Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel

Travel Bar Harbor: The Best Places to Play, Eat, and Stay in Maine’s Easternmost Outpost

Mike Richard
By

Bar Harbor is one of Maine’s most iconic seaside towns. Tourists travel from around the globe to sleep in its generations-old B&Bs, climb Acadia Park’s pint-sized “mountains,” and taste the state’s world famous lobster rolls. While it’s difficult to write an off-the-beaten-path travel guide to Bar Harbor, in particular, and to Mount Desert Island (MDI, for short) as a whole, here are a few of our favorite places to play, eat and sleep.

Play

As the most extreme Eastern point in the country, Bar Harbor allegedly sees the first rays of sunlight before any other point in the United States. Most travelers know witnessing a sunrise atop Mount Desert Island (MDI)’s highest point, Cadillac Mountain, is a bucket-list-worthy experience. But, while most travelers drive to the summit, the real gem is to hike its moderate North Trail to the top. Trust us, having to wake up at an ungodly hour to accomplish this feat is well worth the payoff. Perhaps the best part: you’ll likely have the trail all to yourself.

Related Videos
Stock-View-from-the-precipice-trail-in-Acadia-National-Park-looking-at-Bar-Harbor-along-the-cliff-ledge
Precipice Trail in Acadia National Park, Maine

For the more adventurous traveler, check out Precipice Trail. While it has frequently closed off and on throughout the years, this near-vertical climb is surprisingly open to the public. Be warned it’s definitely not for kids, dogs, or the faint of heart, even among seasoned hikers. While it’s not especially long, it is steep and some portions require hand-over-hand climbing of rungs built into the rock wall. It’s well worth it, though, as the views from the top are nothing short of spectacular.

Whichever hike you opt for, be sure to hit up nearby Jordan Pond House in Acadia National Park afterward for the island’s best popovers. Sure, they’re criminally overpriced, but with stunning views of Maine’s most beautiful freshwater lake, who really cares?

Eat & Drink

There’s no better breakfast in town than Cafe This Way, where the menu runs the gamut from vegan tofu scrambles to their insanely good Lobster Benedict. The tourists have mostly caught on to this stellar diner, but not nearly as much as the town’s more popular pancake joints (namely Jordan’s and Jeannie’s on nearby Cottage Street).

Stewman's-Lobster-2
Stewman’s Lobster Pound

Lunch, and dinner if you like, is best eaten at a traditional Maine lobster pound. Most are not exactly “off the beaten” path, but there’s a good reason why: Maine lobster is the best in the world. Period. If convenience and a panoramic water view are deciding factors, check out Stewman’s Lobster Pound. However, if you’re willing to make the half-hour trek to the less-traveled “backside” of MDI, Thurston’s Lobster Pound is a local favorite with some of the best lobster rolls in the state.

Stay

The streets of sleepy Bar Harbor are peppered with quaint, pint-sized inns and B&Bs. While there’s nothing pint-sized about the Harborside Hotel, this classic Maine lodge offers stunning sunrise views of Frenchman Bay at a reasonable price. With a beautiful marina, outdoor pools, a modern luxury spa, and one of the best restaurants in town, it’s more like a resort than any other property on the island. It’s also situated at the western end of the town’s famous Bar Island hike. At low tide, you can step outside your room and trek the short sand bar to this tiny, peaceful dot of land.

Bar-Harbor-Hotel-Maine
Bar Harbor Hotel, Maine

For a more boutique experience, West Street Hotel across from the Harborside offers equally stunning views in a modern, upscale, marine-inspired setting. This is a property that gets the finer details right. Think fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies every afternoon, a stocked snack bar on every floor, and lovely third- and fourth-floor balconies overlooking the water. What’s more: the hotel boasts the only rooftop pool in the state, with a vibe that feels far more Miami Beach than Maine.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
7 telltale signs it’s time to put the ‘backpacker’ life behind you
How to travel like an adult and leave the backpacker lifestyle behind
A backpacker.

There’s something special about the backpacker lifestyle. It tends to be filled with rapid jags through a series of exciting cities, making friends in hostels, and partying every step of the way. Generally speaking, it’s a pursuit for those in their late teens or early twenties who have the energy, extroversion, and hangover tolerance for such things. Eventually, however, this form of travel begins to wear on you.

That doesn’t mean you need to stop traveling, but it might be an indication that you’ve outgrown the backpacker phase of your life. To that end, we’re taking a look at a few signs that it might be time to move beyond the way of backpack travelers. We'll also give you some travel tips that will help you be a more mature (and less hungover) traveler.

Read more
These are the very best ski towns for foodies in America
Chasing fresh powder and a good meal? Here are the best ski towns for foodies in the US.
Matsuhisa Aspen restaurant.

As one year turns into the next, the snow tends to pile up in the higher elevations. Yes, we've entered peak ski season, which means it's time to dust off goggles, ready snowsuits, and hit the slopes. Chances are good that you'll work up quite the appetite while playing around in the powder, so you might as well eat well.

This ski season, do it right. Embrace apres ski culture, try out some new resorts and ski towns, and treat yourself to some of the amazing restaurants and eateries along the way. You'll refuel with the best dishes available, whether it's a seasonal cocktail, hearty dish, or some combination thereof.

Read more
Notes on soaking up the spirits of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire
Our guide to finding the most beautiful views and tastiest drinks in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao
A cluster of private cabanas overlook Iguana Beach at Renaissance Island in Aruba.

When you think of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao — also known as the ABC Islands — what comes to mind? Perhaps you’re dreaming of palm-lined beaches and calm turquoise waters? Maybe you envision European-style towns and villages with lush tropical greenery? While you can find plenty of that throughout the ABC Islands, there’s plenty more beyond the typical “tourist traps.” And if you’ve always had an affinity for Caribbean cocktails, you’ll discover infinite possibilities with all sorts of tasty locally produced liquors. Whether you prefer a sweet, fruity drink to enjoy by the beach or a complex cocktail that easily rivals those of the buzziest big-city bars, here’s all you need to know about where to find the best spirit(s) of these enchanted islands.
First, let’s get reacquainted with the ABC Islands

If Americans know anything about Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, it's that that these islands are somewhere in the Caribbean and are part of the Netherlands. Indeed, the ABC Islands are surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, and they lie directly to the north of Venezuela. If you’re expecting largely the same experience as a trip to South Florida, the Bahamas, or the Virgin Islands at the ABC Islands, though, get ready for a very different kind of Caribbean trip down here.

Read more