or mac and cheese (one of their specialties!).

Or try my favorite sandwich, The Emmy, with pesto, avocado, pickled beet slaw, mozzarella, lettuce, and tomato on a thick pita bun.

Get a seat on the deck and enjoy a cocktail while you wait for your food!

Side Street Cafe
49 Rodick St
(207) 801-2591

Best Pizza in Bar Harbor

Pizza is good any time of the day!

There are 2 special spots in Bar Harbor, both of which have excellent pizza, plus a little something extra compared to your usual pizza joint.

Reel Pizza Cinerama

This pizza place doubles as a movie theater, making it an excellent place for a casual date night or fun activity for family and friends. 

All of the pizzas are cheekily named after movies, like The Godfather, Moonstruck, Casino Royale, and Some Like it Hot.

Reel Pizza Cinerama
33 Kennebec Pl
What’s Playing: (207) 288-3811
Takeout Orders: (207) 288-3828

Sweet Pea’s Cafe

Sweet Pea’s Cafe specializes in brick oven pizzas made with farm fresh ingredients.

It is located on a farm, after all!

If entrees are more your thing, you’ll be just as satisfied as my fellow pizza lovers.

After filling up on delicious pizza, stop by Bar Harbor Cellars next door for souvenirs and a bottle of wine to bring home.  

Sweet Pea’s Cafe
854 State Highway 3
(207) 801-9099

Best lobster and lobster rolls in Bar Harbor

Did you even visit Bar Harbor if you didn’t have lobster or lobster rolls at least once?

If this is on your foodie bucket list, here’s where you should go.

Bar Harbor Lobster Company

For a fun twist on the iconic New England lobster roll, head to Bar Harbor Lobster Company for the BLT lobster roll. 

It’s just as you imagine – fresh lobster, mayo, bacon, tomato, lettuce, and a toasted bun.

Skip the regular fries or onion rings and get the poutine – fries, gravy, and cheese curds – instead.

Plus Bar Harbor Lobster Company has a rum bar featuring local-ish rum brands and outdoor seating. Can’t go wrong!

Bar Harbor Lobster Company
297 Main St
(207) 288-2529

C-Ray Lobster

C-Ray Lobster is a no-frills lobster and seafood spot, but boy is the food good!

Go for a lobster roll or fresh caught lobster, along with corn on the cob.

Finish it all up with blueberry pie or a whoopie pie. 

The best part about C-Ray Lobster is if you’re ever craving Maine lobster after your trip, you can have fresh lobster shipped to your home through their online shop!

C-Ray Lobster
882 State Highway 3
(207) 288-4855

Stewman’s Lobster Pound

For delicious lobster, fresh seafood, AND a stunning view, head to Stewman’s Lobster Pound.

Stewman’s has 2 locations, both of which are set overlooking Frenchman Bay.

The most well-known view is at their West St. location, but they also have an outpost at the Bar Harbor Regency.

Stewman’s Lobster Pound
Downtown Bar Harbor – 35 West St, (207) 288-0346
Bar Harbor Regency – 123 Eden St, (207) 288-9723

The Stadium

My absolute favorite lobster roll in Bar Harbor is The Stadium Roll (pictured above), which consists of a fresh house made roll, browned butter aioli, and fresh lobster. It’s super simple, but lets the lobster shine.

The Stadium also serves breakfast, baked goods, and a variety of coffee drinks from The Coffee Hound.

Sometimes they have popovers with blueberry jam in the afternoon, too.

TIP: The popovers go quick; they usually sell out within 20 minutes, but you can reserve an order earlier in the day!

The Stadium
62 Main St

Best Bar Harbor ice cream spots

There’s nothing better on a breezy Summer evening than a stroll through downtown Bar Harbor with an ice cream cone in hand. 

These are my 3 favorite spots to grab ice cream – including one option outside of downtown Bar Harbor.

For more options, check out my post about where to get the best ice cream in Bar Harbor.

Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium

Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium has a fun mix of candies, shakes, and ice cream.

My favorite treats here are the chocolate covered blueberries and strawberries, but the ice cream is delicious, too. 

If you’re really daring, try the lobster flavored ice cream. Yes, it’s really a thing!

Meg’s Pick: A scoop of Ginger, Whoopie Pie, or Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel ice cream in a cup and definitely some chocolate-covered blueberries and strawberries to go!

Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium
66 Main St
(207) 288-3281

Mount Desert Island Ice Cream

Mount Desert Island Ice Cream started off as a small, local ice cream shop in Bar Harbor, but has since expanded to include locations in Portland, Maine, Washington, DC, and Matsumoto, Japan.

This is my favorite ice cream shop in Bar Harbor as they continuously come out with new, inventive flavors and use fresh ingredients. They also have vegan options!

If you can’t decide which flavor to get, I recommend getting a multi-scoop dish with one scoop of several flavors.

Meg’s Picks: Blueberry Buttermilk, Butterbeer, Cranberry Bliss Bar, Strawberry, Vietnamese Coffee, or Maine Sea Salt Caramel.

Mount Desert Island Ice Cream
7 Firefly Ln, (207) 801-4007
325 Main St, (207) 801-4006

Udder Heaven Ice Cream Retreat

Most of the time when my family visits Bar Harbor, we stay at the Bar Harbor Campground.

One of our favorite Bar Harbor activities at night is playing a round or 2 of mini golf across the street at Pirate’s Cove Mini Golf before capping off the night with ice cream from Udder Heaven.

At Udder Heaven, you can add your ice cream to a cup, cone, or sundae. There are milkshakes, floats, pie, and pastries on the menu, as well.

Meg’s Picks: I usually keep it simple with a scoop or 2 of lemon gingersnap, Grape Nut, or Maine Blueberry ice cream in a cup. 

Udder Heaven Ice Cream Retreat
369 State Highway 3
(207) 288-2233

What are your favorite restaurants in Bar Harbor, Maine?

Let me know in the comments below what your favorite restaurants in Bar Harbor are. I’m always looking for new recommendations to try on my next visit!

This post was originally published on September 6, 2016. It was last updated on November 6, 2022.