In my family, it’s all about the food! Typically, we discuss the next meal before we finish eating the current meal. Eating in Bar Harbor is part of the Down East experience. What are the specialties? Many things made from blueberries are for sale: pies, jam, beer, and vodka! Lobster is served in a stew, in a roll, or as part of a ‘Shore Dinner.’ For a special treat, stop for popovers at Jordan Pond House.
- Updated: 27 Sept 2024
Where to Find Lobster
Eating in Bar Harbor must include seafood, but most lobster pounds are seasonal and understaffed. Consequently, your dining experience might not be perfect, but be patient, and you will eventually receive a great meal.
Thurston’s Lobster Pound Bernard (shore dinners and steamers)
Eating lobster is a big mess, and steaming them at the house is an even bigger, smelly mess, so we like to go to the lobster pound, eat on picnic tables, and wash up in the sink afterward. Thurston’s overlooks Bass Harbor, which is a working commercial fishing harbor. It’s very scenic and a nice stop before watching the sunset at the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. Conveniently, the restaurant is on the bus route!
Abel’s Lobster Mount Desert (shore dinners and steamers)
Here, you can get a beautiful sunset view over Somes Sound from the picnic tables outside or eat indoors at the restaurant.
Beal’s Lobster Pier Southwest Harbor (shore dinners and lobster rolls)
You can come by land or boat and order your lobster roll in about a half dozen variations, all very delicious, and take it to go or eat on the picnic tables watching the harbor.
The Bucking Lobster Food Truck at the Marina Northeast Harbor (lobster rolls)
Conveniently located at the marina, they will package your lunch for a boat picnic. You can not order ahead, so arrive early and get in line.
Parsons Bar Harbor (fresh seafood)
Are you looking to pick up the fresh seafood for dinner? It’s best to call in the morning to make sure they set aside what you want. It is common for all markets to run out in the afternoon.
What's for Breakfast?
Jordan’s Restaurant Bar Harbor (breakfast)
Not to be confused with the Jordan Pond House, although I’m sure they welcome the confusion. This is the perfect place to go for breakfast after watching Cadillac Mountain sunrise. The food is good and fast – the last time we were there, we were done eating and driving home to go back to bed in 20 minutes.
The Colonel’s Bakery Northeast Harbor (doughnuts and pizza)
This is a stop on the local tours, to pick up a doughnut. In the morning, kids come in a steady stream on their way to sailing camp. We also like their gluten-free barbeque chicken pizza.
Sandwiches and Snacks
Milk & Honey Northeast Harbor (sandwiches)
If you are planning a day on the mailboat, visiting the Cranberry Islands, you should pick up some sandwiches to go. Milk and Honey does a great job. My favorite is the smoked turkey and gruyere.
Jordan Pond House (popovers)
Eating in Bar Harbor cannot be complete without a popover! This is the real deal in the park. There is a lot of history and tradition of the Rockefellers and their friends taking afternoon carriage rides, then stopping for tea and popovers. It is very touristy, and you need a reservation, but that doesn’t mean that you will be seated at the reserved time, only that you will be able to join the line then. It takes another 20 minutes to be seated. That said, on a nice day, sitting outside and eating popovers while looking at the Bubble Mountains over Jordan Pond is fun. Note: there are a lot of bees that enjoy the jam which is served with the popovers.
CLOSED UNTIL 2026 Asticou Northeast Harbor (dinner or afternoon tea and popovers)
The Asticou Inn is a historic hotel with a restaurant overlooking Northeast Harbor. They serve the same popovers, the same way as Jordan Pond House, with no crowds. We usually go in the afternoon for tea and popovers. Sometimes, we go for dinner, and I am very fond of their lobster risotto, and there is a beautiful garden across the street.
Mount Desert Ice Cream Bar Harbor (dessert)
After dinner, there is always a little room left for some ice cream; if not, you can get a pint to go.
Favorite Restaurants
New! Brasserie Le Brun Bar Harbor (dinner)
Eating in Bar Harbor mainly includes the same restaurants, so a new place is exciting. Le Brun opened in 2023 and serves French cuisine. My favorites are the moules and the steak frites.
Islesford Dock Restaurant Little Cranberry Island (lunch or dinner)
This is more complicated because you will need to arrange a water taxi or coordinate with the mail boat, but if you can fit it into your plans, it’s a great place to watch the sunset. Be aware of the mosquitos.
Red Sky Southwest Harbor (nice dinner)
This is for a lovely dinner, the last night, a birthday, whatever. It is excellent.
Havana Bar Harbor (tapas at the outside bar)
Ah, the irony of leaving Florida for a Cuban restaurant in Maine… Havana is really two restaurants in one. There is an inside fine-dining option and a more casual outside tapas bar. Both are very good, but I prefer the tapas. There is a board with various mixed grill options; you can order plates until you are full.
McKay’s Public House Bar Harbor (dinner)
There are inside and outside dining options, and the lobster risotto is really good here, too. They also have draft beer, which Joe loves.
Cocktails
Harry’s Bar at the Claremont Southwest Harbor (mixed drinks)
The old hotel received a major facelift a few years ago and is absolutely charming. Having a drink in the bar or on the covered porch is worth the stop.
Where to Buy Groceries
We stay in a house, so we mostly eat dinner at home or with friends —just a thought on grocery shopping. On my way onto the island, I stock up at Shaw’s in Ellsworth but avoid the prepared convenience foods there. It is a local store, and people are not buying easy-to-prepare, pre-made, expensive things, so they are usually past date or not as fresh as you would like. The Hannaford in Bar Harbor is perfect for that kind of product. They cater to the tourists, and they have a lot of variety, and the produce turns quickly, but you pay for the convenience.
Beech Hill Farm Southwest Harbor (organic farm)
This organic farm is operated through the College of the Atlantic and is worth a stop if you are on that side of the island.
Share this post
Bar Harbor’s Top 10 Things to Do
What should be on your list for your trip to Acadia National Park? Here are my recommendations after dozens of visits to Bar Harbor.
- Pin it !
Visit Bar Harbor
I have been going to Bar Harbor, actually Northeast Harbor, its smaller neighbor, in July and/or August for the past 25 summers. This is what I have learned over the years, and it is what I tell my friends who ask me about Maine, my insider’s advice for your visit.
Most Recent Posts
