The Complete Guide to the Best Bars in Bar Harbor, Maine

Where To Grab A Drink Around Acadia National Park

Bar Harbor is a lot of things: a gateway to Acadia, a lobster roll pilgrimage destination, and a town that somehow feels like a village, no matter how many cruise ships are anchored in the harbor. But one thing people don’t talk about enough is the drinking scene, and after spending six months living here last summer, I can tell you it’s genuinely impressive for a town this size.

From a six-seat speakeasy hidden behind a gift shop to a rooftop deck with 45 taps, from smoky cedar-plank Old Fashioneds to Latin-inspired pisco sours at an Obama-approved restaurant, Bar Harbor has range. The town’s identity drink is unquestionably blueberry. Wild Maine blueberries show up in ales, mules, mojitos, margaritas, and kombucha cocktails at nearly every establishment, and that’s not gimmicky; it’s genuinely delicious, and it tastes like this place.

A couple of things to know before we dive in: most of the scene is seasonal (May through October), and the town largely shuts down by 9 or 10 PM. A handful of year-round spots and late-night holdouts keep things interesting even when the summer crowd has gone home, and I’ll flag those throughout. But if you’re visiting during peak season, here are every bar, pub, brewery, and cocktail spot worth knowing about.

Planning your Bar Harbor trip? Don’t miss these guides:

The 18 Best Things To Do In Bar Harbor, Maine The Foodie’s Guide To Bar Harbor, Maine Bar Harbor Boat Tours & Water Activities: The Complete Guide The Schoodic Peninsula: Acadia’s Best Kept Secret

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The Speakeasy Hidden in a Gift Shop

Rebel Lobster Speakeasy – Inside The Maine Store, 152 Main Street

This is Bar Harbor’s worst-kept secret and its most intimate drinking experience, and I love it for both.

Walk through a charming Maine-themed gift shop selling jewelry and local goods, past the shelves, and find just six to eight seats at a tiny bar tended by owner Darrin, a natural storyteller who will recommend hikes, share town lore, and keep an impeccable playlist spinning. The entire concept is all-Maine: every craft wine, beer, spirit, and custom cocktail features products made in the state. Expect Atlantic Brewing’s Blueberry Ale and Cadillac Mountain Stout alongside Maine craft spirits mixed into Darrin’s custom cocktails.

Reviews are universally ecstatic, with perfect scores on TripAdvisor and Yelp, and visitors calling it “BY far, my favorite establishment in Bar Harbor.” It’s the kind of place that feels like a discovery even though half the town knows about it.

Good to know: Hours roughly follow the gift shop, 11 AM to 8 PM daily, May through October. One important note: the speakeasy may be relocating because the neighboring inn is expanding. As of early 2026, it was still at 152 Main Street, but call ahead or check their Facebook page before visiting.

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The Cocktail Bar Serious Drinkers Seek Out

Cottage Street Pub – 21 Cottage Street

A 15-seat indoor bar plus a small patio, Cottage Street Pub punches far above its size with one of the best cocktail programs in Bar Harbor. Owner-bartender Tessa runs a house-infused spirits and barrel-aged cocktails program that draws on a Nashville-level cocktail-bar sensibility, which makes sense because the owners have exactly that background.

The showstopper is the Smoky Old Fashioned: a cedar plank is set on fire at the bar, the smoke fills the glass, and then the drink is built inside it. Theatrical and genuinely delicious. Other signatures include the Blueberry Mojito (made with blueberry vodka distilled from Maine potatoes and wild blueberries), La Turista Borracha, Dirty Water (the house signature), Watermelon Crawl, and a proper Vieux Carré. Free popcorn, great music, no food menu. 21+ only.

Multiple reviewers call it the best cocktails in Bar Harbor, and I don’t disagree.

Good to know: Seasonal only – Memorial Day through October. Instagram: @cottagestreetpub.

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Fine Dining Bars Where the Cocktails Rival the Food

Table Salt – 195 Main Street

Table Salt opened in May 2025 and immediately became Bar Harbor’s most talked-about cocktail program.

The Charred Hive is their signature: a rosemary sprig lit on fire and doused with gin, honey, and ginger, producing a dramatic plume of aromatic smoke before your glass. The First Crush blends blueberry-infused Aperol with tequila over pellet ice. Other standouts include a Smoked Sazerac, rich Old Cubans, and an Angel’s Envy Old Fashioned that uses premium bourbon and showcases exactly why that whiskey has the following it does.

Brian’s favorite dish is the Lamb Shank, and mine is the Cornish Game Hen, but honestly, we’ve been known to sit at the bar, skip dinner entirely, and just work our way through cocktails while Angel’s handcrafted chocolate truffles get paired with wines or whiskeys. The wine list is also surprisingly well-priced for the caliber of the restaurant.

Bar seating is available, and I recommend asking for it specifically. Open for dinner only, 5-9 PM, Thursday through Saturday in spring, then nightly June through October. Seasonal. Reservations via Resy. tablesaltbarharbor.com

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Havana – 318 Main Street

Havana is Bar Harbor’s most acclaimed restaurant, a Wine Spectator “Best of Award of Excellence” winner every year since 2004, and the cocktail program matches that reputation.

The vibe is Latin American and lively. Expect properly made Pisco Sours, a Cuba Libre with Gosling’s Gold Rum and Mexican glass-bottled Coca-Cola (real cane sugar, as it should be), Caipirinhas with cachaça, and the Havana Martini with aged rum, Cointreau, fresh lime, and pineapple. The bourbon list gets consistent praise for being extensive and reasonably priced, which is refreshing at a restaurant of this caliber.

The Parrilla – an outdoor tapas bar converted from a garage — is the ideal spot for drinks without committing to the full dining experience. Barack and Michelle Obama ate here in 2010. The food is phenomenal (the Latin-influenced menu with local Maine ingredients is unlike anything else in town), but you can absolutely just come for cocktails and be very happy about it.

Good to know: Open Tuesday–Sunday, 4–9 PM. Mostly year-round with a short winter break from mid-February through early April. Reservations via OpenTable or havanamaine.com.

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The Old Fashioned Showdown

Your girl is an old-fashioned girl, so I make sure to try them everywhere. Three bars compete for Bar Harbor’s best Old Fashioned, each taking a completely different approach.

Table Salt leans premium and precise – the Angel’s Envy Old Fashioned reflects Dan Bockman’s Nashville cocktail pedigree. It’s the choice for bourbon connoisseurs who want craft and intention in every step.

Leary’s Landing (more on them below) builds theirs on what is reportedly the largest whiskey selection in Bar Harbor, over 50 whiskeys, which gives them the depth to offer variations most pubs can’t offer. The Irish pub setting adds warmth and character, making the drink feel like it belongs in the glass.

Cottage Street Pub goes all-out with the cedar-plank Smoky Old Fashioned. If you want drama with your bourbon, Cottage Street wins.

My verdict: for refinement, Table Salt. For whiskey depth and atmosphere, Leary’s. For the most memorable experience, Cottage Street. I’m not picking a single winner, and I will not be taking feedback.

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The Irish Pub That Actually Lives Up to the Name

Leary’s Landing Irish Pub – 156 Main Street

Leary’s claims to be the closest Irish pub to Ireland in the U.S., which is both a fun piece of trivia and genuinely plausible given Bar Harbor’s position on the easternmost coastline. Established in 2007 and one of the few bars in town that’s open year-round, it’s a true local anchor.

The Blueberry Mule is the house signature cocktail. The whiskey selection tops 50 bottles, the largest in Bar Harbor, and the Guinness is poured correctly, which sounds like a low bar but isn’t. The food is exceptional: the lobster rolls get called “best anywhere ever” by reviewers, the Rodeo Burger comes with blueberry BBQ sauce, and the wings with blueberry glaze are crispy, sweet, spicy, and sticky in exactly the right proportions. Thursday trivia at 7 PM draws locals out even in the off-season.

Good to know: Winter hours are Monday–Saturday, 11:30 AM-8 PM (the bar stays open later); closed Sunday. Summer hours extend to 10-11 PM and include Sundays. Dog-friendly at outdoor tables. Put your name on the waitlist via their website if you’re visiting during peak season. learyslanding.com.

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The Brewery Trail

Atlantic Brewing Company

Atlantic Brewing created America’s original blueberry ale in 1993, when a local farmer showed up at the brewery with a truckload of wild Maine blueberries. That happy accident produced Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale, a light amber ale with a subtle blueberry aroma and zero cloying sweetness, which now has over 23,800 ratings on Untappd and is available at essentially every bar and restaurant in town. It’s the most iconic drink in Bar Harbor and the one you should have at least once, ideally with your feet up somewhere overlooking the harbor.

Beyond the flagship, their lineup includes Bar Harbor Real Ale (their original 1991 brown ale), Island Ginger (brewed with over 20 pounds of fresh ginger per batch), Mountain Hopper IPA, Coal Porter, and the fascinating Brother Adam’s Braggot, a honey-fermented ale aged six months, named for a monk who saved the bee industry. All of it is excellent.

Town Hill Tasting Room & Brewery (15 Knox Road) is the main facility, set on a 19th-century Maine farmstead with spacious outdoor seating, the Mainely Meat Bar-B-Que restaurant serving smoked meats alongside 12 draft lines, and brewery tours on Friday–Sunday at 3 PM. Open late May through mid-October, roughly 11 AM-7 PM daily. Dog-friendly on the patio.

Midtown Tasting Room (52 Cottage Street, downtown) is the small-batch pilot facility where guest brewers collaborate on experimental recipes. It exclusively serves a House Beer not available anywhere else, plus flights, pints, and growlers. Listed as open year-round with limited winter hours (Friday–Sunday). Dog-friendly at both locations. https://www.atlanticbrewing.com/

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Jack Russell’s Steakhouse & Brewery – 102 Eden Street

The Maine Coast Brewing Company operates on-site here, producing a Wild Blueberry Ale, Bar Harbor Gold, Black Irish Stout, and an IPA. The building itself is a Gilded Age-era gardener’s cottage from the original Vanderbilt Estate, “Four Acres,” featuring original leaded-glass windows; it’s genuinely beautiful, and most people walk past it without knowing what it is.

The real draw is USDA Prime steaks alongside house-brewed beer, with complimentary soft pretzels and mustard dip starting every meal. Owner Tom St. Germain (a local author and Bar Harbor institution) is often found behind the grill line.

Good to know: Dinner only from 4 PM, seven days a week in season. Dog-friendly outdoor seating, call ahead to confirm. steakbarharbor.com.

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A note on Fogtown Brewing

I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t mention this: Fogtown’s Bar Harbor taproom on Cottage Street permanently closed in February 2025 due to staffing challenges and the housing crisis on Mount Desert Island (a very real issue affecting the whole town). The brewery now operates exclusively from its Ellsworth location at 25 Pine Street, about 20 minutes from Bar Harbor. It’s a great spot, beer garden, wood-fired pizza, creative beers including a Tropical Milkshake IPA and an Oyster Stout made with actual Deer Isle oysters, live music, dogs welcome. Worth the drive, but plan for it as a separate excursion rather than a downtown Bar Harbor stop.

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The Locals’ Bars

Thirsty Whale Tavern – 40 Cottage Street

The Thirsty Whale is Bar Harbor’s definitive late-night spot and the place where everyone ends up eventually. Open 11 AM to 1 AM daily, the latest closing time in town, with 14 draft lines, no pretension, wooden paneling, and locals mixing freely with tourists.

The food is the real surprise. The lobster bisque is repeatedly called the best people have ever had. The fish and chips draw UK comparisons. The fried seafood platter gets called “probably the best I’ve ever had.” The $20 daily specials (Sunday through Thursday from 4 PM) rotate through lobster rolls, steak, and fish fry and represent some of the best value in town.

Expect lines out the door on summer Saturday nights. Live music some evenings. Outdoor garden seating available. Over 1,200 Yelp reviews at a 4.5-star average.

Good to know: Takes a short winter break but reopens mid-March. Year-round otherwise. Website: thirstywhaletavern.com.

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Tap & Barrel Tavern – 41 Rodick Street (also known as “The Bar”)

Tap & Barrel opened in 2018 and became a local favorite almost immediately, largely because the food is genuinely chef-level and the bourbon list is the largest north of Portland. It’s the kind of place where you come in for one drink and end up staying for dinner.

The Big Tap Burger gets called the best north of Portland. The Short Rib Grilled Cheese and Duck Birria Tacos are both excellent. The bourbon program is deep, the rotating Maine craft taps are well-curated, and the chef-owner personally checks on guests, you’ll notice the difference.

Good to know: Open 11:30 AM to midnight daily, kitchen until 9 PM. Dog-friendly patio. Instagram: @tapandbarrel_barharbor. tapandbarreltavern.com.

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McKay’s Public House – 231 Main Street

McKay’s occupies a gorgeous Victorian house with original fireplaces, copper-topped tables, oak wainscoting, and stained glass windows. The first floor has an inviting copper bar; the second floor houses an intimate wine bar made entirely of coastal granite, the closest thing Bar Harbor has to a dedicated wine bar and a genuinely beautiful space.

The food is elevated pub fare with global accents: lamb burgers, seafood risotto, local oysters, and a boozy chocolate mousse that reviewers return specifically for. The lush garden patio with heaters makes for excellent people-watching. The vibe is somewhere between drinks-after-work and date night, and it’s one of those places where the line between locals and tourists quietly dissolves.

Good to know: Open year-round, dinner nightly from 5 PM (lunch in summer Monday–Saturday, 11:30 AM–2:30 PM). Dog-friendly in the garden. mckayspublichouse.com.

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Lompoc Cafe & Brewpub – 36 Rodick Street

The Lompoc is Bar Harbor’s bohemian institution, established in 1989, originally the birthplace of Atlantic Brewing Company, and still running on the same spirit of unpretentiousness and good times. The beer garden under maple trees has a bocce ball court, live music on Friday and Saturday nights (jazz, blues, original rock), and daily happy hour from 3:30 to 5 PM. The tap list includes Atlantic Brewing ales, Maine Beer Company’s beloved Lunch IPA, and house-brewed beers.

The food is wonderfully eclectic, banh mi, falafel, meatloaf, and daily specials, and the crowd skews more College of the Atlantic and local than tourist-heavy. Seasonal only. Open Tuesday–Sunday, 4:30 PM to midnight, closed Monday.

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Finback Alehouse – 30 Cottage Street

Finback is the year-round sister venue to Cottage Street Pub, run by the same owner. A beautiful space with a 1970s hand-crafted wooden bar and Art Deco tin ceiling, 80+ seats, and 16+ taps dedicated to Maine and New England craft beers. The smash burgers and waffle fries are solid pub fare.

What makes Finback essential in the off-season is its year-round live music and karaoke program, weekends keep rolling even through winter, plus an annual New Year’s Eve party that the whole town shows up for.

Good to know: Open Tuesday–Saturday, 2 PM to midnight.

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More Spots Worth a Stop

Bar Harbor Beer Works (119 Main Street) – The best view-plus-beer combination downtown, with a rooftop deck overlooking Main Street and 45 rotating taps heavy on Maine craft brews. Beer flights of six four-ounce pours let you sample widely. Weekday happy hour 4–6 PM, $2 off all 45 taps. The building also houses the One Off Pub (one-keg-wonder small-batch beers) and Carmen Verandah (Bar Harbor’s only nightclub). Seasonal only, May through October.

The Black Friar Inn & Pub (10 Summer Street) – Built largely from materials salvaged from the Gilded Age mansions that burned in Bar Harbor’s Great Fire of 1947. Stained glass windows, a spiral staircase, ornate woodwork, and the best happy hour deal in town: $6 draft beers, $6 house wine, and $2 oysters, 4–6 PM daily. Open to the public (not just inn guests). Seasonal, Mother’s Day weekend through mid-November.

The Barnacle Pub & Oyster Bar (112 Main Street) – Pairs Cadillac Oysters from Frenchman Bay with inventive cocktails using local ingredients: a Blueberry Kombucha Cocktail, a Gin & Blueberry with Maine rhubarb vermouth, and a Nitro Cold Brew Espresso Martini. Happy hour 3–5 PM with oyster and drink specials.

Geddy’s (19 Main Street) – A Bar Harbor institution for 40+ years, best known for the Volcano Bowl: vodka, gin, brandy, amaretto, Bacardi 151, pineapple and orange juice, set ablaze at the table. Shareable and spectacular. Year-round.

Bar Harbor Inn’s Reading Room (Newport Drive) – The most scenic cocktail experience in town with Frenchman Bay waterfront views. Try the “Drop In The Blues” ($17) – blueberry-basil limoncello, Maine 22 Vodka, Prosecco, edible sparkle) or the “Smoked Blueberry Margarita” ($16) – blanco tequila, blueberry simple, lime, Tajin rim, mezcal floater). Worth it for the view alone.

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The Blueberry Drink Map: Every Blueberry Drink in Bar Harbor

Wild Maine blueberries are the throughline of Bar Harbor’s entire drinking culture, and I take this very seriously. Here is every blueberry drink I tracked down across town over six months:

Atlantic Brewing Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale – Available everywhere. The original. The icon. Subtle fruit, no sweetness. The one you must have before you leave.

Leary’s Landing Blueberry Mule – Blueberry vodka and ginger beer, Moscow Mule-style. The house signature.

Table Salt First Crush – Blueberry-infused Aperol with tequila over pellet ice. Elegant, summery, dangerously drinkable.

Cottage Street Pub Blueberry Mojito – Maine Distilleries’ blueberry vodka (distilled from Maine potatoes and wild blueberries), fresh blueberries, mint. Multiple reviewers’ single favorite drink in Bar Harbor.

Bar Harbor Inn “Drop In The Blues” – Blueberry-basil limoncello, Maine 22 Vodka, Prosecco, edible sparkle. Views included.

Bar Harbor Inn “Smoked Blueberry Margarita” – Blanco tequila, blueberry simple syrup, lime, Tajin rim, mezcal floater. Easily one of the most interesting cocktails in town.

The Barnacle Blueberry Kombucha Cocktail – Maine blueberry kombucha, vodka, raspberry seltzer. The health-conscious option.

The Barnacle Gin & Blueberry – London Dry Gin, Maine rhubarb vermouth, blueberry kombucha.

Jack Russell’s Wild Blueberry Ale – House-brewed blueberry beer from Maine Coast Brewing. A great comparison to Atlantic’s version.

Bar Harbor Beer Works Blueberry Habanero Wing Sauce – Technically food, but the sauce belongs on this list.

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The Practical Guide: Hours, Dogs, Late Nights & Happy Hours

Year-round bars (your options when the town goes quiet November through April): Leary’s Landing, Thirsty Whale (short winter break, reopens mid-March), McKay’s Public House, Finback Alehouse, Havana (short February break), Dog & Pony Tavern, and Geddy’s.

Late-night options are scarce. Thirsty Whale closes at 1 AM – the latest in town. Tap & Barrel, Finback, Lompoc, and Dog & Pony all close at midnight. Most bars stop serving between 8 and 10 PM. If you want to keep going past 10, head to Thirsty Whale or Tap & Barrel first and stay there.

Best happy hours: Black Friar Inn 4–6 PM ($6 drafts, $6 wine, $2 oysters – best deal in town); Bar Harbor Beer Works 4–6 PM weekdays ($2 off all 45 taps); Lompoc Cafe 3:30–5 PM daily; The Barnacle 3–5 PM.

Dog-friendly patios: Leary’s Landing, Tap & Barrel, Atlantic Brewing (both locations), The Barnacle, Cottage Street Pub, Jack Russell’s (call ahead), and McKay’s garden.

No cover charges anywhere in town.

Best for date night: Havana, McKay’s second-floor wine bar, Table Salt bar seating, Cottage Street Pub, Bar Harbor Inn’s Reading Room.

Best for groups: Atlantic Brewing’s Town Hill (spacious grounds plus BBQ), Lompoc Cafe (beer garden, bocce), Thirsty Whale (outdoor garden), Finback Alehouse (80+ seats).

Live music: Lompoc Cafe has the most consistent schedule with jazz, blues, and rock on Friday and Saturday nights in the beer garden. Finback Alehouse runs open mics and karaoke year-round. Bar Harbor Beer Works has live music Thursdays. The scene requires some hunting — as one local put it, “it’s like a scavenger hunt, you have to be motivated.” Which is honestly very on-brand for Bar Harbor.

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FAQ: Where to Drink in Bar Harbor, Maine

What is the best bar in Bar Harbor? It depends on what you’re after. For the best cocktails, Cottage Street Pub or Table Salt. For the best atmosphere and year-round accessibility, Leary’s Landing or McKay’s Public House. For the best late-night experience, Thirsty Whale. For the most unique experience, Rebel Lobster Speakeasy, call ahead.

What is the most famous drink in Bar Harbor? Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale from Atlantic Brewing Company, created in 1993 and available at virtually every bar and restaurant in town. It’s the drink that defines Bar Harbor’s identity more than any other.

Who makes the best Old Fashioned in Bar Harbor? Three bars compete seriously: Table Salt for refinement (Angel’s Envy bourbon, Nashville cocktail pedigree), Leary’s Landing for whiskey depth (50+ bottles), and Cottage Street Pub for spectacle (cedar plank smoke). All three are worth trying. I genuinely can’t pick one winner.

What bars in Bar Harbor are open year-round? Leary’s Landing, McKay’s Public House, Finback Alehouse, Havana (with a short February break), Dog & Pony Tavern, and Geddy’s. The Thirsty Whale takes a short winter break but reopens mid-March.

What is the Rebel Lobster Speakeasy? A tiny six-to-eight-seat bar hidden inside The Maine Store gift shop at 152 Main Street, serving all-Maine craft beers, wines, and custom cocktails. Owned by Darrin, reviewed as one of the best bars in town, seasonal. Call ahead, there were plans to relocate as of early 2026.

Are there dog-friendly bars in Bar Harbor? Yes, Leary’s Landing, Tap & Barrel, Atlantic Brewing (both locations), The Barnacle, and McKay’s garden all welcome leashed dogs. Jack Russell’s outdoor seating is dog-friendly; call ahead to confirm.

What is the best blueberry drink in Bar Harbor? Atlantic Brewing’s Blueberry Ale for beer. The Blueberry Mojito at Cottage Street Pub for cocktails. The “Drop In The Blues” at the Bar Harbor Inn’s Reading Room if you want something sparkling with a view.

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Bar Harbor’s bar scene is small, but it earns its reputation. The blueberry thread ties everything together and gives the whole experience a genuine sense of place that you won’t find anywhere else. The biggest surprise, and I mean this, is the cocktail quality. Cottage Street Pub and Table Salt would hold their own in any city, anywhere. The biggest frustration is the hours. Bar Harbor closes early, and that’s just the reality. Plan your evening around Thirsty Whale or Tap & Barrel if you want to keep the night going.

Otherwise, settle in, order something blueberry, and toast to the fact that you’re in one of the most beautiful places in the country.

Cheers. 🫐🍺

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Have a Bar Harbor bar I missed? Drop it in the comment, I’m always looking for an excuse to go back.