Dining & Drinking in Midcoast Maine
We've curated a list for you of our favorite places to eat and drink in Midcoast Maine.
We recommend making reservations when available. Some places can book up months in advance!
Favorite Places - Walking Distance from Blue Harbor House Inn
Delicious Global cuisine, fantastic owners, and a fun vibe make this one of our favorite restaurants in downtown Camden. Right by the harbor, Fresh has outdoor dining, inside dining, or even dining at the bar. Our favorite dishes are the House Dip, Mussels, Moqueca (fish stew) and the JFC (Japanese Fried Chicken.) Be sure to have one of their specialty cocktails. Open May - December. Call for reservations.
The view from Barren's Distillery & Restaurant is the best in town. Overlooking the harbor and downtown Camden, it's also the best place to catch the sunset. The burger with Aldemere Farm beef is soooo good. We also love the Fish & Chips. But the tasting room, and cocktails made with Blue Barren's gins (all made here in Midcoast Maine) definitely make this a must-stop on your visit to Camden. Online Reservations. Open year-round.
When we moved to Camden, everyone said we needed to eat Thai food at Long Grain. We love Thai food, but we couldn't believe that it could be so good that everyone would recommend it. But after our first meal, we knew why. James Beard Award Winning Chef, Ravin "Bas" Nakjaroen's makes hands down the best Thai food. How does he make it so good? No idea. But if you can get reservations here, you should. Open year-round. Call for reservations or take-out.
Mosaic is the newest restaurant in town, and we LOVE it! Offering the closest thing to GOOD Mexican food in Maine, it gives these former Texans the spice and flavor we miss so much. Tacos, Paella, Street Corn, Chips & Salsa, spicy margarita, churros... We have eaten here weekly since they opened. Order take-out online, enjoy lunch or dinner at the bar, or call for a reservation.
THE VIEW
& VINTAGE ROOM
The View is a rooftop bar at the top of 16 Bayview Hotel. Great cocktails and small bites, with amazing views of Camden harbor and Mt. Battie make this a fun place to hang out during the summer months, weather permitting. Open seasonally. The Vintage Room is a swanky cocktail lounge on the ground floor of the same hotel. Usually open when The View is not... this is a chic place to enjoy a cocktail.
WATERFRONT RESTAURANT
Waterfront Restaurant is a wonderful seafood restaurant right on the water. Enjoy overlooking the boats in the harbor while dining on fresh Maine lobster, haddock, mussels & more. Waterfront also has great burgers for those who need a break from seafood. No reservations for parties less than 6. Open year-round. Closed Tuesdays.
MIXED GREENS or
THE SMOOTHIE SHACK
Mixed Greens offers the best salads in town. This is one of our favorite places to grab lunch on the go. They also have indoor seating if you'd rather dine inside. The Garden Cobb and Spicy Salmon are our favorites. The Smoothie Shack makes awesome smoothies for days when you just want something light, but they also make yummy wraps! Both serve lunch only. Mixed Greens is open year-round. The Smoothie Shack only during summer.
LUCKY BETTY'S
This funky bar is just up the street, and is one of our favorite places to grab a drink and chat with the locals. We prefer to sit at the bar and chat with the owner Daiva, but there are plenty of tables inside. And when the weather is warm, the garage doors are open and the patio is usually packed. Expect fun music, candlelight, PBRs, and fancy olives. Only open Sundays - Wednesdays.
Favorite Places - Short Drive from Blue Harbor House Inn
MCLOONS LOBSTER SHACK
Best Lobster Shack in Maine. McLoons Lobster Shack is about 30 minutes from our inn, in a lobster village, right on the water. The freshest lobster right off the boat. You will enjoy your beautiful drive to reach this shack in the middle of nowhere. The atmosphere right on the water makes the whole experience one of the best memories you'll have here in Maine. Closed for the season on Sep 25.
PRIMO RESTAURANT
Make your reservation now. Primo Restaurant is in Rockland, about 15 minutes from our inn. James Beard Award-Winning chef, Melissa Kelly, brings the concept of farm-to-table to life by having the farm right there, on site. You can visit the pigs, see where they grow their veggies, herbs, and flowers, walk the grounds, and know that your meal is locally sourced. On Sundays they offer $1 oysters from local oyster farms (and other munchies if you aren't an oyster fan.) It's one of our favorite thing to do on Sundays! Open May - January. Make reservations online.
CELLARDOOR WINERY
If you love wine, gorgeous scenery, and amazing architecture, you will want to include CellarDoor Winery on your list of places to visit in Midcoast Maine. The scenic 10 minute drive from Camden to the vineyard and tasting room in Lincolnville, adds to the experience. You can enjoy tastings, walk through the vineyard, or purchase wine and gifts in their gift shop. Open year-round. Check for days/hours online. Make reservations online.
THE CAUSEWAY at CRAIGNAIR INN
Headed to Marshall Point Lighthouse? Want to go hiking on the St. George peninsula? Want to enjoy a fantastic meal overlooking the water? Make your reservation at The Causeway at Craignair Inn. We love the views, the owners, and the food! Everything is so good. Reservations online. Open year-round.
GRAFFAM BROTHERS SEAFOOD MARKET
Technically you could walk from our inn... it's a little over a mile from us and right along the "Prettiest Walk in America" from Camden to Rockport. The Fried Haddock sandwich is our favorite. I am not lying when I tell you we eat lunch here almost weekly during the summer. No reservations. Open year-round.
WHALE'S TOOTH PUB
Check out the view of Lincolnville Beach from the outside deck of Whale's Tooth Pub. Only 10 minutes north of Camden, you can spend the day on the beach, and then enjoy a wonderful meal and drinks at the pub afterwards. The owners are former guests of Blue Harbor House Inn that decided they wanted to move to Maine after their visit. They bought the Whale's Tooth and we love it. Reservations online. Open year-round.
THE POUR FARM
This brewery is literally in the middle of nowhere. In the woods. By a creek. About 20 minutes from our inn. The coolest brewery ever. Bring friends. Make new friends. Enjoy cold brews. We love this little piece of Maine.
THE LOST KITCHEN
The Lost Kitchen is the creation of James Beard Award Winning chef, Erin French. It's in Freedom, Maine, about 45 minutes from our inn. The only way to get reservations is to send in a postcard in April, and hope they select your card! We were fortunate to have our card drawn in 2019. We enjoyed the most amazing meal, with at least 9 courses, spread out over the entire evening. They only have one seating per night. If you can get reservations here, you will talk about your dinner experience for years to come. Open seasonally.