Bar Harbor

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

The Town of Bar Harbor-Acadia Nat'l Park

A travel journal to Bar Harbor by Constance

Take Home Part of MaineMore Photos

The town of Bar Harbor has a lot to offer. It has the greatest number of shops and restaurants on the island.

  • 9 reviews
  • 6 photos

The Town of Bar Harbor-Acadia Nat'l ParkBest of IgoUgo

Overview

Enjoy a lovely meal overlooking the harbor. Then wander up Main Street and stop in one of the local shops for some homemade ice cream. Ben & Bill's actually offers a Lobster Ice Cream, vanilla with fresh lobster chunks. Continue along the street the variety of shops while you enjoy your desert.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to get around Bar Harbor is on foot. The town is small and traffic can get busy. There are more pedestrians than cars though and drivers tend to stop in the middle of the street to let people cross, even if there isn't a cross walk. There's plenty of parking unless you're in the center of town so park on the outskirts of town and walk in.

Balance Rock InnBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "The Balance Rock Inn"

The Balance Rock mansion was built in 1903 and is the most romantic Inn in Bar Harbor. It's located along the Shore Path and has a spectacular view of Frenchman's Bay. As you walk in the front door you'll feel the elegance surrounding you. Classical music plays and they offer guests an afternoon tea in the living room. The salon offers a wonderful fireplace surrounded by comfortable furniture and a baby grand piano. The rooms are wonderful as well. Most have ocean views and private porches so you can really enjoy the scenery. Several even have saunas or Jacuzzis. A buffet style breakfast is served each morning in the dining area. There you can relax and enjoy a wonderful meal next to a warm fire before begining your day. Walk out the back of the Inn to the veranda and you'll see an inviting pool. Beyond that is a perfectly manicured lawn and flower gardens that stretch to the ocean. On the shore you'll see the 'balance rock', a huge boulder from which the mansion got it's name. The Balance Rock is definitely my favorite place to stay in Bar Harbor. It gives you the feeling of ultimate relaxation, romance and seclusion.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Constance on July 12, 2000

Balance Rock Inn
21 Albert MDWS Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
(207) 288-2610

Ivy ManorBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

Ivy Manor is an elegant, 8 room French Country Inn full of amazing antiques. Each room features French Victorian decor. Although it's located on Main Street when you walk through the front doors you feel totally secluded. They serve a gourment breakfast each morning and have a Four Diamond restaurant attached to the Inn. Michelle's Fine Dining Bistro is wonderfully romantic restaurant featuring French American food with a 'New England flair'. It's one of the finer restaurants in town and you'll definitely need reservations.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Constance on July 12, 2000

Ivy Manor
194 Main Street Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
888-670-1997

Cafe this Way / Village Green Bakery / HavanaBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "The Village Green Bakery Cafe"

This is a great place to have a casual, dependable meal. I've had both breakfast and lunch here and have always left happy. The blueberry pancakes are amazing and they have a great lobster omelet. For lunch the lobster roll is a great choice and their veggie burger is one of the best I've ever had. You can either dine inside or sit outside on the deck. I always visit this restaurant when I return to Bar Harbor.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Constance on July 5, 2000

Cafe this Way / Village Green Bakery / Havana
Mount Desert Street / Maine Street / Cottage Street Bar Harbor, Maine

Cafe This WayBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Cafe This Way
This is a healthy alternative restaurant that is simply amazing. The breakfast selection is incredible and delicious. They have the best bluebery pancakes in Bar Harbor for only $3.75. The veggie sausage is a must and was voted 'delicious' by even the carnivores at our table. Omelettes are incredible and served with homefries and toast for only $5.25. Go early though, the word is out and the wait can be long if you go between 9-11.

There is a small parking lot down their driveway but it's usually crowded. Consider parking in the lot across the street near the Village Green Park.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Constance on July 5, 2000

Cafe This Way
14 Mt. Desert Street Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
207-288-4483

HavanaBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Havana - fine dining"

Havana is one of the nicer restaurants in Bar Harbor. The staff is professional and the service great. The food is American and Latin fusion and simply wonderful. Our dinner took over 2 hours as we relaxed over a glass of wine, slowly enjoyed our appetizers, dinner and then dessert. Everything was great and it was nice to get away from all that 'lobster' for one night.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Constance on July 5, 2000

Havana
318 Main Street Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
(207) 288-2822

ShoppingBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Shopping Around Town"

The Pretty Marsh Shop
The streets of Bar Harbor are lined with quaint shops. Some are your typical cheesy tourist trap but most are filled with quaint Maine crafts. You'll find a wide variety of unique items as you walk from shop to shop. I recommend Cool As A Moose for t-shirts and the Pretty Marsh shop for cute country items and local crafts. There are also several gourmet shops filled with Maine treats. They all offer samples so enjoy before you buy! The town isn't that large so you could see all the shops in just one evening. It's a perfect rainy day or evening activity. Even though I visit many times a year, I always come back with something for myself. If you're with someone who's not into the whole shopping thing - direct them to the local bookstore and then to the park overlooking the harbor. There they can sit on a park bench and watch the harbor activities while reading a paper or good book.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Constance on July 11, 2000

Shopping
Bar Harbor Bar Harbor, Maine

Shore PathBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Shore Path"

Where The Path Begins
The shore path begins near the Bar Harbor Town Pier and gently winds along the ocean front. It's rarely crowded and the perfect place to escape the tourists in town. As the pier disappears from view you'll have a wonderful view of the open ocean the four Porcupine Islands that surround Mt. Desert. Continue walking past beautiful mansions with landscaped yards and flower gardens. Most of these are private residences so stay on the path and don't trespass in their yards. The actual shoreline is public so feel free to take a walk down on the rocks and explore the tidal pools or simply stop and watch the waves crash against them. It's a lovely place to go as the sun is setting after dinner. There are even a few park benches scattered along the coastline so you can sit back and relax.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Constance on July 12, 2000

Shore Path
Town Pier Bar Harbor, Maine

Margaret Todd SchoonerBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Margaret Todd Schooner"

The Margaret Todd is a four mast, 151' schooner that offers a two hour sail around the islands in Frenchman's Bay. There are three trips a day; morning, afternoon and sunset. Each offers something different. The morning is the best time to see wildlife everywhere on the island, and this applies to the sea as well. The bay is also the calmest in the morning so it's also the smoothest time to sail. The afternoons have stronger breezes and provide a more exhilarating sail while the sunset sail is definitely the most romantic. Bring a sweater or jacket because the temperature at sea is much colder than on land.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Constance on July 12, 2000

Margaret Todd Schooner
Bar Harbor Pier, 1 Newport Dr. Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
(207) 288-4585

About the Writer

Constance
Constance
New York, New York

Get the Word Out

Share this travel journal beyond IgoUgo with your favorite sharing tools.