BHBGuide
Where To Eat & Have An Outdoorsy Weekend In Acadia National Park
photo credit: Will Burns
Acadia National Park is an ideal place for breathing ultra-fresh air and taking pensive walks near the ocean like you’re an early 19th-century novel protagonist. But there are also incredible places to eat near the park’s picturesque lighthouses, ocean views, and dense forests.
We’ve put together a restaurant game plan for your vacation so you can spend less time wandering around Bar Harbor looking for an open table and more time in the great outdoors. There are also some chill patios and bars for when you want to recharge for a bit in a place with a real bathroom. Here’s how you can have a perfect Acadia weekend, after which you’ll probably want to linger around for a little while longer.
BEGIN THE DAY WITH SOME BLUEBERRY PANCAKES
This spot is Temporarily Closed.
Acadia is home to the highest peak of the Eastern Seaboard, so your mom is probably going to wake you up at 4am to hike (or more realistically, drive) up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain for sunrise. After those spectacular views, properly fuel up and caffeinate at Jeannie’s Great Maine Breakfast, which opens at 6am.
The staff will greet your table with an entire carafe of drip coffee, and you’ll want to order a stack of blueberry-filled buttermilk pancakes as soon as you sit down. If you need protein to keep you awake, they also have great savory options like their vegan breakfast burrito and a sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich.
EAT A MAINE-STYLE LOBSTER ROLL BY A LIGHTHOUSE
Lobster may as well be Maine’s unofficial mascot. Millions of lobster buoys float all along the coast, and it seems like everyone’s always ready for Lobster Roll Discourse™. Luckily for you, there’s an excellent lobster roll spot just a few minutes away from Acadia’s most famous lighthouse on the western half of Mount Desert Island.
The roll itself is less than $30, stuffed but not too unwieldy, and has the perfect amount of mayo. And since Thurston’s is about a 30-minute away from Bar Harbor, it’s quieter and has fewer tourists, so you can peacefully look out at the many boats anchored in the harbor with a cold beer.
HYDRATE AFTER SOUVENIR SHOPPING
When most people think of a strenuous walk in Acadia, they’re probably thinking about scrambling over rocks around the Jordan Pond loop or granite staircases climbing up the Beehive. But walking through all the shops in downtown Bar Harbor to find the perfect puffin-themed holiday ornament or vintage-looking “Maine” sweatshirt can also be a marathon.
Make it a priority to have a few cocktails and snacks afterward at Havana Parrilla. The outdoor tapas bar is the more laid-back counterpart to one of the best fine dining spots in town. That means you can enjoy a hibiscus-infused mezcalita and an order of cheesy provoleta without having to worry about planning around a reservation time or dressing up.
GRAB BREAKFAST & FILL UP YOUR GAS TANK FOR ANOTHER DAY OF ADVENTURE
photo credit: Anne Cruz
Everyday Joe’s is located at one of the few gas stations in Bar Harbor, which makes it a prime “two birds, one stone” candidate for fueling up both your body and car. There are convenience store standards like giant coffee dispensers and Slim Jims inside, but you’ll also find a griddle behind the checkout counter, lots of seating, and a menu that spans everything from breakfast sandwiches to bowls of ramen. While you can grab a to-go breakfast quesadilla to eat en route to your biking destination of the day, you’re in Maine—slow down and stay a while. The friendly staff and warm atmosphere make that easy.
ENJOY A BEER & PIZZA BEFORE A LUMBERJACK SHOW
One of Acadia’s biggest attractions outside of the park itself is Timber Tina’s lumberjack show, where you can watch flannel-clad athletes compete by sawing through wood, climbing up trees, and staying upright on floating logs. Since you’ll have to drive off Mount Desert Island to get to the show in Trenton, head out a little early and have dinner at Fogtown Brewing in Ellsworth.
The brewery is tucked away on a quiet residential street with a patio that also has a wood-fired oven where you can get a shakshouka pie with a jammy fried egg at its center. There’s a healthy collection of hot sauces you might recognize if you’ve ever watched an episode of Hot Ones, plus a great selection of fun beers like a fruited IPA with papaya and passion fruit and pilsner made with Maine barley and hops. There are no wrong choices here, as long as you don’t enjoy yourself too much and forget to head to Trenton for the show.
