Last Updated: November 8, 2024
Known as the gateway to Acadia National Park, the city of Bar Harbor, Maine, is a charming small town located on Mount Desert Island. The best time to visit is the summer and fall months when you can enjoy camping, hiking, whale watching, and kayaking. With its coastal location, Bar Harbor, Maine has access to fresh seafood caught daily. From a warm cup of clam chowder to homemade blueberry pie, the restaurant options here will suit every palate. Check out these 10 amazing restaurants that you must try during your retirement travel visit to Bar Harbor. We selected a variety of dining styles for every taste.
Bar Harbor Restaurants Map
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Each icon has embedded information in the map, so click to review. To the right of the title of the map, click the ⭐️ STAR to save to your Google Map Account. To view it on your computer or phone, open Google Maps, click the three lines on the upper left, select “Saved,” select “Maps,” and this map will be listed below.
Cafe This Way
Satisfy your breakfast cravings with a visit to Cafe This Way. The interior is filled with funky decorations, retro tables, and comfortable chairs, which makes for a fun atmosphere. Try breakfast favorites like Kit’s burrito, egg’s benedict, blueberry pancakes, and corned beef hash. Cafe This Way is open for breakfast all week and offers vegetarian and gluten free options. It was one of our favorite Bar Harbor, Maine restaurant because of the incredible breakfast/brunch options.
Address:
14 Mt Desert St, Bar Harbor, ME
Side Street Cafe
A popular local and tourist eatery, you’ll find Side Street Cafe off the main tourist street in downtown Bar Harbor. Their friendly staff, cheerful service, island vibe atmosphere, and delicious food makes booking reservations essential to experience this amazing restaurant. Menu favorites include the Lobster rolls, clam chowder, mac and cheese, and blueberry pie. It was a little touristy, but still a fun visit.
Havana
Havana is a highly-rated restaurant with a Latin flair and a haven for food enthusiasts. The restaurant’s inviting atmosphere, extensive wine list, and diverse menu cater to all tastes. Havana has something for you whether you’re a seafood lover, a vegetarian, or a meat connoisseur. Located in downtown Bar Harbor, it is just a short walk up Main Street. Their incredible staff, who are always ready to help, truly sets it apart. It is also important to note that Havana is one of only two restaurants in Maine to have the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence.
Address:
318 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME
The Thirsty Whale Tavern
The Thirsty Whale Tavern is a local favorite, and for a good reason. Serving pub-style cuisine, popular menu items include their lobster rolls, fish sandwiches, fried pickles, and local beer and root beer. The laid back, old school pub is cozy and kid friendly. The environment makes this a great spot to enjoy a hearty meal with family and friends during your visit to Bar Harbor.
Address:
40 Cottage St, Bar Harbor, ME
Galyn’s
A staple in Bar Harbor for 30 years, Galyn’s is the perfect place to pop in for lunch or dinner.Their menu features fresh seafood, salads, steak, and chicken. The restaurant also has an extensive list of wine, beer, and craft cocktails. Popular recommendations include lobster tails, shrimp scampi, crab cake, and filet mignon. Be sure to make reservations during the busy season at this delicious family owned restaurant.
Address:
17 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME
West Street Cafe
Located on the historic West Street Cafe, West Street Cafe is near the waterfront in downtown Bar Harbor. They are best known for their “Downeast Special”, which includes 1 ¼ pounds of Maine lobster, a cup of clam chowder, french fries, cole slaw, and a slice of blueberry pie. Their mouth watering lobster is best dipped in their savory butter, which makes for a delicious bite every time. They are open in May though the end of October.
Address:
76 West Street Bar Harbor ME
Jeannie’s Great Maine Breakfast
After watching an epic sunrise on Cadillac Mountain, check out Jeannie’s Great Maine Breakfast for a delicious breakfast. Their dishes are made with homemade fresh ingredients and they have vegan and gluten free options available. They are famous for their homemade oatmeal bread and strawberry rhubarb fruit jam. Other popular menu items include their omelets, egg burritos and blueberry pancakes with hot maple syrup that you must try as well during your visit to restaurants in Bar Harbor, Maine.
The Stadium
We are glad we stumbled across this wonderful restaurant. It is a great place to grab something quick as you walk the wonderful streets of Bar Harbor. Our personal favorite was the popover with maple butter and blueberry jam. They also serve a delicious lobster roll. Whether you are in a hurry or not, make sure you make a stop at this restaurant and try any of the wide variety of great selections.
Peekytoe Provisions
Peekytoe Provisions in Bar Harbor is a low key restaurant with great smoked fish chowder and many lobster options. Overall this is a wonderful place for seafood and conveniently located on Main Street in the downtown area. John’s personal favorite was the lobster grilled cheese and Bev liked the lobster rolls. You really can’t go wrong visiting here while you are in Bar Harbor.
Address:
18 Village Green Way
Veranda at Balance Rock Inn
The Veranda Restaurant is located in the charming Balance Rock Inn. This was a fine dining experience and worth trying when you are in Bar Harbor. The scallops we selected turned out to be a great option. Even if you aren’t hungry, this is still a great place to come for and drink and enjoy the atmosphere and great views of Frenchman Bay.
Best Time to Visit Bar Harbor, Maine
We have linked a great website to this button showing the weather for this location by the month. Click below to be taken to Weather-and-Climate.com.
Mike Jacobs
Aside from Cafe This Way, which is the best place to get breakfast/brunch, this is a list of the most mediocre standard vacation fare in Bar Harbor. None of the actual culinary spots are named (which include everything from casual lunch spots to dinner fine dining). The authors either don’t know food, or are being paid by the tourist traps to advertise, or are just stereotypical tourists (or a combination of all 3). Calling this a list of the 7 “best” restaurants is simply a joke.
Most of these places are fine – no reason to avoid them at all – but they have no business being on a “best” food list. Thirsty Whale is an old school pub with fried food – fun place, packed with tourists, food tastes exactly as you’d expect from this description. Side Street Cafe is a place for decent pub fare and nothing more, and it too is usually packed with tourists. The other places are as “good” as anywhere else that you’d eat in any other town in America – nothing more to say, therefore, no business being on a “top” list. And, Atlantic Brewing isn’t even a restaurant – it’s a cool brewery with a nice tap room and some fast food. Great for a quick beer hang, that’s it (and often filled with tourists as well).
Do some more Googling for the actual places where chefs cook real elevated food (Havana, Parilla, Brasserie Le Brun, Porcelli’s, Dinner, Lunch, Peekytoe Provisions, Two Cats, Reading Room, Balance Rock Inn). Even the Terrace Grill (at the Bar Harbor Inn) and the Fish House Grill, which are among the more touristy lunch spots, are better than what’s on this list. Not an opinion – a simple fact that anyone who knows food would recognize.
Retirement Travelers
Thanks for sharing your feedback on some of the restaurants. We appreciate it.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev