Last updated August 3, 2026
Two ways to eat well here: bring the makings of a lobster night back to the house, or drive over for a table in town. Stock up in Ellsworth on the way in and you'll barely need to leave.
Lobster, right up the road
You pass the lobster on the way to the house. Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound is the classic pound just before the bridge to Mount Desert Island — steamers over the fire, seasonal. Downeast Lobster Pound is another Trenton option nearby. Either makes an easy pick-up for a lobster dinner on the deck (the kitchen has the pot and tools).
Provision first, in Ellsworth
Ellsworth, about 12 minutes away, is where to load up before you settle in: Hannaford for a full grocery run and a pharmacy, and a Walmart Supercenter for everything else. Do it on the drive from the airport and your first evening is yours.
In summer, both Bar Harbor and Ellsworth run seasonal farmers markets — local produce, bread, cheese, and the kind of berries that don't travel. Market days and locations shift with the season, so check the current schedules once you're here; a market morning pairs well with an early bridge crossing or the Ellsworth grocery run.
A couple of dependable tables
When you want to be waited on, Side Street Cafe (casual, lobster rolls, good for families) and Geddy's (a Main Street institution) are reliable Bar Harbor standbys. For breakfast, Sylvia's Cafe in Ellsworth is the local pick — hearty and unpretentious, and home of the notorious "Hibernator" breakfast challenge if someone in your group is feeling brave. In Bar Harbor, the Thirsty Whale Tavern is the dependable, no-fuss pub table — chowder, a lobster roll, and a cold beer after a day in the park.
Hours and seasons shift — worth a quick check the day of.
For the full dining shortlist — ranked by price, from lobster in the rough to date night — see the journal piece, Where the Owners Eat Near Acadia.
Common questions
Where's the best lobster near Eagles Nest?
Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound, just before the bridge to Mount Desert Island and only a few minutes from the house, is the classic spot — steamers over the fire in season. It's an easy pick-up for a lobster dinner on the deck; the kitchen has the pot and tools.
Where should I buy groceries near Acadia?
Ellsworth, about 12 minutes from the house, has the last full-size stores before Mount Desert Island — a Hannaford for a full grocery run and pharmacy, and a Walmart Supercenter. Stock up on the way in and your first evening is free.
Where's a good breakfast near Eagles Nest?
Sylvia's Cafe in Ellsworth is the local breakfast pick — hearty and unpretentious, and home of the notorious Hibernator breakfast challenge. In Bar Harbor, the Thirsty Whale Tavern is a dependable casual table for chowder and a lobster roll.