Last Updated on June 24, 2026 by Adrienne
As an annual visitor to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park for many years, I’ve tried most of the popular local restaurants in the area. These are my family’s favorite places that we return to year after year.
All of these restaurants are in the village of Bar Harbor, walking distance from “downtown” Bar Harbor hotels, unless otherwise noted. A lot of restaurants in this area are seasonal, so if you’ll be visiting outside of the peak tourist season (Memorial Day weekend through mid-October), check opening dates carefully.
Breakfast and Brunch
Here are my favorite places to fuel up before a long day of sightseeing or hiking.
Jordan’s
Jordan’s is beloved by both tourists and locals for their tasty food and cozy atmosphere. Their wild Maine blueberry pancakes are the standard against which I measure all others. Another menu item not to miss is the grilled blueberry muffin, a Maine specialty.
Jeannie’s Great Maine Breakfast
Jeannie’s is another great brunch spot that has my favorite savory breakfast item in Bar Harbor: their lobster eggs benedict is excellent and comes with a generous helping of Maine lobster, perfectly poached eggs and crispy potatoes.
Cafe This Way
We discovered Cafe This Way during the pandemic, because they’re one of the few breakfast/brunch restaurants in Bar Harbor with extensive outdoor seating. Their blueberry pancakes are also great, especially if you like a thin and crispy pancake. This is a good place to come with squirmy toddlers because there’s space for them to run around.
The Stadium
You don’t have to put up with the lines and parking hassles at Jordan Pond House to get authentic popovers: the ones at The Stadium in downtown BH are every bit as good. This is more of a to-go place with limited seating, so take your popovers to nearby Agamont Park for a picnic with a view.
Lobster Pounds
There’s no better place for fresh lobster than a lobster pound, and MDI has an abundance of options. These are my favorites.
Abel’s
Abel’s is home to my favorite lobster roll on the island. It’s a little non-traditional with light lemon aioli rather than classic mayo, but I like their spin on it. Their fries and cornbread are excellent as well. Abel’s is in Northeast Harbor, but worth the drive from Bar Harbor and their outdoor tables have a really pretty view over the water.
Beal’s
Southwest Harbor is a working harbor on the “quiet side” of MDI that’s well worth a detour from the more well-known tourist sights, and Beal’s is a great place to have lunch or dinner while you’re here. I’m especially a fan of their lobster grilled cheese sandwich. Kids will enjoy watching the lobster boats come in and out of the harbor.
Travelin’ Lobster
Travelin’ Lobster on Route 102 near Town Hill almost always has a line for their outdoor tables. They do a solid lobster roll and lobster mac, but my favorite menu items here are their lobster bisque and their blueberry pie. The lobster bisque is incredibly rich and creamy, and I haven’t found a better version anywhere. Pro tip: add the lobster claw.
Nor’Easter Lobster Pound and Market
The Nor’Easter is a lobsterman-owned pound in Northeast Harbor that has good lobster and haddock rolls, as well as lobster pasta dishes.
Casual Restaurants
There are a lot of restaurants in Bar Harbor that are casual, quick and family-friendly. Most of them serve seafood but also have good options for picky kids or non-seafood eaters. These are some of my go-to restaurants in this category.
Side Street Cafe
Side Street Cafe is an especially good place to take kids, even by the standards of this very family-friendly town. They always have fun activities – most recently, modeling clay to sculpt with while they wait for the food, an innovative step up from the usual crayons and coloring sheet – and last summer they were handing out coupons to their new frozen yogurt business Side Treats with the purchase of a kid’s meal. I especially like their lobster mac ‘n cheese.
Rosalie’s
Rosalie’s is my favorite pizza in Bar Harbor and a great choice if you need an easy, kid-friendly meal or a break from seafood. They also have tasty salads and meatballs.
The Terrace Grille at the Bar Harbor Inn
The more casual of the two restaurants at The Bar Harbor Inn, the food at Terrace Grille is good, and the views overlooking Frenchman Bay are even better. Don’t miss the blueberry pie for dessert.
Geddy’s
Geddy’s is a seafood-focused restaurant but they have a lot of good options for non-seafood eaters too. I’m a fan of their thin, Italian-style pizza.
Paddy’s
Paddy’s in the West Street Hotel is a great spot for Irish pub classics with a Maine flair, and their outdoor tables have nice water views. I really enjoy the Caesar salad (you can add meat – including lobster, naturally – to make it a more filling entree) and their take on fish and chips.
Royal Indian
You probably don’t think rural Maine and Indian food go together, and I get it – I didn’t either until I finally tried Royal Indian on a recent visit. This is some seriously good Indian food. Of course, this being Maine, they have butter lobster and tandoori lobster in addition to the classics – and, yes, it’s as good as it sounds. Their chicken pakora is mild and a great choice for picky eaters.
Peter Trout’s Tavern and Inn
Southern food is another cuisine you may not associate with Maine, but Peter Trout’s has some of the best fried chicken and biscuits I’ve had anywhere (and I’m something of a connoisseur). It’s in Manset, near Southwest Harbor, but well worth the drive from Bar Harbor.
Fancier Restaurants
These are the places to come if you’re celebrating a special occasion while you’re in Maine and looking for a really memorable meal. Note that ‘fancy’ refers more to prices and the type of food served than a particular dress code. Havana is the only restaurant on this list I wouldn’t recommend taking young kids to, and none of them require particularly fancy attire. Jordan Pond House has an especially casual dress code, due to its location within Acadia National Park.
The Reading Room at the Bar Harbor Inn
Probably my favorite Bar Harbor restaurant is The Reading Room, the more formal restaurant at the Bar Harbor Inn. The menu has inventive twists on classic seafood (if you’re a fan of scallops, don’t miss the sea scallops with lobster hash) and they also have an excellent bread service and delightful little treats in between courses like hibiscus sorbet. The ambiance is just as good as the food, with nice views from large picture windows.
Havana
Havana is the fanciest restaurant in Bar Harbor and was super buzzy for a while after the Obamas had a date night here during their presidential visit. It’s not so crazy now, but reservations can still be hard to get on short notice. Despite the name, the food is not really Cuban but is more generally Latin fusion with local influences as well. We enjoyed dishes like lobster paella and lobster moqueca. If you can’t get a reservation or are traveling with little kids, their more casual spot next door, Parilla, gets good reviews too.
The Chart Room
The Chart Room has a classic American menu, with dishes like prime rib and lobster Newburg. I’m a big fan of their lobster stew in particular. If you’re looking for a fancier meal with little kids, this is a great spot, since there’s abundant outdoor seating and kids can play on beautiful Hulls Cove Beach until the food arrives.
Jordan Pond House
Although I mentioned earlier that parking at Jordan Pond House can be a hassle and you can expect to wait even with a reservation, I still recommend a meal here, especially for first-time visitors to Acadia National Park, because it really is an iconic spot. The legendary popovers are very good, and they also have an excellent lobster stew. Outdoor seating on the lawn is absolutely beautiful (and dog-friendly), but wasps can be a problem, especially if you have sweet foods like jam for your popovers. Make sure to allow time to walk around the pond afterwards.
Desserts
As is probably evident from the name of this blog, I believe no meal is complete without dessert. 🙂 These are my favorite dessert sports in and around Bar Harbor.
Ben & Bill’s
Ben and Bill’s is a must-visit in Bar Harbor, for both their scrumptious ice cream sundaes (their hot fudge is outstanding) and for the iconic lobster statue out front. Their famous lobster-flavored ice cream is kind of a gimmick, but worth a try once (at least via free sample) and they have many more enticing flavors.
Mount Desert Island Ice Cream
If you prefer artisanal ice cream with creative flavors like basil and Thai chili coconut, MDI Ice Cream is the spot for you. They also have more classic flavors like cookies & cream and Maine blueberry, and the ice cream is rich and creamy.
Graffiti Donuts
Bar Harbor’s only dedicated donut shop has both classic and inventive donut flavors, along with milkshakes and soft serve ice cream. I’m a big fan of their blueberry coffee cake donut.
Jordan’s Snack Bar
Jordan’s Snack Bar is a little out of the way if you’re staying in Bar Harbor (its outside of Ellsworth, about a 30 minute drive from Bar Harbor), but if you’ll be road-tripping to Acadia this is a great place to stop and let the kids burn off some energy en route. I love their soft serve ice cream and they have a nice playground in the back for kids.
Planning a trip to Maine? In addition to being a travel blogger, I’m also a no-fee travel advisor who has extensive knowledge of the Bar Harbor/Acadia area and would love to help you plan your trip, including booking accommodations, transportation and excursions. Reach out to me today at adrienne.miller@fora.travel for more info or to start planning a trip!
