Hi friends, welcome back! Today I’m sharing some of the best off-season places to eat in Bar Harbor, and where we stayed during our trip! Jon and I visited Bar Harbor at the end of October and usually the summer season ends after Labor Day, so some of the popular restaurants/cafes were closed. It was also chilly when we were there, so we mostly opted for takeout to bring back to our warm hotel. Maine does have indoor dining, but we choose not to eat indoors for the time being.
LODGING
Jon and I stayed at the Bar Harbor Inn and it has one of the best locations in town! Our room had a balcony overlooking the water and it would’ve been perfect if it wasn’t so chilly. The town of Bar Harbor is tiny with a few main streets, so everything was a 5-10 minute walk from our room.
I loved the view of the Porcupine Islands from our balcony, so pretty!!
The room is a bit outdated compared to some spots we’ve stayed at, but it was very comfortable, spacious, and warm! The view can’t be beat! There was also an amazing free continental breakfast that was very covid friendly.
BREAKFAST/COFFEE
On our first morning we stopped at Choco-latte before our hike, and it wasn’t the best experience. The line was very long when we walked up, but it moved at a decent pace, so we stuck it out and ordered two everything bagels with cream cheese and coffee to go. We were waiting about twenty minutes, and then they informed us the everything bagels were out of stock, so I picked a cinnamon raisin and Jon got an asiago bagel. It was about another twenty minutes until we were on our way back with breakfast. Choco-latte gets great Yelp! reviews, so I am guessing they were short-staffed with off-season. The bagels and coffee were good, but I would not recommend if you are short on time.
We decided to try Mount Dessert Bakery the next morning and we walked right in and ordered two coffees and a delicious blueberry coffee cake. Maine is the top producer of blueberries in the country, so blueberry everything is a must!!
The following day, we went back to Mount Dessert Bakery and had another great experience. We tried the blueberry scone this time and it was also delicious, the perfect mid-hike treat!
DINNER
On our first night in Bar Harbor we ordered takeout from Side Street Café. I ate a pulled pork sandwich with a side of clam chowder and it was nice and hearty.
Jon ordered The Blazing Bleu Burger: A Cajun rubbed burger topped with thick cut bacon, bleu cheese crumbles and caramelized onions and sliced hot cherry peppers.
We also tried the Apple Cider Margaritas and it was incredible! I was curious and a little worried I wouldn’t like it, but it was delicious. It tasted just like apple cider but with a hint of tequila. I definitely need to recreate this next fall 🙂
The next night we had just hiked over ten miles, so pizza and ice cream was in order! First, we got some ice cream from Mount Dessert Ice Cream, I played it safe with the Cookies’N’Cream, and Jon tried the salted caramel. Both were so delicious we went back another day!
We picked Blaze for our pizza and it was just what we needed. We split a pepperoni and a chorizo pizza. Both of these were yummy and the perfect post-hike dinner. The dough on these pizzas was very thick and delicious, a good change up from our NYC pizza.
The next night we went back to Blaze but split some massive burgers! We decided to get a Blaze Burger and Bleu Cheese Burger. I liked the Bleu Cheese Burger the best, the egg on the Blaze Burger was a bit too much for me. I think my tastebuds were overwhelmed by these two very distinct tasting burgers.
On our final night in Bar Harbor, we dined outside at Havana. This is a more upscale restaurant, but we sat outside in the courtyard under some heaters. To honor our last night, we started with some mojitos that tasted more like a glass of rum!
They brought around some delicious bread to the table paired with butter, olive oil, and garlic butter. The warm bread was just what I needed on a chilly night – and we were starving!
Next we split some tasty lobster cakes – a Maine twist on a crab cake 😉
For my entrée, I ordered the salmon with polenta and a cranberry chutney. I hadn’t had salmon since we were in Lake Placid, so this was long overdue!
Jon went with the seafood paella which seemed to be one of the most popular dishes at Havana.
Thanks for reading…hope I didn’t make you too hungry!!
Another wonderful post! Those dishes look so good!!! Oh and are there porcupines on Porcupine Island? 😉
Thank you! Haha I don’t know that there aren’t any porcupines on Porcupine Island…you might be on to something!
🙂
A good enough reason – along with the food – for a return visit 😉
More great places!!! If you get out that way again, try the Limerock Inn in Rockland. Totally gorgeous and a perfect little town for wandering, plus lots of hiking. Friends of mine owned the Limerock, but recently sold it and the new owners are doing great things. February is pie month up there. May be an excuse to return.
Thank you for the recommendation!! I would love to head back that way one day, especially if pie is involved 🙂
You did make me hungry but unlike you I haven’t been for a long hike, so I refrained.
Haha you restraint is impressive!
😎
Sounds absolutely fabulous! I’ve mostly driven there in the summer and stopped at various seafood stands.
I bet the seafood stands are amazing, I’ll have to go back!
They did a great job with the takeout. Smart choice.
The takeout was very impressive! Looking forward to eating indoors again one day
Awesome photos of the food, as usual. The view from your hotel room looks like you could just tumble out of the window and into the water. Also, I got a kick out of the requisite packet of oyster crackers next to your clam chowder (and why do they call them “oyster”?) Why does clam chowder demand these little crackers – shouldn’t it be delicious enough to stand on its own (especially in Maine)? Finally, it’s an interesting bit of trivia, Maine being the top producer of blueberries. I would’ve assumed one of the northern Midwestern states instead.
Thanks! It’s a bit difficult to get the best pictures with hotel room lighting ha. Being so close to the water was great. That is a great question – I actually saved the crackers for a hiking snack, you’re right that the chowder was best standalone. I was surprised too, I about the midwest because of all Michigan cherries.
Well, now I’m starving! Sounds like you guys had a great time!
Haha mission accomplished!