Tucked behind a footpath just off Mt. Desert Street in Bar Harbor, Maine, Cafe This Way has been quietly winning breakfast lovers over since 1997. 🍳
This isn’t a fancy hotel restaurant with a view — it’s a bookshelf-lined, couch-filled cafe that feels more like your friend’s eclectic living room than a place to eat.
And yet, it’s consistently ranked among the top breakfast spots in a town packed with competition.
The secret? Comfort food done right, served up by people who clearly love what they do. ☕
How Cafe This Way won Bar Harbor’s hearts
Cafe This Way’s charm didn’t happen overnight — it was built meal by meal, morning after morning, for nearly three decades.
Owned and run by three women whose personalities are stitched into every corner of the space, the cafe blends hip coffee house energy with casual-gourmet cooking, drawing in a crowd that ranges from sunburnt hikers fresh off Acadia’s trails to loyal regulars who’ve been coming for years. 🥾
One visitor summed it up simply: the restaurant was recommended by their hotel staff as “the best restaurant” in town, and after showing up, they returned for breakfast two mornings in a row.
That kind of repeat devotion doesn’t come from clever marketing — it comes from consistently getting the basics right, from crispy-edged pancakes to real thick-cut bacon, and treating every guest, whether it’s their first visit or fiftieth, like they belong there. 💛
Locals also point to the little things: the painted footsteps leading you to the hidden entrance, the sun-drenched patio that fills up the second the weather cooperates, and a menu that never feels like it’s playing it safe.
Add in a Bloody Mary and mimosa menu strong enough to make breakfast feel like a small celebration, and you’ve got a spot that people don’t just visit — they build their whole morning around it. 🍹
Food Highlights
- Lobster Benedict: Poached eggs and Maine lobster meet the cafe’s homemade hollandaise on an English muffin, a true taste of coastal Maine on a breakfast plate. 🦞
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Kit’s Burrito: The cafe’s signature dish, packed with scrambled eggs, peppers, onions, and cheddar rolled in a flour tortilla, then topped with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole.
- The Howdy Doody Scramble: A meat lover’s dream scramble loaded with bacon, sausage, Canadian bacon, mushrooms, onions, and cheddar.
- The Harney: House-made corned beef hash paired with two poached eggs, sourdough toast, and hollandaise.
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Maine Blueberry Pancakes: Made with real maple syrup and local blueberries, these pancakes are a favorite. 🫐
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White Bean Shakshuka: A North African-inspired dish of poached eggs simmered in a spiced tomato, bell pepper, onion, and cannellini bean sauce, topped with feta and cilantro.
- Bagel Sandwich: Dill and chive cream cheese layered with smoked salmon, a fried egg, cucumbers, capers, and greens for a fresh, brunch-worthy bite.
- Cafe Monte Cristo: A French toast sandwich stuffed with a fried egg, hand-cut ham, and cheddar cheese, served with real maple.
Atmosphere
The interior is filled with bookshelves, easy chairs, and retro-themed furniture, giving off a cozy, coffee-house-meets-living-room feel rather than a typical diner setup. 📚
In summer, guests can dine outside on the sun-soaked patio, while cooler months bring the option to settle in beside a fireplace.
It’s described as quirky and contemporary all at once, embodying the personalities of its three female owners.
The overall vibe leans relaxed and artistic, making it feel like a discovery rather than just another breakfast stop.
Bottom Line
Visit for the legendary Kit’s Burrito, Maine-fresh Lobster Benedict, cozy bookshop vibes, boozy morning cocktails, and nearly 30 years of proven local love. It’s breakfast worth planning your Bar Harbor morning around. 🌅
Address:
14 Mt Desert St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
📞 (207) 288-4483
🕔 Open Daily, 6:30 AM–1:00 PM