Our Favorite Spots to Eat in Bar Harbor
On a small island in New England, you’ll find Bar Harbor, Maine. Bar Harbor is a quaint town on Mount Desert Island, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and Acadia National Park. Due to being a coastal town, it’s no surprise that Bar Harbor is known for freshly caught seafood.
Even though the area is known for fresh seafood, there’s more to Bar Harbor than that. This coastal town’s food scene has a little bit of everything. You’ll find New England favorites, traditional American food, Italian cuisine, small plates, and plenty of places to try hand-crafted cocktails and beer brewed in Maine.
Whether you’re moving to the Bar Harbor area or planning a trip, knowing where you can find the best restaurants Bar Harbor has to offer is essential.
The good news is that even though it’s a somewhat small area, Bar Harbor doesn’t lack fantastic restaurants. When the months transition to late spring and summer, the restaurant scene comes to life on the island.
You won’t need to do a lot of searching for a beautiful place to eat, but with so many options, it can get overwhelming. We’ve compiled a guide to make things that much easier for finding the best Bar Harbor restaurants.
Best Restaurants in Bar Harbor
- The Barnacle
- Side Street Cafe
- CIAO Food | Drink
- Geddy’s
- Galyn’s
- Lunch Bar Harbor
- The Stadium
- Havana
- Paddy’s Irish Pub and Restaurant
- 2 Cats Bar Harbor
- Jordan’s Restaurant
- Thirsty Whale Tavern
- West Street Cafe
- The Travelin Lobsters, LLC
- Reading Room Restaurant
- Cafe This Way
- Mckays Public House
- Project Social Kitchen & Bar
- The Chart Room
- Rose Eden Lobster
- Bar Harbor Lobster Co.
- C-Ray Lobster
- Tailgate Kitchen & Bar, Bar Harbor
The Barnacle
112 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 801-9249
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First up is The Barnacle. You’ll find this oyster bar in the heart of Bar Harbor on Main Street. The Barnacle Oyster Bar is a cozy little spot where you can sample great beer from Maine, unique signature cocktails, and fantastic bar bites to share with your travel partner.
The food menu is relatively small, but everything they offer is sure to satisfy. You have to try the raw oysters, the Maine mussel pot, or a classic Maine lobster roll. Don’t forget to order your favorite cocktail or locally brewed beer to sip on while you wait.
Side Street Cafe
49 Rodick St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 801-2591
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Side Street Cafe is a family-owned restaurant that opened in 2009. The goal was to provide family, friends, and the Bar Harbor community with a place to gather, drink, and eat comfort foods. If you’re searching for where the locals eat, Side Street Cafe is the place.
This joint serves comforting dishes such as burgers, sandwiches, soups, and multiple mac and cheese recipes. If you stop in, you can’t leave without trying their famous seafood mac and cheese, the roasted crab dip, and the meatball sub.
CIAO Food | Drink
135 Cottage St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 801-9110
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CIAO is a unique spot in Bar Harbor. The owners, Marie and Kyle, model their dishes after their favorite travels. All of their dishes strive to showcase different flavors from around the country and world. They have a rotating menu, so you can almost always try something new.
This modern and casual restaurant features a dozen small plates that are perfect for sharing with friends and family. The lamb crostini, seared scallops, and mo rockin’ ribs are more than worth the try. For those who want a cocktail, they have three signature drinks to choose from.
Geddy’s
19 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 288-5077
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For over 40 years, Geddy’s has been the spot in Bar Harbor to feast on the best harbor in town. The restaurant is decorated in nautical decor and is a hotspot for locals and visitors alike. You’ll be able to see current and historical pictures of the town lining the walls and a view of the water.
Since Geddy’s claims to have the best lobster in all of Bar Harbor, it would be silly not to order lobster while you’re there. The lobster and bacon pizza is to die for, and so is the Atlantic seafood pie and lobster bake. If you’re not feeling seafood, they have plenty of other options.
Galyn’s
17 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 288-9706
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Set in a historic building, Galyn’s offers patrons a relaxed dining experience. The decor resembles the old world but with a contemporary twist. There’s contemporary artwork lining the walls, and the food is elevated 21st-century cuisine.
As with most restaurants in Bar Harbor, Galyn’s features an abundance of fresh seafood. In addition to this, they have non-seafood appetizers and entrees to satisfy. One of their best entrees is the stuffed pork chop, and for an appetizer, the crab stuffed mushrooms are delicious.
Lunch Bar Harbor
8 Mt Desert St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 901-0018
Finding a great breakfast spot can be complicated, with most restaurants only serving lunch or dinner, but Lunch Bar Harbor has breakfast and lunch covered. The owners are Bar Harbor locals who draw inspiration from the natural beauty of Maine for all their dishes’ flavors.
Their breakfast menu is limited, but you can still order hummus toasts and various breakfast sandwiches. For breakfast, the bagel and cream cheese with prosciutto is a must-try. As for lunch, a cheese panini or cold lobster roll is sure to tie you over until your next meal.
The Stadium
62 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 801-9477
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Chefs at The Stadium strive to make everything from scratch. When you arrive, it’s not uncommon to see chefs preparing lobster straight from the boat and kneading fresh dough. This restaurant and coffee bar is the perfect place to refuel your body for the day.
Lobster is the main item on The Stadium’s menu, but they offer delicious breakfast sandwiches and coffee. The perfect comfort meal would be a cup of their clam chowder and a mac and cheese dog. If you want to try their specialty, The Stadium roll is their take on a lobster roll.
Havana
318 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 288-2822
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One of the top fine dining spots in Bar Harbor is Havana. Havana has been serving sustainable and locally sourced food for 20 years. Chefs combine the local ingredients and cuisine with a Latin flair to make this one of the most unique restaurants on the island.
They have two menus, one for indoor dining and a tapas menu for those sitting outside. When sitting inside, the seafood paella or ribeye steak should be on your order. As for the tapas outside, the elite and pork adobo pair perfectly with a cocktail or locally brewed beer.
Paddy’s Irish Pub and Restaurant
50 West St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 801-3786
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There’s something about an Irish pub that puts a smile on people’s faces. Located inside the West Street Hotel, Paddy’s is a popular spot for Irish-American cuisine, live music, and great drinks. The menu showcases popular Irish dishes as well as American pub food.
Paddy’s menu is vast, with almost everything under the sun. From burgers to salads, hot entrees, and more, there’s something for everyone here. The local pub favorites are popular dishes worth a try. A few of these are pub-style fish and chips and corned beef and cabbage.
2 Cats Bar Harbor
130 Cottage St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 288-2808
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2 Cats is more than a breakfast restaurant; it’s a community staple and tourist attraction. It’s a popular spot, serving up to 500 breakfast dishes a day during the high season. They pride themselves on being adventurous with their meals while still making everything homemade.
They have all the traditional breakfast items such as pancakes, omelets, and bagels, as well as several kid-sized portions of their favorite meals. If you’re looking for a lighter breakfast, their homemade granola is the way to go. For something heartier, try the smoked salmon benedict.
Jordan’s Restaurant
80 Cottage St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 288-3586
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Jordan’s is another family-owned restaurant in Bar Harbor that was started when a family saw the need for a home-style eatery in town. The best way to describe Jordan’s is to think of a chain breakfast food spot, but ten times better because it feels like eating a home-cooked meal.
Open for breakfast and lunch, Jordan’s offers diner staples. It’s the best place in town to get breakfast all day. Regardless of if you’re in the mood for lunch or breakfast, you have to try their wild Maine blueberry pancakes or muffins; it’s what they’re known for.
Thirsty Whale Tavern
40 Cottage St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 288-9335
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Known as The Whale by locals, this restaurant is family-friendly by day and part of the local nightlife by night. The casual atmosphere makes Thirsty Whale Tavern a welcoming spot in town for visitors and locals. They’re open until one in the morning if you need a late-night snack.
The cuisine at Thirsty Whale Tavern is classic American flare. There are burgers, sandwiches, and plenty of fried seafood to tie you over. Anyone in town will tell you that you can’t stop here and not order their signature spicy fried pickles or the grilled Cuban sandwich.
West Street Cafe
76 West St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 288-5242
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Located near the waterfront in Bar Harbor, West Street Cafe is an excellent seafood restaurant in town. The inside of the restaurant is bright and wide open, creating a modern and welcoming atmosphere with greenery throughout the restaurant.
The West Street Cafe prices many of their seafood dishes by what the current market price is. The shore dinner is a pound of lobster, mussels, beer fries, and a slice of blueberry pie if you’re looking for a large meal. Other great options include their fish and chips and cafe delight fresh seafood pasta.
The Travelin Lobsters, LLC
1569 ME-102, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 288-8028
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Almost all the seafood in Bar Harbor is fresh, but The Travelin Lobsters may be the freshest. This eatery is owned and operated by a family who has been lobstering off Mount Desert island for decades. They only have outdoor seating, and they tend to have a line. It’s that good.
When you show up to The Travelin Lobsters, you’re ordering seafood that fishers caught earlier that day. You can’t go wrong with a classic lobster roll, crab melt, or Maine-style dinner. They have a small selection of canned beer to sip on while you wait for your meal.
Reading Room Restaurant
1 Newport Dr, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 288-3351
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Inside the elegant Bar Harbor Inn is the Reading Room Restaurant. This upscale restaurant is a great place to relax after a long day of exploring the island or celebrate any of life’s milestones. The views in the dining room of Reading Room Restaurant are unmatched.
Everything on the dinner menu at Reading Room is the epitome of elegance. From the fennel dusted salmon to the braised beef short rib, you’re in for a real treat. You wouldn’t be in Maine if you didn’t finish off your meal with a slice of blueberry pie.
Cafe This Way
14 Mt Desert St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 288-4483
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If you’re seeking a place to eat breakfast or dinner that’s away from the busy streets of downtown Bar Harbor, Cafe This Way is perfect. The walls are lined with bookshelves, and the tables boast a retro style. Cafe This Way is one of the most eclectic spots in town.
For breakfast, Kit’s breakfast burrito is the most popular choice. When the sun goes down, their dinner and cocktail menu takes center stage. Everything’s delicious, but their shrimp and grits and pecan-crusted halibut are the stars of the show.
McKays Public House
231 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 288-2002
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You’ll find Mckays in a beautiful Victorian building in the heart of Bar Harbor. You can choose to sit inside or in their beautifully manicured garden—the interior showcases original fireplaces, copper tables, accents, and a bar. Besides the copper bar, there’s a wine bar upstairs.
Chefs at Mckays Public House work with local farmers as much as possible to ensure they’re bringing patrons the freshest ingredients possible. The bacon-wrapped scallops are a fabulous starter. For an entree, the Maine risotto or lamb burger are delicious options.
Project Social Kitchen & Bar
278 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
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Project Social Kitchen & Bar is one of the most modern restaurants on the island. The modern indoor, outdoor dining on the desk, wrap-around garden, and a small pond attract patrons to Project Social Kitchen & Bar. The food and cocktails are why people keep coming back.
Knowing for hand-crafting unique cocktails and mouth-watering tapas and crepes, Project Social Kitchen & Bar needs to be on your list. There are 16 cocktails and four mocktails to accompany your meal. The oysters are a real hit, but their blueberry crepes are the star at this restaurant.
The Chart Room
565 Eden St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: 207-288-9740
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A local favorite of residents and tourists, The Chart Room is situated in the perfect spot for panoramic views of the water and away from downtown. They have plenty of seating inside, but for an unforgettable dining experience, you may want to get a table on their pier.
The Chart Room is known for fresh seafood and its menu with favorites like lobster, salmon, halibut, and more. If you’re visiting with little ones, they have a handful of options for them too. They’re famous for their seafood linguine, baked stuffed shrimp, and their surf and turf.
Rose Eden Lobster
864 ME-3, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: 207-610-3060
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Rose Eden is a quaint little place in Bar Harbor that prepares warm seafood meals to go. You’ll find it at the Rose Eden Cottages, and it’s the perfect place to grab a nice dinner to enjoy in your hotel room, house, or at a campground while enjoying the beautiful nature Maine has to offer.
The menu selection is relatively small compared to other restaurants on the island, but it’s one of the best. You can order live lobsters to cook yourself as well as mussels, crabs, and clams. If you don’t want to prepare your meal, their lobster dinner is the way to go.
Bar Harbor Lobster Co.
297 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: 207-288-2529
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You’ll find Bar Harbor Lobster Company at the end of one of the most scenic areas, Shore Path.
Known for delicious food and a Rum Bar that serves fantastic cocktails, wine, and beer brewed in Maine, you’ll want to stop in, even if it’s for a quick bite and beer.
The food at Bar Harbor Lobster Company is authentic Maine cuisine, meaning a lot of seafood and, of course, Maine lobster. If you’re stuck trying to decide what to order, you can’t go wrong with their BLT lobster roll, clam chowder, or poutine.
C-Ray Lobster
882 ME-3, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: 207-288-4855
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While fine dining is lovely, sometimes all you need is a no-frills restaurant to satisfy your growling stomach. C-Ray Lobster is a no-frills, family-owned restaurant that serves delicious homemade food. You can enjoy your food to go or eat it at one of their outdoor picnic areas.
In true Maine fashion, they sell fresh seafood. You can order mussels, clams, or lobster, steamed by the pound, or choose from one of their several sandwich options. The lobster melt is delectable, but you need to try their homemade potato salad no matter what you order.
Tailgate Kitchen & Bar, Bar Harbor
131 Cottage St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: 207-288-4700
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You’ll find plenty of excellent seafood restaurants on Mount Desert Island, so if you’re craving traditional American cuisine and bar food, Tailgate Kitchen & Bar is the place for you. It’s a great place to sit back and relax with a cold drink while you watch sports on several televisions.
Their menu has all your favorite bar snacks like pretzels and beer cheese and buffalo chicken dip, but what they’re known for are their specialty pizzas. You can order a standard cheese or pepperoni pie, but the lobster bisque and the pickle bacon ranch pizza are well worth trying.
Final Thoughts
Whether you plan to go to Bar Harbor, Maine, go hiking in Acadia National Park, or enjoy being on the water, knowing the best restaurants should be part of your travel planning. Having ideas of where to eat in Bar Harbor before you get hangry can save you a lot of stress.
If none of these restaurants sound appetizing to you, there’s still plenty more in Bar Harbor that may interest you.
Did we miss something? Comment below, and we’ll check it out ASAP!
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