For some restaurants in Maine, the view is as much of a feast as the menu. Living in one of the most beautiful states in the country, Mainers take pride in showing off the scenery right alongside the food and hospitality. Here are eight restaurants in Maine with particularly spectacular views.
What are your favorite views from a Maine restaurant? Sound off in the comments or by emailing news@bangordailynews.com.
Mason’s Brewing Company, Brewer
The sunsets at Mason’s in Brewer are unbeatable — especially if you’re lucky enough to have snagged a table on its expansive deck overlooking the Penobscot River. It sits directly on Brewer’s Riverwalk, a perfect spot for people-watching and good vibes. Even better is to have gotten a seat outside during a concert at the Maine Savings Amphitheater across the river in Bangor: the next best thing to actually being inside the venue. Try the ahi tuna salad or the sweet hot mess burger, and pair either with Mason’s signature Hipster Apocalypse IPA.
Young’s Lobster Pound, Belfast
After you’ve retrieved your tray of goodies — a classic lobster dinner, say, or a lobster roll, perhaps with corn on the cob and blueberry pie on the side — you sit down on a picnic table and start to dig in. Belfast Bay laps at the pilings on Young’s enormous dockside patio. Seabirds careen overhead. Boats ply the harbor. “Have I achieved Maine nirvana?” you think to yourself, as you shove lobster into your head.
The Dolphin Marina and Restaurant, Harpswell
For a more refined dockside experience, the seasonally open Dolphin in Harpswell has got it all. Chowder, lobster, blueberry everything and a working marina for those arriving by boat. From the location on a peninsula in Casco Bay, you can spot little islands, monuments, lots of marine life and an iconic Maine lighthouse right from your table.
Jordan Pond House, Acadia National Park
It’s hard to argue with the scenic beauty of the Jordan Pond House in Acadia National Park. You’re nestled among mountains and waters in one of the most beloved national parks in the world, and you get to eat the restaurant’s famous popovers with strawberry butter. You’d do well to make reservations, especially on a weekend — it’s been a dining destination for decades.
Reading Room, Bar Harbor
A few miles away in the tourism mecca of Bar Harbor, there are a plethora of dining options. There’s only one that truly gives you the full sweeping view of the picturesque harbor, and that’s the Reading Room restaurant at the Bar Harbor Inn. The panoramic windows inside this white tablecloth staple of Mount Desert Island dining give you a view of Frenchman Bay that no one else has. And, it’s indoors, so if it’s a particularly muggy summer day you can enjoy the scenery without breaking a sweat.
Blair Hill Inn, Greenville
The rugged beauty of Maine’s forested interior meets fine dining at the Blair Hill Inn in Greenville, which sits perched atop a hill overlooking Moosehead Lake. It’s gorgeous in the summer, of course, but it’s even better in the fall, when the world is dressed up in its autumnal best. The winter is great, too, for that matter, when the coziness factor really kicks in.
River Drivers Restaurant, Millinocket
So you want to go out to eat and have a view of Katahdin while you do it. Your best — and really only — option is River Drivers Restaurant in Millinocket, which has direct views of Maine’s highest mountain. Luckily for you, the food is great, and the convenience is unparalleled, with fishing, paddling, biking, hiking, snowmobiling and other outdoor activities available at the restaurant’s parent organization, the New England Outdoors Center, which is literally next door.
Lakeview Restaurant, St. Agatha
Nestled up in the northern reaches of the state, this longtime family restaurant offers sweeping views of Long Lake and the surrounding rolling fields and hills of the St. John Valley. There’s a big, filling and affordable menu, and The County hospitality is legendary. Brush up on your French skills to really get the full experience.