The Barnacle

Fun owner and fantastic drinks! The owner spent a lot of time chatting with my husband and I, and…read morewe had lots of laughs. The Tourista Borracha is fantastic if you like a tequila drink with a spicy kick. Super cool little spot with big energy.

Loved it!! Mixed cocktails were so delicious and fun! Also the rum jelly shots.. had wayyy too many…read moreof those! Would recommend

Outside seating on the right

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Great ambiance

Black Friar Inn And Pub

4.4(167 reviews)

0.3 mi

The Black Friar is one of my favorite places to come and eat at when I'm in Bar Harbor. It has a…read morequiet charm in the dining room that perfectly compliments the town it's in and they serve the best fish and chips in town. As stated above, the fish and chips is the thing to get here. The fish is clearly fresh (not frozen), cooked to order and has an almost unbelievable level of perfect crisp on the batter that coats it. It's also wonderful to see that they're serving it with some fresh-cut fries as there's such an overwhelming improvement in both taste and texture that you get with fresh (never frozen) fries. The fries are also perfectly cooked with a good crisp on the outside, but still fluffy potato in the middle. They then went the extra step and have house-made tartar sauce and slaw to go with it. It's a simple dish in concept, but this place goes the extra mile to make you something that's both delicious and worth coming back for. The dining room is on the smaller side, so if you have a large party it would be a good idea to call ahead and make a reservation to be sure there's a place for your entire group when you get there. I came a little later in the evening (maybe around 7pm) and found it to be pleasantly quiet, though not empty. I was greeted quickly by the owner and seated quickly. I also found the staff to be pleasant and fun to chat with while I waited for my food (I sat at the bar). It's also worth noting they have a full bar and a good choice of local draft beer to choose from.

My son and I came to this place based on a recommendation. Boy were we disappointed…read more The crab cakes were very ordinary with an awful sauce on top. The Lobster chimi which we were told were the best thing in town were bang average. Oysters too were tasteless. We paid up and went somewhere else !! Thanks for the feedback ! Of course, we didn't want to make a fuss, we just moved on. After the hype we were very disappointed ......

Room 5. Third floor with own bathroom.

Blueberry pie with ice cream

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Tap & Barrel Tavern

4.7(283 reviews)

So thankful for dining options available a little later. T&B did not disappoint either with a fried…read morefish sandwich on a brioche bun and a good selection of draft beers. Our waitress was very nice and there was a decent crowd sitting outside and at the bar. The fried calamari app was good too. They could do with a little less homemade tartar on the fish sandwiches as we had to mop off one of our fish filets and ask for a new plate. Maybe ask for it on the side if you aren't a fan of tartar.

Stopped in after a long bike ride in Acadia, it was exactly what our bodies were wanting! We got a…read moreflight of beer and their sour they had that was local was delish! Our waitress was so kind and helped out with someone who had a food allergy. We sat on the patio and it was nice and the road they are on isn't busy so it felt like we were tucked back a little! I would recommend! I got the sausage platter and they had pickled rhubarb and it was to die for!

Glasses

Brisket sandwich with parm fries!!

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Beer flight

Leary's Landing Irish Pub

4.2(383 reviews)

Wanted something a little different than spots that speacialize in lobster rolls, so we decided to…read morepop in here. There was a 30-45 min wait, which we were ok with. The service is very friendly. I wanted the Strawberry Fields cocktail, but they didn't have so I settled on The Fuzzy. It is very alcohol forward, which most people will enjoy. Not for me personally, as I would have liked more flavor from the infusions, but that's definitely a personal preference. The Blackened Fish Sandwich with a Small Caesar Salad had very flakey fish. I loved the meld of flavors, and ended up devouring my sandwich! The bun held together well. The caesar salad was a decent size and well dressed. Definitely a cool spot to hit for good food and a great pub vibe!

"The closest Irish Pub to Ireland in the U.S.!" We just landed at Bar Harbor and that was enough to…read moregrab my attention after a long day of traveling. We sat outside and I had what the waitress called a "local Magners cider" and a blackened fish sandwich, which was a nicely blackened cod with tartar sauce and some chips. I ultimately enjoyed it, though admittedly, the Magners did taste better in Ireland. Overall, it was a nice pop in and you could do worse. It's a solid place and I enjoyed it.

Grilled Veggie Sandwich - Bar Harbor - Leary's Landing Irish Pub

Simple Salad with Blackened Haddock and Fish N' Chips - Bar Harbor - Leary's Landing Irish Pub

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Summer Salad - Bar Harbor - Leary's Landing Irish Pub

Thirsty Whale

3.8(1.2k reviews)

Good food, good vibes! Haddock was amazing!…read moreDefinetly got some souvenirs to go home with. They need to keep the shirt inventory full!

We didn't get to Bar Harbor until late after 8pm and we hadn't had dinner yet. At the…read morerecommendation of the staff at the Wonder View Inn they suggested the Thirsty Whale which was not only open late but had good food...and they were correct. We didn't get downtown until after 9pm and coincidentally that meant parking the motorcycles was free. We were immediately seated after a warm welcome. Jess W was our server and she did a top notch job. I got the 6oz lobster roll with a side of clam chowder which was $53...tourist prices but the roll was top notch. It actually got delivered with the lobster bisque which I sent back after taking a taste. I would echo the sentiments of others in that it's a good thick soup but lacks in the meat department which is why I chose to have them bring me the clam chowder I originally ordered. It was full of potatoes and clam, I would get it again. There's not a lot of gluten-free options on the menu. The girlfriend opted for a garden salad ($11) topped with blackened haddock ($11) which was gluten free. It was a huge portion and more than enough to eat, she couldn't finish it. It was also very flavorful and juicy. Had we known it was going to be a lot of food we wouldn't have ordered the smoked trout dip but we are glad we did. It was $16 and they were able to bring it with extra veggies and put the crackers on the side for me to keep it gluten free. It was a decent sized portion and there were more than enough dippers and we quite enjoyed the salty smoked fish flavor. I asked for a local whiskey or bourbon and they don't server any sadly. The decor is mostly bar vibes. Dinner was $90 before taxes and $97 after before tip. I was very pleased with my lobster roll and would eat here again especially if we had another late arrival into town.

Lobster roll

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Orono Brewing Wicked Blueberry Ale

Paddy's Irish Pub & Restaurant

3.8(555 reviews)

0.2 mi

•$$$

I ordered the Smoked seafood chowder and cranberry focaccia bread. It was absolutely delicious,…read morecreamy, thick with lots of seafood and potatoes. The flavor was buttery, it had a swirl of olive oil on it that only enhanced the flavor. The chowder was supposed to come with crackers but our waiter Maicoll accommodated me by switching up to the focaccia bread and my oh my am I grateful he did! Thank you Maicoll! The atmosphere is a nice Irish pub, very clean and up to date furniture. My family and I didn't have to wait long for our food either. The next time I'm in town I'm definitely coming back here.

While I expected this to be a very stereotypical pub experience, the most disappointing was the…read moreservice. Our server was all over the place, at one point serving half my table drinks while leaving the rest of the drinks on the side and walking to another set of tables to take their order and get their check. While I completely understand the struggles of being understaffed, it was very odd to have someone leave midway through several times. This behavior continued when we tried to order food as well. The food was subpar, and there weren't many items on the menu that didn't feel heavily fried. I will say the nachos were my favorite as they felt the most flavorful, but everything else we ordered met my pub food expectations.

Housemade pretzel and blueberry ale

Sirloin, asparagus, fried sweet potato

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Finback Alehouse

3.8(614 reviews)

We just stopped in to grab a drink and get off our feet for a few. Excellent cocktails served by a…read morefriendly bartender. Beautiful wood bar and bar back.

LOVED Finback! The blueberry BBQ sauce on the Cowboy burger made it one of the best burgers I've…read moreever had. Flavorful, juicy, and perfectly cooked waffle fries with vinegar. Local hard cider available as well. The bar was fun- decorated with Christmas lights and very lively. Our server was helpful in making a selection.

Beer & chowdah.

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Store front

McKays Public House

3.8(756 reviews)

0.2 mi

We had an amazing dinner at McKay's tonight! Ana, Ashley and the owner were all very personable…read moreand helpful~ and made for a really fun evening! The food was excellent & the outdoor setting was so beautiful! We highly recommend McKays as part of your Bar Harbor experience!! ~The O'Malley's ~ Saratoga Springs, NY

An absolute skip. We were recommended the fish and chips as…read moretheir "specialty". It had the consistency of a sponge. Service was slow. Prices did not equal what we were served. They have nice outdoor seating, but skeeters all over the place.

The bar

Truffled seafood risotto

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Lompoc Cafe

4.0(240 reviews)

Love the tree house vibe on the patio. Our server Sam is…read morepolite and smart. Service quick. Food all home made, original- even the classics have original twist.

One of my favorite spots to eat at in Bar Harbor! A great spot if you're a vegetarian, they have…read moresome great plant based options and the food is delicious. I've been here more than once but on my most recent visit I had an amazing vegan dinner- a wonderful white bean and fiddlehead salad and a tahini carrot soup. So good! Great service and a cozy vibe inside, with a great patio outside.

Falafel platter

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Outside

Project Social Kitchen & Bar

4.4(466 reviews)

0.2 mi

WOW. I love Johnny & Nicole! I have traveled all over the world and this place has exceeded…read moreexpectations! Order one of their many exceptional cocktails to start, multiple plates, and a dessert because you're worth it. Don't skip this hot spot while you're in Bar Harbor.

Delicious! The patio was great to sit on at night during the warm weather. There are heaters and…read moreblankets available if needed. There was a slight wait so if you are impatient, go early. The dishes come out very quickly so when you are seated you'll eat fast! Everything is meant to be shared family style. Oysters were delicious. They were served on a pile of spice which was nice to dip the oyster in for more flavor. I have not had them this way before. The crab cakes were SO meaty. Almost no filler in these. Really good flavor. Scallops- one of our favorite bites. Seared perfectly. Some crunch with the toppings. Duck tacos- slight hint of spice to these but delicious. Roasted roots- I could eat a thousand of these plates. The golden beets and carrot combination was amazing. The vinaigrette was so well balanced I could not stop dipping in it.

Kale and Brussels salad with Asian miso slaw

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Craft Cocktail in Garden - Bar Harbor - Project Social Kitchen & Bar

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4 reviews that are not currently recommended

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amanda g.

4 months ago

If I could give this 0 stars I would. The service here is the worst I've had in my entire life. I've never been so taken aback by unprovoked rudeness in my life. The woman that works here is the human embodiment of misery and aggression. She needs to be medicated before SERVING the general public ever again. Experiences like this make me never want to return to Bar Harbor ever again. I'm beyond disappointed and disgusted. Don't work in hospitality or service if you have the decorum of a barn animal. A SHAME. read more

Phillip K.

3 years ago

Horrible service. Bartender randomly screamed at a family inside and ignored the rest of the customers. Will never step foot in this place again. read more

courtney m.

4 years ago

Horrible service. They kicked out a group of my male friends. They were all gay so I'm wondering if that's the reason?? read more

Ryan R.

4 years ago

The owner is a rude bastard. Told us to get the hell out for simply trying to use the restroom

The Barnacle - pubs - Updated October 2026

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The Loft Raw Bar & Seafood Grill

4.3

(145 reviews)

super convenient location to downtown, service was excellent and we really enjoyed the food! But I…read moream here to RAVE about the Blueberry pie! The best I have ever had and I am not a Pie person! But in Maine you have to try all of the blueberry items! This pie.....yummmm we took slices to go as I could not buy a whole pie! the oyster flight was amazing as well!

This restaurant is located at Bar Harbor downtown and it is at the second floor so technically…read morespeaking it is like a Loft. Nice atmosphere in the restaurant. We had one of the best clam chowders from the Loft during our trip! We also ordered a scallop risotto and braised pork bowl. I would say the scallop risotto is a disappointment as risotto is usually more wet and saucy. This didn't even strike as risotto to me given how dry and how much rice I had so it is kind of like a scallops rice bowl with some mushroom sauce. The braised pork bowl had a decent presentation and the braised porks were tasty as it was a bit caramelized so the texture was great! Though, when we viewed it as a whole rice bowl, the other ingredients made this fusion tasted awkward in terms of too many mixes of styles such as American, Korean and Chinese elements...

Siren & Sailor

4.4

(13 reviews)

Visiting family up in Bar Harbor was the perfect reason to check out this newly opened up spot. The…read morehost and staff overall were extremely welcoming and friendly. Despite being a smaller sized space and busy with the warm weather we had just a quick little wait before being seated. To start off our night all four of us at the table got a cocktail and they were all well made with great flavor! They have a great variety and looked to have a pretty complete bar for any cocktail to be made off menu as well! They also had two mocktails available. The cocktail prices were reasonable as well. Besides the drinks to start we also grabbed the French Onion Dip that had just a little spice kick to it with perfectly grilled focaccia. Entree wise our group tried a good variety of meals. Including White Wine Rigatoni, Cast Iron Mac (w/ Pork Belly), Bucatini, & Crispy Pork Belly. All of them were tasty and would be no brainers to order again. We also ended up trying some more cocktails as well and were easily convinced to get the Baked Alaska for dessert. Would definitely recommend it for the fire show! The only real negative thing I could say is that the wait for some of the things to arrive and service was slow. I do understand that they have just opened and are working through how everything works. Would 100% recommend coming for both drinks and food. Great addition to Bar Harbor!

The food was overall good, but could use improvement. It's a cute restaurant; however, the service…read morewas a little slow. I would recommend trying it out. Everybody's tastes and opinions are different. On the halibut that I wasn't really a fan of the relish, too much of a red bell pepper taste that overpowered the overall taste. The lobster roll was good with a decent amount of meat; however, the meat did seem a little well done.

Geddy's

3.9

(1.2k reviews)

From the restaurant window, you can see the water from which the lobster was caught. How do you…read moremanage to serve lobster this tasteless?! Very disappointing. I've had better lobster in the Midwest. On a brighter note....the cocktails were excellent, and the fish in the fish & chips was next level. And our server Ann did a great job. Didn't have the heart to tell her that the lobster sucked.

Bro, one of the best blueberry pies I've ever had, order it warm with ice cream. In fact, after…read moresampling plenty of Maine blueberry items over the course of our vacation, this was by far the best one. I would go here just for the pie alone. The pie earns this place 5 stars by itself. We started with the maple sriracha wings and while a bit pricy...we are in Bar Harbor after all...they were excellent and I'd get them again as a starter. The girlfriend got a painkiller and it was substantially large and very tasty, she was very happy with it. I tried a sip and thought it was good as well. The brown butter lobster roll was good, but I would get the Maine next time--I had gotten Maine style the night before so I had to switch it up. The regular fries are OK but the sweet potato fries are out of this world. The gf again was please with the fish and chips which are gluten-free and really good, she was blown away by the portion size once again. Slaw was on point. The decor was very eclectic and it was funny because they have a painting of a naked woman on the wall and these three young boys eating dinner at the table under it couldn't stop looking at it and giggling, it was hilarious! Moose head on the wall like all proper Maine establishments. Service was by Travis and he did a top-notch job, I'd request a table from him again in the future. And I would come back here the first night I was in town.

Galyn's

4.1

(951 reviews)

•$$$

We made a reservation for our first night in town based on the recommendation of our food tour…read moreguide. What a meal it was. Inside is a typical modern upscale restaurant with a second floor that overlooks the park and water. We began with a smooth lobster bisque and I had the haddock special. The special was prepared over glaze with sweety drop peppers and was beautifully prepared. Light and flaky, but with a lot of flavor. It's far too easy for these to come out overdone, but this was done wonderfully. I enjoyed my meal here and would definitely recommend if someone was looking for an upscale evening.

We Can NOT EMPHASIZE enough, AVOID at all costs. Just the RUDEST behavior on the Hostesses part &…read morethen Proprietor. Our party of 2 arrived separately. When the latter party arrived and asked the Hostess about the earlier seating she couldn't have been more unaccommodating. Likened to an old school marm in a film taking place in the 1800's....a ridiculously stern demeanor and not what a Hostess is meant to do- But Greet. She then had a vendetta, circling the table telling us what to do several times. It was BAFFLING. She next told the proprietor that we took a phone call at the table. The Proprietor comes over to scold us! Still Flabbergasted....we are 2 people sitting across a table. Our conversation stops so that we can answer the phone for a quick question taking less than 2 minutes. It's a full restaurant, a table of 6 next to us, everyone is engaged talking, eating, drinking. No one gave us a look, a nod or a sign that we were interrupting their good time. The food was average, not worth amount charged. The poor waitress was mortified and so apologetic as she witnessed the ordeal.

Veranda at Balance Rock Inn

4.2

(65 reviews)

Neat find! Located at valence rock in along shore path. Beautiful view over the grounds and to the…read moreocean! Sitting area by the bar was old world charm! Service was friendly and quick. Food was tasteful and full of flavor. Risotto was rich and creamy. The pork chop was well prepared but would have love a mashed potato. The bread service would have loved a flavored butter instead of ricotta. Scallop appetizer with Brussel spouts was great! Salad was super fresh.

We stayed in bar harbor for a few days and wanted to go somewhere nice. We found this place online…read moreand he had good reviews so we decided to give it a try. It is located in the Balance Rock Inn right on the Maine coast. Our server was very nice and was able to explain the dishes to us so that we could order the right amount of food. We ordered the crab fritter appetizer and it was really good. I had the scallops and my husband had the boar shank and not were very good. For dessert we had the pistachio semifreddo and again it was also very good. It's a quaint little place with a great view and the food and drinks were top notch. I don't think you can go wrong with anything you order and we will be back when we are in bar harbor again.

The Nor'Easter Pound & Market

4.2

(159 reviews)

The food, views, and service was top notch. We were wrong by believing hospitality only happens in…read morethe South. Our family of four all had positive things to say about the fish tacos, fish sandwich, and the burger. The local Maine beers were pleasant as well.

Parking lot available…read more Staff was friendly seating us a party of 18 (ten kids + 8 adults) Our server took our drink orders quickly and drinks came out fast. Which was great because it was during the heat wave. We thought we beat the heat leaving Jersey but it was still hot here. The food was great. My husband and I split the clam chowder, a lobster roll, and fish tacos. My kids had the Mac and cheese and another lobster roll. My sister and her husband got the lobster with shell dish-- lobster was on the cheaper end apparently ~ $40. All worth it. Will come back.

Havana

4.2

(760 reviews)

•$$$

This place is really a nice restaurant option in a lovely area of Bar Harbor. We ate in the dining…read moreroom and had a super energetic and fun waitress. They were so responsive when we requested a new table because a large party next to us was very loud and we wanted a quieter meal. We enjoyed the Maine oysters a lot. They were nice size and the accompanying sauces were great. The paella was the star of the show though. The scallops were so moist and tender and there was just the right spice level to the rice. There was plenty of shrimp, mussels, lobster chunks, chicken, and sausage. We really enjoyed our meal.

Went here for the Fourth of July 250th, and was not disappointed. I had a large party of 9 and…read morereserved way in advance, and the service was spectacular. Our waiter, HarHar, paid special attention to all of the allergies at our large table, including gluten free, pineapple, almonds, etc. The space is incredibly intimate, with live music. One thing that I would have wished for was more bathrooms, since there was frequently a line for them. However, not so intimate that we were smooshed together like sardines! EVERYTHING on that menu, including the paella, was spectacular. There was not a person in my party that left hungry that night- portions were large, and the food was extraordinary. I would absolutely come here again.

Copita

4.7

(36 reviews)

We visited twice during our stay. The second time was a bit less good, but it was late. Great…read moreservice and friendly staff. We really liked the halibut and the shrimp appetizer. Desserts were just average, but it was the best food we had in the area.

Shawna made us feel at home. It is always hard to find a good restaurant with good vegetarian…read moreoptions. The food was delicious. The cocktail and mocktail were very well made. I just wish I had room for dessert. This is a great place.

Dinner Bar Harbor

4.3

(25 reviews)

I had a great dinner here last night with friends! The staff were so nice and my dinner was…read moredelicious! Keep the beets and carrots appetizer as it's a winner!

Dinner in Bar Harbor tonight absolutely delivered…read more The French onion soup was next level. Rich, deeply flavored, perfectly melted cheese, and one of those dishes you keep thinking about after you leave. The fries and salad were both surprisingly spectacular too, not just filler on the plate. Everything we had was excellent, from the tacos to the seared tuna and scallops, but what really elevated the experience was the service. Our waiter was entertaining, friendly, and genuinely made the night fun. The kind of person who adds to the atmosphere instead of just taking your order.

West Street Cafe

4.0

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