Food Scene
Often live music. We like the blackened salmon or fish and chips. Great reubens.
88 locals recommend
Finn's Irish Pub
156 Main StOften live music. We like the blackened salmon or fish and chips. Great reubens.
I love the dishes, but I've been told by those who know that this is an awesome, authentic Sri Lankan restaurant, so I guess I'm right (who knew?). Great vegetarian choices.
40 locals recommend
Serendib Indian And Sri Lankan
2 State StI love the dishes, but I've been told by those who know that this is an awesome, authentic Sri Lankan restaurant, so I guess I'm right (who knew?). Great vegetarian choices.
Barack and Michelle ate here when they visited in 2010, what more is there to say? Such happy memories. They serve paella, which I try cooking at home with limited success. Pricey.
73 locals recommend
Havana
318 Main StBarack and Michelle ate here when they visited in 2010, what more is there to say? Such happy memories. They serve paella, which I try cooking at home with limited success. Pricey.
Best lunch "gut bomb" in Ellsworth. Lots of burrito choices and other stuff I never tried, but why? Burritos rule.
57 locals recommend
86 This
125 Main StBest lunch "gut bomb" in Ellsworth. Lots of burrito choices and other stuff I never tried, but why? Burritos rule.
Bar food plus pub. Bar Harbor is a bit of a bother with traffic and tourists but this place makes it melt away with their good beer selection and excellent pub fare.
52 locals recommend
The Thirsty Whale Tavern
40 Cottage StBar food plus pub. Bar Harbor is a bit of a bother with traffic and tourists but this place makes it melt away with their good beer selection and excellent pub fare.
Good sushi. No idea how they can do such a varied Asian menu but have to assume there are highs and lows. Stick with the house specialties and you won't be disappointed.
33 locals recommend
Shinbashi
139 High StGood sushi. No idea how they can do such a varied Asian menu but have to assume there are highs and lows. Stick with the house specialties and you won't be disappointed.
Take-out with picnic table seating. A real hole-in-the-wall but super authentic. Jerk chicken and pork, plantains, beans and real Jamaican drinks. Ya mon!
10 locals recommend
Taste Jamaica
190 State StTake-out with picnic table seating. A real hole-in-the-wall but super authentic. Jerk chicken and pork, plantains, beans and real Jamaican drinks. Ya mon!
There are dozens of lobster joints around but this one is iconic with its campy lobster prop out front and its local ambience. Being in the opposite direction from the island you will find it (hopefully) less crowded.
33 locals recommend
Ruth and Wimpy's Restaurant
792 US-1There are dozens of lobster joints around but this one is iconic with its campy lobster prop out front and its local ambience. Being in the opposite direction from the island you will find it (hopefully) less crowded.
A busy wood-smoky lobster joint on the way to the island from Ellsworth/Lamoine. Nice views.
32 locals recommend
Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound
1237 Bar Harbor RdA busy wood-smoky lobster joint on the way to the island from Ellsworth/Lamoine. Nice views.
Pulled pork lovers can stop here and have an excellent brew and lunch. While recovering you can tour the brewery. Good central location on the island.
56 locals recommend
Mainely Meat Barbeque At Atlantic Brewing Company
15 Knox RdPulled pork lovers can stop here and have an excellent brew and lunch. While recovering you can tour the brewery. Good central location on the island.
World renowned popovers and lemonade. Considered by most to be a must-stop, it is in the Park and a well known stop on the bus line (see Island Explorer). Expect crowds but there are trails and a gift shop to pass the time while you wait.
75 locals recommend
Jordan Pond House Restaurant
2928 Park Loop RdWorld renowned popovers and lemonade. Considered by most to be a must-stop, it is in the Park and a well known stop on the bus line (see Island Explorer). Expect crowds but there are trails and a gift shop to pass the time while you wait.
If you find yourself in Southwest Harbor and in need of lobster, this place is the real deal. Inhale the smell of the sea while you sit on a dock over the water. The tables are made of charts. No pretensions or fluff. Food comes in a plastic basket. Great kids menu so you won't break the bank.
70 locals recommend
Beal's Lobster Pier
182 Clark Point RdIf you find yourself in Southwest Harbor and in need of lobster, this place is the real deal. Inhale the smell of the sea while you sit on a dock over the water. The tables are made of charts. No pretensions or fluff. Food comes in a plastic basket. Great kids menu so you won't break the bank.
A real local goat farm producing cheese and sausages. They have a pizza oven which may be open evenings on weekends and a stand where the cheeses are sold. Their cheeses are also sold at local grocery stores.
Seal Cove Farm
202 Partridge Cove RdA real local goat farm producing cheese and sausages. They have a pizza oven which may be open evenings on weekends and a stand where the cheeses are sold. Their cheeses are also sold at local grocery stores.
I include this not only because it's a great near-by seafood and burger joint, but because it leads into Bangor Metro Magazine's list of best restaurants of 2018. I can't include that list here but it appears in the printed version of this guide at SeaCat's Rest.
19 locals recommend
Jordan's Snack Bar
200 Douglas HighwayI include this not only because it's a great near-by seafood and burger joint, but because it leads into Bangor Metro Magazine's list of best restaurants of 2018. I can't include that list here but it appears in the printed version of this guide at SeaCat's Rest.
Drinks & Nightlife
We must support our local...Tiny place with limited but adequate small pub dishes and good beer. Constantly evolving, so give them a try.
30 locals recommend
Airline Brewing Company - Ellsworth
173 Main StWe must support our local...Tiny place with limited but adequate small pub dishes and good beer. Constantly evolving, so give them a try.
Limited hours and days, check https://www.fogtownbrewing.com . Young brewers with adventurous formulations featuring the usual sour and cloudy stuff young people seem to like. Some good brews for traditionalists too. Food truck often on premises.
54 locals recommend
Fogtown Brewing Company
25 Pine StLimited hours and days, check https://www.fogtownbrewing.com . Young brewers with adventurous formulations featuring the usual sour and cloudy stuff young people seem to like. Some good brews for traditionalists too. Food truck often on premises.
Entertainment & Activities
A glass-bottom boat adventure especially for the kids. Ed dives down with camera and mic and brings up stuff for the kids to see. I wish I were young again so I could go....
31 locals recommend
Diver Ed's Dive-In Theatre
105 Eden StA glass-bottom boat adventure especially for the kids. Ed dives down with camera and mic and brings up stuff for the kids to see. I wish I were young again so I could go....
Disclosure: I've never been here but I hear it's a hit with the younger set. Read the reviews and if you go, let me know.
24 locals recommend
Wild Acadia Fun Park & Water Slides
233 Bar Harbor RdDisclosure: I've never been here but I hear it's a hit with the younger set. Read the reviews and if you go, let me know.
Who can resist a pirate themed minigolf course? Arrrr! I'll bet pieces of eight you'll have fun.
30 locals recommend
Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf
368 ME-3Who can resist a pirate themed minigolf course? Arrrr! I'll bet pieces of eight you'll have fun.
This is not just a movie theater, it features live acts and theater performances year round. It's a non-profit, so you're helping to support the community if you go. https://grandonline.org/calendar/list/
33 locals recommend
The Grand
165 Main StThis is not just a movie theater, it features live acts and theater performances year round. It's a non-profit, so you're helping to support the community if you go. https://grandonline.org/calendar/list/
Parks & Nature
When you don't want to fight traffic and just hang out, take a little (2+ mile) trip to Lamoine Beach and see Bar Harbor and Cadillac Mountain from the water for free. A long and mostly deserted gravel beach, it's good for seeking solitude and rose hips.
Lamoine Beach
When you don't want to fight traffic and just hang out, take a little (2+ mile) trip to Lamoine Beach and see Bar Harbor and Cadillac Mountain from the water for free. A long and mostly deserted gravel beach, it's good for seeking solitude and rose hips.
A brand new park for Lamoine. See clammers at work at low tide and explore Raccoon Cove.
Marlboro Beach
A brand new park for Lamoine. See clammers at work at low tide and explore Raccoon Cove.
Great spot to fish for mackerel in mid summer or have a picnic. Lots of local boat activity. There is an entrance fee but you could walk there from our place along the shore (about a mile).
19 locals recommend
Lamoine State Park
23 State Park RdGreat spot to fish for mackerel in mid summer or have a picnic. Lots of local boat activity. There is an entrance fee but you could walk there from our place along the shore (about a mile).
Maine Mycological Association. If you are a fungi enthusiast like me, consider checking out the forays planned at https://mainelymushrooms.org/calendar/. There may be one happening while you're here, and the first foray is free. They are all around the state and many will be too far, so see me for alternate mushroom hunting suggestions.
The University of Maine
168 College AvenueMaine Mycological Association. If you are a fungi enthusiast like me, consider checking out the forays planned at https://mainelymushrooms.org/calendar/. There may be one happening while you're here, and the first foray is free. They are all around the state and many will be too far, so see me for alternate mushroom hunting suggestions.
Essentials
Best all-round grocery store. Shaw's is fine too. Good seafood and produce. Pharmacy also.
117 locals recommend
Hannaford Supermarket
86 Cottage StBest all-round grocery store. Shaw's is fine too. Good seafood and produce. Pharmacy also.
Also Acadia Provisions, across the parking lot, a new deli and gourmet food store. Very fresh local fish.
Global Beverage Warehouse
425 High StAlso Acadia Provisions, across the parking lot, a new deli and gourmet food store. Very fresh local fish.
Walmart Supercenter
17 Myrick StYeah, we have one.
Sightseeing
If you have never seen a whale close up, consider it. This company will take you to their area, and the whales will come to you to say hello. It's awesome.
80 locals recommend
Bark Harbor
150 Main StIf you have never seen a whale close up, consider it. This company will take you to their area, and the whales will come to you to say hello. It's awesome.
A short path to take while someone else is shopping, along the shore frontage of several stately homes. Start out from Agamont Park and walk toward the Bar Harbor Inn. Keep going until it ends, about 3/4 mile.
6 locals recommend
Bar Harbor Shore path
48-52 Hancock StA short path to take while someone else is shopping, along the shore frontage of several stately homes. Start out from Agamont Park and walk toward the Bar Harbor Inn. Keep going until it ends, about 3/4 mile.
This is nowhere near Sorrento, it's in Bar Harbor, but that's how it is named on the map. An interesting walk for those who are new to tides. From Bar Harbor's West Street find Bridge Street and find a tide schedule to time your walk at around low tide. You cross to Bar Island at low tide and follow the trails. Watch the time and return before the tide cuts you off. Fun!
23 locals recommend
Bar Island Trails
Bar Island TrailThis is nowhere near Sorrento, it's in Bar Harbor, but that's how it is named on the map. An interesting walk for those who are new to tides. From Bar Harbor's West Street find Bridge Street and find a tide schedule to time your walk at around low tide. You cross to Bar Island at low tide and follow the trails. Watch the time and return before the tide cuts you off. Fun!
This is the best place to get a feel for the scope of Acadia National Park or to see the earliest sunrise in the U.S. You can walk around and see the whole island on a clear day. Expect crowds.
128 locals recommend
Cadillac Mountain
707 Cadillac Summit RdThis is the best place to get a feel for the scope of Acadia National Park or to see the earliest sunrise in the U.S. You can walk around and see the whole island on a clear day. Expect crowds.
This is one of three companies offering a cheap trip to the Cranberry Islands. The other two are the Cranberry Cove Ferry and Cranberry Isles Commuter Service. You can get dropped off and take a later ferry back the same day, giving you time to check out real Maine island life and scenes.
7 locals recommend
Beal & Bunker Inc
18 Main StThis is one of three companies offering a cheap trip to the Cranberry Islands. The other two are the Cranberry Cove Ferry and Cranberry Isles Commuter Service. You can get dropped off and take a later ferry back the same day, giving you time to check out real Maine island life and scenes.
This is a breathtaking Japanese-inspired garden featuring azaleas and other related plants. There is almost always something in bloom. Highly recommended for those who appreciate formal gardens. Contribution into an honor box.
34 locals recommend
Azalea Garden
Maine 3This is a breathtaking Japanese-inspired garden featuring azaleas and other related plants. There is almost always something in bloom. Highly recommended for those who appreciate formal gardens. Contribution into an honor box.
Take a boat ride on a traditional Friendship Sloop or lobster boat and see our area from the water.
SAIL ACADIA
40 Harbor DrTake a boat ride on a traditional Friendship Sloop or lobster boat and see our area from the water.
Shopping
Marden's is a Maine institution, featuring surplus and otherwise distressed merchandise: clothing, shoes, food, tools, rugs, furniture, fabric and anything else they (and you) get cheap.
11 locals recommend
Marden's
564 Wilson StMarden's is a Maine institution, featuring surplus and otherwise distressed merchandise: clothing, shoes, food, tools, rugs, furniture, fabric and anything else they (and you) get cheap.
L.L.Bean Ellsworth
150 High StSo you don't need to stop at Freeport, ME.