We’ve been coming to Bar Harbor for more than 30 years. Here are some of the places we like best and insider tips you’ll want to know.
Acadia National Park
Pick a trail before you go and know where you’d like to park. Beginning in 2020, from May through October you must have a vehicle reservation purchased in advance in order to enter the park.
The park is the place that has the first glimpse of sunrise in the U.S. each day. Sunrise is the most popular time to visit Cadillac Mountain, so go EARLY. However, you can see spectacular sunrises from the deck of Bar Harbor View Cottage without fighting the crowds.
Coffee Shops
- Choco-Latte (Bar Harbor)
- Flexit Café and Bakery (Ellsworth)
Food Shopping
- Farmers’ Markets (check for schedule changes before you go)
- Blue Hill Farmers’ Market – Saturdays (May to October), 9 am to 11:30 am
- Ellsworth Farmers’ Market – Saturdays (May to October), 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
- Grocery Stores
- Edwards Brothers Supermarket (Trenton)
- Hannaford Supermarket (Ellsworth)
- Shaw’s Marketplace (Ellsworth)
- Specialty Stores
- Acadia Provisions (Ellsworth) – market, butcher shop, deli
- John Edwards Market (Ellsworth) – whole food/health food store
- Rooster Brothers (Ellsworth) – gourmet chocolate, coffee, tea, and other goodies
Lobster
Our favorite place to go for lobster is, without question, Trenton Bridge. We call ahead and by the time we get there, our order is ready.
Restaurants
There are many good restaurants in the area featuring fresh seafood, steaks, burgers, pizza, subs, and many other things. Here are some favorites of ours and our guests.
- Café This Way (Bar Harbor) – great breakfast and Sunday brunch
- Gayln’s (Bar Harbor) – amazing clam chowder
- Jack Russell’s Prime Steakhouse – we haven’t been yet, but it comes highly recommended
- Pat’s Pizza (Ellsworth) – when you’re tired of seafood, go to Pat’s and get a Reuben
- Peekytoe Provisions (Bar Harbor) – we haven’t been yet, but it comes highly recommended
- Side Street Café (Bar Harbor) – popular with locals; join the waitlist via their website before you go
- The Chart Room (Bar Harbor) – get the macadamia nut-crusted halibut and bread pudding
- Thirsty Whale (Bar Harbor) – kid-friendly, cheapest lobster roll around
Shopping
- Cadillac Mountain Sports (Ellsworth and Bar Harbor) – outdoor gear and clothing
- Fioré (Bar Harbor) – flavored olive oils and balsamic vinegars
- Restaurant Barn (Ellsworth) – restaurant supply store that’s open to the public
- Rooster Brothers (Ellsworth) – everything you need for a well-stocked kitchen plus coffee and gourmet goodies in the basement; don’t miss the outlet upstairs
- Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop (Bar Harbor) – indie bookstore and gift shop
- Spruce & Gussy (Bar Harbor) – browse while you’re waiting for your table at Café This Way