Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina, Bar Harbor

Location

It’s hard to imagine a better location in Bar Harbor. Perched at the ocean edge, with breathtaking views of Frenchman’s Bay, this Victorian-style seaside retreat is near the shops and restaurants of Bar Harbor yet just a mile and a half from Maine’s national treasure, Acadia National Park. Comprising 47,000 acres, the islands of Acadia offer timeless networks of walking and cycling tracks, extraordinary ocean-side drives, off-island whale-watching, legendary lobster shacks, and the highest peak on America’s Atlantic coast, Cadillac Mountain.

Accommodation 

Nearly all of the Harborside’s 193 stylish rooms and suites have fantastic views of Frenchman’s Bay. Many feature semi-private or private balconies, while others offer kitchens complete with electric stoves, microwaves and full-size fridge-freezers; dining rooms with tables for six or more; hot tubs and gas-burning fireplaces. To really push the boat out – if you’ll excuse the pun – opt for a Boathouse Suite, whose rooftop jacuzzis beneath the stars are just what’s required after an afternoon of whale watching or a day’s hiking in Acadia National Park. Guests with their own yachts can dock at the hotel’s marina and take advantage of the facilities on offer.

Dining 

Maine and lobster are all but synonymous, with more than half of America’s total catch being caught each year along the state’s rugged coastline. Few restaurants do it better than Stewman’s Lobster Pound at the Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina. And if you’ve had your fill of lobster, you’ll find mussels, clam chowder and fresh blueberry pie to be perennial favourites too. Yet Stewman’s is just one of four great restaurants on offer. For a taste of the ‘old country’ try the Italian delicacies of La Bella Vita; for a light bite or a hand-crafted cocktail, the Splash Pool Bar; or if you’re in the mood for tapas, the Enoteca Wine Bar won’t fail to impress.

Facilities

The private beach, large oceanfront pool and decadent spa are the focal point of the hotel, so much so that we recommend booking spa treatments at least two weeks in advance in peak season. You’ll be glad you did though, with a carefully curated menu of treatments to choose from, from relaxing massages and restorative facials to indulgent body treatments, manicures and pedicures. Other on-site facilities include tennis courts and a fitness centre, while away from the hotel grounds there’s everything to keep you busy from whale-watching and sea kayaking to guided hikes and mountain biking.